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 Hence in 1957, four were fitted with smaller driving wheels recovered from withdrawn Australian Standard Garratts enabling them to operate heavier trains over the steeply graded North-Eastern line.
As they fell due for overhaul, they were withdrawn from 1960, with the last removed from traffic in 1975.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The M class designation was previously used by the M class, the last of which was withdrawn in 1931.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.