Western Australia Government Railways 2-8-2 No. 1215
Collie, Western Australia, Australia 		Location: Collie Visitor Centre
Status: Display
Posted: Aug 4, 2018 @ 14:08:39 by Robin R Beck
One of a class of 24 engines built to operate heavy coal trains from Collie. In service from 1956 to 1971. The class had been built so they could be converted to standard gauge. By the time standard gauge was expanding in WA diesel locos had taken over. In 1974 sold to the Collie Tourist Board. The open air display behind the visitor centre has 3 well kept steam locomotives. There are no fences and footplate are open. The large signs on the tenders (Please keep off the trains) is an attempt to stop children climbing on the boilers. If not sure about climbing on footplate, ask the friendly staff at the visitor centre.

Collie has the only coal field in Western Australia which has been mined since 1898. The town once had the 2nd largest railway yards in WA. The railway line runs past the loco and still sees freight, mostly white alumina powder to Bunbury for export. It comes from the Worsley refinery which gets Bauxite from a local mine. Coal trains only recently stopped, as the Kwinana power station closed. A scheme to export coal via Bunbury to India may see the return of coal trains to Collie.