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Western Australian Government Railways

Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) was the operator of railway services in the state of Western Australia between October 1890 and June 2003. Owned by the state government, it was renamed a number of times to reflect extra responsibility for tram and ferry operations that it assumed and later relinquished. Westrail was the trading name of WAGR from September 1975 until December 2000, when the WAGR's freight division and the Westrail name and logo were privatised. Its freight operations were privatised in December 2000 with the remaining passenger operations transferred to the Public Transport Authority in July 2003.

Agency overview

1 October 1890

  • Department of Works & Railways

30 June 2003

1 January 1880 – 30 September 1890: Department of Works & Railways

[21]

1 October 1890 – 30 June 1914: Western Australian Government Railways (I)

[22]

1 July 1914 – 30 June 1922: Western Australian Government Railways & Tramways

[23]

1 July 1922 – 30 June 1930: Western Australian Government Railways, Tramways & Electricity Supply

[24]

1 July 1930 – 30 June 1946: Western Australian Government Railways, Tramways, Ferries & Electricity Supply

[25]

1 July 1946 – 21 April 1949: Western Australian Government Railways, Tramways & Ferries

[26]

22 April 1949 – 16 December 2000: Western Australian Government Railways (II)

[27]

19 September 1975: WAGR adopted the trading name [28]

Westrail

17 December 2000: The freight business, Westrail name and a 49-year lease on the network outside of Perth were sold to the .[29] The public entity that continued to operate passenger services was renamed the Western Australian Government Railways Commission (WAGRC).[30][31]

Australian Railroad Group

1 July 2003: WAGRC succeeded by that today operates services under the Transperth and Transwa brands[32][33]

Public Transport Authority

The WAGR was renamed a number of times to reflect extra responsibility for tram and ferry operations that it assumed and later relinquished.

Corporate identity[edit]

Initially, Westrail applied an orange with blue stripe livery to its locomotives and passenger vehicles. Freight rolling stock and road trucks were painted yellow, and blue was used on all signs, buildings and printed material. The Westrail logo incorporated a stylised "W" surmounted by a solid bar representing a railway track. Between the bar and the "W" was the word "Westrail".[12]


In July 1997, a yellow with blue livery was unveiled when the first Q class diesel-electric locomotive was delivered.[34]

Report of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the condition and organisation of the railway workshops at Fremantle

[37]

Royal Commission on City Railway Traffic 1899

[38]

Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the administration of the locomotive branch of the Western Australian Government Railways

[39]

Royal Commission on charges made against high officials in the service of the Western Australian Government Railways 1906

[40]

Royal Commission on railways 1922

[41]

Report of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into Australian Standard Garratt Locomotive 1947

[42]

Second interim report of the Royal Commission appointed to enquire into (inter-alia) the supply of local coal to the Western Australian government railways

[43]

First interim report of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the Midland Junction Workshops of the Western Australian Government Railways

[44]

Report of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the management, workings and control of the Western Australian Government Railways

[45]

Royal Commission appointed to inquire into administration of the Western Australian Government Railways

[46]

A range of committees of inquiry as well as Royal Commissions were conducted on aspects of the railways between 1893 and 1959,[35] however to appreciate the number of commissions that had relevance to railway operations, the coal and wheat industries were linked with the railway operations as well.[36] The following are a selected group of commissions:

Acquisitions[edit]

The WAGR purchased the Great Southern Railway in December 1896 and the Midland Railway of Western Australia in August 1964.[47]

Legacy and preservation[edit]

A number of former WAGR locomotives and rolling stock types, as well as many examples of WAGR architecture and railway infrastructure have been preserved, with the Hotham Valley Railway and Rail Heritage WA holding extensive collections.[67][68] Some items are preserved interstate, notably by the Pichi Richi Railway.[69] With the deregulation of the Australian rail market in the 1990s, former WAGR rolling stock has operated in other states, with L class locomotives having operated in the eastern states for ATN Access, Aurizon and Pacific National.

Publications[edit]

In September 1970, WAGR News Letter was launched as a staff newsletter. The last edition was published in December 1973, with Movement superseding it.[70][71][72][73]


From 1975 until 1981, Westrail News Letter was published as a staff newsletter.[74]

Rail transport in Western Australia

Railway dams and reservoirs of Western Australia

Transperth

Transwa

Wheatbelt railway lines of Western Australia

Rail Heritage WA

Home

WAGR goods wagons information

Brief History

Network map

AU WA A585 - Western Australian Government Railways [2] Westrail key document