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ZA Class

Classes:
TGR & AN ATN & PN
U DQ
V A
W QR
X & XA DC
Y D
Z DV
ZA MKA
830 2050
DP13 TR
ZB EBR
ZC No. 21
Linmac No. 22
ZR & ZP 10
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ZA5 & Z2 lead a loaded woodchip log train on the Bell Bay line, late 1980s

The ZA class locomotives were the TGRs initial choice for handing block log trains to Longreach on the new Bell Bay line, although the first locos for this traffic were the Z class which were ordered instead initially for price and scheduling reasons. The ZA class are based on the Queensland Railways 2350 class (see Tasrail ZB class), although with bogies similar to those used by the Western Australian R/RA class (and TGR Z class). Initially four ZA class were order and delivered in 1973, with a final two locos arriving in 1976. The second of this pair, ZA 6, became the last locomotive built by GEC in Australia and the last new loco built for Tasmanian service for another 38 years.

As with the Z class, the operation of the ZA locos later spread around the system as traffic demanded and more train became suited to their high power. From 1982 the ZA class were converted to Westinghouse air brake and were gradually repainted AN green, with the last locos being painted in 1988. ZA6 received a variation on the normal colour scheme, in recognition of the Australian Bicentenary that year. This variation (and logos) was carried through in 1997 when the loco was repainted yellow.

In 1996/97 the serviceable locomotives (all but ZA4) were repainted yellow, and From June 1998, the five operational locomotives were renumbered 2114 to 2118. The operational locos operated in a pool with the Z Class. Being a two person locomotive, they were in recent time unpopular with management despite their modernity and reasonably high power output when maintained in good condition.

The remains heavily stripped of ZA4 were finally sold for scrap in mid 2011, after many years of storage at East Tamar, and two of the more complete locos (2116 and 2117) being scrapped in Mid 2012. This left 2114 in service, 2115 stored for parts and 2118 held for preservation. The final locomotive was stored in mid 2014 following the delivery of the TR locomotives. After many years of negotiations, 2118 (formerly ZA6) was donated to the Tasmanian Transport Museum and deliver to their Glenorchy site in January 2021. 2114 (ZA1) followed to the Don River Railway for preservation in May 2022, leaving just 2115 in storage at East Tamar.

Preservation

Details

Other identities

Previous IdentityClass & NumberATN NumberPost Identity
 ZA12114  
 ZA22115  
 ZA32116  
 ZA52117  
 ZA62118  

Class photos, sounds and video

There are 34 matching items

TGR outline diagram for ZA class locos (L32)
ZA2 moves around Launceston Loco depot, early 1970s
ZA5 sits in the crossing loop at Deloraine with Wiltshire bound empty log train No.233, March 1978
ZA3 and ZA6 lead No. 44 goods, comprising mostly superphosphate loading, north through Rogerville, M
ZA1 leads No.209 empty air-braked woodchip log train out of Deloraine yard in April 1984
ZA5 and ZA1 shunt Boyer loading from their train at Bridgewater Junction, March 1985
Having been detached from its train along with Boyer bound laoding, ZA1 rests at Bridgewater Junctio
ZA3 and Z1 lead a loaded woodchip log train past Western Junction station and on toward Launceston a
The two woodchip mills at Longreach were reached by a spur line off the main Bell Bay line. In Febru
Tasrail's contribution to the Australian bicentenary in 1988 was to apply a modified paint scheme to
Tasrail's contribution to the Australian bicentenary in 1988 was to apply a modified paint scheme to
ZA5 & Z2 lead a loaded woodchip log train on the Bell Bay line, late 1980s
Accompanied by Z1 and the ZC class shunter, ZA4 waits between trains at the end of the track in Hoba
Following attention in the workshops, ZA6 sits outside the main building at East Tamar, February 199
From the late 1990s to the mid 2000s, train 43 mostly conveyed loaded coal and wagons from the Launc
This clip shows three trains from October and November 2002, all hauled by ZA class locomotives. On
On Easter Tuesday (22 April) 2003, ZA2114, ZA2117, Z2113 & haul train 343 south through Tea Tree, Br
On 24 October 2003, ZA2116, which had been left at Boyer as a spare engine/shunter the week before,
On 13 April 2004, ZA2115 and ZA2114 were seen leading 347 from Fingal to Conara, and then to Railton
Train #166 at Bridgewater with locos ZR2101 - QR2056 - DQ2001 - Z2113 - ZA2117
ZA2118 waits for departure from Hobart, December 2004
The Z and ZA class locomotives were fitted with equalised, low weight transfer bogies of a design si
ZA2117 is shunted around East Tamar workshops prior to having its motor removed for replacement with
With its body panels removed, ZA2117 is repositioned to another bay in the East Tamar workshops prio
ZA4 remains stored at East Tamar as a source of spare parts for the remainder of the EE powered flee
ZA4 remains stored at East Tamar as a source of spare parts for the remainder of the EE powered flee
ZA2115 and Z2112 prepare for departure from Hobart on train 66, October 2005
Drivers controls of ZA2117. To the left of the seat are the handbrake, direction and throttle contro
ZA2116 and an MKA skirt the Derwent River with a well loaded train bound for the Boyer paper mill, A
ZA2117 sits outside East Tamar workshops, December 2008
ZA2117 sits outside East Tamar workshops, December 2008
ZA class locos 2114 and 2116 approach East Tamar on Friday 6 February 2009 with container train 653
Original cab side plates for ZA4 on display at the Queen Victoria Museum, Launceston
After many years of negotiations, 2118 (formerly ZA6) was donated to the Tasmanian Transport Museum

 

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