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M6 Bellarine Railway |
M6 is seen running around her train at Drysdale on a magnificent day in Easter 1995.
This locomotive was built by Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns Ltd in 1951 as their builder's number 7429, being the ninth of ten members the Tasmanian Government Railways' M-class 4-6-2 locomotives. These locomotives were built to the proven design of Indian Railways' metre-gauge YB class pacifics. a
M6 was originally numbered M9 prior to the 1957-58 rebuilding by the Tasmanian Government Railways of four "M" class members to "MA" class; the whole M/MA re-numbering hinged on this one change as it meant simply inverting the 9 to become a 6. b The other class members were renumbered as per the following table:
| Original No. | RS&H Builder's No. | New No. a |
| M1 | 7421 | MA2 |
| M2 | 7422 | MA4 |
| M3 | 7423 | M3 |
| M4 | 7424 | M4 |
| M5 | 7425 | M5 |
| M6 | 7426 | MA3 |
| M7 | 7427 | M1 |
| M8 | 7428 | MA1 |
| M9 | 7429 | M6 |
| M10 | 7430 | M2 |
M6 is now preserved as an operational member of the Bellarine Railway locomotive fleet. I've visited the Bellarine Railway many times over the years; one such visit during Easter 1995 included several hours chasing M6 along the line on a beautiful day. The scanned photo shown above dates from that visit.
By July 2006, M6 was out of service and awaiting overhaul at Queenscliff. As at January 2011, M6 was in undercover storage at Lakers Siding awaiting firebox and mechanical repairs before return to service. c
References
| a | L. Oberg, 'Locomotives of Australia', published by J. W. Books Pty Ltd, Brookvale NSW. 1982 reprint. pp. 260 |
| b | Information provided by Melanie Dennis via email dated 14 July 2004. |
| c | Information provided by D. Price via email dated 27 January 2011. |
| d | Webmaster's observation or comment. |
Page updated: 1 July 2013