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 list that follows is roughly geographic (north to south) order.
The Ulster Transport Authority, which controlled the railways in Northern Ireland between 1948 and 1966, replaced steam haulage on passenger trains with diesel multiple units, but had only two diesel shunting locomotives, which meant a continued role for steam on freight work. Twenty-three locomotives passed to Northern Ireland Railways in 1967, but most were not used again and all had been withdrawn by 1971.
The Belfast and County Down Railway was founded in 1848. It absorbed the Belfast, Hollywood and Bangor Railway in 1884 and continued operating until it was nationalised in its centenary year into the Ulster Transport Authority as a result of the Ireland Act 1949.
Type | Fleet numbers | Quantity built | Manufacturer | Dates built | Dates withdrawn | Notes [1] [2] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2-2-2 | 1–4 | 4 | Bury, Curtis and Kennedy | 1848 | 1858–1865 | No. 2 renumbered 8 and rebuilt as 0–4–2; withdrawn 1890s |
2-2-2WT | 1T, 2T | 2 | William Fairbairn & Sons | 1850–1851 | 1867–1877 | Renumbered 4 and 5 in 1859 |
2-4-0T | 5, 6 | 2 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1857–1858 | 1894–1894 | No. 5 renumbered 7 in 1859 |
2-4-0T | 8 | 1 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1859 | 1880s | |
0-4-2 | 9, 10 | 2 | William Fairbairn & Sons | 1859 | 1886–1887 | |
2-4-0ST | 11–13, 3, 5 | 5+2 | Vulcan Foundry | 1864–67 | 1890–1909 | 12–13 sold to BH&BR 1–2 in 1870; renumbered 15–16, along with two identical locos bought new by BH&BR (3 & 6) → BCDR 17, 20 |
2-4-0T | 1 | 1 | John Fowler & Co | 1867 | 1909 | rebuilt as 0–4–2 in 1884 |
2-4-0 | 12, 13 | 2 | Manning Wardle | 1868 | 1888–1904? | |
0-6-0 | 14 | 1 | Vulcan Foundry | 1875 | 1904 | |
0-6-0 | 4 | 1 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1878 | 1922 | |
0-4-2 | 2 | 1 | Sharp, Stewart & Company | 1880 | 1937 | rebuilt as 0-4-2T in 1902 |
0-4-2 | 8 | 1 | BCDR Queens Quay Works, Belfast | 1881 | 1897 | |
2-4-0T | 18, 19 | 2 | Yorkshire Engine Company | 1870 | 1891 | ex BH&BR 4 & 5 |
0-4-2 | 10, 9, 13, 16 | 4 | Sharp, Stewart & Company | 1886–1890 | 1914–1949 | rebuilt as 0–4–2T (1900–1902); 9 renumbered 28 in 1945 |
2-4-2T | 18, 19, 21, 22 | 4 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1891 | 1920 | Compounds; rebuilt as 4-4-2T in late 1890s |
2-4-0 | 23–25 | 3 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1892 | 1921 | Compounds |
0-6-0 | 26 | 1 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1892 | 1950 | |
2-4-0 | 6 | 1 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1894 | 1956 | |
2-4-2T | 5, 7, 8, 27, 28, 29 | 6 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1896–1897 | 1923–1950 | |
4-4-2T | 30 | 12 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1901–1921 | 1956–1962 | UTA renumbered by adding 200 |
0-6-0 | 14 | 1 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1904 | 1954 | Renumbered 214 by UTA |
Railmotor | 1–3 | 3 | Kitson & Company | 1905–1906 | 1924 | Carriage portions saw further use |
0-6-0 | 10, 4 | 2 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1914–1921 | 1956 | 4 renumbered 204 by UTA |
4-6-4T | 22–25 | 4 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1920 | 1956 | Renumbered 222–225 by UTA |
0-6-4T | 29 | 1 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1923 | 1956 | Renumbered 229 by UTA |
4-4-2T | 8, 16, 9 | 3 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1924–1945 | 1956 | UTA renumbered by adding 200 |
C d | D1 | 1 | Harland & Wolff | 1933 | Renumbered 2 in 1937 | |
(1A)(A1)d | D2 | 1 | Harland & Wolff | 1937 | Renumbered 28 in 1937 |
The Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (BNCR), was a railway that served the north-east of Ireland. It had its origins in the Belfast and Ballymena Railway that opened to traffic on 11 April 1848. The Northern Counties Committee came into existence on 1 July 1903 as the result of the Midland Railway taking over the BNCR. At the 1923 Grouping the Committee became part of the London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS); with the nationalisation of the railways in Britain in 1948 the line passed to the British Transport Commission and in the following year, 1949, it was sold to the Ulster Transport Authority (UTA) as a result of the Ireland Act 1949.
The early locomotives of the constituent companies were to assorted designs from a number of manufacturers. The first locomotives for the Belfast and Ballymena Railway were purchased from Bury, Curtis and Kennedy. These were four 2-2-2 singles and one 0-4-2 goods engine. Later, four more 2-2-2s were ordered but this time from Sharp Brothers. Fairbairn 2-2-2s were to be found on the Ballymena Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine and Portrush Junction Railway but this company also favoured Sharp locomotives which were double framed 2-4-0s.
The BNCR introduced class letters for its locomotive stock in 1897. The MR (NCC) and later the LMS (NCC) continued to use the system adding new classes as required.
Class | Type | Fleet numbers | Quantity built | Manufacturer | Dates built | Dates withdrawn | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A | 4-4-0 | 3–5, 9, 17, 20, 34, 63–68 | 13 | York Road Works (7) Derby Works (6) | 1901–1908 | 1929–1936 | Heavy compound locomotives |
B | 4-4-0 | 24, 59–62 | 5 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1897–1898 | 1924–1932 | Light compound locomotives |
C | 2-4-0 | 21, 33, 50–52, 56–57 | 7 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1890–1895 | 1926–1942 | Light compound locomotives; 50 renumbered 58 |
D | 2-4-0 | 50, 55 | 2 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1895 | 1944–1946 | Heavy compound locomotives; named Jubilee and Parkmount; rebuilt as 4-4-0 in 1897 |
E | 0-6-0 | 53–54 | 2 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1892 | 1934–1944 | Compound goods locomotives |
F | 2-4-0 | 45–46, 23 | 3 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1880–1885 | 1938–1942 | |
G | 2-4-0 | 6, 8, 10–11, 22, 27, 29, 40–41 | 9 | Sharp, Stewart & Company (7) Beyer, Peacock & Company (2) | 1872–1878 | 1925–1933 | |
H | 2-4-0 | 12–17 | 6 | Sharp, Stewart & Company | 1856 | 1908–1924 | |
I | 2-4-0 | 40–41 | 2 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1868 | 1924 | Renumbered 1–2 |
J | 2-4-0T | 25, 47–49 | 4 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1883 | 1932–1934 | Rebuilt as saddle tanks |
K | 0-6-0 | 7, 28, 30–32, 38–39, 43–44 | 9 | Sharp, Stewart & Company (7) Beyer, Peacock & Company (2) | 1867–1880 | 1925–1947 | |
L | 0-6-0 | 18–19, 35 | 3 | Sharp, Stewart & Company | 1857–1861 | 1925–1933 | |
L1 | 0-6-0 | 36–37 | 2 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1863 | 1928–1932 | |
M | 0-4-2 | 26 | 1 | York Road Works | 1873 | 1925 | |
N | 0-4-0ST | 42 | 1 | Sharp, Stewart & Company | 1875 | 1925 | |
O | 0-4-2ST | 60–62 | 3 | Black, Hawthorn & Company | 1874–1875 | 1911–1923 | Narrow gauge locomotives; ex Ballymena, Cushendall and Red Bay Railway 1–3; renumbered 101–103 |
P | 2-4-0T | 63–64 | 2 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1877–1878 | 1920–1928 | Narrow gauge locomotives; ex Ballymena and Larne Railway 1 & 4; renumbered 104–105 |
Q | 0-6-0T | 65–67 | 3 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1877–1882 | 1931–1933 | Narrow gauge locomotives; ex Ballymena & Larne Railway 2, 3 & 6; renumbered 106–108 |
R | 2-6-0ST | 68 | 1 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1880 | 1934 | Narrow gauge locomotive; ex Ballymena & Larne Railway 5; renumbered 109 |
S | 2-4-2T | 69–70 | 2 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1882 | 1946–1954 | Narrow gauge compound locomotives; renumbered 110–111 |
Class | Type | Fleet numbers | Quantity built | Manufacturer | Dates built | Dates withdrawn | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A1 | 4-4-0 | 3, 4, 9, 17, 34, 64–66, 68 | 9 | (1927–34) | 1947–1954 | Simple rebuilds of class A | |
B1 | 4-4-0 | 60, 61 | 3 | (1921) | (1932) | Rebuilds of class B | |
B2 | 4-4-0 | 24 | 1 | (1925) | (1928) | Simple rebuilds of class B | |
B3 | 4-4-0 | 21, 24, 28, 60, 61 | 5 | (1927–32) | 1938–1947 | Simple rebuilds of classes B1, B2, C and C1 | |
C1 | 2-4-0 | 21, 51, 52, 57 | 4 | (1926–31) | 1931–1947 | Rebuilds of class C | |
D1 | 4-4-0 | 50 | 1 | (1926) | 1946 | Rebuild of class D | |
E1 | 0-6-0 | 53–54 | 2 | (1907–11) | 1934–1944 | Rebuilds of class E | |
F1 | 2-4-0 | 46 | 1 | (1928) | 1938 | Rebuild of class F | |
G1 | 2-4-0 | 6, 10, 27 | 3 | (1910–13) | 1931–1933 | Rebuilds of class G | |
K1 | 0-6-0 | 30, 32, 38–39, 43–44 | 6 | (1909–22) | 1927–1938 | Rebuilds of class K | |
S | 2-4-2T | 112–113, 103–104 | 4 | York Road Works | 1908–1920 | 1938–1954 | Narrow gauge compound locomotives; 112–113 renumbered 102–101 |
S1 | 2-4-2T | 101–102 | 2 | (1928–1930) | 1942 | Narrow gauge compound locomotives; rebuilds of class S; renumbered 41–42 | |
S2 | 2-4-4T | 110 | 1 | (1931) | 1946 | Narrow gauge compound locomotive; rebuild of class S | |
T | 90–91 | 2 | Derby Works | 1905 | 1913 | Railmotor units | |
T | 4-4-2T | 113–114 | 2 | Kitson & Company | 1908 | 1940–1942 | Narrow gauge locomotives; ex Ballycastle Railway 3 & 4 |
N | 0-4-0ST | 16 | 1 | York Road Works | 1914 | 1951 | |
U | 4-4-0 | 14–15, 69–70 | 4 | Derby Works | 1914–1922 | 1924–1937 | Renumbered 70–73; rebuilt as class U2 |
U1 | 4-4-0 | 1–4 | 4 | York Road Works | 1924–1931 | 1946–1949 | Named after Glens |
U2 | 4-4-0 | 70–87 | 18 | North British Locomotive Company (7) York Road Works (7+4) | 1924–1936 | 1956–1963 | |
V | 0-6-0 | 71–73 | 3 | Derby Works | 1923 | 1961–1964 | "renumbered" X–Z; then 13–15 |
— | ? | 91 | 1 | Sentinel Waggon Works | 1925 | 1932 | |
W | 2-6-0 | 90–104 | 15 | Derby Works (4) York Road Works (11) | 1933–1942 | 1956–1965 | Most named |
WT | 2-6-4T | 1–10, 50–57 | 18 | Derby Works | 1946–1950 | 1968–1971 | Nicknamed "Jeeps" |
Y | 0-6-0T | 18–19 | 2 | WG Bagnall (1) Hunslet Engine Company (1) | 1926–1928 | 1956–1963 | Re-gauged LMS Fowler Class 3F; arrived 1944 |
Following the division of Ireland in 1921 into two administrations, a number of railways now found themselves operating on both sides of the newly created boundary between Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State (later Republic of Ireland).
The 3-foot (914 mm) West Donegal Railway became the Donegal Railway in 1892; and the County Donegal Railways Joint Committee after being jointly acquired in 1906 by the Great Northern Railway and the Midland Railway's Northern Counties Committee.
Class | Type | Fleet numbers | Quantity built | Manufacturer | Dates built | Dates withdrawn | Notes [3] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2-4-0T | 1–3 | 3 | Sharp, Stewart & Company | 1881 | 1909–1926 | |
2 | 4-6-0T | 4–9 | 6 | Neilson & Company | 1893 | 1931–1937 | |
3 | 4-4-4T | 10–11 | 2 | Neilson, Reid & Company | 1902 | 1933 | |
4 | 4-6-4T | 12–15 | 4 | Nasmyth, Wilson & Company | 1904 | 1953–1959 | Renumbered 9–12 in 1937 |
5 | 2-6-4T | 16–20 | 5 | Nasmyth, Wilson & Company | 1907 | 1940–1950 | Renumbered 4–8 in 1937 |
5A | 2-6-4T | 21, 2A, 3A | 3 | Nasmyth, Wilson & Company | 1912 | 1959 | Renumbered 1–3 in 1937 |
Class | Type | Fleet numbers | Quantity built | Manufacturer | Dates built | Dates withdrawn | Notes [4] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
— | 0-6-0ST | 1–6 | 6 | LNWR Crewe Works | 1873–1898 | 1928–1951 |
The Great Northern Railway (GNR) was formed in 1876 acquiring a variety of locomotives. Nos 1 to 23 were from Dublin and Drogheda Railway; Nos. 24 to 41 from the Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway; Nos. 43 to circa 78 from the Irish North Western Railway and Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway; Numbers in the eighties from the Newry and Armagh Railway and nos. 100 to 141 from the Ulster Railway. [5] Later acquisitions in the 1880s from the Newry, Warrenpoint, and Rostrevor and the Belfast Central Railway were numbered in the Nineties. [6] The GNR straddled the border between the Republic and Northern Ireland (after 1921), and so was not incorporated in either the CIÉ or Ulster Transport Authority. However, mounting losses saw the network purchased jointly by the Irish and British governments on 1 September 1953. It was run as a joint board, independent of the CIÉ and UTA, until 30 September 1958 when it was dissolved and the remaining stock split equally between the two railways.
Class | Type | Fleet numbers | Quantity built | Manufacturer | Dates built | Dates withdrawn | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
B | 0-6-0 | 6, 26–27, 34, 62–63, 65–67 | 9 | Sharp, Stewart & Company | 1877–1880 | 1925–1938 | |
G | 2-4-0 | 24–25, 46–47, 59, 80 | 6 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1877–1883 | 1913–1921 | Several renumbered |
H | 2-4-0 | 84–87 | 4 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1880–1881 | 1931–1932 |
Class | Type | Fleet numbers | Quantity built | Manufacturer | Dates built | 1958 CIÉ | 1958 UTA | Dates withdrawn | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A | 0-6-0 | 28, 31, 33, 79–83, 60–61, 64, 145–146, 149–150 | 15 | Beyer, Peacock & Company (13) Dundalk Works (2) | 1882–1891 | 3 | 0 | 1937–1961 | Several renumbered; three sold to SL&NCR |
BT | 4-4-0T | 2–8, 91–92, 97–100 | 13 | Beyer, Peacock & Company (3) Dundalk Works (10) | 1885–1893 | — | — | 1910–1935 | Several renumbered |
J | 4-4-0 | 17–21, 45, 48, 115–119 | 12 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1885–1889 | — | — | 1921–1934 | 45/48 renumbered 15/16; two sold to SL&NCR |
JS | 4-2-2 | 88–89 | 2 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1885 | — | — | 1904 | Named Victoria and Albert |
P | 4-4-0 | 51–54, 72–73, 82–83 | 8 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1892–1895 | 3 | 0 | 1950–1959 | Rebuilt with superheaters as class Ps |
AL | 0-6-0 | 29, 32, 36, 55–59, 151–153 | 11 | Beyer, Peacock & Company (7) Dundalk Works (4) | 1893–1896 | 6 | 2 | 1957–1961 | 151/152 renumbered 141/140 |
JT | 2-4-2T | 90, 93–94, 95, 13–14 | 6 | Dundalk Works | 1895–1902 | 1 | 0 | 1955–1963 | 13/14 renumbered 91/92 |
Class | Type | Fleet numbers | Quantity built | Manufacturer | Dates built | 1958 CIÉ | 1958 UTA | Dates withdrawn | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PP | 4-4-0 | 12, 25, 42–46, 50, 70–71, 74–77, 106–107, 129 | 17 | Beyer, Peacock & Company (15) Dundalk Works (2) | 1896–1911 | 5 | 7 | 1957–1963 | Rebuilt with superheaters as class PPs |
PG | 0-6-0 | 10–11, 78, 100–103 | 7 | Neilson, Reid & Company (3) Dundalk Works (4) | 1899–1904 | 0 | 7 | 1960–1964 | Rebuilt with superheaters as class PGs |
Q | 4-4-0 | 120–125, 130–136 | 13 | Neilson, Reid & Company (9) North British Locomotive Company (2) Beyer, Peacock & Company (2) | 1899–1904 | 5 | 4 | 1951–1963 | Rebuilt with superheaters as class Qs |
QG | 0-6-0 | 152–155 | 4 | North British Locomotive Company | 1903–1904 | 4 | 0 | 1962–1963 | Rebuilt with superheaters as class QGs |
P | 4-4-0 | 88–89, 104–105 | 4 | Dundalk Works | 1904–1906 | 1 | 0 | 1956–1960 | Rebuilt with superheaters as class Ps |
QL | 4-4-0 | 24, 113–114, 126–128, 156–157 | 8 | North British Locomotive Company (7) Beyer, Peacock & Company (1) | 1904–1910 | 0 | 3 | 1932–1960 | Rebuilt with superheaters as class QLs |
QGT | 0-6-2T | 98–99 | 2 | Robert Stephenson & Company | 1905 | 1 | 0 | 1957–1960 | Rebuilt with superheaters as class QGTs |
LQG | 0-6-0 | 78, 108, 110–111, 158–164 | 11 | North British Locomotive Company (9) Dundalk Works (2) | 1906–1908 | 6 | 5 | 1958–1963 | Rebuilt with superheated as class LQGs |
RT | 0-6-4T | 22–23, 166–167 | 4 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1908–1911 | 0 | 4 | 1958–1963 | |
NQG | 0-6-0 | 9, 38–39, 109, 112 | 5 | Nasmyth, Wilson & Company | 1911 | 2 | 3 | 1958–1963 | Four rebuilt with superheaters as class NQGs; one rebuilt to class LQGs |
NLQG | 0-6-0 | 165 | 1 | Nasmyth, Wilson & Company | 1911 | 0 | 1 | 1961 | Rebuilt to class LQGs |
QGT2 | 0-6-2T | 168–169 | 2 | Robert Stephenson & Company | 1911 | — | — | 1957 | |
S | 4-4-0 | 170–174 | 5 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1913 | 3 | 2 | 1964–1965 | Named after mountains; CIÉ locos to UTA in 1963 |
SG | 0-6-0 | 37, 40–41, 137–138 | 5 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1913 | 3 | 2 | 1961–1965 |
Class | Type | Fleet numbers | Quantity built | Manufacturer | Dates built | 1958 CIÉ | 1958 UTA | Dates withdrawn | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T | 4-4-2T | 185–189 | 5 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1913 | 1 | 4 | 1959–1964 | Rebuilt with superheaters as class T1 |
SG2 | 0-6-0 | 180–184 | 5 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1915 | 3 | 2 | 1961–1963 | |
S2 | 4-4-0 | 190–192 | 3 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1915 | 1 | 2 | 1960–65 | |
U | 4-4-0 | 196–200 | 5 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1915 | 3 | 2 | 1959–1963 | Named after Loughs |
SG3 | 0-6-0 | 6–8, 13–14, 20, 47–49, 96–97, 117–118, 201–202 | 15 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1920–1921 | 7 | 8 | 1960–1967 | 201–202 renumbered 40–41 |
T2 | 4-4-2T | 1–5 | 5 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1921 | 2 | 3 | 1959–1964 | |
T2 | 4-4-2T | 21, 30, 115–116, 139, 142–144, 147–148 | 10 | Nasmyth, Wilson & Company | 1924 | 6 | 4 | 1958–1963 | 147–148 renumbered 67 and 69 |
SG2 | 0-6-0 | 15–19 | 5 | Nasmyth, Wilson & Company | 1924–1926 | 2 | 3 | 1959–1965 | |
Crane | 0-6-0CT | 31 | 1 | Hawthorn Leslie | 1928 | 0 | 0 | 1963 | to Dundalk Engineering Co. (as part of Dundalk Works) in 1958; to CIÉ in 1960 |
T2 | 4-4-2T | 62–66 | 5 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1929–1930 | 3 | 2 | 1959–1960 | |
V | 4-4-0 | 83–87 | 5 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1932 | 2 | 3 | 1959–1963 | Three-cylinder compound; named after birds of prey |
Class | Type | Fleet numbers | Quantity built | Manufacturer | Dates built | 1958 CIÉ | 1958 UTA | Dates withdrawn | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UG | 0-6-0 | 78–82 | 5 | Dundalk Works | 1937 | 2 | 3 | 1960–1965 | [7] |
Class | Type | Fleet numbers | Quantity made | Manufacturer | Dates built | 1958 CIÉ | 1958 UTA | Dates withdrawn | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UG | 0-6-0 | 145–149 | 5 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1948 | 3 | 2 | 1960–1968 | [7] |
U | 4-4-0 | 201–205 | 5 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1948 | 2 | 3 | 1962–1965 | Named after counties |
VS | 4-4-0 | 206–210 | 5 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1948 | 3 | 2 | 1960–1965 | [7] Three-cylinder simple; named after rivers |
Type | Fleet numbers | Quantity built | Manufacturer | Dates built | Dates withdrawn | Notes [8] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0-6-0T | 1–2 | 2 | G&W | 1862 | 1883–1885 | No. 2 renumbered 3; No. 1 sold to Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners |
0-6-0ST | 3–4 | 2 | Robert Stephenson & Company | 1864 | 1869–1882 | No. 4 renumbered 2; Sold to Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners |
0-6-0T | 4–5 | 2 | Sharp, Stewart & Company | 1876–1879 | 1885 | Sold to Cork and Bandon Railway as their Nos. 14–15 |
Type | Fleet numbers | Quantity built | Manufacturer | Dates built | Dates withdrawn | Notes [8] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0-6-2WT | 1 | 1 | Black, Hawthorn & Company | 1882 | 1911 | Sold to a contractor |
0-6-2T | 2–3 | 2 | Black, Hawthorn & Company | 1883 | 1912–1913 | |
0-6-0T | 4 | 1 | Black, Hawthorn & Company | 1885 | 1940 | renumbered 17 in 1913 |
2-4-0T | 5–6 | 2 | Robert Stephenson & Company | 1874 | 1899 | Ex Glenariff Iron Ore and Harbour Company, acquired 1885; renumbered 5A and 6A in 1899 |
4-6-2T | 5–8 | 4 | Hudswell Clarke | 1899–1902 | 1940–1954 | 5 and 6 renumbered 15 and 16 in 1913 |
4-6-0T | 1–4 | 4 | Andrew Barclay Sons & Co | 1902 | 1940–1954 | Owned by the Letterkenny and Burtonport Extension Railway |
4-6-2T | 9–10 | 2 | Kerr, Stuart & Company | 1904 | 1928–1954 | |
4-8-0 | 11–12 | 2 | Hudswell Clarke | 1905 | 1933–1954 | |
4-6-2T | 13–14 | 2 | Hawthorn Leslie | 1910 | 1940–1943 | to Letterkenny and Burtonport Extension Railway in exchange for L&BER 5 and 6 |
4-8-4T | 5–6 | 2 | Hudswell Clarke | 1912 | 1954 | Owned by the Letterkenny and Burtonport Extension Railway; to L&LSR in exchange for 13 and 14. |
The Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway was a small cross-border railway that closed in 1957. Its locomotive fleet never carried numbers, only names.
Class | Type | Names | Quantity built | Manufacturer | Dates built | Dates withdrawn | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pioneer | 0-6-2T | Pioneer Sligo | 2 | Avonside Engine Company | 1877 | 1921 | |
Leitrim | 0-6-4T | Fermanagh Leitrim Lurganboy Lissadell Hazlewood | 5 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1882–1899 | 1947–1957 | also known as Fermanagh class |
Erne | 4-4-0T | Erne | 1 | Hudswell Clarke | 1883 | 1910 | rebuilt as 4-4-2T in 1885 |
Faugh-a-Ballagh | 0-4-0ST | Faugh-a-Ballagh | 1 | Hunslet Engine Company | 1878 | ? | Acquired 1897: ex contractors' locomotive |
Waterford | 0-6-0T | Waterford | 1 | Hunslet Engine Company | 1893 | ? | Acquired 1897: ex contractors' locomotive |
Sir Henry | 0-6-4T | Sir Henry Enniskillen Lough Gill | 3 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1904–1917 | 1957 | |
Glencar | 4-4-0 | Blacklion Glencar | (2) | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1885–87 | 1928–1931 | Acquired 1921: ex GNRI Class J nos. 118 (Blacklion) and 119 (Glencar) |
Sligo | 0-6-0 | Glencar ‘A’ Sligo Sligo | (3) | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1882–1890 | 1940–1949 | Acquired 1927–1940: ex GNRI Class A nos. 31 (Glencar) and 149 (Sligo); latter swapped for GNRI 69 in 1940 |
Lough | 0-6-4T | Lough Melvin Lough Erne | 2 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1949 | 1957 | to UTA in 1959 as nos. 26–27, UTA class Z; withdrawn 1968–1970 |
The railways wholly in the Irish Free State were merged into one private company — Great Southern Railways — in 1925. The GSR renumbered all the broad gauge locomotives into one series with the former Great Southern and Western Railway locomotives retaining their old number. The GSR had two parallel classification systems – a numerical system which was the lowest number of a locomotive in that class, and an alpha-numerical which used a letter to indicate the wheel arrangement, and a number, with the lowest number given to the most powerful class with that wheel arrangement. The latter system was only used by Inchicore Works for accounting purposes, while the former was used by locomotive crews and the drawing office at Inchicore Works.
Letter | Wheel Arrangement | Letter | Wheel Arrangement | Letter | Wheel Arrangement |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
A | 4-8-0T | F | 2-4-2T | K | 2-6-0 |
B | 4-6-0 | G | 2-4-0 | L | 0-4-2 |
C | 4-4-2 | H | 0-6-4 | M | 0-4-0 |
D | 4-4-0 | I | 0-6-2T | N | 2-2-2 |
E | 0-4-4T | J | 0-6-0 | P | 2-6-2 |
Note that narrow gauge locomotive classes included the letter N after the prefix letter, letter C was also used for Bo-Bo diesels, and that letters B, C, D, F, J, and K were used for the same wheel arrangements by the London and North Eastern Railway, while E and G changed places.
In 1945, the GSR became part of Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ), which amalgamated the railway, road transport and canal functions of the State. CIÉ was nationalised in 1950 and settled on a policy of replacing steam with diesel locomotives, a process that was completed in 1962.
The Waterford and Limerick Railway changed its name to Waterford, Limerick and Western Railway in 1896. It was acquired by the Great Southern and Western Railway in 1900; by which time all but one of its locomotive fleet had been designed by Robinson.
Type | Fleet numbers | Quantity built | Manufacturer | Dates built | GSWR Class | GSWR Nos. | GSR Class | Inchicore Class | Dates withdrawn | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2-2-2 | WLR 1 to 6 | 6 | Stothert & Slaughter | 1847 | — | — | — | — | 1860–1862 | |
2-2-2 | WLR 7 | 1 | ? | ? | — | — | — | — | 1871 | Acquired secondhand from William Dargan in 1853; origin unknown |
2-2-2 | WLR 8 to 10 | 3 | Bury, Curtis and Kennedy | 1848–49 | — | — | — | — | 1880–88 | Acquired secondhand from William Dargan in 1850–52; né Newry, Warrenpoint and Rostrevor Railway 1 to 3 (not in order) |
2-4-0 | WLR 11 to 12, 17 to 21 | 7 | William Fairbairn & Sons | 1853–55 | 264 | 264 | — | — | 1872–1903 | |
0-4-2 | WLR 13 to 16 | 4 | Sharp, Stewart & Company | 1853–54 | — | — | — | — | 1891–96 | |
0-4-2 | WLR 4 to 6 | 3 | Sharp, Stewart & Company | 1862–64 | 223 | 223 | — | — | 1890–1901 | |
2-2-2 | WLR 28 | 1 | Kitson & Company | 1864 | 280 | 280 | — | — | 1902 | |
0-4-0ST | WLR 29 | 1 | Sharp, Stewart & Company | 1865 | 228 | 228 | 228 | — | 1925 | |
0-4-2 | WLR 3 and 7 | 2 | Kitson & Company | 1876 | — | — | — | — | 1888–92 | |
2-4-0 | WLR 25, 31 to 32, 8, 35 to 39 | 10 | Vulcan Foundry | 1874–82 | 281 | 277, 281–283, 261, 285–289 | — | — | 1902–11 | |
0-4-2 | WLR 19, 26, 27 and 33 | 4 | Avonside Engine Company | 1876 | 278 | 272, 278, 284 | — | — | 1899–1910 | |
0-6-0T | WLR 34 | 1 | ? | ? | 229 | 229 | — | — | 1901 | Acquired secondhand in 1878 |
0-6-0 | WLR 40 and 41 | 2 | Vulcan Foundry | 1883 | 230 | 230–231 | — | — | 1909–10 | |
0-6-0WT | WLR 42 | 1 | Hawthorns & Co. (Leith) | 1862 | 232 | 232 | — | — | 1901 | Acquired secondhand in 1883; ex Neath & Brecon Railway No. 3; né Anglesey Central Railway |
0-6-0 | WLR 1 | 1 | Robert Stephenson & Company | 1879 | 221 | 221 | — | — | 1909 | Acquired second-hand in 1884; rebuilt as 0-6-0ST in 1899 |
4-4-0 | WLR 9 | 1 | Dübs & Company | 1886 | 262 | 262 | — | — | 1912 | |
4-4-0 | WLR 12 | 1 | Vulcan Foundry | 1886 | 265 | 265 | — | — | 1907 | |
0-6-0 | WLR 24 | 1 | Dübs & Company | 1886 | 227 | 227 | — | — | 1910 | |
Type | Fleet numbers | Quantity built | Manufacturer | Dates built | GSWR Class | GSWR Nos. | GSR Class | Inchicore Class | Dates withdrawn | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0-6-0 | WLR 5 to 7 | 3 | Limerick Works | 1888–93 | 224 | 224 to 226 | — | — | 1905–1909 | |
2-4-0 | WLR 10, 22, 20, 23, 43, 44, 47, and 48 | 8 | Dübs & Company | 1889–94 | 276 | 263, 275, 273, 276, 290 to 293 | 276 | G3 | 1907–1959 | |
2-4-2T | WLR 13 and 14 | 2 | Vulcan Foundry | 1891 | 266 | 226 and 227 | 267 491 | F4 F5 | 1933–1935 | 226 sold to CMDR 6 in 1913; to GSR 491 in 1925 |
0-4-2T | WLR 3 | 1 | Limerick Works | 1892 | 260 | 260 | — | — | 1912 | |
0-6-0 | WLR 45, 46, 49, and 50 | 4 | Dübs & Company | 1893–95 | 233 | 233 to 236 | 235 | J22 | 1911–1951 | |
0-4-4T | WLR 15 | 1 | Limerick Works | 1894 | 268 | 268 | — | — | 1912 | |
0-4-4T | WLR 51 and 52 | 2 | Kitson & Company | 1895 | 294 | 294 and 295 | 295 | E2 | 1910–1954 | |
4-4-2T | WLWR 16 to 18, and 21 | 4 | Kitson & Company | 1896–97 | 269 | 269 to 271, 274 | 269 | C5 | 1949–1957 | |
4-4-0 | WLWR 53 to 55 | 3 | Kitson & Company | 1896–97 | 296 | 296 to 298 | 296 | D15 | 1928–1949 | |
0-6-0 | WLWR 56 to 58 | 3 | Kitson & Company | 1897 | 237 | 237 to 239 | 222 | J25 | 1934–1951 | |
0-4-4T | WLWR 27 | 1 | Limerick Works | 1899 | 279 | 279 | 279 | E1 | 1953 | |
0-6-0 | WLWR 2, 4, 11 | 3 | Kitson & Company | 1900 | 222 | 222, | 222 | J25 | 1929–1950 | 4 and 11 sold before delivery to MGWR 141 and 142 |
Type | Class lead | Quantity built | Manufacturer | Dates built | GSR Class | Inchicore Class | GSR Nos. | Dates withdrawn | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2-2-0 [lower-alpha 1] | Vauxhall | 3 | George Forrester and Company | 1834 | — | — | — | — | Dublin, Kingstown & Vauxhall [10] [11] - subsequently converted to 2-2-2T |
2-2-0 | Hibernia | 3 | Sharp Brothers | 1834 | — | — | — | 1842 | Hibernia, Britania, Manchester [10] [11] |
2-2-0 | Star | 1 | Horseley Iron Company | 1836 | — | — | — | — | Star [12] [11] |
2-2-0T [lower-alpha 1] | Victoria | 2 | George Forrester and Company | 1836 | — | — | — | — | Victoria & Comet [12] [11] - first tank locomotives in public service subsequently converted to 2-2-2T |
2-2-2T | Princess | 5 | Grand Canal Street | 1841 | — | — | — | — | Princess, Belleisle, Shamrock, Erin, Albert [12] [11] |
2-2-2T | Burgoyne | 4 | Grand Canal Street | 1845 | — | — | — | — | Burgoyne, Cyclops, Vulcan, Jupiter [12] (increased wheelbase) [11] |
The Dublin and South Eastern Railway started out in 1846 as the Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow and Dublin Railway Company. In 1853 it was renamed the Dublin and Wicklow Railway Company, and in 1860 it was renamed the Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford Railway Company and on 31 December 1906 it was renamed again as the Dublin and South Eastern.
Type | Fleet numbers | Quantity built | Manufacturer | Dates built | GSR Class | Inchicore Class | GSR Nos. | Dates withdrawn | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2-2-2WT | D&WR 1 and 2 | 2 | William Fairbairn & Sons | 1853 | — | — | — | 1892–1901 | No. 2 renumbered 45 in 1885 |
2-4-0 | D&WR 3 | 1 | William Fairbairn & Sons | 1853 | — | — | — | 1898 | Rebuilt as 2-4-0T in 1884 |
2-2-2T | D&WR 4 and 5 | 2 | William Fairbairn & Sons | 1853 | — | — | — | 1872–1900 | No. 5 renumbered 5A in 1897 |
2-2-2ST | D&WR 6, 7, 10 and 11 | 4 | Vulcan Foundry | 1854–55 | — | — | — | 1902–03 | Renumbered 6A, 7A, 10A, 11 between 1894 and 1896 |
2-4-0ST | D&WR 8 and 9 | 2 | Vulcan Foundry | 1855 | — | — | — | 1890–1903 | Rebuilt as 2-4-0T |
2-4-0 | DWWR 12 to 14 | 3 | William Fairbairn & Sons | 1860 | — | — | — | 1902–23 | |
0-4-2 | DWWR 15 and 16 | 2 | Sharp, Stewart & Company | 1860 | — | — | — | 1922–25 | |
0-4-2 | DWWR 17 to 23 | 7 | Sharp, Stewart & Company | 1864 | — | — | — | 1899–1925 | No. 21 rebuilt as 0-4-2T in 1904 |
Type | Fleet numbers | Quantity built | Manufacturer | Dates built | GSR Class | Inchicore Class | GSR Nos. | Dates withdrawn | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2-4-0 | DWWR 24 to 26, 32, and 33 | 5 | Sharp, Stewart & Company | 1864–73 | 422 | G7 | 422 | 1928 | No. 26 rebuilt as 2-4-0T in 1900 |
2-2-2WT | DWWR Ariel et al. | 7 | Neilson & Company | 1865 | — | — | — | 1886–94 | Ariel, Elfin, Kate Kearney, Kelpie, Oberon, Titania, Banshee. [12] [13] Four sold to contractors |
2-2-2WT | DWWR 27 and 28 | 2 | Grand Canal Street | 1869 | — | — | — | 1887 | |
2-2-2WT | DWWR 29 to 31, 34 to 36, 4, 40 and 27 | 9 | Grand Canal Street (7) Neilson & Company (2) | 1871–1887 | — | — | — | 1902–23 | 4 renumbered 30 in 1902 |
0-4-2 | DWWR 37 to 39 | 3 | Sharp, Stewart & Company | 1876 | — | — | — | 1923–25 | |
2-4-0WT | DWWR 41 | 1 | Grand Canal Street | 1882 | — | — | — | 1925 | rebuilt as 2-4-0T in 1903 |
Type | Fleet numbers | Quantity built | Manufacturer | Dates built | GSR Class | Inchicore Class | GSR Nos. | Dates withdrawn | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2-4-0T | DWWR 42 to 44 | 3 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1883 | — | — | — | 1925 | |
2-4-0T | DWWR 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 28, 45 to 47, and 49 | 11 | Grand Canal Street | 1885–96 | 423 | G1 | 423–426 | 1925–55 | 10, 28, 45, 46 rebuilt as 2-4-2T between 1900 and 1910 |
2-4-2T | DWWR 3, 11 | 2 | Grand Canal Street | 1896–98 | 428,430 | F2 | 428 | 1953 | |
2-4-2T | DWWR 10, 28, 45, 46 | (4) | (1900–10) | 428 | F2 | 429–433 | 1925–57 | rebuilt from 2-4-0T | |
0-6-0 | DWWR 50 and 51 | 2 | Vulcan Foundry | 1891 | 447 | J7 | 447 | 1925–30 | |
4-4-2T | DWWR 52 to 54 | 3 | Sharp, Stewart & Company | 1893 | 458 | C3 | 458–460 | 1953–1960 |
Type | Fleet numbers | Quantity built | Manufacturer | Dates built | GSR Class | Inchicore Class | GSR Nos. | Dates withdrawn | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4-4-0 | DWWR 55 to 58 | 4 | Vulcan Foundry | 1895–96 | 450 | D9 | 450–453 | 1929–40 |
Type | Fleet numbers | Quantity built | Manufacturer | Dates built | GSR Class | Inchicore Class | GSR Nos. | Dates withdrawn | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0-6-2T | DWWR 4 and 5 | 2 | Kitson & Company | 1897 | 448 | J1 | 448–449 | 1940–50 | rebuilt as 0-6-0 in 1908 |
0-6-0 | DWWR 17 | 1 | Grand Canal Street | 1899 | 440 | J20 | 440 | 1929 | |
0-4-2 | DWWR 48 | 1 | Grand Canal Street | 1899 | — | — | — | 1913 | |
0-6-0 | DWWR 36 | 1 | Grand Canal Street | 1900 | 441 | J14 | 441 | 1934 | |
2-4-2T | DWWR 8, 12, 27, 29, 30, 40 | 6 | Grand Canal Street | 1901–09 | 434 | F1 | 434–439 | 1950–53 | |
2-4-2T | DWWR 59 to 64 | 6 | Crewe Works | 1883–96 | 427 | 427 | 1916–36 | ex London & North Western Railway 4-ft 6-in Tanks, acquired 1902 and regauged | |
0-6-0 | DWWR 13, 14, 18, 65, and 66 | 5 | Grand Canal Street (3) Beyer, Peacock & Company (2) | 1905 | 442 | J8 | 442–446 | 1930–1957 | |
4-4-0 | DWWR 67 and 68 | 2 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1905 | 454 | D8 | 454 | 1925–1949 | |
Railmotor | DWWR 1 and 2 | 2 | Manning Wardle | 1906 | — | — | — | (1907) | Rebuilt 1907 as separate 0-4-0T and coach; locos numbered 69–70 |
0-4-0T | DSER 69 and 70 | 2 | Manning Wardle | (1907) | Imp | M1 | Elf Imp | 1928–31 | Rebuilt from railmotors 1 and 2; later Class M2 |
4-4-2T | DSER 20, 34, and 35 | 3 | Grand Canal Street (1) Beyer, Peacock & Company (2) | 1911–1924 | 455 | C2 | 455–457 | 1955–59 |
Type | Fleet numbers | Quantity built | Manufacturer | Dates built | GSR Class | Inchicore Class | GSR Nos. | Dates withdrawn | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2-6-0 | DSER 15 and 16 | 2 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1922 | 461 | K2 | 461–462 | 1963–65 |
Type | Fleet numbers | Quantity built | Manufacturer | Dates built | GSR Class | Inchicore Class | GSR Nos. | Dates withdrawn | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0-2-2WT | 1, 2 | 2 | William Bridges Adams | 1849 | — | — | — | 1867 | |
2-2-2 | 3, 4 | 2 | Vulcan Foundry | 1849–1851 | — | — | — | 1889–1890 | |
0-4-2 | 5, 6 | 2 | Sharp, Stewart & Company | 1852 | — | — | — | 1879–1887 | |
2-4-0T | 1, 2, 8, 13 and 4A | 5 | Dübs & Company | 1874–1887 | 482 | G6 | 477, 482 | 1919–1930 | |
2-4-0T | 9 and 10 | 2 | J. Cross | 1865 | — | — | — | 1893–1895 | ex West Cork Railways 1 and 2, acquired 1880 |
2-4-0ST | 11 | 1 | Vulcan Foundry | 1877 | — | — | — | 1904 | ex West Cork Railways 3, acquired 1880 |
0-6-0ST | 5, 6, 12, 16, 17 | 5 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1891–1894 | 472 474 475 | J24 J23 J21 | – | 1925–40 | |
0-6-0T | 14, 15 | 2 | Sharp, Stewart & Company | 1876–1879 | — | — | — | 1908–1910 | ex Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway 4 and 5, acquired 1885 rebuilt as 4-4-0T between 1893 and 1898 |
4-4-0T | 3, 9, 10, 18 | 4 | Dübs & Company (2) Neilson & Company (2) | 1891–1894 | 471 479 | C6 | 471 479–481 | 1930–1936 | most rebuilt as 4–4–2T between 1898 and 1902; No. 10 rebuilt as 4-6-0T in 1906 |
0-6-2ST | 19, 20 | 2 | Baldwin Locomotive Works | 1900 | — | — | — | 1912–1914 | |
4-4-0T | CBSCR 7 | 1 | Cork Works | 1901 | 478 | 478 | 1934 | ||
4-6-0T | 4, 8, 11, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20 | 8 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 1906–1920 | 463 | B4 | 463–470 | 1945–1961 |
The GSR introduced just under sixty steam locomotives between 1925 and 1944, [15] : 349 whilst CIÉ introduced one, the experimental Bulleid turf burner. CIÉ did however acquire 83 steam locomotives, which was precisely half of the Great Northern Railway stock, when that company was split between CIÉ and the Ulster Transport Authority after 30 September 1958. [16] : 184–185
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 which opened to traffic on 11 April 1848.
The Great Southern Railways Company was an Irish company that from 1925 until 1945 owned and operated all railways that lay wholly within the Irish Free State.
The Great Northern Railway V class steam locomotives were 4-4-0 three-cylinder compound locomotives built in 1932 by Beyer, Peacock & Company for the Great Northern Railway (Ireland).
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.
This is a bibliography for the history of rail transport in 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 Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (BNCR) Class S was a class of 2-4-2T two-cylinder compound steam locomotives that was introduced for service on the 3 ft narrow gauge railways of County Antrim in north-east Ireland.
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.
Collooney railway station serves the town of Collooney in County Sligo, Ireland and is on the Dublin-Sligo railway line. It was the first of three stations to be built in Collooney and remains the only one still in service.
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 Northern Counties Committee (NCC) Class S1 was a class of two-cylinder compound 2-4-2T steam locomotives that was introduced for service on the 3 ft (910 mm) narrow gauge railways of County Antrim in north-east Ireland. The members of the class were rebuilds of the BNCR Class S.
The Northern Counties Committee (NCC) Class S2 was a solitary two-cylinder compound 2-4-4T steam locomotive that was introduced for service on the 3 ft narrow gauge railways of County Antrim in north-east Ireland. It was heavily rebuilt from a BNCR Class S locomotive by the addition of a standard gauge boiler.
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 Belfast Central Railway (BCR) was a railway company operating in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The company was incorporated by act of Parliament in 1872 and acquired by the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) in 1885.
Inchicore railway works, also known locally as 'Inchicore' or 'The Works', was founded by the Great Southern and Western Railway in 1846 and emerged to become the major engineering centre for railways in Ireland. Located c. 3 km west of Dublin city centre, the works cover an area of approximately 73 acres (300,000 m2).
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 Great Northern Railway (Ireland) (GNRI) VS class steam locomotives were 4-4-0 three-cylinder simple expansion steam locomotives built in 1948 by Beyer, Peacock and Company. They were procured in order to operate the Enterprise train service between Dublin and Belfast and were the last series of steam engines ordered by the company.
The Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford Railway (DW&WR) 2, built in 1885, was the predecessor to a total of eleven 2-4-0T locomotives to emerge from Grand Canal Street railway works between 1885 and 1896.
Robert Coey (1851–1934) was a locomotive superintendent of the Great Southern and Western Railway (GS&WR) of Ireland from 1896 until 1911.
The GS&WR McDonnell 2-4-0 types were a set of passenger locomotive classes introduced on the Great Southern and Western Railway (GS&WR) of Ireland by its locomotive engineer Alexander McDonnell between about 1868 and 1877.