SLNCR Lough class
{{Short description|Class of two-cylinder 0-6-4T locomotives}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use Irish English|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox locomotive
|name = SLNCR Lough class
|powertype = Steam
|image = Steam locomotive - York Road - geograph.org.uk - 2908783.jpg
|caption = 27 Lough Erne near Belfast York Road in 1968.
|designer =
|builder = Beyer, Peacock & Company
|ordernumber =
|serialnumber = 7138, 7242
|buildmodel =
|builddate = 1949
|totalproduction = 2
|whytetype = 0-6-4T
|uicclass = C2′ t
|gauge = {{RailGauge|5ft3in|lk=on}}
|driverdiameter = {{convert|4|ft|8|in|m|3|abbr=on}}
|trailingdiameter = {{convert|3|ft|0|in|m|3|abbr=on}}
|minimumcurve =
|wheelbase = {{convert|24|ft|7|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
|length =
|width =
|height =
|axleload =
|weightondrivers =
|locoweight = {{convert|54.5|LT|t ST}}
|fueltype = Coal
|fuelcap = {{convert|2|LT|t ST}}
|watercap = {{convert|1300|impgal|abbr=on}}
|sandcap =
|boiler =
|boilerpressure = {{convert|160|psi|MPa|2|abbr=on}}
|feedwaterheater =
|firearea = {{convert|18|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
|tubearea = {{convert|865|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}
|fluearea =
|tubesandflues =
|fireboxarea = {{convert|97|sqft|abbr=on}}
|totalsurface = {{convert|962|sqft|abbr=on}}
|cylindercount = Two
|cylindersize = {{convert|18|x|24|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
|valvegear =
|valvetype =
|valvetravel =
|valvelap =
|valvelead =
|transmission =
|maxspeed =
|poweroutput =
|tractiveeffort =
|factorofadhesion =
|trainheating = Steam
|locobrakes = Steam
|locobrakeforce =
|trainbrakes =
|safety =
|operator = Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway
Ulster Transport Authority
|operatorclass = {{ubl|SLNCR: Lough|UTA: Z}}
|powerclass =
|numinclass =
|fleetnumbers = {{ubl|SLNCR: none|UTA: 26, 27}}
|officialname = {{ubl|Lough Melvin|Lough Erne}}
|nicknames =
|axleloadclass =
|locale =
|deliverydate = 1951
|firstrundate =
|lastrundate =
|withdrawndate = 1965, 1969
|preservedunits =
|restoredate =
|scrapdate =
|currentowner = Railway Preservation Society of Ireland
|disposition = 1 preserved, 1 scrapped}}
The SLNCR Lough Class was a class of 0-6-4T steam tank locomotives of the Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway (SLNCR).
Development
By the end of World War II the SLNCR's locomotive fleet was in poor condition, but neither the Great Northern nor Córas Iompair Éireann could spare any suitable locomotives for hire.Sprinks, 1970, page 31 The SLNCR considered ordering a Garratt locomotive to haul heavier trains, but it could scarcely afford one locomotive of such a large size.Sprinks, 1970, page 70 Therefore, it decided instead to order two more smaller locomotives, on the basis that if one required maintenance the other could still be available for traffic.
In June 1946 the SLNCR ordered just one new locomotive from Beyer, Peacock & Company at Gorton Foundry, Manchester, England. The SLNCR's financial situation was worsening, but despite this it ordered the second locomotive about a year later. The Lough class was a more modern and more powerful development of the Sir Henry class, which was also built by Beyer, Peacock & Company but was introduced in 1904.Sprinks, 1970, pages 82–84
Delivery and SLNCR service
Beyer, Peacock & Company completed both locomotives ready for delivery in spring 1949 but by then the SLNCR could not afford to pay for them.Sprinks, 1970, page 89 The SLNCR therefore asked the Government of Northern Ireland's Ministry of Commerce to lend it £22,000 to pay for the two locomotives. Protracted negotiations between the SLNCR, Ministry of Commerce and Beyer, Peacock eventually resulted in a hire purchase agreement in 1951, and the two locomotives were shipped from England to Belfast in June and July of that year. They were taken first to the GNR's Adelaide locomotive depot in Belfast, where their side tanks were fitted.Sprinks, 1970, page 90 They were then delivered to the SLNCR's locomotive depot at {{rws|Manorhamilton}}, County Leitrim.
The Lough class became the last new steam locomotives to enter revenue-earning service with an Irish railway company. CIÉ's turf-burning locomotive entered traffic later, but remained experimental and never entered revenue-earning service. The Loughs could haul trains 25% heavier than the Sir Henrys, and they were worked hard from 1951 until the SLNCR's closure.Sprinks, 1970, page 91
The SLNCR had never prospered, and in 1957 it closed to all traffic. On Monday 30 September 1957 Lough Melvin hauled the company's last service, a mixed train from Eniskillen to Sligo.Sprinks, 1970, page 37
SLNCR livery
Identification
The SLNCR did not number its steam locomotives but named them. The Lough Class were named Lough Melvin and Lough Erne.
class="wikitable"
!Name !Builders !Works No. !Date !UTA No. !Withdrawn | |||||
| Lough Melvin | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 7138 (a) | 1949 | 26 | 1965 |
| Lough Erne | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 7242 (b) | 1949 | 27 | 1969 |
(a) : Beyer, Peacock & Company works numbers 7136/7/8 were originally allocated to three War Department Garratt locomotives.{{citation needed|date=October 2011}} This order was cancelled, 7136 and 7137 were re-allocated to two extra Garratts for the Great Western Railway of Brazil, added to a delayed pre-war order sub-contracted to Henschel & Son.{{citation needed|date=October 2011}}
(b) : The last tank locomotive built by Beyer Peacock & Company, order No.1427.{{citation needed|date=October 2011}}
Sale and UTA service
When the SLNCR closed at the end of September 1957 the Loughs were still on hire purchase from their builders. Beyer, Peacock eventually sold the pair in 1959 to the Ulster Transport Authority (UTA).
The UTA designated the Loughs Class Z and numbered them 26 and 27, but they continued to carry their names and nameplates. For a short while the UTA allocated both locomotives to Adelaide shed for service as shunters on the quays and Grosvenor Road goods yard. It then transferred them to York Road, where they eventually replaced NCC Class Y.{{citation needed|date=October 2011}}
On 28 May 1960, locomotive 26 Lough Melvin hauled a two-coach Irish Railway Record Society special train from Belfast York Road to {{rws|Antrim}}, {{rws|Lisburn}} and via the former Belfast Central Railway to Belfast Queen's Quay, the tour eventually terminating at {{rws|Great Victoria Street}}.{{citation needed|date=October 2011}} This was recorded as the first passenger working of an ex-SLNCR locomotive in the ownership of the UTA.{{citation needed|date=October 2011}}
The UTA withdrew 26 Lough Melvin from service in 1965 but did not dispose of it. Northern Ireland Railways (NIR) took over the UTA's railway operations in 1967 and sold Lough Melvin for scrap in 1968. NIR withdrew 27 Lough Erne in 1969.{{cite web |url=http://www.steamtrainsireland.com/locomotives/loco27.htm |title=Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway Lough Class 0-6-4T "Lough Erne" |work=RPSI Locomotives |publisher=Railway Preservation Society of Ireland |access-date=30 October 2011 |archive-date=3 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103115800/http://www.steamtrainsireland.com/locomotives/loco27.htm |url-status=dead }}
Preservation
The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland bought Lough Erne and used it to shunt its yard at Whitehead until its boiler failed in 1972. Lough Erne remains at Whitehead awaiting extensive restoration.
References
{{reflist}}
Sources
- Various copies of Modern Railways from the 1970s.{{clarify|date=October 2011}}
- {{cite book |last=Sprinks |first=N.W. |title=Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway |year=1970 |location=Billericay |publisher=Irish Railway Record Society (London Area) }}
{{Commons category|SLNCR Lough Class}}
{{Ireland Steam Locomotives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Slncr Lough Class}}
Category:Steam locomotives of Northern Ireland
Category:Steam locomotives of Ireland
Category:Beyer, Peacock locomotives