Re: Kalgoorlie Blaze

[John Duncan McCallum <mccallum@melbpc.org.au>]

Donald R Smith wrote:

 
> "Flames from the burning oil leapt to a height of over 30 feet and sent
> dense black clouds of smoke across Kalgoorlie at 2.45pm today when an
> oil-burning engine which was to have taken the Westland Express out caught
> fire as it was being prepared at the loco sheds.  The engine,carrying a
> capacity load of fuel estimated at 2500 gallons was standing over an ash pit
> outside the sheds and alongside the coal staging when the blaze broke out.
> When the heat caused the tender to leak, burning fuel flooded the full
> length of the pit and engulfed the engine in flames.

> It was the most spectacular fire seen for a long while on the Goldfields and
> attracted a crowd of over 2,000 to watch the firemen at work.  The flames
> began to subside rapidly about 5p.m.  The firemen with a full pressure of
> water available,could not use it to quell the burning oil.  They were forced
> to stand by and allow the blaze to burn itself out and to use sand to
> prevent the fire from reaching the loco sheds and coal staging.  In this
> task they were assisted by railway employees and members of volunteer
> brigades.

> No estimate could be made of the damage at the time.  Prompt work in
> servicing another engine resulted in the express leaving at 5.40.p.m., only
> ten minutes behind schedule."
> Kalgoorlie Miner - Aug 1st, 1949


> Donald R Smith


This locomotive was Pr 528 "Murray", one of 10 Pr class locos converted
to oil
after the 2nd world war due to a coal shortage caused by trouble in the
coalfields.
The loco, which was destroyed in the fire, was built in 1939 as no 145.
It was renumbered 528 on 25/10/1946.
The source this information is on p105 of Adrian Gunzburgs"s book "A
History of
WAGR Steam Locomotives".

John McCallum