Tasmanian Government Railways M class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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M5 at the Tasmanian Transport Museum
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Type and origin | |
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Power type | Steam |
Builder | Robert Stephenson and 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 | |
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Configuration: |
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• 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 |
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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: • Firegrate area |
23.1 sq ft (2.146 m2) |
Boiler pressure | 180 lbf/in2 (1.24 MPa) |
Heating surface: • Tubes |
601 sq ft (55.8 m2) |
• Flues | 371 sq ft (34.5 m2) |
• Firebox | 371 sq ft (34.5 m2) |
Superheater: |
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• 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 | |
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Tractive effort | 27,090 lbf (120.50 kN) |
Factor of adh. | 3.98 |
Career | |
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Operators | Tasmanian Government Railways |
Numbers | M1-M10 |
Disposition | all preserved |
The Tasmanian Government Railways M class was a class of 4-6-2 steam locomotives operated by the Tasmanian Government Railways.
On 12 March 1952, the Tasmanian Government Railways (TGR) 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.
All members of the class have been preserved to an extent, with four locomotives seeing further use on heritage trains.
The M class designation was previously used by the M class, the last of which was withdrawn in 1931.