GS&WR Class 301

The Great Southern and Western Railway (GS&WR) Classes 301. 305, 309 and 321 consisted of 26 4-4-0 tender locomotives designed by Robert Coey for passenger work and built between 1900 and 1907.[2]

GS&WR 301 Class
No. 301 withdrawn at Amiens St. (1962)
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerRobert Coey
BuilderInchicore
Build date1900—1907
Total produced26
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-4-0
Gauge5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Leading dia.3 ft 6 in (1,070 mm)
Driver dia.6 ft 7 in (2,010 mm)
Length29 ft 10 3⁄4 in (9,112 mm)
Axle load15.95 long tons (16.21 t)
Adhesive weight30.55 long tons (31.04 t)
Loco weight47.0 long tons (47.8 t)
Water cap3,345 imp gal (15,210 l; 4,017 US gal)
Boiler pressure160 lbf/in2 (1.10 MPa)
Cylinders2
Cylinder size18 in × 26 in (457 mm × 660 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort14,500 lbf (64.50 kN)
Career
Operators
ClassD10/D11/D12/D13/D4/D3/D2 (Inchicore)
Number in class26
Numbers301–314, 321–333
LocaleIreland
Withdrawn1960
  1. 301 as built[1]

Design and build

One priority at the start of the 1900s was to cater for the forecast increasing passenger train weights,[3] the Cork limited mail for example increase from a load of eight six wheeled carriages in the 1860s weight less than 100 tons to over 250 tones by 1905.[4] To address this problem Coey introduced a series of 4-4-0 locomotives that were noticeably larger than the preceding class 52 and 60.[3]

The earlier classes were somewhat restricted in steaming.[3] Records for the original 301 class seem to have some omissions and discrepancies but the Class 305, which had slightly larger heating surfaces than Class 301, were rebuilt almost immediately by 1906 with tapered saturated boilers. No. 308, rebuilt after just two years in 1904 to trial this border, was found to be seriously overweight and required remedial work on the frames to correct; this may have weakened them and it is speculated may have been the cause of the locomotives' early demise in 1933.[5]

The evolved Class 321 with its tapered boiler and larger cylinder achieving a 20% increase in tractive effort over Class 301,[3] albeit at the expense of a high axle load which restricted it to the Cork and Limerick main lines.[6]

Coey passenger 4-4-0 class differences[2]
Feature 301 305 309 321
Introduced1900190219031904
Number built44612
Tractive effort14,500 lbf (64.50 kN)14,500 lbf (64.50 kN)15,320 lbf (68.15 kN)15,320 lbf (68.15 kN)
Cylinder size18 in × 26 in (457 mm × 660 mm)18 in × 26 in (457 mm × 660 mm)18 1⁄2 in × 26 in (470 mm × 660 mm)18 1⁄2 in × 26 in (470 mm × 660 mm)
BuilderInchicoreInchicoreNeilsonInchicore
Adhesive weight30.55 long tons (31.04 t)31.45 long tons (31.95 t)30.9 long tons (31.4 t)33.5 long tons (34.0 t)
Max axle load15.95 long tons (16.21 t)15.75 long tons (16.00 t)16.0 long tons (16.3 t)16.75 long tons (17.02 t)
Fleet[7]
No. Name Built Withdrawn GSR Inchicore Notes
301Victoria19001960301D11
302Lord Roberts19001957301D11
303Saint Patrick19001959301D11
304Princess Ena19001959301D11
30519021957305D12
30619021959305D12
30719021959305D12
30819021933305D12
30919031959309/310D13Rebuilt for a while as Class 321
31019031957309/310D13
31119031959309/310D131930 rebuild include class 321 frames
31219031959309/310D13Rebuilt for a while as Class 321
31319031957309/310D13
31419031957309/310D13
32119041957321
32219051960321
32319051955321
32419051928321
32519051928321
32619051927321
32719051959321
32819051959321
32919061960321
33019061957321
33119061959321
33219061959321

Service
Class 321 No. 323

Most of Coeys' 4-4-0 locomotives gave service through to the late 1950s of even 1960 when they were displaced by the arrival of diesels. There are suggestions that most of the few earlier withdrawals may have been due to structural issues with the need to reduce weight.

On introduction the classes were the most powerful passenger locomotives on the GS&WR and all were noted for their ability to run at speed given a light enough load. Class 321 were allocated to the Cork and Limerick expresses. The arrival of the Coey/Maunsell prototype Sir William Goulding in 1913 and Watson's Call 400 4-6-0 in 1916 that Class 321 were displaced as first choice from the Cork Mail. Only after 1923 were further 4-6-0 locomotives to appear displacing the Class 321 from some of there duties though they were still often called in to deputise.

Successors

Coey used the Class 321 as the basis for the smaller wheeled GS&WR Class 333 which had better route availability due to a lower axle loading and was better suited for mixed traffic work. Coey's last 4-4-0 design before early retirement at 60 to ill health was completed by Maunsell as the prototype Class 341 Sir William Goulding.

References

Footnotes
  1. Clements & McMahon (2008), pp. 102-112.
  2. Clements & McMahon (2008), pp. 102—112.
  3. Chacksfield (2010).
  4. Murray & McNeill (1976), p. 150.
  5. Clements & McMahon (2008), p. 104.
  6. Clements & McMahon (2008), p. 108—112.
  7. Clements & McMahon (2008), pp. 102-107.

Sources
  • Chacksfield, J.E. (2010). Richard Maunsell - An Engineering Biography (revised ed.). Oakwood Press. pp. 33, 35, 43, 45–46. ISBN 9780853616955.
  • Clements, Jeremy; McMahon, Michael (2008). Locomotives of the GSR. Newtownards: Colourpoint Books. ISBN 9781906578268. OCLC 547074718.
  • Murray, K. A.; McNeill, D. B. (1976). The Great Southern & Western Railway. Irish Record Railway Society. ISBN 0904078051. OCLC 3069424.
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