Tasmanian Government Railways M class (1952)


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

History

On 12 March 1952, the Tasmanian Government Railways took delivery of 10 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 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 Hence in 1957, four were fitted with smaller driving wheels recovered from withdrawn Australian Standard Garratts enabling them to operate heavier trains over the steeply graded North-Eastern line.
As they fell due for overhaul, they were withdrawn from 1960 with the last removed from traffic in 1975.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
M17421MA2Don River Railway, Devonport
M27422MA4Don River Railway, Devonport
M37423M3Don River Railway, Devonport
M47424M4Don River Railway, Devonport
M57425M5Tasmanian Transport Museum, Glenorchy
M67426MA3Public park, Margate
M77427M1Derwent Valley Railway
M87428MA1Derwent Valley Railway
M97429M6Bellarine Railway, Queenscliff, Victoria
M107430M2Tanfield Railway, England

Namesake

The M class designation was previously used by the M class, the last of which was withdrawn in 1931.