Tasmanian Government Railways K class

The Tasmanian Government Railways K class is a class of 2 0-4-0+0-4-0 Garratt locomotives operated by the Tasmanian Government Railways from 1909. They were the first Garratt locomotives built.

Overview Although considered the first Garratt locomotives, they did in fact differ in two important details from Herbert William Garratt's original concept. First: they are compound locomotives, with two high-pressure cylinders on the rear engine, and a pipe leading to two larger low-pressure cylinders on the front engine; second: both sets of cylinders were placed facing each other inside their engine units, rather than facing out as in all other Garratts.New Garratt Locomotives, Tasmanian Government Railways Railway Gazette 3 January 1913 pages 15-18The Railways of Tasmania Locomotive, Railway Carriage & Wagon Review issue 363 November 1922 page 326 This was a problem on the rare warm days on the West Coast Range in Tasmania, as one pair of cylinders was under the cab, making the cab uncomfortably hot.Steam Locomotives of the Tasmanian Government Railways and its Constituents Australian Railway History issue 917 March 2014 page 19

The North East Dundas Tramway on which they worked traversed some of the most rugged terrain in the world served by a railway at the time. It featured long stretches of 1-in-25 grades, high trestle bridges and 30-metre-radius reverse curves.

After the line closed in 1929, the boiler of K1 was sold to a sawmill, and in 1947 K1 was sold to its builder Beyer, Peacock & Company, with the boiler and boiler cradle of K2 attached and repatriated back to England.Largest Beyer-Garratt Locomotives on View Railway Gazette 12 September 1952 page 301 Beyer, Peacock & Company closed in 1966 with K1 sold to the Ffestiniog Railway.Festiniog acquires first Garratt Modern Railways issue 216 September 1966 page 508 However, it was too tall and wide for use within the restricted loading gauge, and after ten years of storage at Porthmadog, it was lent to the National Railway Museum (NRM), York where it was cosmetically restored.Pioneer Preserved The Railway Magazine issue 939 July 1979 page 323K1 The Original Garratt - Maintenance & Support West Highland Railway SocietyK1 Back in the UK West Highland Railway Society

As the Welsh Highland Railway (WHR) rebuilding project reached fruition, K1's potential for the line was recognised and in 1995 it left the NRM. A new boiler was found to be required. Parts were restored at various locations, with K1 reassembled at Boston Lodge.K1: Rebuilding the Chassis West Highland Railway Society After conversion to oil-firing, it steamed again in 2004 and finally received HM Railway Inspectorate approval in September 2006 to haul trains.Garratt K1 returns to steam The Railway Magazine issue 1242 October 2004 page 95K1: Testing & Commissioning West Highland Railway Society A conversion back to coal firing was completed in August 2007 together with some other work which allowed it to appear at the Superpower weekend in early September. It entered regular passenger service in October 2007.K1 Tasmanian Rail News issue 253 December 2013 page 16K1 in WHR Service West Highland Railway Society

In November 2014, K1's boiler certificate expired and it was withdrawn for overhaul.K1 Working Parties West Highland Railway Society In 2019 it moved to the Statfold Barn Railway for a period of ten years. A boiler overhaul was started in January 2020.K1 Moves to Stalford for Cosmetic Restoration and Display Steam Railway issue 500 December 2019 page 20First Garratt to resteam this year under fast-track deal Heritage Railway issue 264 14 February 2020 page 18Pioneer Garratt set for steam return in 2020 Narrow Gauge World issue 146 March 2020 page 13 It returned to service in August 2020.Garratt K1 Debut at Staffold's 13-Engine Enthusiast Weekend Steam Railway issue 509 21 August 2020

References

Tasmanian Government Railways K class

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