GS&WR Class 341

The Great Southern and Western Railway (GS&WR) Class 341 consisted of a single 4-4-0 express passenger locomotive named Sir William Goulding introduced in 1913 for the Dublin—Cork route. Despite being an apparently capable design it was withdrawn in 1928.[1]^:116

GSWR 341 Class
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer R Coey REL Maunsell Builder Inchicore Build date 1913 Total produced 1
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-4-0 Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Leading dia. 3 ft 0 in (910 mm) Driver dia. 6 ft 7 in (2,010 mm) Length 32 ft 1 ^3⁄4 in (9,798 mm) Loco weight 60.15 long tons (61.12 t) Water cap 3,345 imp gal (15,210 l; 4,017 US gal) Boiler pressure 160 lbf/in^2 (1.10 MPa) 175 lbf/in^2 (1.21 MPa) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 20 in × 26 in (508 mm × 660 mm) 19 in × 26 in (483 mm × 660 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 17,910 lbf (79.67 kN) 17,680 lbf (78.64 kN)
Career Operators GS&WR GSR Class D1 (Inchicore) Number in class 1 Numbers 341 Locale Ireland Withdrawn 1928
[1]^:116

Design

Design was begun by Robert Coey who retired through ill health and completed by Richard Maunsell who was later to design the UK Southern Railway Schools 4-4-0. Equipped with a large diameter boiler and Schmidt superheater. It was unique for the GS&WR and its successor the GSR in having inside Walschaerts valve gear. This design was at the limit achievable by a 4-4-0 within the axle weight restriction limits and it was weighed regularly to ensure compliance. The only change to the initial design was a later reduction in cylinder diameter [1]^:57,116

Service

Due to weight restrictions it served on the Dublin—Cork route only where from 1916 it later shared services with the new EA Watson designed 400 Class 4-6-0 against which engine 341 seems to have compared favourably.[1]^{:57,116,233–235}

Withdrawal

The locomotive was withdrawn in 1928 after just 15 years, three 400 class express locomotives were also retired shortly afterwards as surplus to requirements.[1]^{:57,116,233–235}

Model

There is a detailed O Gauge model of engine 341 in the Fry model railway collection.[1]^:380

References

1. Clements, Jeremy; McMahon, Michael (2008). Locomotives of the GSR. Colourpoint Books. ISBN 9781906578268.