Tasmanian Government Railways P class
| Company type | Steam locomotive |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1919 |
| Founder | Clyde Engineering |
| Headquarters | Launceston , Tasmania, Australia |
| Products | 2-6-2T steam locomotive |
The Tasmanian Government Railways P Class consisted of a 2-6-2T steam locomotive originally purchased second-hand from a timber enterprise in New South Wales. Primarily utilized within Launceston Workshops and Yards, it was retired around 1941.
Industrial Service
Manufactured in 1919 by Clyde Engineering located in Sydney for Allen Taylor & Company, this locomotive operated on a 1067 mm gauge bush tramway stretching along the Mid North Coast, running from Myall Lakes through Wootton to timber concessions at Coolongoolook. Bearing the name Wootton, it commenced operation in January 1920 but was quickly considered too heavy for the track and was put up for sale within a year.
Due to a shortage of rolling stock, the Tasmanian Government Railways acquired this nearly new engine between late 1920 and early 1921, incorporating it into their roster to meet service requirements.
Tasmanian Government Railways
Following modifications and its assignment of the number P1, the locomotive began service on 14 April 1921, sporting a lined black paint scheme. Originally designated for the Ulverstone–Nietta route, it proved unsuitable and was reassigned to the Myalla–Wiltshire extension, where it again failed to perform satisfactorily. Efforts to sell the unit were initiated later that same year.
Thereafter, P1 functioned predominantly as a shunting engine around Launceston’s roundhouse and workshops, accumulating minimal mileage. It underwent significant overhauls in both 1927 and 1932 and may have been employed on limestone transport along the Melrose branch, although this remains unverified.
The precise date of withdrawal is uncertain; official records first noted its proposed write-off on 31 January 1945. The locomotive remained abandoned at Launceston until February 1951, after which it was moved to Mowbray in October and subsequently sold for dismantling. The exact timing of scrapping is not documented.