DSER 20
{{short description|Irish class of locomotive}}
{{Use Irish English|date=March 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox locomotive
| name = DSER 20, 34 & 35
| image = Irish 4-4-2T (46518266611).jpg
| alt =
| caption = 457 (former DSER 35) at Bray
| powertype = Steam
| designer = Cronin
| builder = {{ubl|Grand Canal Street|Beyer, Peacock & Company}}
| ordernumber =
| serialnumber =
| buildmodel =
| builddate = 1911 & 1924
| totalproduction = 3
| rebuilder = Inchicore railway works
| rebuilddate = 1932–1951
| numberrebuilt =
| whytetype = 4-4-2T
| uicclass =
| driver =
| gauge = {{track gauge|Irish}}
| leadingdiameter = {{convert|3|ft|3|in|mm|abbr=on}}
| driverdiameter = {{convert|6|ft|1|in|mm|abbr=on}}
| coupleddiameter =
| trailingdiameter = {{convert|3|ft|39|in|mm|abbr=on}}
| tenderdiameter =
| minimumcurve =
| wheelbase =
| engine total =
| leading =
| drivers =
| coupled =
| trailing =
| tender total =
| tendertruck =
| tenderbogie =
| pivotcentres =
| wheelspacing =
| length =
| over couplers =
| over bufferbeams=
| width =
| height =
| frametype =
| axleload = {{convert|15.75|LT|MT}}
| leadingbogie/pony=
| coupled all =
| coupled 1 =
| coupled 2 =
| coupled 3 =
| coupled 4 =
| coupled 5 =
| coupled 6 =
| coupled 7 =
| coupled 8 =
| trail bogie/pony=
| tenderbogieload =
| tenderaxle =
| weightondrivers =
| locoweight = {{convert|61.5|LT|MT}}
| tenderweight =
| locotenderweight =
| tendertype =
| fueltype =
| fuelcap =
| watercap = {{convert|1700|impgal|abbr=on}}
| tendercap =
| sandcap =
| fireboxtype =
| firearea =
| boiler =
| boilertype =
| pitch =
| diameterinside =
| lengthinside =
| smalltubediameter=
| largetubediameter=
| boilerpressure = {{convert|160|lbf/in2|MPa|2|abbr=on}}
| safetyvalvetype =
| feedwaterheater =
| totalsurface =
| tubearea =
| archarea =
| fluearea =
| tubesandflues =
| fireboxarea =
| superheatertype =
| superheaterarea =
| cylindercount = 2
| cylindersize = {{convert|18|x|26|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| frontcylindersize=
| rearcylindersize =
| hpcylindersize =
| lpcylindersize =
| valvegear =
| valvetype =
| valvetravel =
| valvelap =
| valvelead =
| transmission =
| trainheating =
| locobrakes =
| locobrakeforce =
| trainbrakes =
| safety =
| coupling =
| maxspeed =
| poweroutput =
| tractiveeffort = {{convert|15920|lbf|kN|2|abbr=on|lk=on}}
| factorofadhesion =
| operator = {{ubl|Dublin and South Eastern Railway|Great Southern Railways|CIÉ Railways Division}}
| operatorclass = C2 (Inchicore)
| powerclass = K/HT
| numinclass = 3
| fleetnumbers = {{ubl|20, 34, 35|455-457}}
| officialname =
| nicknames =
| axleloadclass =
| locale = Ireland
| deliverydate =
| firstrundate =
| lastrundate =
| retiredate =
| withdrawndate = 1955-1959
| preservedunits =
| restoredate =
| scrapdate =
| currentowner =
| disposition = All scrapped
}}
The DSER 20 class was a class of three 4-4-2T locomotives operated by the Dublin and South Eastern Railway and later the Great Southern Railways and CIÉ.
History
Designed by Cronin for the Dublin and South Eastern Railway, they were intended for express passenger work. No. 20 King George was the last locomotive to be built at Grand Canal Street railway works though the boiler was made by Kitson & Company. The remaining locomotives, numbered 34 and 35, were built by Beyer, Peacock & Company in 1924.
It is suggested the design might have arisen as an attempt to emulate the success of the LB&SCR I3 class, however on introduction engine No. 20 seemed to have issues with high axle loading restricting the route and it also appeared to have difficulties with heavier trains, steep gradients and hot axleboxes. The relatively large driver wheel diameter of {{convert|6|ft|1|in|mm}} may not have helped especially as it ended up being used on suburban services, only averaging a mere {{convert|90|mi|km}} a day. It may have been hoped the Belpaire boilers, increased weight and other changes on those ordered from Beyer, Peacock & Company in 1924 may have helped.
Upon merger of the DSER with the Great Southern Railways in 1925, they were allocated the numbers 455 though 457 and Inchicore class C2. Rebuilds in the 1930s seem to have resolved most of the issues and a 1948 CIÉ report commented: "DSER heavy passenger engines. (When) (sic.) well maintained not all that bad. Essential to local service".
References
{{reflist|refs=
{{cite book|title="Locomotive Compendium Ireland"|first=Colin|last=Boocock|isbn=9780711033603|publisher=Ian Allan Publishing|edition=1st|date=1 October 2009|pages=37, 41}}
{{cite book|title=Locomotives of the GSR|isbn=9781906578268|last1=Clements|first1=Jeremy|last2=McMahon|first2=Michael|year=2008|publisher=Colourpoint Books|pages=146–150}}
{{cite book|title=Irish Railways since 1916|last=Baker|first=Michael H. C.|isbn=0711002827|publisher=Ian Allan Publishing|date=1972|page=47}}}}
{{Ireland Steam Locomotives}}
Category:2′B1′ n2t locomotives
Category:5 ft 3 in gauge locomotives
Category:Beyer, Peacock locomotives
Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1911
Category:Steam locomotives of Ireland