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Y Class

The TGR Y class were based on a English Electric standard design. EE in Australia constructed a numb

The Y class was based on the then standard EE export design, seen in Australia as the Midland Railway (Western Australia) F class and South Australian 800 class. Eight Y class locomotives were in batches by the Launceston railway workshops between 1961 and 1972, using parts supplied by English Electric. The new locomotivs could operate in multiple with the earlier X class, although different performance characteristics meant that this was not optimal, although the XA class medications did go some way to improving this. At completion, Y4 was named Rowallan and Y5 Sir Charles Gairdner after the previous and current Tasmanian Governors respectively.

The Y class were initially used mostly in the south of the state, where their extra low speed haulage was put to good use on mainline services, and block log train on the Derwent Valley line. Y locos were often used on the Tasman Limited train when the load became too heavy for an X class, or on holiday periods when their increased fuel capacity allowed the journey to be undertaken without refuelling at Western Junction as was normal. All locos were later fitted with automatic couplers, and repainted yellow, with Y7 being involved in testing variation of this scheme before being the first to be released in the final version.

In 1991, Y6 hauled the remaining vacuum braked stock from Devonport to Launceston, ending the vacuum brake era on the mainline. All vacuum braked locos were then stored, with five going into preservation. Two locomotives, Y1 and Y5 were converted from vacuum to air brake in 1986, and remained in service as shunters at locations such as Derwent Park, Burnie, East Tamar and Boyer. They were later renumbered in 1998 to 2150 and 2151. They remained in service until early 2014 when they were stored prior to disposal - this eventually took place in early 2022. The shell and underframe of Y7 was modified in 2001 for further use as a remote driving trailer on cement train duties. See DV class page for more details of this vehicle

Preservation

Details

Other identities

Previous IdentityClass & NumberATN NumberPost Identity
 Y12150  
 Y52151  
 Y7 DV1 

Class photos, sounds and video

There are 43 matching items

English Electric 6SRKT motor, with main and auxiliary generators attached, as depicted in an EE tend
TGR outline diagram for Y class locos (L28)
The newly-completed Y3 was the subject of the TGR's photographer in Launceston yard, and showed a lo
One of a pair of English Electric locomotives delivered to Jamaica in 1963, as depicted in sales lit
Extract from the TGR's T'Rails newsletter about the construction of Y locos 6 to 8
Extract from the TGR's T'Rails newsletter about completion of Y6
Y8 sits at the head of the east bound Tasman Limited prior to departure from Wynyard. early 1970s
Trains to the Royal Hobart Show continued for some years after the cessation of suburban services. I
A clean Y3, probably shut down and being transferred to Launceston workshops, sits at the platform a
Y3 is towed dead behind ZA4 on a Longreach bound loaded log train at Western junction, September 198
Y7 collects some vacuum-braked wagons loaded with fertiliser at Risdon on 29 December 1980. These wi
Y5 undergoes a heavy overhaul in October 1981. The motor, generator and other majors components have
Having been fitted with a set of bogies intended for a AN green locomotive, a grubby Y4 undergoes ma
Y7 was the only vacuum braked member of the class to be repainted AN Green. Its pictured here in Hob
Y7 & with carriages ACS4 (ex TGR), ABL2 & ABL1 (both ex EBR), at National Park on 9 June 1984
Y4 and Y6 at Conara Junction, prepare to run 173 empty coal to Fingal. November 1986
Wearing a grubby version of the old TGR yellow, vacuum braked loco Y6 stands at Devonport during 199
With a little over a month left in traffic, Y3 shunts air-braked wagons at Railton on June 1991
In April 1993, Y1 and Y5 hauled a special test train to Florentine for loading with silica sand, and
After the four lower numbered locos had been removed for preservation, Y7 and Y8 remained stored wit
Y4 underwent initial restoration work in Hobart yard before being transferred to the Tasmanian Trans
Y1 shunts container wagons between the wharf and yard at Burnie, January 1997
Y2151 hauls a rake of container wagons loaded with empty 40' containers though Glenorchy on its way
TGR builders plate fitted to Y4, Tasmanian Transport Museum
Tasmanian Transport Museum locomotive Y4 leads Derwent Valley Railway's Y2 and train between Derwent
The Tasmanian Transport Museum's locomotive Y4 spent much of 2002 and the first half of 2003 on hire
TTMS loco Y4 hauls a Parattah-Launceston train for the Don River Railway into Ross. March 2003
Y2151 (ex Y5) at the Boyer paper mill, April 2003
Y2151 (ex Y5) at the Boyer paper mill, April 2003
Y2 arrives at New Norfolk with a train from Hayes, November 2003
Tasmanian Transport Museum's loco Y4 heads a charter train between Colebrook and Campania, December
Locomotive Y4 at the Tasmanian Transport Museum, November 2004
Y2150 is shown shunting container wagons in Burnie yard in February 2005. The sealed headlight and l
The TGR Y class were based on a English Electric standard design. EE in Australia constructed a numb
Drivers area of air-braked Y5, December 2005
Lt General Sir Charles Gairdner, CBE, KCMG, KCBO, CB was Governor of Tasmania from 1963 to 1968. Loc
On an uncommon mainline run, Y2151 hauls a short rake of container wagons between New Town and Moona
Y2150 stands outside Burnie station, November 2006
The Tasmanian Transport Museum Society's loco Y4 was hired to Pacific National on 3 November 2006 to
Preserved loco Y6 at the Don River Railway, April 2010
Front of Y6 at Don River Railway; April 2010
In late 2013, loco 2151 was towed south to Brighton for repair by the local staff, and use as Bright
After a long period in storage facing an uncertain future, TasRail have commenced reactivating 2150

 


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