2-4-0 Steam Locomotives in Ireland

Class 23 (Locobase 10410)

Data from "Belfast & Northern Counties Ry Four-Coupled Locomotives," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol IX (21 November 1903), p. 298. Works numbers were 1921-1922.

Class 25 (Locobase 10719)

Data from "Broad Gauge Goods and Tank Engines, Northern Counties Committee", The Locomotive Magazine, Vol XV (15 June 1909), p. 121. Boiler pressure is an estimate. Works numbers were 2233-2236.

In 1883, B-P supplied four side-tank shunters as a single batch. See Locobase 10720 for the result of converting two of those were later converted to saddle-tank locomotives.

Class 40 (Locobase 10409)

Data from "Belfast & Northern Counties Ry Four-Coupled Locomotives," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol IX (21 November 1903), p. 298.

The report in LM was a retrospective look at a series of Beyer, Peacock locomotive designs that had served the B & NCR before its then-recent takeover by the Midland Railway. Locobase cannot place the date or works numbers of this particular class because of the dearth of exact identification. Based on other information in the article, however, it's likely that these were works numbers 1713-1714.

Described as having a "cab" instead of merely a weatherboard, the engine was far from North American in its appearance as the cab sides couldn't have measured more than 18" wide. Heavy outside frame, inside cylinders, horse-collar firebox over the boiler, dome over the leading coupled axle, upright, capped stack all were hallmarks of an earlier era.

Class 48 (Locobase 10542)

Data from "Passenger Tank Engine, Northern Counties Committee, Midland Railway," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol XI (15 December 1903), p. 215.

Converted from two of the four 2-4-0T side tanks delivered from Beyer, Peacock in 1882-1883, this pair received saddle tanks to increase their water capacity as well as to redistrbute the weight. The conversion was a success insofar as they could (just) handle the 10-12 car "boat train" that left Belfast for Larne at 9:05 AM and took 40 minutes to cover the 24 miles. (Time could vary as the train might make as many as 7 conditional stops.)

"This unusually heavy duty, for engines of their size and class, they have performed most satisfactorily," the report states, but goes on to admit, "though upon some occasions taxed to their utmost capacity to keep time." The latter supplement conjures up a more complex image of their likely reputation among B & NC passengers.

Class 48 - conv (Locobase 10720)

Data from "Broad Gauge Goods and Tank Engines, Northern Counties Committee", The Locomotive Magazine, Vol XV (15 June 1909), p. 121. Boiler pressure is an estimate. Works numbers were 2233-2236.

In 1883, B-P supplied four side-tank shunters as a single batch (Locobase 10719). Two of those were later converted to saddle-tank locomotives with much taller drivers and a substantial weight increase to 84,224 lb. These obviously worked as short-haul passenger locomotives that could run at higher speeds than the two 44"-drivered engines.

Class C (Locobase 10411)

Data from "Belfast & Northern Counties Ry Four-Coupled Locomotives," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol IX (21 November 1903), p. 298. Works numbers were 3632-3633, 3680-3681.

Von-Borries compounds that preceded the bogie engines shown in Locobase 4776, these had the same boiler and firebox as the earlier 2-4-0s shown in Locobase 10409. They ran in main-line work and the B & NCR as well as its successor NCC were not quick to change them to simple-expansion engines.