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ZC 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
  11
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It is now over 30 years since the ZC class locos arrived in Tasmania. For a short period these locos

The forty-five 1300 class locomotives were built from 1967 for the Queensland Railways. Following mainline electrification they were surplus to requirements and in 1988 all locomotives were sold to AN and shipped to Tasmania in three batches. AN were really only interested in a smaller number of the better locos, but eventually purchased the whole class. Queensland Railways loco 1300 became Tasrail's ZC1, and the new numbers followed in order to 1344 which became ZC45. Some locomotives never entered service in Tasmania and were not renumbered, and some that did only had very short working careers. In service the locomotives generally operated in multiple with the ZB class, or singularly on services such as the cement train or shunting duties. Some locomotives ran in the Queensland blue colours for up to four years before being repainted green (or yellow in the case of ZC11).

Eight of the class were sold to Morrison Knudsen in South Australia for rebuilding as MKA class locomotives. These rebuilt locos have seen service in Malaysia, Queensland and most are now in Tasmania. Locomotives 2142, 2143 and ZC32 were sold in 2001 to Leisure Rail WA Ltd, which intended to run a tourist train service in Western Australia. The three locos were towed to the Don River Railway for storage, although two (2142, 2143) were later on sold following the collapse of the project and sent to Victoria in mid-December 2004 for overhaul and modification prior to being shipped to Senegal. ZC32 was progressively stripped, and eventually scrapped.

As at the end of November 2004 all locomotives were out of service and stored at East Tamar, having given up bogies and other equipment for the MKA fleet. Most out of service units had been scrapped, leaving only four locomotives in Tasrail ownership. A number of these loco have since been scrapped, the most recent being green painted 2146 which provided parts for the rebuilding of MKA2131 in 2009. The remaining stored locos were sold for scrap in mid 2012, or allocated for preservation in the case of 2144. This loco finally left East Tamar for its new base at Lilydale in May 2022.

Preservation

Details

Other identities

Previous IdentityClass & NumberATN NumberPost Identity
1300 ZC1  
1304 ZC5  
1305 ZC6  
1306 ZC7  
1307 ZC8  
1308 ZC92140  
1309 ZC10  
1310 ZC112141  
1313 ZC14  
1314 ZC15  
1315 ZC162142  
1316 ZC172143  
1318 ZC192144  
1319 ZC202145  
1320 ZC21 MKA4 (2134) 
1321 ZC22 MKA6 
1323 ZC24  
1325 ZC26 MKA3 (2133) 
1326 ZC27 MKA7 (2137) 
1327 ZC28  
1328 ZC29  
1330 ZC31 MKA8 (2138) 
1331 ZC32  
1333 ZC34  
1334 ZC35  
1336 ZC37  
1337 ZC38  
1338 ZC39  
1340 ZC41 MKA5 
1341 ZC422146  
1342 ZC43  
1343 ZC44  
1344 ZC45  
1301    
1302    
1303    
1311    
1312    
1317    
1322    
1324    
1329   MKA2 (2132) 
1332   MKA1 (2131) 
1335    
1339    

Class photos, sounds and video

There are 30 matching items

Plan of ZC class from the drivers manual
It is now over 30 years since the ZC class locos arrived in Tasmania. For a short period these locos
1314 is lowered onto Tasmanian soil for the first time at Bell Bay, October 1988
1315 is prepared for lifting from the hull of the <i>Condock II</i>. Fifteen locomotives were delive
In service in Tasmania for only a month, but showing the signs of hard life in Queensland, ZC16 wait
ZC37 and ZC22 lead loaded woodchip log train 4473 at East Tamar, prior to departure for Longreach. J
ZC31 hauls the Hobart bound number 111 paper train past the site of Dromedary station in September 1
Still in the livery of the Queensland Railways, Tasrail ZC37 heads ZC41 and ZC31 and northbound trai
The large number of 1300 class purchased mean there was never a shortage of the locos in Launceston
ZC9 waits between trains at Boyer, October 1991
Sandwiched between two repainted class members, ZC11 works a train through at Bridgewater, October 1
Trailing loco ZC20 at Western Junction, January 1992
After spending the last four years languishing around Launceston workshops, what remained of Queensl
ZC11 leads the loaded cement train away from the loading silos at Railton, March 1994
Queensland Railway's 1301 was never used in Tasmania and therefore not renumbered to a ZC. It was on
Whilst some stored locos had plated up cabs and secured engine bays, by October 1996 (just a few mon
Recently repainted ZC20 waits in Hobart yard for its next departure north, June 1997
2146 on number 343 coal/pine train, Conara Junction. November 1998
ZC2141 leads a loaded cement train off the mainline and into Devonport Yard, January 1999
On the first revenue train to Wiltishire in over 2 and half years, ZC2143 - ZC2142 lead five loaded
On the first revenue train to Wiltishire in over 2 and half years, ZC2143 - ZC2142 lead five loaded
2144 pauses in Devonport yard with the now empty cement train before departing for Railton, February
On the afternoon of 7 December 2001, a friend and I followed train 54 from Launceston to Tonganah in
On 24 October 2002, train 54 from Launceston to Tonganah was seen at Bacala and Lebrinna in the nort
Stored loco ZC2146 at East Tamar workshops in April 2004
Not long before services on the North East line ceased, on 13 April 2004 train number 54 from Launce
To provide bogies and other component for the
Stored ZC2144 in the line up of surplus locomotives at East Tamar workshops, December 2005. This loc
Along with other members of the class, ZC2144 remains in long term storage at East Tamar workshops,
A spare English Electric 12CSVT MkII motor sits on the floor at East Tamar workshops. In time the mo

 

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