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MA1 was withdrawn from service in 1969 with boiler problems.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

Wikipedia Site for M Class Locomotives in Tasmania:

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