GS&WR Class 341

The Great Southern and Western Railway (GS&WR) Class 341 consisted of a single 4-4-0 express passenger locomotive named Sir William Goulding introduced in 1913 for the Dublin—Cork route. Despite being an apparently capable design it was withdrawn in 1928.[1]:116

GSWR 341 Class
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
Designer
BuilderInchicore
Build date1913
Total produced1
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-4-0
Gauge5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Leading dia.3 ft 0 in (910 mm)
Driver dia.6 ft 7 in (2,010 mm)
Length32 ft 1 3⁄4 in (9,798 mm)
Loco weight60.15 long tons (61.12 t)
Water cap3,345 imp gal (15,210 l; 4,017 US gal)
Boiler pressure
  • 160 lbf/in2 (1.10 MPa)
  • 175 lbf/in2 (1.21 MPa)
Cylinders2
Cylinder size
  • 20 in × 26 in (508 mm × 660 mm)
  • 19 in × 26 in (483 mm × 660 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort
Career
Operators
ClassD1 (Inchicore)
Number in class1
Numbers341
LocaleIreland
Withdrawn1928
[1]:116

Design

Design was begun by Robert Coey who retired through ill health and completed by Richard Maunsell who was later to design the UK Southern Railway Schools 4-4-0. Equipped with a large diameter boiler and Schmidt superheater. It was unique for the GS&WR and its successor the GSR in having inside Walschaerts valve gear. This design was at the limit achievable by a 4-4-0 within the axle weight restriction limits and it was weighed regularly to ensure compliance. The only change to the initial design was a later reduction in cylinder diameter [1]:57,116

Service

Due to weight restrictions it served on the Dublin—Cork route only where from 1916 it later shared services with the new EA Watson designed 400 Class 4-6-0 against which engine 341 seems to have compared favourably.[1]:57,116,233–235

Withdrawal

The locomotive was withdrawn in 1928 after just 15 years, three 400 class express locomotives were also retired shortly afterwards as surplus to requirements.[1]:57,116,233–235

Model

There is a detailed O Gauge model of engine 341 in the Fry model railway collection.[1]:380

References
  1. Clements, Jeremy; McMahon, Michael (2008). Locomotives of the GSR. Colourpoint Books. ISBN 9781906578268.
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