MA1

MA1 was originally M Class number 8 delivered to Tasmania in 1951. 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.

The four engines, numbers 8, 1, 6 & 2 were re-numbered MA1, MA2, MA3 & MA4 respectively. The remaining unaltered locomotives were renumbered 1,2,6 and 5.

MA1 was withdrawn from service in 1969 with boiler problems.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.

Wikipedia Site for M Class Locomotives in Tasmania:

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