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 MGWR Class E at Athboy, Co. Meath | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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. [1] They were also known as the Irish Terrier class. [2] [3]
| MGWR No. | MGWR Name | GSR No. |
|---|---|---|
| 106 | Lark | 551 |
| 107 | Robin | 552 |
| 108 | Swallow | 553 |
| 109 | Fly | 554 |
| 110 | Bat | 555 |
| 111 | Wasp | 556 |
| 112 | Hornet | 557 |
| 113 | Gnat | 558 |
| 114 | Stork | 559 |
| 115 | Achill | 560 |
| 116 | Cong | 561 |
| 117 | Moy | 562 |
The MGWR Class E were initially intended for shunting around the Dublin Broadstone terminus. Further locomotives were ordered for rural and small branch line work around Killala, Achill, Clifden, Athboy and Kingscourt. [1]
After the grouping of 1925, the Great Southern Railways classified them Class 551 or Class J26, and fitted them with new smokeboxes, safety valves and chimneys. The nameplates, builder’s plates and sandbox numbers were removed at this time and replaced with a numberplate. [2]
After 1920 they were forced to move from the Achill branch when that became restricted for 6 wheel coupled locomotives. [1]
Their low axle loading gave them good utility and they were often popular, though some duties stretched their abilities. [3]
Three engines, 553, 555 and 560 were fitted with enlarged cabs and modified footsteps. This enabled an additional ton of coal to be carried and they successfully worked on the enclosed Waterford and Tramore section. [3] [1]
An etched-brass kit of the Class E / J26 has been produced by Studio Scale Models including brass etches and cast white metal parts. [4]
A wide variety of steam locomotives have been used on Ireland's railways. This page lists most if not all those that have been used in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Irish railways generally followed British practice in locomotive design.
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 London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Fowler 3F0-6-0T is a class of steam locomotives, often known as Jinty. They represent the ultimate development of the Midland Railway's six-coupled tank engines. They could reach speeds of up to 60 mph (97 km/h).
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 Great Southern Railways Class 800 steam locomotives were built principally for express passenger work on the Dublin to Cork main line of that company. These locomotives were designed under the supervision of E. C. Bredin with his Chief Draughtsman, H. J. A. Beaumont, preparing the drawings. They were the largest and most powerful engines ever to run in Ireland by quite a large margin, and the only three express passenger locomotives to be built in an independent Ireland.
Tralee and Dingle Light Railway 7 and 8 were two 2-6-0T locomotives manufactured by Kerr, Stuart and Company in 1902 and 1903 for the Tralee and Dingle Light Railway.
The Great Northern Railway (Ireland) class S was a class of five 4-4-0 steam locomotive that the Great Northern Railway introduced in 1913 to haul Belfast – Dublin express passenger trains. They were followed two years later by the three similar class S2 locomotives.
The GNR(I) class U was a class of 4-4-0 steam locomotives built for the Great Northern Railway (Ireland).
The Great Southern Railways Classes 372 and 393 were types of 2-6-0 ("mogul") steam locomotives exported to Ireland from Great Britain in 1924. They were designed by Richard Maunsell in 1914 for the South Eastern and Chatham Railway (SECR) to be members of the SECR N class of mixed-traffic engines. The GSR 372 and 393 classes were part of a batch of N and U class locomotive kits produced under a UK Government contract at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich.
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 Ballaghaderreen branch line connected Ballaghaderreen railway station to Kilfree Junction on the Dublin to Sligo main line. It opened in 1874 and closed in 1963.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.