TGR M Class (1952)

The Tasmanian Government Railways M class is a class of 4-6-2 steam locomotives operated by the Tasmanian Government Railways.
==History==
On 12 March 1952, the Tasmanian Government Railways (TGR) took delivery of ten 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 dieselization 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 Hence in 1957, four were fitted with smaller driving wheels recovered from withdrawn Australian Standard Garratts enabling them to operate heavier trains over the steeply graded North-Eastern line.
As they fell due for overhaul, they were withdrawn from 1960, with the last removed from traffic in 1975.
===Preservation===
All members of the class have been preserved to an extent, with four locomotives seeing further use on heritage trains.
Original
number	Builder's
number	Final
number	Preservation
M1 	7421	MA2	Don River Railway, Devonport
M2 	7422	MA4	Don River Railway, Devonport
M3 	7423	M3 	Don River Railway, Devonport
M4 	7424	M4 	Don River Railway, Devonport
M5 	7425	M5 	Tasmanian Transport Museum, Glenorchy
M6 	7426	MA3	Public park, Margate
M7 	7427	M1 	Derwent Valley Railway
M8 	7428	MA1	Derwent Valley Railway
M9 	7429	M6 	Bellarine Railway, Queenscliff, Victoria
M10	7430	M2 	Tanfield Railway, England
==Namesake==
The M class designation was previously used by the M class, the last of which was withdrawn in 1931.
==Trivia==
*There were similar engines around as well in the form of the YC and the YD which was also used on the railways in Myanmar as well.
==Gallery==
*Gallery
Category:3 foot 6 inch gauge
Category:Preserved locomotives
Category:Robert Stephenson locomotives
Category:Tasmanian locomotives
Category:Australian steam locomotives
Category:4-6-2 steam locomotives
Category:4-6-2 locomotives
Category:6 Coupled locomotives
Category:Built in 1951
Category:Locomotives
Category:Australian locomotives
Category:Tender locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives