- NCC Class A1
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NCC Class A1 Power type Steam Builder BNCR / NCC, York Road works, Belfast
MR, Derby WorksBuild date 1901–1908 Rebuilder NCC, York Road works, Belfast Rebuild date 1927–1936 Configuration 4-4-0 UIC classification 2'Bh Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Leading wheel
diameter3 ft 0 in (0.914 m) Driver diameter 6 ft 0 in (1.829 m) Wheelbase 40 ft 11 in (12.47 m) including tender Length 49 ft 7 3⁄4 in (15.13 m) Width 8 ft 4 in (2.54 m) Height 13 ft 2 in (4.01 m) Axle load 16 long tons 8 cwt (36,700 lb/16.6 t) Weight on drivers 30 long tons 9 cwt (68,200 lb/30.9 t) Locomotive weight 46 long tons 7 cwt (103,800 lb/47.1 t) Locomotive & tender
combined weight75 long tons 4 cwt (168,400 lb/76.4 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 6.0 long tons (6.1 t) Water capacity 2,090 imp gal (9,500 l; 2,510 US gal)
No.34: 2,590 imp gal (11,800 l; 3,110 US gal)
No.62: 2,690 imp gal (12,200 l; 3,230 US gal)Boiler pressure 200 psi (1.38 MPa) Heating surface:
Tubes508.7 sq ft (47.26 m2) Heating surface:
Firebox103 sq ft (9.6 m2) Heating surface:
Total1,038 sq ft (96.4 m2) Superheater area 233.7 sq ft (21.71 m2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 18 × 24 in (457 × 610 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts Tractive effort 18,360 lbf (81.7 kN) Train brakes Automatic vacuum Career LMS NCC / UTA Number in class 9 Nicknames Whippet Scrapped 1947–1954 The LMS (Northern Counties Committee) Class A1 4-4-0 passenger steam locomotives were rebuilds of Belfast and Northern Counties Railway Class A two-cylinder compound locomotives. They operated services throughout the NCC’s 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) broad gauge system in the north-east of Ireland.
Contents
History
The Class A1 locomotives were rebuilds of the Class A "Heavy Compounds" that had been designed by the BNCR Locomotive Engineer Bowman Malcolm. The first Class A locomotive had been built by the BNCR at York Road, Belfast in 1901 shortly before amalagamation with the Midland Railway and building continued with the Midland Railway constructing six at their Derby works. The locomotives were built as two-cylinder compounds using the Worsdell-von Borries system, the high pressure cylinders having a diameter of 18 inches (457 mm) and low pressure ones of 26 inches (660 mm), both with 24 inches (610 mm) stroke.
Following the end of World War I the state of the locomotives operating in Northern Ireland was well below that which was needed to run the services effectively; many needed replacing but, however, cost was a major factor. It was decided to implement a "Renewal Programme" in which, not only would new locomotives be built but also suitable classes of locomotives would be rebuilt, in the main following the style of the Midland Railway and the LMS.
As part of this "Renewal Programme" members of Class A were rebuilt as two-cylinder simples (i.e. not compounds). Those reclassified as Class A1 were rebuilt with a Midland Railway type RG6 boiler and new cylinders both of 18 inches (457 mm) diameter by 24 inches (610 mm) stroke. The boiler was higher pitched than the original to allow the firebox and ash pan to clear the rear driving wheel axle and an extension of 24.75 inches (630 mm) to the smokebox saddle was needed to offer support. Although the effect was less striking than that of the similarly rebuilt Class B3, the modified appearance was such that these locomotives would be included among those that gained the nickname of "Whippet" because of a perceived resemblance to the racing dog.
All the class were officially named after mountains although that allocated to No. 58, Lurigethan, was never carried.
The majority of the Class A1 engines were coupled to what was known as the "Standard" tender which could carry 6 long tons (6.1 t) of coal and 2,090 imperial gallons (9,500 l; 2,510 US gal) of water. No.34, however, ran with one of the three "Medium" tenders that had a 2,590 imperial gallons (11,800 l; 3,110 US gal) water capacity and No.62 acquired a spare built up tender with a capacity of 2,690 imperial gallons (12,200 l; 3,230 US gal). No.58 acquired a tender cab which led to her being a regular visitor on the Dungiven branch where tender first running was required.
Nos.33, 58 and 69 later received boilers with a working pressure of 200 psi (1.38 MPa) in place of 160 psi (1.10 MPa). This led to their being allocated to the Belfast area during the late 1930s where duties were more onerous. No.33 was shedded at York Road while the other two were at Larne.
No.65 worked in a spare capacity at York Road and No.62 was based at Cookstown.
The builders plates showing dates in the late 1920s and early 1930s belied the age of these engines and the heavy traffic that they handled during World War II showed up their weaknesses more than newly built locomotives. Nevertheless, the majority of the class survived to be taken into Ulster Transport Authority stock and were scrapped in the mid 1950s.
Building and withdrawal data
Rebuilding and naming information for the members of Class A1 are shown in the table below:
Number Builder Built Rebuilt Name
as rebuiltScrapped/Sold 33 York Rd July 1902 December 1928 Binevanagh November 1949 34 York Rd April 1901 April 1928 Knocklayd October 1950 58 York Rd January 1907 February 1934 Lurigethan* August 1954 62 York Rd August 1903 July 1928 Slemish August 1954 64 Derby May 1905 August 1929 Trostan August 1954 65 Derby May 1905 June 1929 Knockagh October 1950 66 Derby May 1905 May 1930 Ben Madigan August 1954 68 Derby June 1908 December 1927 Slieve Gallion November 1947 69 York Rd December 1904 June 1933 Slieve Bane August 1954 * Allocated the name shown but this was never carried.
Livery
LMS NCC
The Class A1 locomotives were painted in crimson lake with yellow and black lining. The LMS crest was carried on the upper cab sides. The initials “NCC” in shaded serif gold capital letters were placed centrally on the tender sides. Number plates were brass with raised digits and edge; they were carried on the lower cab sides with another placed centrally on the back of the tender tank. On the named engines, curved nameplates were fitted above the leading driving wheel splashers. Buffer beams and number plate and name plate backgrounds were painted red. The engine number was applied to the front buffer beam in shaded gold digits.
During World War II, the locomotives were painted black with red buffer beams and number plate and name plate backgrounds providing relief.
UTA
Under the Ulster Transport Authority, the engines were painted black with vermilion and yellow lining. Buffer beams, name and number plate backgrounds were red and the practice of putting the number on the front buffer beam was continued.
The UTA roundel, 14 inches (356 mm) in diameter, with "Ulster Transport" in orange block capitals, lined in red, surrounding a white shield bearing the red hand of Ulster, all on a mid-green background, was placed in the middle of the tender sides.
References
- Arnold, R.M. (1973). NCC Saga. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN 0 7153 5644 5.
- Arnold, R.M. (1973). Supplement to NCC Saga. Whitehead: Railway Preservation Society of Ireland.
- London Midland and Scottish Railway (Northern Counties Committee). Class A1 general arrangement drawing. Belfast: LMS (NCC).
Steam locomotives of Ireland Belfast and County Down Railway (1846–1948) 1 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 8 • 9 • 14 • 22 • 26 • 29 •Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (1860–1903) Northern Counties Committee (1903–1949) Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway (1875–1957) Great Northern Railway (1876–1958)Dublin and South Eastern Railway (1854–1924) 24, 25, 32, 33 • 52–54 • 3, 10, 11, 28, 45, 46 • 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 28, 44–47, 49 • 50, 51 • 42–44 • 55–58 • 20, 34, 35 • 65, 66 • 8, 12, 27, 29, 30, 40 • 4, 5 • 13, 14, 18, 65, 66 • 17 • 18 • 69, 70 • 15, 16Midland Great Western Railway (1847–1924) D • E • H • K • L & Lm • Ln • P • W • A, As & A1 • B • C & Cs • C & C1 • F, Fa & FbGreat Southern and Western Railway (1845–1924) 2 • 21 • 47 • 90 • 91 • 92 • 101 • 203 • 204 • 52 • 60 • 33 • 37 • 201 • 27 • 211 • 213 • 301 • 305 • 309 • 321 • 333 • 341 • 351 • 355 • 362 • 368 • 257 • 400 • 900 • 500 • Great Southern Railways (1925–1944)280 • 372 • 393 • 700 • 850 • 495 • 670 • 710 • 342 • 800Córas Iompair Éireann (1945–1962) Turf Burner No. CC1Categories:- Northern Counties Committee locomotives
- Rail transport in Northern Ireland
- 4-4-0 locomotives
- Steam locomotives of Ireland
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