M1

M1 (prior to 1958 designated M7) Builders' Number 7427, was built for Tasmanian Government Railways to be used primarily as a passenger loco. These were the last steam locomotives ordered by TGR. Because passenger services were in decline at this time, largely due to higher personal vehicle ownership and improved Tasmanian roads, M1 did not see a lot of service as a passenger loco. M1 was used, instead, for goods and mixed trains before being withdrawn from service in 1960, its role superseded by diesel locomotives. Stored and preserved in a park at Ross in 1971. Acquired by DVR in April 2000 and transferred to New Norfolk soon after and stored.

Locomotive M1 Chronology

1951	M1 was one of 10 'Pacific' type engines ordered by Tasmanian Government Railways from English builder Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns Ltd, Darlington, England. (M1 was originally designated M7 so this photo is not the current M1. Original M1 became MA2 in 1957 and is now at Don River Railway).	Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
1951/52	Loaded on the Norwegian freighter Christen Smith at Middlesbrough Docks, England.	Middlesbrough Docks, England
1952	Ten locomotives and tenders shipped together to Tasmania on the Norwegian freighter Christen Smith. Unloaded Hobart March 12th 1952.	Hobart
1952-1960	In service acrossTasmania. Total mileage of 88,688 was lowest of any of the M Class steam locomotives.
1958	Renumbered from M7 to M1. There was a general renumbering of the M Class at this time due to the rebuilding of four of the ten M Class to convert to MA Class. See entry for MA1.
1960	Withdrawn from service in September 1960
1972	M1 with tender plinthed alongside highway at Ross (photo 1984)	Ross
2000	Acquired by DVR and transferred to New Norfolk Yard in May 2000	New Norfolk

Wikipedia Site for M Class Locomotives in Tasmania:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmanian_Government_Railways_M_class_(1952)