Railways and Tramways of Australia

Steam out of puff

 

The last regular steam-hauled train in Tasmania ran on 3 September 1975.

 

In the middle of the 1950s steam power was widespread across Tasmania. It was generally relegated to branch line operation, slow goods and shunting work, although some peak hour passenger services in Hobart were steam-hauled.

 

Steam services had almost ceased by August 1962, with only one passenger and two goods trains being regularly steam-hauled. However, steam was used for shunting, as well as occasional train working when diesels were not available.

 

The Tasmanian Government Railways locomotive fleet in the middle of 1963 consisted of 22 operational steam locomotives. The number declined to 18 towards the end of 1966 and 11 by the end of 1968. These locomotives were involved in pilot working in the Launceston and Hobart areas, with occasional freight and passenger service. Sufficient diesel locomotives were in service to operate all train services but without any in reserve, so when there was an increase in traffic or numerous diesels required maintenance, the small number of operable steam locomotives continued to be used.

 

The last three steam locomotives in regular service were CCS23, H2 and M3, which continued to be used in the Hobart and Launceston areas in the early 1970s. M3 and H2 worked the feeder service to the Tasman Limited from Launceston to Western Junction on numerous occasions during 1974, the last steam run being hauled by H2 on 16 December. Steam locomotives also continued to haul special services.

 

H2 received firebox repairs in mid-1975 and ran several trips in the Launceston area. It then worked a ballast train to Relbia on 3 September, following which it was stored. Without any fuss, regular steam-hauled services in Tasmania had ceased.

 

H2 is preserved by the Derwent Valley Railway at New Norfolk.

 

Bibliography

‘Australian steam survey: 1969 edition’, Australian Railway Enthusiast, vol. 6, no. 4, December 1968, p 10.

T Coen, ‘Steam workings summary at Hobart’, Tasmanian Rail News, no. 98, January 1974, p 2.

‘H2 firebox inspection’, Tasmanian Rail News, no. 111, August 1975, p 2

‘Rolling stock notes—locomotives’, Tasmanian Rail News, no. 115, August 1976, p 1.

‘Steam news’, Tasmanian Rail News, no. 104, December 1974–January 1975, p 1.

‘Steam: where to find it’, Australian Railway Enthusiast, vol. 4, no. 4, December 1966, p 19.

‘Tasmania’, Here and There, Supplement to Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, no. 300, October 1962, p 3.

‘Tasmanian News’, Divisional Diary, September 1963, pp 13–14.