The Tasmanian Government Railways C class is a class of 2-6-0 steam locomotives operated by the Tasmanian Government Railways.
History Between 1885 and 1892, the Tasmanian Government Railways took delivery of 19 C class locomotives from Beyer, Peacock & Company, Manchester. A further eight followed in the early years of the 20th century.The Railways of Tasmania Locomotive, Railway Carriage & Wagon Review issue 363 November 1922 page 326 A 28th originally built for the Emu Bay Railway was purchased second hand in 1937.The Wanderings of No C28 Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 329 March 1965 pages 58-60 They were the first of what became almost an Australian standard, as locomotives of similar design served in large numbers as the Silverton Tramway Y class, South Australian Railways Y class and Western Australian Government Railways G class, and also in Queensland and on the North Australia Railway.The Decline of Steam Power on the Tasmanian Government Railways 1945 - 1965 Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 347 September 1966 pages 199/200Steam Locomotives of the Tasmanian Government Railways and its Constituents Australian Railway History issue 917 March 2014 pages 6, 7, 14"Tasmanian C class survivors" Railway Digest September 2015 page 54
In 1912, six (16-19, 26 & 27) were rebuilt with new cylinders, Belpaire boilers and larger smokeboxes and reclassified as the CC class. In 1924, a further four (21, 23-25) were rebuilt also receiving Walschaerts valve gear and reclassified as the CCS class.
In 1948, a further seven locomotives of the same design were purchased from the Commonwealth Railways. These had originally been built as South Australian Railways Y class locomotives and sold to the Commonwealth Railways to operate North Australia Railway services in World War II. Four entered service as the F class, with the other three used for parts.The F-Class 2-6-0s of the Tasmanian Government Railways Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 551 September 1983 pages 194-200
Preservation Four have been preserved: C1 at the West Coast Pioneers Museum, ZeehanC1 Australian Steam C22 at the Tasmanian Transport Museum, Glenorchy restored to service 1983, withdrawn for overhaul 1999 returned to service November 2009C22 Australian SteamLocomotive C22 returns to service at the Tasmanian Transport MuseumEngineering Tasmania November 2009 CCS23 at the Don River Railway, DevonportCCS23 Australian Steam CCS25 at the Don River Railway, DevonportCCS25 Australian Steam
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