M5

Tasmanian Transport Museum, Glenorchy

This photo was kindly contributed by Stuart Dix and shows M5 on railtour duties on 27 July 2002.

M5 is seen at Colebrook whilst running a private charter to Parattah.

Builder	Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns Ltd, Darlington, England
Builder’s Number & Year	7425 of 1951
Wheel Arrangement	4-6-2

This locomotive was the fifth of ten members the Tasmanian Government Railways' M-class 4-6-2 locomotives, which were built to the proven design of Indian Railways metre-gauge YB class Pacifics. Photos show these locomotives wore handsome green or red liveries in service.

M5 retained its original number during the 1957-58 rebuilding by the Tasmanian Government Railways of four M-class members to MA-class.

M5 was donated by the Tasmanian Government Railways to the Tasmanian Transport Museum at Glenorchy, Hobart in November 1974. Today M5 is preserved in operational condition with main line certification; between outings it is displayed within the museum's roundhouse at Glenorchy.

A complete history of the Tasmanian Government Railways M-class and this locomotive is provided in the exhibit guidebook ‘Locomotives of the Tasmanian Transport Museum’. The webmaster considers the Tasmanian Transport Museum one of the best presented rail transport collections in Australia with a variety of well restored railway, tramway and road exhibits, and thoroughly recommends a visit!

Update:

M5 was withdrawn from traffic in 2019 pending overhaul, which was completed in 2025 culminating in a return to steam on 8 June 2025. The loco is now available for service during running days at the Tasmanian Transport Museum and looks as good as new, with polished rods and brightwork and wearing authentic green livery.

Video:

Rowan Kinnane / Rail Media Productions has recently published the following YouTube video featuring M5’s return to steam at the Tasmanian Transport Museum, Glenorchy:

‘The return of M5 - first public trains’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmaNqHMWesc

Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns was established in 1937 when Robert Stephenson and Company of Darlington obtained the locomotive construction business

of Hawthorn Leslie and Company at Newcastle upon Tyne. The TGR M-class locomotives originated from the Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn plant at Darlington

rather than the former Hawthorn Leslie plant at Newcastle upon Tyne, as evidenced by M5’s builder’s plate.

This photo was kindly contributed by Rowan Kinnane and is a still taken from video.

References

a	Dix, A., Beck, D., and Dix M. 'Locomotives of the Tasmanian Transport Museum Glenorchy Tasmania', published by the Tasmanian Transport Museum Society, October 1991.
b	Cooper, G. & Goss, G. 'Tasmanian Railways 1871 - 1996, 125 Years - A Pictorial History' published by C G publishing Company.
c	Information provided by Melanie Dennis via email dated 14 July 2004.
d	Wikipedia entry for Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns Ltd, Retrieved 9 July 2025.

Page updated: 9 July 2025

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