GS&WR Class 37

The Great Southern and Western Railway (GS&WR) Class 37 consisted of six 4-4-2T tank engines.[1] The first two built by locomotive superintendent Henry Ivatt (Snr.) were based on a previous 2-4-0T design by McDonnell, as were some 2-4-2Ts Ivatt produced two years earlier for the Kerry branches.[2]

GS&WR 37 Class
4-4-2T No. 317 partially hidden behind a railmotor
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerH. Ivatt / Coey
BuilderInchicore
Build date1894 & 1901
Total produced6
Specifications
Configuration:
  Whyte4-4-2T
Gauge5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Leading dia.3 ft 0 in (910 mm)
Driver dia.5 ft 8 12 in (1,740 mm)
Trailing dia.3 ft 9 in (1,140 mm)
Length34 ft 1 34 in (10,408 mm)
Axle load12.5 long tons (12.7 t)
Loco weight48.5 long tons (49.3 t)
Water cap1,130 imp gal (5,100 l; 1,360 US gal)
Boiler pressure160 lbf/in2 (1.10 MPa)
Cylinders2
Cylinder size16 in × 20 in (406 mm × 508 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort9,530 lbf (42.39 kN)
Career
Operators
ClassC7 (Inchicore)
Number in class6
Numbers37–38, 317–320
LocaleIreland
Withdrawn1955
DispositionAll scrapped
Details for No. 37 as built[1]

Construction

In 1900 Robert Coey, who by then had been promoted Inchicore Railway Works Manager to locomotive superintendent, produced four of a heavier and more powerful 4-4-2T, these were known as Class 27.[2]

Robert Coey in 1902 produced four more of the lighter class built by Ivatt, these were to be the final passenger tanks built by the GS&WR.[2]

Design

The Class 37 had a very low 13 long tons 6 cwt (29,800 lb or 13.5 t) maximum axle load enabling a very high route availability. By contrast the Class 27 had a higher maximum axle load 15 long tons 10 cwt (34,700 lb or 15.7 t).[1]

Service

On the amalgamation to Great Southern Railways in 1925 some of these classes were allocated to the former Dublin and South Eastern Railway (DSER) services to Bray,[2] where there was a shortage of motive power at least in part due to the ravages of the Irish Civil War. By the 1930s most have been allocated to the Cork local services.[1]

By 1948 the type was regarded as obsolete but all lasted until the 1950s with the last withdrawn in 1955.[1]

References

  1. Clements, Jeremy; McMahon, Michael (2008). Locomotives of the GSR. Colourpoint Books. pp. 62, 64. ISBN 9781906578268.
  2. Murray, K. A.; McNeil, D.B. (1976). The Great Southern & Western Railway. Irish Record Railway Society. pp. 148–149, 151, 193. ISBN 0904078051.
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