The Tasmanian Government Railways H class was a class of

4-8-2 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels, eight powered and coupled driving wheels and two trailing wheels. This type of steam locomotive is commonly known as t ...

steam locomotive A steam locomotive is a locomotive that provides the force to move itself and other vehicles by means of the expansion of steam. It is fuelled by burning combustible material (usually coal, oil or, rarely, wood) to heat water in the locomot ...

s operated by the Tasmanian Government Railways.

History

In October 1951, the Tasmanian Government Railways (TGR) took delivery of eight H locomotives from the Vulcan Foundry,

Newton-le-Willows Newton-le-Willows is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, Merseyside, England. The population at the 2011 census was 22,114. Newton-le-Willows is on the eastern edge of St Helens, south of Wigan and north of Warrington. The ...

built at the same time and basic design as the Gold Coast Railway '248' class in Ghana. They were delivered in a new emerald green livery. Four were later repainted red. As they fell due for overhaul, withdrawals began in 1961. H2 received a major overhaul in 1966-7, the last of the class to receive such work. Two (H2 and H5) partook in the Centenary of Rail in Tasmania celebrations in February 1971: H5 was withdrawn after this but H2 worked periodically before being finally withdrawn in 1975. All remained in store until disposed of between 1974 and 1978.

Preservation

*H1 at the Tasmanian Transport Museum, Glenorchy *H2 at the Derwent Valley Railway *H5 at the Derwent Valley Railway *H6 plinthed in Perth, Tasmania (locomotive only) *H7 at the Don River Railway *H8 at the Invermay Rail Heritage Precinct (loco chassis only)H8
Australian Steam

Namesake

The H class designation was previously used by the H class, the last of which was withdrawn before 1930.

References

{{Reflist Railway locomotives introduced in 1951 Steam locomotives of Tasmania Vulcan Foundry locomotives 3 ft 6 in gauge locomotives of Australia 4-8-2 locomotives