State Saw Mills (WAGR) 2-6-0 No. 7 (53)
Pemberton, Western Australia, Australia 		Location: Heritage Precinct
Status: Display
Related Notes
Photo Copyright © Robin R Beck
Here are the notes for State Saw Mills (WAGR) No. 7 (53), a 2-6-0 located in Pemberton, Western Australia. If you have additional information about this locomotive, and would like to share it, click the Add Note button.
Posted: Jul 26, 2018 @ 16:07:32 by Robin R Beck
A member of the G class locomotives. This was built for WAGR in South Australia by James Martin. In 1942 it was transferred to North Australian Railway becoming their Nfc 53, a year later renumbered to Nfc 69. Surplus after WW2. In 1948 it was sold to Western Australia State Saw Mills. Becoming there SSM 7 loco. Withdrawn at Pemberton in 1963 and displayed alongside the main road, in the Heritage Precinct just where the old railway track crossed the main road to enter the saw mill.

In 1913 the State Saw Mills company erected 3 saw mills in the Karri forests. They were built in valley bottoms so loaded trains ran down hill to the mills. They supplied 500,000 sleepers to the Trans - Australian Railway. The line was being built to link Western Australia to the rest of the country. They erected number 1 mill at Deanmill. Number 2 & 3 mills were erected at Big Brook alongside each other. The town was later renamed Pemberton. Pemberton saw mill closed in 2016.

Posted: May 9, 2008 @ 03:05:10 by Phil Horton
Although built for the WAGR the loco was sold to the State Saw Mills as long ago as 1942 for use on the forestry (logging) railways around Pemberton. It currently carries its SSM no. SSM 7. It was withdrawn from service in 1963.
Posted: May 8, 2008 @ 14:05:33 by Phil Horton
Ex Western Australia Government Railways No. 53, a 2-6-0 is displayed in the park at Pemberton, Western Australia on 9 November 1993.