Tasmanian Government Railways M class (1952)

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

Not to be confused with Tasmanian Government Railways M class (1912).

Tasmanian Government Railways M class
M5 at the Tasmanian Transport Museum
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderRobert Stephenson and Hawthorns
Serial number7421-7430
Build date1951
Total produced10
RebuilderTasmanian Government Railways, Inveresk
Rebuild date1957
Number rebuilt4 (MA class)
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-6-2
Gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Leading dia.2 ft 2.5 in (0.673 m)
Driver dia.M: 4 ft 7 in (1,397 mm)
MA: M: 4 ft 0 in (1,219 mm)
Trailing dia.2 ft 4+1⁄2 in (0.724 m)
Length59 ft 2+3⁄4 in (18.053 m)
Axle load
  • Loco: 10.20 long tons (10.4 t)
  • Tender: 10.60 long tons (10.8 t)
Adhesive weight37.25 long tons (37.8 t)
Loco weight54.20 long tons (55.1 t)
Tender weight42.40 long tons (43.1 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity6 long tons (6.1 t)
Water cap.4,000 imp gal (18,184.4 L)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		23.1 sq ft (2.146 m2)
Boiler pressure180 lbf/in2 (1.24 MPa)
Heating surface:
 • Tubes		601 sq ft (55.8 m2)
 • Flues371 sq ft (34.5 m2)
 • Firebox371 sq ft (34.5 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • Type18 element
 • Heating area371 sq ft (34.5 m2)
Cylinders2 outside
Cylinder size16 in × 24 in (406 mm × 610 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effortM: 17,090 lbf (76.02 kN)
MA: 19,600 lbf (87.19 kN)
Factor of adh.3.44
Career
OperatorsTasmanian Government Railways
NumbersM1-M10
Withdrawn1960-1975
DispositionAll preserved, none scrapped

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.[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 Hence in 1957, four were fitted with smaller driving wheels recovered from withdrawn Australian Standard Garratts enabling them to operate heavier trains over the steeply graded North-Eastern line.[1][3][4]

As they fell due for overhaul, they were withdrawn from 1960, with the last removed from traffic in 1975.[1]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

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[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

The M class designation was previously used by the M class, the last of which was withdrawn in 1931.

References
  1. Oberg, Leon (2010). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-2010. Dural: Rosenberg Publishing. p. 257/258. ISBN 9781921719011.
  2. "Steam Locomotives of the Tasmanian Government Railways and its Constituents" Australian Railway History issue 917 March 2014 page 16
  3. Turner, Jim (1997). Australian Steam Locomotives 1896-1958. Kenthurst: Kangaroo Press. p. 159. ISBN 086417778X.
  4. M & MA Class Rail Tasmania
  5. MA2 Australian Steam
  6. MA4 Australian Steam
  7. M3 Australian Steam
  8. M4 Australian Steam
  9. M5 Australian Steam
  10. MA3 Australian Steam
  11. The Margate Train About Australia
  12. M1 Australian Steam
  13. MA1 Australian Steam
  14. M6 Australian Steam
  15. M2 Australian Steam
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