The Tasmanian Government Railways M class is a class of 4-6-2 steam locomotives operated by the Tasmanian Government Railways.
Tasmanian Government Railways M class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() M5 at the Tasmanian Transport Museum | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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History
editOn 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.[1][2]
They were allocated to operate on the North-Eastern and Western lines and at Hobart. However, with the TGR having already commenced dieselisation 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 Hence in 1957, four were fitted with smaller driving wheels recovered from withdrawn Australian Standard Garratts enabling them to operate heavier trains over the steeply graded North-Eastern line.[1][3][4]
As they fell due for overhaul, they were withdrawn from 1960, with the last removed from traffic in 1975.[1]
Preservation
editAll 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[5] |
M2 | 7422 | MA4 | Don River Railway, Devonport[6] |
M3 | 7423 | M3 | Don River Railway, Devonport[7] |
M4 | 7424 | M4 | Don River Railway, Devonport[8] |
M5 | 7425 | M5 | Tasmanian Transport Museum, Glenorchy[9] |
M6 | 7426 | MA3 | Public park, Margate[10][11] |
M7 | 7427 | M1 | Derwent Valley Railway[12] |
M8 | 7428 | MA1 | Derwent Valley Railway[13] |
M9 | 7429 | M6 | Bellarine Railway, Queenscliff, Victoria[14] |
M10 | 7430 | M2 | Tanfield Railway, England[15] |
Namesake
editThe M class designation was previously used by the M class, the last of which was withdrawn in 1931.
References
edit- ^ a b c Oberg, Leon (2010). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-2010. Dural: Rosenberg Publishing. p. 257/258. ISBN 9781921719011.
- ^ "Steam Locomotives of the Tasmanian Government Railways and its Constituents" Australian Railway History issue 917 March 2014 page 16
- ^ Turner, Jim (1997). Australian Steam Locomotives 1896-1958. Kenthurst: Kangaroo Press. p. 159. ISBN 086417778X.
- ^ M & MA Class Rail Tasmania
- ^ MA2 Australian Steam
- ^ MA4 Australian Steam
- ^ M3 Australian Steam
- ^ M4 Australian Steam
- ^ M5 Australian Steam
- ^ MA3 Australian Steam
- ^ The Margate Train About Australia
- ^ M1 Australian Steam
- ^ MA1 Australian Steam
- ^ M6 Australian Steam
- ^ M2 Australian Steam