NCC Class B3

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NCC Class B3
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Builder Beyer, Peacock & Co., Gorton Foundry, Manchester
Build date 1890–1898
Rebuilder NCC, York Road works, Belfast
Rebuild date 1927–1931
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 9 1⁄4 in (12.43 m) including tender
Length 49 ft 6 in (15.09 m)
Width 8 ft 4 in (2.54 m)
Height 13 ft 2 in (4.01 m)
Axle load 16 long tons 0 cwt (35,800 lb or 16.2 t)
Adhesive weight 30 long tons 8 cwt (68,100 lb or 30.9 t)
Loco weight 45 long tons 2 cwt (101,000 lb or 45.8 t)
Total weight 72 long tons 0 cwt (161,300 lb or 73.2 t)
Fuel type Coal
Fuel capacity 6 long tons (13,400 lb (6.1 t)
Water cap 2,120 imperial gallons (9,600 l; 2,550 US gal)
Boiler pressure Nos.21, 24, 28: 160 psi (1.10 MPa)
Nos.60, 61: 200 psi (1.38 MPa)
Heating surface 1,038 sq ft (96.4 m2)
 • Tubes 508.7 sq ft (47.26 m2)
 • Firebox 103 sq ft (9.6 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • Heating area 233.7 sq ft (21.71 m2)
Cylinders Two
Cylinder size 18 in × 24 in (457 mm × 610 mm)
Valve gear Walschaerts
Valve type 8-inch (203 mm) piston valves
Train brakes Automatic vacuum
Performance figures
Tractive effort Nos.21, 24, 28: 14,688 lbf (65.3 kN)
Nos.60, 61: 18,360 lbf (81.7 kN)
Career
Operators LMS NCC
Number in class 5
NicknamesWhippet
Scrapped 1938–1947

The LMS (Northern Counties Committee)Class B3 4-4-0 passenger steam locomotives were rebuilds of Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (BNCR) two-cylinder compound locomotives. They operated services throughout the NCC’s 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) broad gauge system in the north-east of Ireland.

4-4-0 locomotive wheel arrangement

4-4-0 is a locomotive type with a classification that uses the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives by wheel arrangement and represents the arrangement: four leading wheels on two axles, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and a lack of trailing wheels. Due to the large number of the type that were produced and used in the United States, the 4-4-0 is most commonly known as the American type, but the type subsequently also became popular in the United Kingdom, where large numbers were produced.

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.

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.

Contents

History

The locomotives that comprised the Northern Counties Committee Class B3 were rebuilds of two classes of BNCR "Light Compounds". These had been built by Beyer, Peacock and Company in the 1890s to the design of the BNCR Locomotive Engineer Bowman Malcolm. The first two members of the class were originally Class C Light Compound 2-4-0s. Rebuilding began with No.28 in 1927 and No.21 in the following year. The other three Class B3 locomotives (24, 60 and 61) were derived from Class B Light Compounds whose only original difference was that they had always been 4-4-0s and not 2-4-0s.

Northern Counties Committee railway in Northern Ireland (1903–1949)

The Northern Counties Committee (NCC) was a railway that served the north-east of Ireland. It was built to Irish gauge but later acquired a number of 914 mm narrow gauge lines. It had its origins in the Belfast and Ballymena Railway that opened to traffic on 11 April 1848.

Beyer, Peacock and Company defunct British locomotive manufacturer, based in Gorton, Manchester

Beyer, Peacock and Company was an English railway locomotive manufacturer with a factory in Gorton, Manchester. Founded by Charles Beyer, Richard Peacock and Henry Robertson, it traded from 1854 until 1966. It received limited liability in 1902, becoming Beyer, Peacock and Company Limited.

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.

However, before alteration to Class B3, Nos.60 and 61 had already undergone an earlier rebuilding to become Class B1 compounds in 1921 to be followed by No.51 in August 1926. On the other hand, No.24 was rebuilt as a simple (i.e. not compound) in February 1925 to become the solitary member of the somewhat ephemeral Class B2.

All five engines had 18 by 24 inches (460 mm × 610 mm) cylinders with 8-inch (203 mm) piston valves and retained their 6 ft 0 in (1.829 m) driving wheels. The first three members of the class had boilers rated at 160 psi (1.10 MPa) but Nos.60 and 61 had the advantage of 200 psi (1.38 MPa) boilers.

During rebuilding, they were fitted with LMS standard boilers that had to be placed higher than the originals to allow the firebox and ash pan to clear the rear driving wheel axle. The smokebox saddle was extended accordingly to offer support. The closely coupled driving wheels accentuated the appearance of the high-pitched boiler, earning these engines the nickname of "Whippet" because of a perceived resemblance to the breed of racing dog.

Whippet Dog breed

The Whippet is a dog breed of medium-size. They are a sighthound breed that originated in England, where they descended from greyhounds. Whippets today still strongly resemble a smaller greyhound. Shown in the Hound group, Whippets have relatively few health problems other than arrhythmia. Whippets also participate in dog sports such as lure coursing, agility, and flyball. The name is derived from an early 17th-century word, now obsolete, meaning "to move briskly".

All members of the class were officially named after Ulster counties.

No.28 was withdrawn in December 1938 having run just over a quarter million miles in her rebuilt form. The remaining locomotives served throughout World War II and were scrapped in 1946–1947.

Building and withdrawal data

The following table summarises the rebuilding and renumbering history of the Class B3 locomotives.

Original
No.		ClassDate
Built		Date
Rebuilt		ClassRebuilt
to B3		New
No.		NameScrapped
51 C May 1890 1926 August B1 December 1928 21 County Down June 1947
24 B May 1898 1925 February B2 September 1928 24 County Londonderry June 1947
58 C April 1890 — — June 1927 28 County Tyrone December 1938
60 B July 1897 1921 B1 June 1932 60 County Donegal October 1946
61 B October 1897 1921 B1 January 1932 61 County Antrim October 1946

Livery

The Class B3 locomotives were painted in crimson lake with yellow and black lining. The LMS crest was carried on the upper cab sides. The initials "NCC" in shaded serif gold capital letters were placed centrally on the tender sides. Number plates were brass with raised digits and edge; they were carried on the lower cab sides with another placed centrally on the back of the tender tank. Curved nameplates were fitted above the leading driving wheel splashers. Buffer beams and number plate and name plate backgrounds were painted red. The engine number was applied to the front buffer beam in shaded gold digits.

In typography, a serif is a small line or stroke regularly attached to the end of a larger stroke in a letter or symbol within a particular font or family of fonts. A typeface or "font family" making use of serifs is called a serif typeface, and a typeface that does not include them is a sans-serif one. Some typography sources refer to sans-serif typefaces as "grotesque" or "Gothic", and serif typefaces as "roman".

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The 517 Class were small 0-4-2T tank engines designed by George Armstrong for local passenger work on the Great Western Railway. They were built at Wolverhampton Works and were outshopped between 1868 and 1885. They were built in thirteen lots commencing with 517–528 and ending with 1477–1488 in 1884–1885.

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References

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