The Tasmanian Government Railways Za class is a class of diesel locomotives built by

English Electric The English Electric Company Limited (EE) was a British industrial manufacturer formed after World War I by amalgamating five businesses which, during the war, made munitions, armaments and aeroplanes. It initially specialised in industrial el ...

, Rocklea for the

Tasmanian Government Railways The Tasmanian Government Railways (TGR) was the former operator of the mainline railways in Tasmania, Australia. Formed in 1872, the railway company was managed by the Government of Tasmania, and existed until absorption into the Australian Nat ...

in 1973.

History

With the construction of a

new line New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 ** "New" (Paul McCartney song), 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, 1995 * "New" (Daya song), 2017 * "New" (No Doubt song), 1 ...

from Launceston to Bell Bay,

placed an order for four 1752 kW locomotives with

. The first four were delivered in 1973. A further two were delivered in 1976, ZA 6 being the final locomotive built by GEC Australia and the last English Electric locomotive built anywhere. The 1976 locomotives differed from the earlier batch in having a rounded cab roof, similar to the Z class, instead of an angled roof like the 2350 class from which they were derived. In March 1978 the Za class were included in the transfer of the Tasmanian Government Railways to Australian National. From 1982 all had their vacuum brakes replaced with air brakes. In 1988, ZA6 was painted into a modified version of the AN green and gold scheme, with a Tasmanian state flag on the ends of the locomotive where the AN logo usually sat, and the logo for the Bicentenary celebrations on the long hood, to celebrate the

Australian Bicentenary The bicentenary of Australia was celebrated in 1988. It marked 200 years since the arrival of the First Fleet of British convict ships at Sydney in 1788. History The bicentennial year marked Captain Arthur Phillip's arrival with the 11 ships ...

. In 1996, it was repainted into the then-standard reverse yellow and green scheme, however it retained the bicentennial modifications. In June 1998 the five in service were renumbered as the 2114 class, ZA4 having been withdrawn. In May 2014, 2114 joined 2115 and 2118 in storage after the new TR class entered service. 2118 (ZA6) was held for preservation with 2115 (ZA2) retained as a parts donor. In January 2021, the

Tasmanian Transport Museum The Tasmanian Transport Museum is a transport museum in Glenorchy, Tasmania, Australia preserving and exhibiting a collection relating to Tasmanian transport history including items such as locomotives, carriages, ephemera and railroadiana, rail ...

announced it had secured ZA6, moving it by road the following month.Tasmania's final home for last built EE diesel ''

The Railway Magazine ''The Railway Magazine'' is a monthly United Kingdom, British railway magazine, aimed at the Railfan, railway enthusiast market, that has been published in London since July 1897. it was, for three years running, the railway magazine with the ...

'' issue 1446 September 2021 page 110 Za1 was delivered to

Don River Railway The Don River Railway is a heritage railway and museum in Don, Tasmania, Don, Devonport, Tasmania. It operates a service from Don to Coles Beach (operationally known as Don Junction). The current line follows a reconstructed section of the form ...

for preservation on 23 May 2022.

Status table

References

External links

{{commons category-inline Co-Co locomotives English Electric locomotives Diesel locomotives of Tasmania Railway locomotives introduced in 1973