Tasmanian Government Railways M class (1952)

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 type Steam Builder Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns Serial number 7421-7430 Build date 1951 Total produced 10 Rebuilder Tasmanian Government Railways, Inveresk Rebuild date 1957 Number rebuilt 4 (MA class)
Specifications Configuration: ​  •  Whyte 4-6-2 Gauge 1,067 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) Length 59 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 weight 37.25 long tons (37.8 t) Loco weight 54.20 long tons (55.1 t) Tender weight 42.40 long tons (43.1 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 6 long tons (6.1 t) Water cap. 4,000 imp gal (18,184.4 L) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 23.1 sq ft (2.146 m2) Boiler pressure 180 lbf/in2 (1.24 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 371 sq ft (34.5 m2)  • Tubes 601 sq ft (55.8 m2)  • Flues 371 sq ft (34.5 m2) Superheater: ​  • Type 18 element  • Heating area 371 sq ft (34.5 m2) Cylinders 2 outside Cylinder size 16 in × 24 in (406 mm × 610 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort M: 17,090 lbf (76.02 kN) MA: 19,600 lbf (87.19 kN) Factor of adh. 3.44
Career Operators Tasmanian Government Railways Numbers M1-M10 Withdrawn 1960-1975 Disposition All preserved

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 & Hawthorns, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. ^{[1] [2]} The locomotives were similar to the Indian Railways YB class. ^{[3] [4] [5]} The ten locomotives arrived in March 1952. ^[6]

They were allocated for operation on the North-Eastern and Western lines, as well as for services based in Hobart. However, as the TGR had already commenced dieselisation with the X class, some lines intended for M class operation had already been converted. Consequently, in 1957, four were fitted with smaller driving wheels recovered from withdrawn Australian Standard Garratts to enable them to operate heavier trains over the steeply graded North-Eastern line. ^{[4] [7] [8]}

As they fell due for overhaul, they were withdrawn from 1960, with the last removed from traffic in 1975. ^[4]

Preservation

All members of the class have been preserved; four have seen further use on heritage trains.

Original number	Builder's number	Final number	Preservation
M1	7421	MA2	Don River Railway, Devonport [9]
M2	7422	MA4	Don River Railway, Devonport [10]
M3	7423	M3	Don River Railway, Devonport [11]
M4	7424	M4	Don River Railway, Devonport [12]
M5	7425	M5	Tasmanian Transport Museum, Glenorchy [13]
M6	7426	MA3	Public park, Margate [14] [15]
M7	7427	M1	Derwent Valley Railway [16]
M8	7428	MA1	Derwent Valley Railway [17]
M9	7429	M6	Bellarine Railway, Queenscliff, Victoria [18] [19]
M10	7430	M2	Tanfield Railway, England [20] [21]

Namesake

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

References

1. Class M 4-6-2 Locomotives Locomotive, Railway Carriage & Wagon Review issue 713 January 1952 pages 2-5
2. Locomotives for Tasmania Railway Gazette 2 May 1952 page 493
3. TGR Adopts Indian-Designed Pacific Type Locomotive for Use on Light Branch Lines Railway Transportation June 1952 pages 32-24
4. Oberg, Leon (2010). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-2010. Dural: Rosenberg Publishing. p. 257/258. ISBN   9781921719011.
5. Steam Locomotives of the Tasmanian Government Railways and its Constituents Australian Railway History issue 917 March 2014 page 16
6. Still running Track & Signal issue 16/4 November 2012 page 79
7. DD 446 Divisional Diary August 1965 page 49
8. Turner, Jim (1997). Australian Steam Locomotives 1896-1958. Kenthurst: Kangaroo Press. p. 159. ISBN   086417778X.
9. MA2 Australian Steam
10. MA4 Australian Steam
11. M3 Australian Steam
12. M4 Australian Steam
13. M5 Australian Steam
14. MA3 Australian Steam
15. The Margate Train About Australia
16. M1 Australian Steam
17. MA1 Australian Steam
18. M6 arrives at Queenscliff Newsrail July 1977 pages 140-144
19. M6 Australian Steam
20. Don River Railway Continental Railway Journal issue 98 July 1994 page 586
21. M2 Australian Steam

External links

Media related to TGR M class locomotives at Wikimedia Commons