To read more about the Z and ZA, see the table below.

UNIT NO. / NAME

DATE / EVENT

Z1

  • Mid 1972 - Built by English Electric (Australia), Rocklea Works, Brisbane, Queensland. Fitted with EE 12CSVT Mk.II engine

  • 04/12/1972 - Arrived in Burnie (ship unknown)

  • 12/1972 - Entered service (painted in TGR Tiger stripe livery)

  • 12/1983 - Converted from vacuum brake to air-brake

  • 2/1988 - Repainted in AN green / yellow livery

  • 2/1995 - 13/11/1995 - Out of service for overhaul

  • 3/1995 - Repainted in AN yellow / green livery

  • 8/1998 - Renumbered to No. 2110

  • 10/1998 - Driver Only Operating (DOO) cab modifications completed

  • 23/06/2003 - 05/09/2003 - Out of service for overhaul

  • 11/06/2014 - Stored out of service (surplus) - East Tamar Junction

  • Transported by road for shipping to Bellerine Railway (sold to private owner)

Z2

  • Mid 1972 - Built by English Electric (Australia), Rocklea Works, Brisbane, Queensland. Fitted with EE 12CSVT Mk.II engine

  • 04/12/1972 - Arrived in Burnie (ship unknown)

  • 12/1972 - Entered service (painted in TGR Tiger stripe livery)

  • 11/1984 - Converted from vacuum to air-brake

  • 1/1985 - Repainted in AN green / yellow livery

  • 10/1995 - 7/1996 - Out of service for overhaul

  • 6/1996 - Repainted in AN yellow / green livery

  • 8/1998 - Renumbered to No. 2111

  • 11/1998 - Driver Only Operating (DOO) cab modifications completed

  • 13/01/2004 - 6/2004 - Out of service awaiting electrical repairs

  • 2/2005 - 29/05/2006 - Out of service for overhaul

  • 11/06/2014 - Stored out of service (surplus) - East Tamar Junction

  • 29/06/2023 - Donated to the Don River Railway 

  • 29/06/2023 - Trucked by Hi-Haul Transport from ETJ to Don

Z3

  • Mid 1972 - Built by English Electric (Australia), Rocklea Works, Brisbane, Queensland. Fitted with EE 12CSVT Mk.II engine

  • 04/12/1972 - Arrived in Burnie (ship unknown)

  • 12/1972 - Entered service (painted in TGR Tiger stripe livery)

  • 10/1985 - Converted from vacuum to air-brake

  • 4/1989 - Repainted in AN green / yellow livery

  • 11/1990 - 5/1992 - Out of service for overhaul

  • 12/1996 - Repainted in AN yellow / green livery

  • 08/1998 - Renumbered to No. 2112

  • 26/05/1999 - 3/2000 - Out of service for overhaul

  • 8/1999 - Driver Only Operating (DOO) cab modifications completed

  • 4/2000 - Repainted in ATN maroon livery

  • 07/01/2004 - 24/03/2004 - Out of service (generator problems)

  • 8/2006 - 3/2007 - Out of service (generator problems)

  • 6/2007 - 1/2008 - Out of service (generator problems)

  • 11/2009 - 09/06/2010 - Out of service (engine problems)

  • 11/06/2014 - Stored out of service (surplus) - East Tamar Junction

  • 05/2022 - Donated to Don River Railyway, Devonport and transported by road

  • 26/11/2022 - First start since being stored

  • 26/11/2022 - Restarted at DRR

Z4

  • Mid 1972 - Built by English Electric (Australia), Rocklea Works, Brisbane, Queensland. Fitted with EE 12CSVT Mk.II engine

  • 04/12/1972 - Arrived in Burnie (ship unknown)

  • 1/1973 - Entered service (painted in TGR Tiger stripe livery)

  • 1/1984 - Converted from vacuum brake to air-brake

  • 5/1989 - Repainted in AN green / yellow livery

  • 10/1992 - 16/09/1993 - Out of service for overhaul

  • 1/1997 - Repainted in AN yellow / green livery

  • 11/1998 - Renumbered to No. 2113

  • 6/2000 - Driver Only Operating (DOO) cab modifications completed

  • 12/2000 - Repainted in ATN maroon livery

  • 11/06/2014 - Stored out of service (surplus) - East Tamar Junction

  • 05/2022 - Transport by road and ship to Bellerine Railway (sold to private owner)

  • 12/2023 - Repainted AN green / yellow

  • 9/01/2024 - Restarted and run under its own power at Drysdale (Vic)

  • 23/01/2024 - Successful first test run on the 'Q Train' consist (ex QR 'M' series cars)

ZA1

  • Early 1973 - Built by English Electric (Australia), Rocklea Works, Brisbane, Queensland. Fitted with EE 12CSVT Mk.III engine

  • 10/07/1973 - Arrived in Burnie on the ANL Bass Trader 

  • 7/1973 - Entered service (painted in TGR Tiger stripe livery)

  • 22/08/1978 - First ZA loco to Hobart (with Z4) 

  • Early 1980 - TGR logo replaced by black ANR lettering 

  • 11/10/1982 - Conversion from vacuum brake to air-brakes completed & repainted in AN green / yellow livery

  • 17/12/1982 - Officially re-entered service as air-braked loco 

  • 09/05/1987 - Collided with 830 loco in Launceston yard, required partial cab rebuild

  • 24/10/1989 - Derailed on coal road at Devonport, minor damage to headstocks 

  • 11/1991 - Cast numbers/builders plate removed, replaced by painted numbers 

  • 11/08/1994 - 17/04/1995 - Out of service for major overhaul

  • 20/11/1995 - Substantial rewiring commenced to improve reliability, completed mid-March 1996

  • 20/01/1997 - Last run in green, repainted Tasrail "reverse" yellow 

  • 1/1997 - Repainted in AN yellow / green livery

  • 12/1997 - Full engine overhaul and the first under ATN ownership

  • 07/1998 - Renumbered to No. 2114

  • 01/05/2014 - Stored out of service (surplus) - East Tamar Junction

  • 23/05/2022 - Sold to Don River Railway, transported by road

  • 26/11/2022 - First start since 2014

  • 10/11/2023 - first movement under own power

ZA2

  • Early 1973 - Built by English Electric (Australia), Rocklea Works, Brisbane, Queensland. Fitted with EE 12CSVT Mk.III engine

  • 1973 - Arrived in Burnie (ship unknown)

  • 7/1973 - Entered service (painted in TGR Tiger stripe livery)

  • 22/08/1983 - Conversion from vacuum brake to air-brakes complete

  • 4/1989 - Repainted in AN green / yellow livery

  • 06/06/1995 - 03/07/1997 - Out of service (oil leaks) awaiting overhaul

  • 6/1997 - Repainted in AN yellow / green livery

  • 8/1998 - Renumbered to No. 2115

  • 1/ 2006 - Stored out of service (and traction motors removed for other locomotives) - East Tamar Junction

  • 2021 - Partial parts donor for ZA6

ZA3

  • Early 1973 - Built by English Electric (Australia), Rocklea Works, Brisbane, Queensland. Fitted with EE 12CSVT Mk.III

  • 1973 - Arrived in Burnie (ship unknown)

  • 8/1973 - Entered service (painted in TGR Tiger stripe livery)

  • 7/1983 - Converted from vacuum to air-brakes

  • 9/1988 - Repainted in AN green / yellow livery

  • 1/1997 - Repainted in AN yellow / green livery

  • 6/1998 - Renumbered to No. 2116

  • ATN era - Head on collison at Western Junction, nose and front end severely damaged. Replacement parts and nose from ZA4

  • 29/10/2004 - mid 2/2005 - Out of service (electrical problems)

  • 12/2005 - 2/2006 - Out of service (traction motor problems)

  • 05/10/2010 - Stored out of service (engine failure) - East Tamar Junction

  • 17/06/2012 - Written off & sold to One Steel, Bell Bay

  • 9/2012 - Scrapped

ZA4

  • Early 1973 - Built by English Electric (Australia), Rocklea Works, Brisbane, Queensland. Fitted with EE 12CSVT Mk.III

  • 1973 - Arrived in Burnie (ship unknown)

  • 9/1973 - Entered service (painted in TGR Tiger stripe livery)

  • 4/1983 - Converted from vacuum to air-brakes & repainted in AN green / yellow livery

  • 5/1996 - Out of service (water leaks) 

  • 10/07/1996 - Stored out of service (parts donor) - East Tamar Junction

  • 1997 - Was to become the next ZR class rebuild until the sale of AN to ATN

  • ATN era - Used for horn sound testing as part of a corinial investigation which saw the horns and partial air system reactivated

  • ATN era - Nose, handrails and other fittings removed to repair ZA3 after head on collision at Western Junction

  • 04/07/2011 - Written off & sold to One Steel, Bell Bay

  • 10/2011 - Scrapped

ZA5

  • Late 1975 - Built by GEC (Australia), Rocklea Works, Brisbane, Qld. Fitted with EE 12CSVT Mk.III

  • 1976 - Arrived in Burnie (ship unknown)

  • 4/1976 - Entered service (painted in TGR Tiger stripe livery)

  • 5/1983 - Converted from vacuum to air-brakes

  • 6/1989 -  Repainted in AN green / yellow livery

  • 14/03/1995 - 19/12/1995 - Out of service for overhaul

  • 11/1996 - Repainted in AN yellow / green livery

  • 6/1998 - Renumbered to No. 2117

  • 2/2006 - Stored out of service (engine block damage) - East Tamar Junction

  • 11/06/2012 - Written off & sold to One Steel, Bell Bay

  • 9/2012 - Scrapped

ZA6

  • Late 1975 - Final loco built by GEC (Australia), Rocklea Works, Brisbane, Queensland. Fitted with EE 12CSVT Mk.III

  • 1976 - Arrived in Burnie (ship unknown)

  • 6/1976 - Entered service (painted in TGR Tiger stripe livery)

  • 3/1984 - Converted from vacuum to air-brakes.

  • 4/1988 -  Repainted in AN green / yellow with Australian Bi-centenary logos

  • 12/1996 - Repainted to AN yellow / green, retaining Australian Bi-centenary logos

  • 8/1998 - Renumbered to No. 2118

  • 7/2005 - Stored out of service (traction motors) - East Tamar Junction

  • 01/06/2012 - Set aside for preservation by TASRAIL

  • 15/01/2021 - Trucked from East Tamar Junction to TTMS Glenorchy

  • 19/06/2021 - Moved into TTMS Roundhouse to enable restoration works

  • 11/11/2023 - first start since 2005, moved under own power a few metres

With thanks to Stephen Zvillis.

Photos by Nevin Shakespeare, Andrew Dix, Stuart Rutherford