Tasmanian Government Railway No. Ma2 is an M class 4-6-2 "Pacific" Type steam locomotive built in 1951 by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn for the Tasmanian Government Railway and was originally numbered M1 of the Tasmanian Government Railways' M-class 4-6-2 locomotives. These locomotives were built to the proven design of Indian Railways metre-gauge YB class pacifics.
In 1957 the Tasmanian Government Railways began a program to modify a number of the M-class to make them better suited to freight work. The modified engines were known as the MA-class and were modified by fitting smaller diameter ex-Australian Standard Garratt (ASG) driving wheels and ex-B & C-class pony wheels.
Locomotive MA1 was the trial conversion in 1957, while MA2 - 4 were the production conversions completed between 1957 and 1958.
It was preserved as an operating exhibit at the Don River Railway, from where it has occasionally worked onto the Tasmanian main lines for tour train duties.
Today the locomotive is still at the Don River Railway but it's out of service but it is under Cosmetic restoration only.
Trivia[]
- When it was originally numbered M1 it was the leader of the M class series.
- The weight distribution was also altered to place more weight on the driving wheels.
- New sandboxes for forward running were added on the footplate beside the smokebox, while the original sandbox in the dome was retained for reverse running.
- It was one of the locos used in TGR centenary celebrations. It also triple headed a passenger train with Emu Bay Railway Co. No. 8, and Tasmanian Government Railway No. M4.
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