The M class engines were built in 1875 by Kitson & Co, Leeds as the first two items of motive power for the Northampton railway line, the first government railway in Western Australia. They were delivered to the port of Geraldton, the western terminus of the line, in 1876.[1]
In 1893, both engines were relocated to Fremantle for use on the Eastern Railway. M24 was sold to Whittaker Bros in 1907, and M23 to Bunning Bros in 1911.[2]
sold to Bunning Bros, spent most of its time at Lyalls Mill near Collie, but used at Muja (1938) and Yornup (February 1940 to March 1943) withdrawn by July 1946, scrapped by November 1958
M24
2036
February 1876
March 1907
sold to Whittaker Bros, North Dandalup in 1907 and named Danadalup, remained in use until the timber mill was destroyed by fire in 1944, sold to Bunning Bros in July 1945 and worked at Lyalls Mill and Yornup, numbered 4 in February 1951 and scrapped by March 1955
The M class designation was reused in the 1910s for the M class of Garratt locomotives and again in the 1970s when the M class diesel locomotives entered service.
Gunzburg, Adrian (1984). A History of WAGR Steam Locomotives. Perth: Australian Railway Historical Society (Western Australian Division). ISBN0959969039.
Media related to WAGR M class (1875) at Wikimedia Commons
