West Clare 4-6-0 Locomotives in Ireland


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class Ennistymon (Locobase 2770)

Data from "4-6-0 Tank Locomotives, West Clare Railway, Ireland", Locomotive Magazine, Volume XXIX [29], No 368 (14 April 1923), pp. 94-95. See also Roger Farnsworth's repost of a 1951 Railway Magazine article "The West Clare Railway - Part 1 - Ennis to Corofin" at [link], last accessed 18 November 2021. Works numbers were 1432 in October 1922 and 1433) in December.

LM's report commented that the Hunslets had "clean run lines and generally presents a substantial and workmanlike appearance. Given the narrowness of the 3' (914 mm) gauge, the bogie arrangements came in "for careful consideration on account of the severe curves." Unusually for West Clare locomotives, this pair used outside radial Walschaert's gear.

Tested and approved, the engines awaited "more settled conditions" before entering regular service, biding their time "locked up for preservation." When they emerged from their cocoons, the West Clare almost immediately came under the control of the Great Southern Railway in 1925.

Ennistymon was scrapped in April 1953, Malbay lasted until February 1956.


Class Kilkee (Locobase 2764)

Data from [link] (August 2002); supplemented by "Kilkee", Narrow Gauge Railway Society's The Narrow Gauge, No. 9 (no page number), archived at [link], last accessed 18 November 2021.

One of four Ten-wheeler tanks that the "never very prosperous" (OS Nock, RWC IV, pl 17) railroad bought over 14 years. This engine was Bagnall's works #1881.

The three other tanks, supplied by Hunslet in 1912 and 1922, were very similar but had 45" drivers (See 5083). All lasted into the mid-1950s.

See


Class Kilrush (Locobase 5084)

Data from [link], (first accessed July 2002, most recently accessed 25 January 2016), supplemented by "New Locomotive for the West Clare Railway", Locomotive Magazine, Volume 18 (15 November 1912), p. 231. Works number was 1098 in 1912.

LM explained that Ireland's light railways were "very far from being easy for locomotive work", particularly because the railway followed the contours of the land to reduce construction costs. A challenging profile--including a 3-mile (5 km) stretch of 1% grade--and a strong increase in demand prompted locomotive superintendent W J Carter to design a more powerful engine and order it from Hunslet. Its outside frame afforded the most space possible between the wheels for boiler and firebox.

Like the Kilkee, the engine saw out steam on the WCR and was scrapped in April 1953.

Two later engines -- Ennistymon and Malbay (works numbers 1432-1433). -- were supplied in 1922. Malbay actually was the property of South Clare Railways.


Class Lahinch (Locobase 2768)

Data from [link] (August 2002) as amended by "Six-Coupled Bogie Locomotive, West Clare Ry," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol IX (21 November 1903), p. 301.

This engine (works number 818) enjoyed the longest service career of any West Clare engine, heading for the scrapyard only in 1952. It was named for the then-popular seaside golfing resort, which also was near the 700-ft cliffs of Moher.

West Clare's data showed a firebox with 79.5 sq ft of firebox heating surface and a total evaporative heating surface of 700 sq ft.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassEnnistymonKilkeeKilrushLahinch
Locobase ID2770 2764 5084 2768
RailroadWest ClareWest ClareWest ClareWest Clare
CountryIrelandIrelandIrelandIreland
Whyte4-6-0T4-6-0T4-6-0T4-6-0T
Number in Class2131
Road Numbers3, 711/11C1/1C, 3, 710
Gauge3'3'3'3'
Number Built2131
BuilderHunslet Engine CoWG BagnallHunslet Engine CoKerr, Stuart & Co
Year1922190819121903
Valve GearWalschaertBagnall PriceStephensonStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) 8.83 / 2.69 8.33 / 2.54 8.87 / 2.698 / 2.44
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)19.12 / 5.8319.12 / 5.8319.12 / 5.8319 / 5.79
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.46 0.44 0.46 0.42
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)19.12 / 5.8319.12 / 5.83
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)66,864 / 30,329
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)88,480 / 40,13485,120 / 36,57888,480 / 40,13488,480 / 40,134
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)1032 / 3.911032 / 3.911032 / 3.91960 / 3.64
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 1.82 / 1.70 1.80 1.90 / 2
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)37 / 18.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)45 / 114342 / 106745 / 114336 / 914
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)150 / 1030160 / 1100160 / 1100160 / 1100
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)15" x 20" / 381x50815" x 20" / 381x50815" x 20" / 381x50815" x 20" / 381x508
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)12,750 / 5783.3114,571 / 6609.3013,600 / 6168.8617,000 / 7711.08
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 5.24
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)150 - 1.75" / 44150 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m) 9.05 / 2.76 7.92 / 2.41
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)74 / 6.8774 / 6.8874 / 6.8770 / 6.51
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)11.50 / 1.0711.50 / 1.0711.50 / 1.0712 / 1.12
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)604 / 56.11696 / 64.68696 / 64.66660 / 61.34
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)604 / 56.11696 / 64.68696 / 64.66660 / 61.34
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume147.66170.15170.15161.34
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation1725184018401920
Same as above plus superheater percentage1725184018401920
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area11,10011,84011,84011,200
Power L12679291931272370
Power MT264.99

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