What is WAGR P class?
{{no sources|date=November 2023}} [[File:WAGR 508 (5360008236).jpg|thumb|P class No. 508 on display at Bassendean in 2006.]] The '''WAGR P class''' was a total of 25 express [[Steam locomotive|steam]] [[Locomotive|locomotives]] operated by the [[Western Australian Government Railways]] (WAGR) from 1924 to 1969. The P class were first indirectly recommended as part of the motive power regeneration program introduced because of the 1922 [[Royal Commission]], which highly recommended more locos be built in preparation for the 1924-25 [[wheat]] [[harvest]]. Drawings were prepared at [[Midland Railway Workshops]] in 1923 with a tender going out, with the only [[Australia|Australian]] [[Manufacturing|builder]] to respond being [[Thompson and Company|Thompson & Coy]]. They were unable to fulfil the order in time, so the tender was accepted by the [[North British Locomotive Company|North British Locomotive Coy]] of the [[United Kingdom|UK]]. The engines arrived in 1924 and were placed on the [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]] to [[Kalgoorlie]] express passenger services, being a great success and were well-liked by their crews for their free-steaming qualities. The success of the P class resulted in the construction of 15 more at Midland Junction in 1927-28. Further improvements resulted in the [[WAGR Pr class|Pr <nowiki>'</nowiki>''River''<nowiki>'</nowiki> class]] locos. The P class continued on passenger services on the [[South Western Railway (Western Australia)|South Western mainline]], [[Great Southern Railway of Western Australia|Great Southern Railway]] and [[Eastern Railway (Western Australia)|Eastern Railway]] until the 1950s when [[dieselisation]] began. From then on the P class was relegated to [[Cargo|goods]] workings where they performed satisfactorily until the last was withdrawn in 1969. One of the P class, No. 508 (448) is preserved and on display at the [[Bassendean Railway Museum]]. == Gallery == <gallery> File:P class + Kalgoorlie Express, Kalgoorlie, 1935.jpg|P class at Kalgoorlie in 1935 with t