Millars (Western Australia Government Railways) 4-6-0 No. 71 'Menzies' (111)
Pinjarra, Western Australia, Australia 		Location: Hotham Valley Tourist Railway
Status: Stored
Posted: Apr 19, 2023 @ 02:04:55 by Norman R. R. Birkner
Ownership: WAGR G class No.111 was built for the Western Australian Government Railways in 1897 by Dübs & Co. as works number 3495 not 3497 (which was G No.113), entering service in October of that year. No.111 was sold to Henry T. Smith and Joseph Timms on the 29th of October in 1897 (yes, the same month and year). It was used on the construction of the WAGR line from Kalgoorlie to Kanowna, where it was named Menzies. It was sold in 1898 to Millars Karri & Jarrah Forests Co. Ltd. (Karri & Jarrah Co. Ltd. became Millars (W.A.) Pty Ltd. in 1970). Menzies was last used by Millars on the 9th of March in 1973 at Yarloop and withdrawn. It was donated in 1977 to the Pinjarra Steam & Hills Railway Preservation Society (now Hotham Valley Tourist Railway). It retains the name Menzies. Specifications: 3 ft. 3 in. (991 mm) dia. drivers, 11,321 lbf tractive effort, 135 p.s.i. boiler pressure, 14.5 in. (368 mm) × 20 in. (508 mm), and Menzies is built to a gauge of 3 ft. 6 in. (1,067 mm).
Posted: Jul 28, 2018 @ 15:07:00 by Robin R Beck
Ordered and delivered to the Western Australia Government Railway as number 111. In service late 1897 but sold weeks later to Smith & Timms to help with the building of the Kalgoorlie to Menzies railway. Within a year it was sold again, to Millars Karri & Jarah Company Ltd. (later known simply as Millars). It Worked on their timber tramways around Yarloop. In 1939 Millars renumbered the loco 71. It finished its working life at Yarloop. It became the last operating steam loco at the Yarloop timber mill in 1972. Was donated to the Hotham Valley Tourist Railway in 1977.

The locomotive was dismantled at the old steam shed at Pinjarra with a view to future restoration. So far this has not been possible probably due to the high cost of funding the project, plus the volunteers at HVTR have a heavy work load just keeping the railway running. In 2002 the loco frames were put on a flat wagon then later moved to Alumina Junction for storage. Almost all the other parts are behind the old steam shed. (See the album photos - Editor)