Tasmanian Government Railways

Tasmanian Government Railways were absorbed into the Australian National Railways Commission, established by the Whitlam Government in 1975 (along with the former Commonwealth Railways, the non-urban railways of South Australia) and renamed TasRail. Tasrail was sold to Australian Transport Network Limited, a partnership of Tranz Rail and Wisconsin Central Railway, when the Australian National Railways Commission was broken up in November 1997. Australian Transport Network was acquired by Pacific National in 2004.

TGR's Motive Power

TGR had a vast range of motive power and rollingstock, including steam and diesel locos and railcars. Some of the steam locomotives were quite distinguished, especially the 'R' and 'M' class 4-6-2s, both of which were capable of speeds approaching 60 mph (97 km/h).

The following is a list of motive power used by TGR.

team

Ex Launceston & Western Railway

*4 "A" class, built by Robert Stephenson and Company.
*1 "A" class, built by Sharpe Stewart.

Ex Tasmanian Main Line Railway

*5 "E+" class, built by Hunslet
*1 "A+" class, built by Hunslet
*1 "F" class, built by Neilson
*3 "B+" class, built by Hunslet
*2 "D+" class, built by Dübs & Co.
*4 "C+" class, built by Dübs & Co.

Tasmanian Government Railways

*1 "A" class, built in the TGR Workshops, Launceston
*8 "A" class, built by Beyer, Peacock
*8 "Ab" class, built in the TGR Workshops, Launceston
*15 "B" class, built by Beyer, Peacock
*28 "C" class 2-6-0, built by Beyer, Peacock
*6 "CC" class 2-6-0, built in the TGR Workshops, Launceston. Modified from 'C' class
*4 "CCS" class 2-6-0, built in the TGR Workshops, Launceston. Modified from 'CC' class
*5 "D" class, built by Beyer, Peacock
*8 DS class 2-6-4T, built by New Zealand Railways
*2 "E" class, built by Beyer, Peacock
*4 "F" class, built by James Martin
*14 "G" class 4-8-2+2-8-4, built by VR, SAR, Clyde.
*8 "H" class 4-8-2, built by Vulcan Foundry
*2 "L" class 2-6-2+2-6-2, built by Beyer, Peacock
*2 "M" class (4-4-2+2-4-4), built by Beyer, Peacock. World's only eight-cylinder Garratts: M1 set a Garratt world speed record of 55 mph (88 km/h) in 1912. Speeds of over 60 mph (97 km/h) are claimed for these engines.
*10 "M" class 4-6-2, built by Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns. Speeds of over 60 mph (97 km/h) are claimed for these engines.
*4 "MA" class 4-6-2, built in the TGR Workshops, Launceston. Modified from 'M' class
*1 "P" class, built by Clyde
*19 "Q" class 4-8-2, built by Perry, Walkers, Clyde
*4 "R" class 4-6-2, built by Perry. Speeds of over 60 mph (97 km/h) are claimed for these engines.
*9 "SP" class (steam railcars), built by Sentinel Cammell
*6 "T" class, built by Walkers

Ex Public Works Department (Marrwarh tram)

*"Big Ben", built by Baldwin Locomotive Works
*"Fantail", built by Baldwin Locomotive Works
*"Sixwheeler", built by Hudswell Clarke
*"Spider", built by Baldwin Locomotive Works

Tasmania Government Railways (2'0" Gauge)

*3 "G" class, built by Sharpe-Stewart
*4 "H" class, built by Krauss
*1 "J" class 2-6-4-0T, built by Hagans of Erfurt
*2 "K class" 0-4-0+0-4-0) built by Beyer, Peacock. K1 was the first Garratt built.

Diesel

Tasmanian Government Railways (3'6")

*13 "V" class (-C-), built by Vulcan Foundry, TGR Workshops
*32 "X" class (Bo-Bo), built by English Electric. First main line diesel-electrics in Australia.
*6 "U" class (-B-), built by Malcolm Moore, TGR Workshops
*2 "W" class (-C-), built by Tulloch
*5 "XA" class (Bo-Bo), built in the TGR Workshops, Launceston. Modified from X class
*8 "Y" class (Bo-Bo), built by TGR workshops, English Electric
*3 "VA" class (-C-), built by TGR Launcseton Railway Workshops
*4 "Z" class (Co-Co), built by GEC (English Electric)
*30 "DP" class (railcars) (Bo-Bo), built by Waddingtons

ee also

*Rail transport in Tasmania
*History of rail transport in Australia

The sad demise of the Tasmanian Government Railways in 1978, saw the cessation of passenger operations, a move that was predicated by the cessation of Hobart suburban railway services in 1975. The TGR was both an old fashioned railway, with staff and ticket and semaphoe signals, and moe than a hundred railway stations, ranging from small country halts like Tiberias, to elegant stations like Fingal and Moonah. It had a staff with incredible pride and service - work ethics that sadly were challenged by the economic rationalism. Parcel traffic, less than waggon load goods consignments, mail traffic and livestock - all went along with the uniquitous DB class brake vans, formal uniforms, liveried station masters and with it went the best run railway in Australia.

The passenger rolling stock of the TGR included Australia's finest saloon carriages, the 1955-58 series ACS class 'articulated country saloons', 76 seat first class with air suspended reclining seats, tray ables, state of the art lighting and heating, and buffet service with hostesses. To the end in 1978, the TGR still used AAL class first class saloons with leather seats and maple panelling, as well as SP class brake and 2nd class passenger carriages, converted from Sentinel steam railcars.

The beautiful DP class articulated inter-urban and country service railcars as well as the big western line DP cars and smaller suburban railcars were heavily used to the end, and many are in preservation today.

In the early 1970's Hobart railway station saw more than 70 trains a day coming and going. Today that number is 2 or 3, all reduced to a single track with 10-15km minimum distance between trains - a sad cry from the busy Hobart suburban system that used the miniature electric block safeworking system and sempahore signals to provide absolute safety and reliability.