BNCR Class A

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BNCR Class A
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
Builder BNCR/NCC, York Road Works, Belfast
Midland Railway, Derby Works
Build date1901–1908
Total produced13
RebuilderLMS (NCC)
Rebuild date1927–1936
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 •  Whyte 4-4-0
Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Leading dia. 3 ft 0 in (0.914 m)
Driver dia.6 ft 0 in (1.829 m)
Wheelbase 40 ft 11 in (12.47 m)
Length49 ft 7 3⁄4 in (15.13 m)
Width8 ft 4 in (2.54 m)
Height13 ft 2 in (4.01 m)
Axle load 15.30 long tons (15.55 t; 17.14 short tons)+
14.45 long tons (14.68 t; 16.18 short tons)
Adhesive weight 29.75 long tons (30.23 t; 33.32 short tons)
Loco weight45.05 long tons (45.77 t; 50.46 short tons)
Tender weight28.85 long tons (29.31 t; 32.31 short tons)
Fuel type Coal
Fuel capacity6.00 long tons (6.10 t; 6.72 short tons)
Water cap2,090 imp gal (9,500 l; 2,510 US gal)
Boiler pressure175 psi (1.21 MPa)
Heating surface930 sq ft (86 m2)
 • Tubes824 sq ft (76.6 m2)
 • Firebox106 sq ft (9.8 m2)
Cylinders Two
High-pressure cylinderLHS: 18 in × 24 in (457 mm × 610 mm)
Low-pressure cylinderRHS: 26 in × 24 in (660 mm × 610 mm)
Valve gear Walschaerts
Train brakes Automatic vacuum
Performance figures
Tractive effort 16,065 lbf (71.5 kN)
Factor of adh. 4.15
Career
Operators
Scrapped1947–1954

The Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (BNCR) Class A was a class of 13 two-cylinder compound steam locomotives built for service in north-east Ireland. The first two members of the class would be the last locomotives to be built for the independent BNCR, being completed before its purchase by the Midland Railway in 1903. The members of the class were rebuilt by the LMS (NCC) becoming either Class A1 or Class U2 depending on how they had been modified.

A compound locomotive is a steam locomotive which is powered by a compound engine, a type of steam engine where steam is expanded in two or more stages. The locomotive was only one application of compounding. Two and three stages were used in ships, for example.

Steam locomotive Railway locomotive that produces its pulling power through a steam engine

A steam locomotive is a type of railway locomotive that produces its pulling power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning combustible material – usually coal, wood, or oil – to produce steam in a boiler. The steam moves reciprocating pistons which are mechanically connected to the locomotive's main wheels (drivers). Both fuel and water supplies are carried with the locomotive, either on the locomotive itself or in wagons (tenders) pulled behind.

Midland Railway British pre-grouping railway company (1844–1922)

The Midland Railway (MR) was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. It had a large network of lines managed from its headquarters in Derby. It became the third-largest railway undertaking in the British Isles.

Contents

History

The BNCR had standardised on locomotives with a 2-4-0 wheel arrangement for its passenger locomotives during the 1870s and construction continued through to the mid-1890s. However, with increasing loads and heavier trains the limitations of this wheel arrangement became apparent. The first purpose-built 4-4-0s, the Class B "Light Compounds", had been in introduced in 1897 but something more powerful was needed to supplement the two Class D "Heavy Compounds" that were rebuilt to 4-4-0s at the same time.

The Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (BNCR)Class B was a class of 4-4-0 two-cylinder compound steam locomotives that was introduced for passenger service in the north-east of Ireland during the late 1890s.

The Class A locomotives were designed by the BNCR Locomotive Engineer Bowman Malcolm and were the last design of broad gauge locomotives to be built for the independent Belfast and Northern Counties Railway, the first two being completed before its purchase by the Midland Railway in 1903.

Bowman Malcolm was an Irish railway engineer. He became Locomotive Superintendent of the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (BNCR) at the age of 22 and later took on the additional role of Civil Engineer. He was an advocate of compound locomotives which he introduced to the BNCR.

The first Class A Engine was No.34 which was outshopped from York Road in April 1901 and named Queen Alexandra. The second of the class, which had the distinction of being the last locomotive to be built by the BNCR, was No.3, King Edward VII, which was completed fifteen months later in July 1902. Building continued over a seven-year period after the take-over of the company by the Midland Railway. Six locomotives were constructed at the Midland Railway's Derby Works and the remainder at York Road works.

Derby Works locomotive workshops (for Carriage and Wagon Works use Q5261424)

The Derby railway works comprised a number of British manufacturing facilities designing and building locomotives and rolling stock in Derby, England. The first of these was a group of three maintenance sheds opened around 1840 behind Derby station. This developed into a manufacturing facility called the Midland Railway Locomotive Works, known locally as "the loco" and in 1873 manufacturing was split into locomotive and rolling stock manufacture, with rolling stock work transferred to a new facility, Derby Carriage & Wagon Works.

The locomotives were built as two-cylinder compounds using the Worsdell-von Borries system, having an 18-inch (457 mm) high-pressure cylinder and a 26-inch (660 mm) diameter low-pressure cylinder, each with 24-inch (610 mm) stroke. Inside Walschaerts valve gear was fitted which was standard on the BNCR. The driving wheels were of 6 ft (1.829 m) diameter. The only visible difference between the two builders was the number of spokes on the bogie wheels, the Belfast-built batch had nine spokes while those built at Derby had ten.

Thomas William Worsdell British locomotive engineer (1838-1916)

Thomas William Worsdell was an English locomotive engineer. He was born in Liverpool into a Quaker family.

August Friedrich Wilhelm von Borries was one of Germany's most influential railway engineers, who was primarily concerned with developments in steam locomotives.

The bore or cylinder bore is a part of a piston engine. The bore also represents the size of the diameter of the cylinder in which a piston travels. The value of a cylinder's bore, and stroke, is used to establish the displacement of an engine.

Two main, and visibly obvious, changes were made to the locomotives when in traffic, viz: the fitting of Manson automatic tablet exchange apparatus for working single lines, and a rearwards projecting extension of the cab roof, offering more protection for the crew.

The Class A engines were coupled to what was known as the "Standard" tender which could carry 6 long tons (6.1 t; 6.7 short tons) of coal and 2,090 imperial gallons (9,500 l; 2,510 US gal) of water.

Five members of the class were renumbered between 1924 and 1927 when Nos. 3, 4, 5, 9 and 17 became Nos. 33, 62, 59, 69 and 58 respectively.

Rebuilding

Following the end of World War I the state of the locomotives operating in Northern Ireland was well below that which was needed to run the services effectively; much needed replacing but, however, cost was a major factor. It was decided to implement a "Renewal Programme" in which, not only new locomotives would be built but suitable classes of locomotives would be rebuilt, in the main following the style of the Midland and LMS railways. As part of this "Renewal Programme" all members of Class A were rebuilt between 1928 and 1936.

Dependent upon the modifications carried out, they were reclassified as either Class A1 or Class U2. Those classified as Class A1 were rebuilt with a Midland Railway type RG6 boiler and new cylinders of 18-by-24-inch (457 mm × 610 mm) diameter x stroke and retained some recognisable features. Those that were rebuilt as Class U2 underwent a more radical alteration and may have incorporated little of the original engines.

Details of the delivery, renumbering and rebuilding of the class are shown in the table below:

No.BuilderDateNameRe-No./
Date		RebuiltNew
No.		New
Class		New NameScrapped/
Sold		Notes
34York RdApril 1901Queen AlexandraApril 1928A1KnocklaydOctober 1950†*
3York RdJuly 1902King Edward VII33 (1926)December 1928A1BinevanaghNovember 1949†
4York RdAugust 190362 (1924)July 1928A1SlemishAugust 1954
9York RdDecember 190469 (1925)June 1933A1Slieve BaneAugust 1954
20York RdMay 1905December 192984U2Lisanoure CastleDecember 1961
63DerbyMay 1905Queen AlexandraJanuary 193687U2Queen AlexandraAugust 1957*
64DerbyMay 1905August 1929A1TrostanAugust 1954
65DerbyMay 1905June 1929A1KnockaghOctober 1950
66DerbyMay 1905May 1930A1Ben MadiganAugust 1954
5York RdAugust 190659 (1925)September 193286U2March 1960
17York RdJanuary 190758 (1927)February 1934A1LurigethanAugust 1954‡
67DerbyJune 1908January 193485U2March 1960
68DerbyJune 1908December 1927A1Slieve Gallion November 1947

  • * The name Queen Alexandra was transferred from No.34 to No.63 in November 1932.
  • † Locomotives 34 and 3 were built by the BNCR prior to being taken over by the Midland Railway in 1903.
  • ‡ The name Lurigethan was allocated, but never carried.

Livery

The BNCR painted the locomotives "invisible green" (a very dark bronze green that looked almost black) with vermilion, light blue and yellow lining. The initials "BNCR" in block capitals were carried on the tender sides.

The livery remained the same under Midland Railway administration with the addition of the diamond shaped Midland Railway crest to the cab sides and the initials "NCC" in gold block capitals on the tender sides. Buffer beams were vermilion, and the smoke box was black.

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References


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