Next Thumbnails Galleries Home  Last TGR Steam West of Devonport

On Saturday 28/10/1975, pacific M3 worked a special passenger train from Penguin to Wynyard and return as part of the Penguin Centenary Celebrations. At this stage, M3 was based in Launceston so had to be towed down to Devonport in the consist of a normal goods train. M3 was no stranger to Devonport depot, being last allocated here in February 1971. Also in store in the roundhouse was sister M6 which had recently been bought by Bob Butrims for future use on by the Geelong Steam Preservation Society. Bob was a guest on the footplate of M3 on the day of the tour. To save lugging the 11-car consist over Don Bank, the same goods train that brought M3 to Devonport, took the cars on to Ulverstone. So on the day, M3 ran Light Engine between Devonport - Ulverstone, Empty Stock between Ulverstone - Penguin and Passenger between Penguin - Wynyard. This was the last time a TGR-operated steam service ran west of Devonport and M3 provided a splendid farewell performance with the added bonus of the magnificent coastline scenery.