TasRail
Encyclopedia
Tasrail was the brand name of the Australian National Railways Commission
's operations on the mainline railways in Tasmania
, formed when Australian National absorbed the former Tasmanian Government Railways
in 1978. In November 1997 Australian National was broken up by the Federal Government, with TasRail sold to Australian Transport Network, a partnership of New Zealand
based Tranz Rail
and United States
railroad Wisconsin Central
. Tranz Rail sold a number of locomotives to TasRail during this time.
In February 2004 the railway was purchased by Pacific National
, a partnership of Toll Holdings
and Patrick Corporation
following the purchase of Tranz Rail
by Toll Holdings
, and the sale of Wisconsin Central
's overseas investments as a result of that railroads takeover by Canadian National. The company later acquired Emu Bay Railway in the north-west of Tasmania.
Purchased from Tranz Rail
:
The main cargo carried by TasRail was cement, which is carried from Railton
to the port at Devonport
. Other major commodities carried were coal, logs, containers and newsprint.
Australian National Railways Commission
The Australian National Railways Commission was a government owned railway operator in Australia. ANRC was also known as Australian National Railways in its early years and was later rebranded as Australian National .-History:...
's operations on the mainline railways in Tasmania
Rail transport in Tasmania
Rail transport in Tasmania consists of a network of narrow gauge track of reaching virtually all cities and major towns in the island state of Tasmania, Australia. Today, rail services are focussed primarily on bulk freight, with no commercial passenger services being operated...
, formed when Australian National absorbed the former Tasmanian Government Railways
Tasmanian Government Railways
The Tasmanian Government Railways was the former Government of Tasmania managed operator of mainline railways in Tasmania, Australia...
in 1978. In November 1997 Australian National was broken up by the Federal Government, with TasRail sold to Australian Transport Network, a partnership of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
based Tranz Rail
Tranz Rail
Tranz Rail, formally Tranz Rail Holdings Ltd , was the main rail operator in New Zealand from 1991 until it was purchased by Toll Holdings in 2003.- Formation :...
and United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
railroad Wisconsin Central
Wisconsin Central Transportation
Wisconsin Central Ltd. is a railroad subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway. At one time, its parent Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation owned or operated railroads in the United States, Canada , the United Kingdom , New Zealand , and Australia .- Overview...
. Tranz Rail sold a number of locomotives to TasRail during this time.
In February 2004 the railway was purchased by Pacific National
Pacific National
Pacific National is one of Australia's largest private rail freight businesses. Originally a joint venture between Patrick Corporation and Toll Holdings; it is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Asciano Limited following the restructure of Toll Holdings....
, a partnership of Toll Holdings
Toll Holdings
TOLL , properly TOLL Holdings Limited, is Australia's largest transport company, based in Melbourne, Victoria. The company has operations in road, rail, sea and air in 55 countries....
and Patrick Corporation
Patrick Corporation
Patrick Corporation Ltd was an Australian publicly listed logistics conglomerate. Headed by CEO Chris Corrigan before it was absorbed by Toll Holdings in 2006, Patrick had interests in shipping, rail and aviation, including a 62% shareholding in airline Virgin Blue...
following the purchase of Tranz Rail
Tranz Rail
Tranz Rail, formally Tranz Rail Holdings Ltd , was the main rail operator in New Zealand from 1991 until it was purchased by Toll Holdings in 2003.- Formation :...
by Toll Holdings
Toll Holdings
TOLL , properly TOLL Holdings Limited, is Australia's largest transport company, based in Melbourne, Victoria. The company has operations in road, rail, sea and air in 55 countries....
, and the sale of Wisconsin Central
Wisconsin Central Transportation
Wisconsin Central Ltd. is a railroad subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway. At one time, its parent Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation owned or operated railroads in the United States, Canada , the United Kingdom , New Zealand , and Australia .- Overview...
's overseas investments as a result of that railroads takeover by Canadian National. The company later acquired Emu Bay Railway in the north-west of Tasmania.
Operations
TasRail's locomotive fleet included:Purchased from Tranz Rail
Tranz Rail
Tranz Rail, formally Tranz Rail Holdings Ltd , was the main rail operator in New Zealand from 1991 until it was purchased by Toll Holdings in 2003.- Formation :...
:
- 12 DQ classNZR DQ classThe NZR DQ and QR class locomotives are two classes of mainline diesel-electric locomotives in New Zealand and Tasmania, Australia. Originally Queensland Rail 1460 and 1502 class, they were purchased by New Zealand Rail Limited in 1995 to be rebuilt, as a cheaper alternative to buying new...
locomotives; - 3 QR class locomotives;
- 2 D class locomotives (similar to the New Zealand DXR classNZR DX classThe NZR DX class is a class of 49 Co-Co diesel-electric locomotives that currently operates on New Zealand's national railway network.Built by General Electric in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States, they were introduced to New Zealand between 1972 and 1976. The class is based on the General Electric...
locomotives); and - 1 New Zealand DC classNZR DC classThe NZR DC class locomotive is the most common class of locomotive currently in operation on the New Zealand rail network. Primarily employed to haul freight trains operated by KiwiRail, the class is also used for long-distance passenger trains operated by Tranz Scenic and suburban passenger trains...
locomotive.
The main cargo carried by TasRail was cement, which is carried from Railton
Railton, Tasmania
Railton is a town situated 20km inland from Devonport on the north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia's island state. At the 2006 census, Railton had a population of 900. It was first known as Redwater Creek and became known as Railton after the construction of a tramway line in the 1860s...
to the port at Devonport
Devonport, Tasmania
-Sport:The Devonport Football Club is an Australian Rules team competing in the Tasmanian Statewide League. The Devonport Rugby Club is a Rugby Union team competing in the Tasmanian Rugby Union Statewide League...
. Other major commodities carried were coal, logs, containers and newsprint.