Tasmanian Government Railways Z class

The Tasmanian Government Railway Z class are a class of diesel locomotives built by English Electric, Rocklea for the Tasmanian Government Railways in 1973. They were a development of the Western Australian Government Railways R class and were the last of a line of very successful locomotives fitted with the English Electric 12CSVT Mk II engine.

Tasmanian Government Railways Z class
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder English Electric, Rocklea Serial number A.249 to A.252 Build date 1973 Total produced 4
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Co-Co Gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Wheel diameter 3 ft 1+1⁄2 in (0.953 m) Wheelbase 42 ft 5 in (12.929 m) total, 11 ft 3 in (3.429 m) bogie Length 55 ft (16.764 m) over headstocks Width 9 ft 4 in (2.845 m) Height 12 ft 4+1⁄2 in (3.772 m) Axle load 16 long tons (16.3 t; 17.9 short tons) Loco weight 96 long tons (97.5 t; 107.5 short tons) Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 1,200 imp gal (5,500 L) Prime mover English Electric 12CSVT Mk II RPM range 450–850 rpm Engine type four stroke, four valves per cylinder Aspiration Turbocharged, intercooled Generator EE822/16J Traction motors Six EE558 Cylinders V12 Cylinder size 10 in × 12 in (254 mm × 305 mm) MU working 110V, stepless electro-pneumatic throttle Train brakes Vacuum, converted to air (1984–1985)
Performance figures Maximum speed 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) Power output 2,025 hp (1,510 kW) gross, 1,850 hp (1,380 kW) net Tractive effort: ​  • Continuous 54,000 lbf (240.2 kN) at 10.5 mph (20 km/h)
Career Operators Tasmanian Government Railways AN Tasrail TasRail Number in class 4 Numbers Z1-Z4 First run June 1973 Current owner Bellarine Railway Don River Railway Disposition All preserved

History

With the construction of the new line from Launceston to Bell Bay, the Tasmanian Government Railways placed an order for four 1752 kW locomotives with English Electric. However, with the locomotive still under development, it was decided to purchase four 1380 kW locomotives that were an evolution of the Western Australian RA class locomotives with a low nose profile and vacuum brakes.^[1][2] At 96 tons, they were considerably heavier than the previous heaviest locomotives on the network, the Y class at 58 tons, requiring significant upgrades to infrastructure.^[3] The first was delivered in December 1972.^[4][5]

In March 1978 the Z class were included in the transfer of the Tasmanian Government Railways to Australian National. In 1984/85 all had their vacuum brakes replaced with air brakes.^[6][7]

In June 1998, they were renumbered as the 2110 class.^[8] All four locomotives were modified for driver-only operation between 1998 and 2001, by having their noses lowered further and the size of the front cab windows increased.

All remained in service with TasRail until stored in May 2014 with the entry into service of the new TR class.

In 2022, The Q Train acquired Z1 and Z4 for revenue use on their restaurant rail services on the Bellarine Railway. Z1 was delivered in March and Z4 in May.^[9] Z2 and Z3 were donated to the Don River Railway.

Status table

Name	Original no	Current no	Owner	Livery	Status
Northern Progress	Z1	2110	The Q Train	Unpainted steel (to be painted into TGR yellow)	Under Restoration
Bell Bay Pioneer	Z2	2111	Don River Railway	AN/Tasrail reverse yellow and green	Preserved
	Z3	2112	Don River Railway	ATN/Tasrail burgundy and yellow	Preserved
	Z4	Z4	The Q Train	AN/Tasrail green and yellow	Preserved / Operational

References

1. Market Railway Gazette International February 1972 page 47
2. TGR Orders Massive Power for Bell Bay Line Railway Transportation June 1972 page 9
3. Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-1980s. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. pp. 284–285. ISBN 0-730100-05-7.
4. First TGR Super Power Locomotive Delivered Railway Transportation January 1973 page 3
5. Tasmanian Railways: 150 years in the making - Part 2 Australian Railway History issue 1014 August 2032 pages 13/14
6. Tasmania Railway Digest June 1985 page 183
7. Z Class Rail Tasmania
8. Tasrail Loco Renumbering Railway Digest October 1998 page 36
9. Heavy maintenance on new locomotives The Q Train