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The Tasmanian Government Railways M class is a class of 4-6-2 steam locomotives operated by the Tasmanian Government Railways.

History[]

On 12 March 1952, the Tasmanian Government Railways (TGR) took delivery of ten M class branch line locomotives from Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The locomotives were similar to the Indian Railways YB class.

They were allocated to operate on the North-Eastern and Western lines and at Hobart. However with the TGR having already commenced dieselization with the X class, some of the lines intended for M class operation had already been converted. Hence in 1957, four were fitted with smaller driving wheels recovered from withdrawn Australian Standard Garratts enabling them to operate heavier trains over the steeply graded North-Eastern line.

As they fell due for overhaul, they were withdrawn from 1960, with the last removed from traffic in 1975.

Preservation[]

All members of the class have been preserved to an extent, with four locomotives seeing further use on heritage trains.

Original

number

Builder's

number

Final

number

Preservation
M1 7421 MA2 Don River Railway, Devonport
M2 7422 MA4 Don River Railway, Devonport
M3 7423 M3 Don River Railway, Devonport
M4 7424 M4 Don River Railway, Devonport
M5 7425 M5 Tasmanian Transport Museum, Glenorchy
M6 7426 MA3 Public park, Margate
M7 7427 M1 Derwent Valley Railway
M8 7428 MA1 Derwent Valley Railway
M9 7429 M6 Bellarine Railway, Queenscliff, Victoria
M10 7430 M2 Tanfield Railway, England

Namesake[]

The M class designation was previously used by the M class, the last of which was withdrawn in 1931.

Trivia[]

  • There were similar engines around as well in the form of the YC and the YD which was also used on the railways in Myanmar as well.

Gallery[]

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