R Class
R 174
| Builder: Dübs & Co. of Glasgow |
| Coupled wheel diameter 4' 9" |
| Total weight 55t 15 cwt |
| Tractive effort 11,855 lb |
| Coal capacity 70 cwt |
| Water capacity 2000 gal |
| Number in service 24 |
R 174 taking water at Boondi, a siding on the Eastern Goldfields Railway c1925.
Photo L. S. Kingsborough, print from RHWA Archives
The latest addition to the Railway Museum at Bassendean is locomotive R 174. In March 1907, this locomotive was involved in WA's most epic mine rescue in which Italian miner Modesto Varischetti became trapped over 300m down in a flooded mine at Bonnie Vale, near Coolgardie. R 174 pulled the special train, carrying two divers, their assistants and equipment plus 800ft of air piping, from its depot of Northam to Southern Cross at an average speed of 43 km/h.
From 1907 R 174 was transferred to Kalgoorlie depot until overhaul.
R 174 emerged from a general overhaul at Midland Workshops in November 1909 as an 'Atlantic' or 4-4-2 wheel arrangement, reclassified RA 174.
From then on it covered most of the WAGR network, 1909-11 Wagin depot, 1911-14 Perth, 1914-17 Cue, Midland Workshops (stored 23 months) 1917-18, Kalgoorlie 1918-21, Midland Junc. (stored 28 months) 1921-23, Kalgoorlie 1921-39, Albany 1939-45.
In July 1945 R 174 was initially stowed at Narrogin but subsequently transferred to Midland Workshops. It was written off on 4 September 1947, having travelled 1 128 092 km.
However it's retirement was short lived being recalled to service in 1948 and based once again at Albany 1948-53.
R 174 was once again withdrawn from service and stowed at Narrogin on 13 March 1953. It was soon after transferred to Midland Workshops and was finally written off on 29 May 1953 (distance travelled 1 169 930 km).
Even if it had not been restored to operation in 1948, the historical significance of the locomotive had not been overlooked. In December 1949 it was proposed to be mounted on display outside Perth station but instead R 174 was restored and placed outside the Railway Institute building at Midland.
From 1956 until 1972 R 174 called the Railway Institute home when it was moved to the Centrepoint Shopping Mall in Midland, where it stayed for nearly 4 decades before moving once more to the Rail Heritage WA Bassendean Museum on 13 March 2011.