Tasmanian Government Railways M class (1912)

Not to be confused with Tasmanian Government Railways M class (1952).

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

Tasmanian Government Railways M class
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Beyer, Peacock & Company Serial number 5523, 5524 Build date 1912 Total produced 2
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-4-2+2-4-4 Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Driver dia. 5 ft 0 in (1,524 mm) Total weight 95 long tons 0 cwt (212,800 lb or 96.5 t) Fuel type Coal Boiler pressure 160 lbf/in2 (1.10 MPa) Cylinder size 12 in × 20 in (305 mm × 508 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 24,576 lbf (109.32 kN)
Career Operators Tasmanian Government Railways Numbers M1-M2 Disposition Both scrapped

History

In 1912, the Tasmanian Government Railways took delivery of two 4-4-2+2-4-4 Garratt locomotives from Beyer, Peacock & Company, Manchester. They were designed to haul express passenger trains between Launceston and Hobart.^[1] With the introduction of the R class, M1 was withdrawn in 1923 and sold to the Mount Lyell Mining & Railway Company while M2 was withdrawn in 1931 and scrapped in 1953.^[2][3][4]

Namesake

The M class designation was reused by the M class that was introduced in 1952.

References

1. A Brief History of the Garratt Locomotive in Australia Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 185 March 1953 pages 25-29
2. Turner, Jim (1997). Australian Steam Locomotives 1896-1958. Kenthurst: Kangaroo Press. p. 60. ISBN 086417778X.
3. Oberg, Leon (2010). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-2010. Dural: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 152/153. ISBN 9781921719011.
4. Steam Locomotives of the Tasmanian Government Railways and its Constituents Australian Railway History issue 917 March 2014 page 9