The M/MA class are a class of diesel-hydraulic locomotives built by

Walkers Limited Walkers Limited was an Australian engineering and shipbuilding company based in Maryborough, Queensland. It built large vessels and railway locomotives. The Walkers factory still produces locomotives and rolling stock as part of Downer Rail. ...

, Maryborough for the

Western Australian Government Railways Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) was the state owned operator of railways in the state of Western Australia between October 1890 and June 2003. Owned by the state government, it was renamed a number of times to reflect extra respon ...

in 1972–1973.

History

had previously supplied similar locomotives to the

Emu Bay Railway The Emu Bay Railway was a Tasmania, Australian railway company. The railway was significant during full operation, in that it linked the Tasmanian Government Railways system at Burnie with that at Zeehan that further linked to the Mount Lye ...

(as the 11 class),

Queensland Railways Queensland Rail (QR) is a railway operator in Queensland, Australia. Queensland Rail is owned by the Queensland Government, and operates both suburban and interurban rail services in South East Queensland, as well as long-distance passenger t ...

(as the DH class) and the

New South Wales Government Railways New South Wales Government Railways (NSWGR) was an agency of the Government of New South Wales that administered rail transport in the colony, and then the state, of New South Wales, Australia, between 1855 and 1932. History The NSWGR built ...

(as the 73 class). Two M Class were purchased for

hump shunting A classification yard (American English, as well as the Canadian National Railway), marshalling yard (British, Hong Kong, Indian, and Australian English, and the former Canadian Pacific Railway) or shunting yard (Central Europe) is a railway y ...

at Forrestfield Yard in 1972. They were fitted with

cab signalling Cab signalling is a railroad, railway safety system that communicates track status and condition information to the cab (locomotive), cab, crew compartment or driver's compartment of a locomotive, railcar or multiple unit. The information is con ...

for this purpose. In 1973 a further three were purchased which were designated the MA class. These differed in having

Caterpillar Caterpillars ( ) are the larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). As with most common names, the application of the word is arbitrary, since the larvae of sawflies (suborder ...

engines, were much lighter, could operate in multiple with each other and did not have cab signalling. In January 1994, four were written off and sold to CSR in

Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...

. M1851 was heavily rebuilt and converted to 610mm gauge by Walkers in 1996. It is currently in operation with

Wilmar Sugar Wilmar Sugar Australia is a subsidiary of the Singapore-based company Wilmar International that incorporates sugar production business and renewable energy cogeneration. The principal product of Wilmar Sugar is raw sugar. By-products from the prod ...

as DL28 "Jourama". M1852 was rebuilt similarly in 1997 and is in operation as DL29 "Cairns". MA1861 and MA1863 are currently stored in Queensland and are used for parts. MA1862 remained in service with

Westrail Western Australian Government Railways (WAGR) was the state owned operator of railways in the state of Western Australia between October 1890 and June 2003. Owned by the state government, it was renamed a number of times to reflect extra respon ...

, and later

Transperth Transperth is the public transport system for Perth and surrounding areas in Western Australia. It is managed by the Public Transport Authority (PTA), a state government organisation, and consists of train, bus and ferry services. Bus operat ...

as the Claisebrook Depot shunter until 2014. In 2015, it was sold to the

Hotham Valley Railway The Hotham Valley Tourist Railway (commonly Hotham Valley Railway) is a heritage railway, tourist and heritage railway in the Peel (Western Australia), Peel region of Western Australia. The railway operates over a section of the original Pi ...

.HVTR News
Hotham Valley Railway 23 July 2015

Status list

References

External links

{{WAGR Locomotives, state=collapsed B-B locomotives Diesel–hydraulic locomotives of Australia Diesel locomotives of Western Australia Railway locomotives introduced in 1972 Walkers Limited locomotives 3 ft 6 in gauge locomotives of Australia 610 mm gauge locomotives