Steam Locomotive

« Prev Item Next Item »

James Martin and Company

1898

Overview

2-6-0 tender locomotive painted black with red boiler bands and white wall tyres. The name 'Leschenault Lady' is painted in yellow on each side of the tender.

Historical information

Believed to be the oldest Australian built steam locomotive still in operational order, Leschenault Lady has earned her place in history. Throughout its working life for the government railways it was numbered G 233. G 233 spent much of its early working life (1909 to 1935) on the isolated Hopetoun to Ravensthorpe railway. After that venture it went to Bunbury as the shunting locomotive on the jetty. It also spent some time in Kalgoorlie and Fremantle.
In 1967 the Bunbury Tourist Bureau, through George Baxter, fought to have the locomotive and some carriages kept in Bunbury for tourism. Two years later a newspaper competition saw G 233 named ‘Leschenault Lady’. It hauled many Vintage Train trips around the south-west. ‘Leschenault Lady’ took part in a number of commemorative events such as welcoming the first Indian Pacific train to Perth in 1970 and the Centenary of WA Government Railways in Geraldton in 1979.
When Bunbury loco depot closed in 1985 G233 was transferred to Boyanup. In 1988 it was steamed to Dwellingup when it was used that year by Hotham Valley Railway. Donated to Rail Heritage WA in the early 1990s, in 1999 Rail Heritage WA volunteers overhauled it at the former Midland workshops. After that overhaul there was no work for it in the south-west and it was sent on loan to the Golden Mile Loopline Railway in Boulder from 2001 to 2005. In 2016, back in Boyanup, the boiler was repaired so that it could steam again.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-23-2009.70

Material

Metal

Width

11887 mm

Height or length

3505 mm

Depth

2134 mm

Themes

Social History

Railways

Inscriptions and markings

Carries number plates G233 on each side and James Martin builders plate on each side.

Contextual Information

Classified by the National Trust of Australia (WA)

Keywords

Transport

Railways

Western Australian Government Railways

Place made

Australia

Year

1898

Statement of significance

Leschenault Lady (G 233) has historic value for its links with the development of the rail system in Western Australia having worked on mainlines, isolated lines, shunting and jetty work before being set aside for tourism. It is the only WA steam locomotive not to have been 'retired' by being withdrawn for service and is believed to be the oldest Australian built 3' 6" gauge locomotive in operational condition. This locomotive has social value as the first tourism steam venture in WA, has featured in films such as 'A Fortunate Life' and is as such valued by the community.

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Scientific or research significance

Social or spiritual significance

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity

Object’s condition or completeness

Rare or representative

Well provenanced

Rail Heritage WA

Organisation Details
View Collection
Item Feedback