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The Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR) A Class, later Inchicore Class D5, consisted of 6 4-4-0 express passenger locomotives built at Broadstone Works in the period 1902-1905. The largest express passenger locomotive in Ireland for a short while after introduction they were used on the MGWR's flagship services to Galway with most surviving until the 1950s albeit on less prestigious work.
In the late 1800s successively more powerful passenger locomotives had been introduced to facilitate increasing train weights and passenger timings. With Class K the limits of the 2-4-0 were being approached and the rival Great Southern and Western Railway (GS&WR) had been using 4-4-0's not only on their main Dublin-Cork but secondary routes also and were at the beginning of the 1900s introducing a further generation of larger 4-4-0s. [3] [4] Martin Atock of the MGWR was known to be resistant to bogies but perhaps influenced by his deputy Edward Cusack in 1900 at the end of his service organised rebuilds of older 2-4-0 locomotives to a small 4-4-0. When Cusack succeeded Atock he chose to quickly follow through with six large 4-4-0s that to were become known as Class A for the MGWR's premier passenger trains and which were the largest in Ireland for a short while after their introduction. [3]
Although the design is attributed to Cusack it is generally understood Morton, at that stage fourth in line, likely did most of the detailed design work. These were the first Broadstone locomotives to be built with a Belpaire firebox. They had a restrictively high axle load of 18 tons which limited the routes upon which they could be used. [4]
| MGWR No. | Name | Built | GSR No. | MGWR Rebuild | MGWR Rebuild Class | Withdrawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 127 | Titanic | 1903 | 545 | 1920 | A1 | 1955 |
| 129 | Celtic | 1902 | 546 | 1918 | A1 | 1959 |
| 125 | Britanic | 1905 | 547 | 1917 | A1 | 1954 |
| 126 | Atlantic | 1904 | 548 | 1925 | As | 1955 |
| 128 | Majestic | 1902 | 549 | 1926 | As | 1931 |
| 124 | Mercuric | 1905 | 550 | 1916/1924 | A1/As | 1957 |
The first to be rebuilt was No. 124 Mercuric in 1916 after just 11 years. It was to receive a Belpaire superheated boiler with Schmidt superheater, cylinders increased to 19 in × 26 in (483 mm × 660 mm) and 8 in (203 mm) piston valves. [4] The Morton designed smokebox extension to accommodate the superheater was felt by Oswald Nock to be a cheap and effective solution but that it somewhat spoiled an otherwise beautiful design. [5] This increased the tractive effort to 18,600 lbf (82.74 kN ). Nos. 125, 127 and 129 were similarly treated between 1917 and 1920. The resulting locomotives were reclassified as Class As, though some detail variations began to creep in for example No. 127 had a Robinson Superheater. Due to suspect problems with hot axle boxes on the original tenders the A1 locomotives had theirs switched mostly with those from Class H. Rebuilds increased locomotive weight with the maximum axle loading going up towards 19 long tons (19 t). [4]
Engine No. 124, which had been upgraded to As standard in 1916, was involved in an Irish Civil War incident at Streamstown south of Mullingar in 1923 which required it to be totally rebuilt with shortened frames and re-designated A1. The remaining two A class engines in original condition were rebuilt to As standard in 1925 and 1926. The As locomotives were readily distinguished by a raised footplate over the coupled wheels. [4]
In 1925 on amalgamation they were allocated Great Southern Railways (GSR) Class 545 / Inchicore Class D5. [3] [4]
Th 1931 saw the withdrawal of No. 549 (128). No. 546 nearly met the same fate but was rebuilt with parts from no. 549 and boiler from No. 646 in 1933, this being notable as the final rebuild at Broadstone before all such work was handed to Inchicore. No. 646 was again rebuilt in 1936 with a type A boiler, as were No.s 545 (127) and 546 (128) in 1937, the resulting locomotives having the maximum axle load reduced to 17 long tons 10 cwt (39,200 lb or 17.8 t) [4]
The introduction of the A class in 1902 enabled 16 minutes to be cut from the prestige limited mail [lower-alpha 1] service from Dublin Broadstone to Galway, the coaching stock also being upgraded to include bogie coaches at the same time. [3] In practice high axle load meant they were initially restricted to work Dublin-Mullingar portion of the trip until bridge strengthening at Athlone allows them to work through to Galway. [4] The class was described as not having a great top speed which some attributed to crossed rods, [lower-alpha 2] while nevertheless being good pullers. [3] Oswald Nock in his book "Irish Steam" comments the MGWR schedules did not tax these locomotives and indicated a run of an average speed of 51.4 miles per hour (82.7 km/h) for the 38.6 miles (62.1 km) from Killucan to Ashtown with a load of 290 long tons 0 cwt (649,600 lb or 294.7 t) superheated Mercuric. [6]
In 1938 and 1945 all were based at Broadstone apart from No. 546 which was based at Cork. Reports in 1948 indicated they were unreliable and only capable of hauling up to 150 tons. There high axle load limited them from most branch lines and they were mostly used for auxiliary goods (freight) for which they were not efficient. [4] Other reports implied they were used on stopping services to Galway. [7]
Despite the poor report in 1948 they survived all into the 1950s and the arrival of the diesels with the final withdrawal in 1959. [4]
When introduced they were painted royal blue and lined in yellow. Buffers and buffer beams and a band around the funnel was bright red. [3] The blue paint was however found not to be durable and faded easily after a few years and was replaced with green, albeit of a lighter shade than the MGWR had used hitherto.[ citation needed ] From 1913[ citation needed ] they were painted black. [3] Amalgamation to the GSR saw nameplates removed, change to standard GSR slate grey and eventual replacement of number plates by yellow painted numbers.
The MGWR Class D-bogie were first 4-4-0 operated by the Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR) of Ireland. They were rebuilt from MGWR Class D 2-4-0 locomotives in 1900/01 with the intention to use them on the Dublin-Sligo mainline but they proved underpowered for this work and were allocated to more suitable work around Mayo and Achill. This led to their nicknames of Mayo Bogies or Achill Bogies. Following the merger of the MGWR into Great Southern Railways (GSR) they also became designated class 530 or D16.
The Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR) was the third largest Irish gauge railway company in Ireland. It was incorporated in 1845 and absorbed into the Great Southern Railways in 1924. At its peak the MGWR had a network of 538 miles (866 km), making it Ireland's third largest network after the Great Southern and Western Railway (GS&WR) and the Great Northern Railway of Ireland.
The MGWR Classes F, Fa and Fb are a group of similar classes of 0-6-0 steam locomotives of the Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland which were designed and built between 1921 and 1924. The locomotives could be used to handle goods and also for passenger traffic.
The GS&WR Class 101, classified as Class 101 or Class J15 by the Great Southern Railways, was a class of 0-6-0 steam locomotives designed for working goods traffic although they did, and were quite capable of, working branch and secondary passenger trains.
The MGWR class E was a small 0-6-0T steam locomotive class designed in 1891 by Martin Atock, the then locomotive superintendent of the Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR) and twelve engines were built. After the MGWR was merged into Great Southern Railways (GSR) in 1925 they were designated Class 551 or J26. They were also known as the Irish Terrier class.
The Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR) C Class was a class of 4-4-0 locomotives designed and built at Broadstone by Edward Cusack between 1909 and 1915 using parts obtained from Kitson and Company. They replaced the earlier 7-12 class. The class survived through the Great Southern Railways (GSR) era from 1925-1944 and were withdrawn in the 1950s under Córas Iompair Éireann.
The GS&WR 400 class or CIE class B2/B2a were a class of ten 4-6-0 steam locomotives built for the Great Southern & Western Railway (GS&WR) between 1916 and 1923 for express passenger duties on the Dublin to Cork main line. They proved initially unreliable but rebuilds from four to two cylinders between 1927 and 1937 for the seven survivors produced locomotives yielding satisfactory performance with the last two being withdrawn in 1961.
The MGWR Class L/Lm/Ln were Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR) 0-6-0 locomotives. Following merger of the MGWR into the Great Southern Railways (GSR) in 1925 these locomotives still generally kept to their former area, as did the equivalent GS&WR Class 101 standard goods to their former area. Whereas Class 101 was noted for some working of branch line passenger trains this was less likely for the MGWR class L; however they were noted for passenger mixed working on the Clifden and Ballaghaderreen branch lines.
The MGWR Class K was a Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR) 2-4-0 designed by Martin Atock for passenger work and introduced from 1893. They replaced earlier MGWR Class D locomotives that carried the same namesand numbers. The class was also known as the Great Southern Railways (GSR) 650 G2 class.
Martin Atock, also formerly known as Martin Attock, was an English railway engineer, who is best known as the Locomotive Superintendent of the Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR) from 1872 to 1900.
Broadstone railway works or simply Broadstone or the Broadstone was the headquarters for mechanical engineering and rolling stock maintenance for Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR). The complex grew around the Dublin Broadstone railway terminus.
William Herbert Morton was a British locomotive engineer who rose to the position of general manager of the Great Southern Railways (GSR) in Ireland. He previously held the chief engineering positions for GSR and Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR).
The Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR) B Class 0-6-0 was a class of 4 locomotives built at North British Locomotive Company in 1904. In 1925 they were allocated Great Southern Railways (GSR) Class 646 / Inchicore Class J2.
The Great Southern Railways (GSR) 222/234 Classes 0-6-0 originated from 2 batches of 3 locomotives built for the Waterford, Limerick and Western Railway (WLWR) by Kitson with a contract payment dispute resulting in the final two members going to Midland Great Western Railway becoming MGWR Class W.
The Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR) Class P were an 0-6-0T tank locomotive designed by Martin Atock introduced in 1881 designed for shunting and banking round North Wall freight yard. After 1925 they became Great Southern Railways (GSR) class 614 / Inchicore class J10.
The Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR) Class H were an 0-6-0 locomotive bought in 1880 from Avonside Engine Company. After 1925 they became Great Southern Railways (GSR) class 619 / Inchicore class J6.
The MGWR Class D were 2-4-0 steam locomotives built in batches from 1873 to 1887 for the Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR) of Ireland to a Martin Atock design. Numbering 39 at their peak they were the standard MGWR passenger locomotive of their era. Six of the class were rebuilt as 4-4-0.
The Great Southern and Western Railway (GS&WR) Class 351 initially consisted of four 0-6-0 tender locomotives designed by Robert Coey for use on heavy freight trains on the main line. They were joined by four similar locomotives built in 1912 introduced by Richard Maunsell, these had detail differences such as larger cabs and higher running plates. They included an extended smokebox to which a Phoenix superheater was briefly trialed but abandoned. They were initially designated GS&WR Class 249 but were subsequently grouped into class 351.
Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford Railway (DW&WR) 4 and 5 were a pair of 0-6-2T tank locomotives purchased from Kitson & Co. in 1897 and rebuilt as 0-6-0 tender Locomotives in 1908 due to a tendency to derail. Renumbered by Great Southern Railways to 448 and 449 they survived until 1940 and 1950 respectively.
Robert Coey (1851–1934) was a locomotive superintendent of the Great Southern and Western Railway (GS&WR) of Ireland from 1896 until 1911.