|
Pmr 735 was the last built of a long line of
Pacific 4-6-2 steam locomotives that graced WAGR metals. Although designed
for passenger service, the Pm/Pmr-class proved better suited to fast
freight duties and lasted in that capacity until the end of WAGR steam. (For
more detailed information about the Pm/Pmr-class locomotives, refer to the
page for class leader Pm 701.)
Pmr 735 entered WAGR service on 31 August
1950 and was officially withdrawn 14 August 1972, giving a working life of
just under 22 years. Photos show it stored at Midland Workshops after withdrawal
from service. Fortunately, it escaped scrapping when Channel 7 WA wanted a
locomotive for display at their Tuart Hill studios, selecting Pmr 735 for
that purpose. It was purchased for $2,200 and delivered in February 1974. As
per the photo below, it was nicely presented at Tuart Hill in a railway setting.
Pmr 735 has since moved around the state during its preservation career but
alas has not proven lucky in its travels.
After some years Channel 7 decided they
didn’t need a steam locomotive as a display item. Pmr 735 was donated to
Whiteman Park in August 1987 and displayed at Whiteman Village station for some
years.
PMR 735 was sold to a prominent local rail
enthusiast in 1993 and moved to his engineering business Willis Light
Engineering in Riversdale Road, Burswood. I understand at that stage it was
intended to restore the locomotive to operation for use by the Pemberton
Tramway Co. Photos show the locomotive partially dismantled at this stage,
with the cab removed and appearing to have been repaired, while the tender
tank was similarly separated from the frames and appeared to have been
repaired. It seems the project subsequently stalled; I’d be interested to
know the circumstances and what was found during the assessment.
A change of
location came in November 2013 when Pmr 735 was transported to Pinjarra by
Hotham Valley Rail, apparently still partially dismantled. I believe it was
intended for static display as a gatekeeper. More recent photos show the locomotive
stored (still sans cab and the tender reduced to a frame only) at a discrete
site near Pinjarra. Here it was reported the motion was attacked by metal
thieves, thus adding to this unlucky locomotive’s woes. Hopefully one day the
time, money and interest will be found for Pmr 735 to be rescued from dereliction
and restored for display – perhaps like the recent dramatic change of
fortunes for C17 763.
In the meantime, contributions of further information or photos for this
unlucky machine are welcome.
Pmr 735 displayed at
the Channel 7 studios in the Perth suburb of Tuart Hill in April 1975.
At that stage the locomotive was complete and well
cared for, but alas the intervening years have not been kind to this
machine.
Image used with permission of the Rail Heritage WA
archive:
http://railheritagewa.org.au/archive_scans/displayimage.php?pid=23946
(Image reference T04937,
original photographer - M. Searle.)
Happy days for Pmr
735 as it wheels a down goods, seen arriving North Dandalup. Photo dated
May 1968.
The photographer P. Hopper has many wonderful images in
the WA Rail Heritage archive, including shots such as this taking advantage
of the sun’s angle in the late afternoon to illuminate
the wheels etc and give an evening glint.
Image used with permission
of the Rail Heritage WA archive:
http://railheritagewa.org.au/archive_scans/displayimage.php?pid=7987
(Image reference P12178, original photographer – P.
Hopper.)
|
