| Weight | 98t |
| Driving Wheels | 4ft 7ins MA 4ft 0ins |
| Boiler Pressure | 180psi |
| Cylinders | Two Outside – 16in x 24in |
| Tractive Effort | 17,090lbf MA 19,600lbf |
In March 1952 the Tasmanian Government Railways (TGR) took delivery of ten class M locomotives built by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns at Newcastle upon Tyne. They were similar to the YB class locomotives supplied to the Indian Railways.
They operated on the North-Eastern and Western lines and at Hobart.
As the TGR had already started to employ diesel power on some lines that had been intended to be operated by the M class engines four locomotives were fitted with smaller driving wheels in 1957 which enabled them to be haul heavier trains on the steeply graded North-Eastern line. The locomotives fitted with smaller driving wheels became the MA class. The four were originally numbered M1, M2,M6 and M8 and became MA2, MA4, MA3 and MA1 respectively.
The smaller driving wheels had recovered from withdrawn Australian Standard Garratts locomotives.
The locomotives were withdrawn from service from 1960 as they became due for overhaul.
This locomotive (M2) was built by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns in 1951 for the Tasmanian Government Railways but entered service as M10. It was renumbered after the conversion of four locomotives to class MA engines. It was the last steam locomotive built for the Tasmanian Government Railway.
The locomotive spent most of its early working life based at Launceston where it was employed on duties which included regular workings on the North-Eastern line.
After completing an overhaul in December 1955 the locomotive was allocated to Devonport shed before moving to Wynyard at some later date.
The locomotive returned to the works at Launceston for an overhaul in February 1960 which was completed in July of that year. After this it was based again at Devonport.
Due to the poor mechanical state of the locomotive, it was withdrawn from service in July 1961.
The boiler, which was in good condition, was switched with that on MA2 as the MA class with smaller wheels were considered to be more useful than the remaining M class engines. Following this M2 was placed in storage at Launceston and was partly cannibalised for spares before being moved to Stanley in December 1972.
The locomotive was then placed on a plinth by the sea and used as part of a play area for children at a caravan park. Despite having been cosmetically restored there were many parts missing.
After suffering in the open air by the sea and damage at the hands of vandals the locomotive was considered to be a liability and was the Don Valley Railway recovered the locomotive and stored it prior to it being shipped back to Britain. This followed it being purchased by a member of the Tanfield Railway who was interested because the locomotive was originally built in Newcastle upon Tyne which is close to the location of the Tanfield Railway.
It is anticipated that it will take many years to restore the locomotive.
- M5 – Works number 7425
- M6 – Works number 7429
- MA1 – Works number 7428
- MA2 – Works number 7421
- MA3 – Works number 7426
- MA4 – Works number 7422
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