MA1

MA1 was originally M Class number 8, one of 10 of its type built by Stevenson and Hawthorns in England and delivered to Tasmania in 1952. In 1957 and 1958 four of the M Class locomotives were modified by replacing their driving wheels with smaller ones. These smaller wheels came from Australian Standard Garrats which by that time were out of service. The aim of the wheel change was increased suitability when working goods trains on the Tasmanian Main, Western and Northern lines.

After the wheel modifications the four locomotives, numbers M8, M1, M6 & M2 were re-numbered MA1, MA2, MA3 & MA4 respectively. Of the remaining six unaltered locomotives three were renumbered M7, M9 & M10 becoming M1, M6 & M2 respectively.

MA1 was withdrawn from service in 1969 with boiler problems. It was donated to the Claremont-Brighton Rotary Club in 1973 and placed on display in a park beside the Lyell Highway.

The locomotive was transferred to New Norfolk in 2000.

Locomotive MA1 Chronology

	1951	M8 was one of 10 'Pacific' type engines ordered by Tasmanian Government Railways from English builder Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns Ltd, Darlington, England.	Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
	1951/52	Loaded on the Norwegian freighter Christen Smith at Middlesbrough Docks, England.	-
	1952	Ten locomotives and tenders shipped together to Tasmania on the Norwegian freighter Christen Smith. Unloaded Hobart March 12th 1952.	Hobart
	1952-1957	In service acrossTasmania.
	1957	So that they could be used for goods as well as passenger services ti was decided to modify M8. The modification involved the driving wheels being reduced from 55" to 48". This was to increase their tractive effort though it reduced their maximum speed. M8 then re-entered service as MA1. The modification was successful and three others followed.	Launceston Workshops
	1965	Based in Launceston, used for excursions on North East Line and not used to full potential.	Launceston
	1968	Transferred to Hobart April 1968 to be used for standby and steam cleaning service.	Hobart
	1969	Last ran in service December 11th,1969.	Hobart
	1970	Mechanical and boiler repairs.
	1973	Written off April 4th. after total 168,825 miles
	1973	MA1 with tender installed in park beside Lyell highway at Granton in May 1973.	Granton
	2000	Acquired by DVR and transferred to New Norfolk Yard in August 2000.	New Norfolk

Wikipedia Site for M Class Locomotives in Tasmania:

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