Great Southern & Western 0-6-4 Locomotives in Ireland


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 208 (Locobase 10631)

Data from "Six-Coupled Bogie Tank Locomotive, Great Southern and Western Ry," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol XIII (15 November 1907), p. 204. See also E E Joynt, "The Modern Locomotives of the Great Southern & Western", Locomotive Magazine,Volume XXIV [24] (15 August 1918), pp. 133.

Designed by A McDonnell as a slight improvement over his 1876 locomotive of the same arrangement (Locobase 3033). The firebox is deeper, the tanks are larger, the wheelbase is longer. Altogether, the design couldn't be described as a success, said E E Joynt in 1918. Too much engine weight rested on the rear bogie and was "thus unavailable for adhesion purposes." Joynt added that "certain other faults ...detracted from the efficiency of the engines."

The 1907 LM report said they were primarily used on the North Wall (Dublin) line.


Class H1 (Locobase 3033)

Data from Ahrons (1927). See also E E Joynt, "The Modern Locomotives of the Great Southern & Western", Locomotive Magazine,Volume XXIV [24] (15 August 1918), pp. 130.

Designed by A McDonnell and used for heavy freight service in Dublin and Cork. The LM report included two elevation drawings that showed a bogie under the coal bunker with large wheels. These wheels had diameters only 10" (254 mm) smaller than the drivers.

In 1897, the two engines were "condemned for outside work". Redirected to yard shunting, the two were named Negro and Jumbo. Negro surrendered its side tanks, which, Joynt noted, conferred a "second childhood" by "restoring the engine practically to its original condition, a sort of second in fact." Jumbo underwent a more dramatic change, losing its rear bunker and the bogie and removing the coupling rod between the center and rear drivers. The resulting 0-4-2T continued to do "useful work" shunting in the Waterford yard and sidings.

See the slightly larger 1879 version at Locobase 10631.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class208H1
Locobase ID10631 3033
RailroadGreat Southern & WesternGreat Southern & Western
CountryIrelandIreland
Whyte0-6-4T0-6-4T
Number in Class12
Road Numbers208203
Gauge5'3"5'3"
Number Built12
BuilderInchicore WorksInchicore Works
Year18791876
Valve GearStephensonStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)15.50 / 4.7213.25 / 4.04
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)25.79 / 7.8624.80 / 7.56
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.60 0.53
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)25.79 / 7.8624.80 / 7.56
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)26,656 / 12,091
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)79,856 / 36,22277,056 / 34,952
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)114,912 / 52,123104,832 / 47,551
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)114,912 / 52,123104,832 / 47,551
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)1835 / 6.951584 / 5
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 2.75 / 3 2.75 / 3
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)44 / 2243 / 21.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)54.50 / 138454.50 / 1384
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)140 / 9.70140 / 9.70
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)18" x 24" / 457x61018" x 24" / 457x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)16,979 / 7701.5516,979 / 7701.55
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.70 4.54
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)196 - 1.75" / 44196 - 1.75" / 44
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)10.04 / 3.0610.04 / 3.06
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)103.50 / 9.6284.50 / 7.85
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)18.80 / 1.7518.80 / 1.75
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1004 / 93.27985 / 91.51
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1004 / 93.27985 / 91.51
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume142.04139.35
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation26322632
Same as above plus superheater percentage26322632
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area14,49011,830
Power L127372532
Power MT226.68217.33

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