| BNCR Class A | |
|---|---|
| Power type | Steam |
| Builder | BNCR/NCC, York Road works, Belfast Midland Railway, Derby Works |
| Build date | 1901–1908 |
| Rebuilder | LMS (NCC) |
| Rebuild date | 1927–1936 |
| Configuration | 4-4-0 |
| Gauge | 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) |
| Leading wheel diameter |
3 ft 0 in (0.914 m) |
| Driver diameter | 6 ft 0 in (1.829 m) |
| Wheelbase | 40 ft 11 in (12.47 m) |
| 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 | 15.30 long tons (15.55 t)+ 14.45 long tons (14.68 t) |
| Weight on drivers | 29.75 long tons (30.23 t) |
| Locomotive weight | 45.05 long tons (45.77 t) |
| Tender weight | 28.85 long tons (29.31 t) |
| Fuel type | Coal |
| Fuel capacity | 6.00 long tons (6.10 t) |
| Water capacity | 2,090 imp gal (9,500 l; 2,510 US gal) |
| Boiler pressure | 175 psi (1.21 MPa) |
| Heating surface: Tubes |
824 sq ft (76.6 m2) |
| Heating surface: Firebox |
106 sq ft (9.8 m2) |
| Heating surface: Total |
930 sq ft (86 m2) |
| Cylinders | Two |
| High-pressure cylinder size |
LHS: 18 × 24 in (457 × 610 mm) |
| Low-pressure cylinder size |
RHS: 26 × 24 in (660 × 610 mm) |
| Valve gear | Walschaerts |
| Tractive effort | 16,065 lbf (71.5 kN) |
| Factor of adhesion |
4.15 |
| Train brakes | Automatic vacuum |
| Career | BNCR · NCC |
| Number in class | 13 |
| Scrapped | 1947–1954 |
The Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (BNCR) Class A was a class of 13 two-cylinder compound steam locomotives built for service in north-east Ireland. The first two members of the class would be the last locomotives to be built for the independent BNCR, being completed before its purchase by the Midland Railway in 1903. The members of the class were rebuilt by the LMS (NCC) becoming either Class A1 or Class U2 depending on how they had been modified.
Contents |
The BNCR had standardised on locomotives with a 2-4-0 wheel arrangement for its passenger locomotives during the 1870s and construction continued through to the mid-1890s. However, with increasing loads and heavier trains the limitations of this wheel arrangement became apparent. The first purpose-built 4-4-0s, the Class B "Light Compounds", had been in introduced in 1897 but something more powerful was needed to supplement the two Class D "Heavy Compounds" that were rebuilt to 4-4-0s at the same time.
The Class A locomotives were designed by the BNCR Locomotive Engineer Bowman Malcolm and were the last design of broad gauge locomotives to be built for the independent Belfast and Northern Counties Railway, the first two being completed before its purchase by the Midland Railway in 1903.
The first Class A engine was No.34 which was outshopped from York Road in April 1901 and named Queen Alexandra. The second of the class, which had the distinction of being the last locomotive to be built by the BNCR, was No.3, King Edward VII, which was completed fifteen months later in July 1902. Building continued over a seven year period after the take-over of the company by the Midland Railway. Six locomotives were constructed at the Midland Railway's Derby works and the remainder at York Road works.
The locomotives were built as two-cylinder compounds using the Worsdell-von Borries system, having an 18in high pressure cylinder and a 26in diameter low pressure cylinder, each with 24in stroke. Inside Walschaerts valve gear was fitted which was standard on the BNCR. The driving wheels were of 6ft diameter. The only visible difference between the two builders was the number of spokes on the bogie wheels, the Belfast-built batch had nine spokes while those built at Derby had ten.
Two main, and visibly obvious, changes were made to the locomotives when in traffic, viz: the fitting of Manson automatic tablet exchange apparatus for working single lines, and a rearwards projecting extension of the cab roof, offering more protection for the crew.
The Class A engines were coupled to what was known as the "Standard" tender which could carry 6 tons of coal and 2090 gallons of water.
Five members of the class were renumbered between 1924 and 1927 when Nos. 3, 4, 5, 9 and 17 became Nos. 33, 62, 59, 69 and 58 respectively.
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; much needed replacing but, however, cost was a major factor. It was decided to implement a "Renewal Programme" in which, not only new locomotives would be built but suitable classes of locomotives would be rebuilt, in the main following the style of the Midland and LMS railways. As part of this "Renewal Programme" all members of Class A were rebuilt between 1928 and 1936.
Dependent upon the modifications carried out, they were reclassified as either Class A1 or Class U2. Those classified as Class A1 were rebuilt with a Midland Railway type RG6 boiler and new cylinders of 18 inch diameter x 24 inch stroke and retained some recognisable features. Those that were rebuilt as Class U2 underwent a more radical alteration and may have incorporated little of the original engines.
Details of the delivery, renumbering and rebuilding of the class are shown in the table below:
| No. | Builder | Date | Name | Re-No./ Date |
Rebuilt | New No. |
New Class |
New Name | Scrapped/ Sold |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | York Rd | April 1901 | Queen Alexandra | April 1928 | A1 | Knocklayd | October 1950 | †* | ||
| 3 | York Rd | July 1902 | King Edward VII | 33 (1926) | December 1928 | A1 | Binevanagh | November 1949 | † | |
| 4 | York Rd | August 1903 | 62 (1924) | July 1928 | A1 | Slemish | August 1954 | |||
| 9 | York Rd | December 1904 | 69 (1925) | June 1933 | A1 | Slieve Bane | August 1954 | |||
| 20 | York Rd | May 1905 | December 1929 | 84 | U2 | Lisanoure Castle | December 1961 | |||
| 63 | Derby | May 1905 | Queen Alexandra | January 1936 | 87 | U2 | Queen Alexandra | August 1957 | * | |
| 64 | Derby | May 1905 | August 1929 | A1 | Trostan | August 1954 | ||||
| 65 | Derby | May 1905 | June 1929 | A1 | Knockagh | October 1950 | ||||
| 66 | Derby | May 1905 | May 1930 | A1 | Ben Madigan | August 1954 | ||||
| 5 | York Rd | August 1906 | 59 (1925) | September 1932 | 86 | U2 | March 1960 | |||
| 17 | York Rd | January 1907 | 58 (1927) | February 1934 | A1 | Lurigethan | August 1954 | ‡ | ||
| 67 | Derby | June 1908 | January 1934 | 85 | U2 | March 1960 | ||||
| 68 | Derby | June 1908 | December 1927 | A1 | Slieve Gallion | November 1947 |
The BNCR painted the locomotives "invisible green" (a very dark bronze green that looked almost black) with vermilion, light blue and yellow lining. The initials "BNCR" in block capitals were carried on the tender sides.
The livery remained the same under Midland Railway administration with the addition of the diamond shaped Midland Railway crest to the cab sides and the initials "NCC" in gold block capitals on the tender sides. Buffer beams were vermilion, and the smoke box was black.
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