| GSR Class B4 | |
|---|---|
| Power type | Steam |
| Builder | Beyer, Peacock and Company |
| Serial number | 4752, 5265, 5413, 5616, 5288, 5954, 6034, 6077 |
| Build date | 1906–1920 |
| Total produced | 8 |
| Rebuild date | 1943–1950 |
| Number rebuilt | 5 |
| Configuration | 4-6-0T |
| UIC classification | 2′C n2t |
| Gauge | 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) |
| Leading wheel diameter |
3 ft 0 in (914 mm)[1] |
| Driver diameter | 5 ft 2 1⁄2 in (1,588 mm)[1] |
| Length | 36 ft 6 1⁄2 in (11,138 mm)[1] |
| Axle load | 14 tons 5 cwt (31,900 lb or 14.5 t)[1] |
| Weight on drivers | 42 tons 1 cwt (94,200 lb or 42.7 t) |
| Locomotive weight | 56 tons 10 cwt (126,600 lb or 57.4 t)[1] |
| Fuel capacity | 2 tons 15 cwt (6,200 lb or 2.8 t) |
| Water capacity | 1,100 imp gal (5,000 l; 1,300 US gal) |
| Boiler pressure | 160 psi (1.10 MPa)[1] |
| Firegrate area | 24 sq ft (2.2 m2) |
| Heating surface: Tubes |
1,075 sq ft (99.9 m2) |
| Heating surface: Firebox |
107.5 sq ft (9.99 m2) |
| Cylinders | Two |
| Cylinder size | 18 × 24 in (457 × 610 mm)[1] |
| Tractive effort | 16,030 lbf (71.30 kN)[1] |
| Career | CBSCR » GSR » CIÉ |
| Class | GSR: B4 |
| Number | GSR: 463-470 |
| Nicknames | Bandon Tanks |
| Preserved | None |
| Disposition | All scrapped |
The CBSCR Bandon Tanks, were a class of 4-6-0T locomotives, and were the best known of the Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway (CB&SCR) locomotives.[1]
They were built by Beyer, Peacock and Company between 1906 and 1920 and were used as mixed-traffic engines where they excelled due to their elegant design, high power output and narrow gauge style wheel arrangement which suited the West Cork track layout.
Contents |
The only 4-6-0 tank locomotives built by Beyer Peacock, the first, No. 11 (later Great Southern Railways no. 465) was delivered in June, 1906 at a cost of £3,145 (£1.32 million in 2008 pounds).[2] The 4-6-0T wheel arrangement was more typically found on narrow gauge lines. This is because the restricted bunker space (and resultant limited coal capacity) is less of a hindrance on the typically shorter journeys of such lines. However, the more spacious 4-6-2T design was not used as it was too long for the CBSCR’s turntables. Subsequently, the Bandon tanks proved to have no difficulty managing the 94 mile line distances.[1] The wheelbase was also short-coupled (close to each other) so as to manage the tight radii present on the route.[3]
Operationally they were well regarded as a small and powerful passenger engine, apart from the cramped cab and the difficulty of cab access due to the rear wheel splashers. They had 1,100 gallon water tanks, could hold 2 tons of coal and weighed 56 tons. Five were rebuilt with Belpaire superheated boilers.
While the majority of the class were employed on the West Cork section, 468, 466, 469 and 470 were transferred to suburban duties on the Dublin-Bray section of the Dublin and South Eastern Railway between 1929 and 1956 working out of Westland Row.[1] 465 and 469 were withdrawn in 1945 and five of them survived past 1960 until the withdrawal of steam working in 1963.
They were painted an olive or greyish green colour with black and reddish-orange lining. However from the photographic record, their later colours vary a bit.
A 4mm (OO and 21mm) brass kit is available from Studio Scale Models.[6]
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||