NCC Class A1
Encyclopedia
The LMS Class A1 4-4-0
passenger steam locomotive
s were rebuilds of Belfast and Northern Counties Railway Class A two-cylinder compound locomotive
s. They operated services throughout the NCC’s broad gauge
system in the north-east of Ireland
.
. The first Class A locomotive had been built by the BNCR at York Road, Belfast in 1901 shortly before amalagamation with the Midland Railway
and building continued with the Midland Railway constructing six at their Derby works
. The locomotives were built as two-cylinder compounds using the Worsdell
-von Borries
system, the high pressure cylinders having a diameter of 18 inches (457 mm) and low pressure ones of 26 inches (660 mm), both with 24 inches (610 mm) stroke.
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; many needed replacing but, however, cost was a major factor. It was decided to implement a "Renewal Programme" in which, not only would new locomotives be built but also suitable classes of locomotives would be rebuilt, in the main following the style of the Midland Railway and the LMS.
As part of this "Renewal Programme" members of Class A were rebuilt as two-cylinder simples (i.e. not compounds). Those reclassified as Class A1 were rebuilt with a Midland Railway type RG6 boiler and new cylinders both of 18 inches (457 mm) diameter by 24 inches (610 mm) stroke. The boiler was higher pitched than the original to allow the firebox and ash pan to clear the rear driving wheel axle and an extension of 24.75 inches (628.7 mm) to the smokebox saddle was needed to offer support. Although the effect was less striking than that of the similarly rebuilt Class B3
, the modified appearance was such that these locomotives would be included among those that gained the nickname of "Whippet
" because of a perceived resemblance to the racing dog.
All the class were officially named after mountains although that allocated to No. 58, Lurigethan, was never carried.
The majority of the Class A1 engines were coupled to what was known as the "Standard" tender which could carry 6 LT of coal and 2090 gallons (9,501.3 l) of water. No.34, however, ran with one of the three "Medium" tenders that had a 2590 gallons (11,774.4 l) water capacity and No.62 acquired a spare built up tender with a capacity of 2690 gallons (12,229 l). No.58 acquired a tender cab which led to her being a regular visitor on the Dungiven branch where tender first running was required.
Nos.33, 58 and 69 later received boilers with a working pressure of 200 psi (1.38 MPa) in place of 160 psi (1.1 MPa). This led to their being allocated to the Belfast
area during the late 1930s where duties were more onerous. No.33 was shedded at York Road while the other two were at Larne.
No.65 worked in a spare capacity at York Road and No.62 was based at Cookstown
.
The builders plates showing dates in the late 1920s and early 1930s belied the age of these engines and the heavy traffic that they handled during World War II showed up their weaknesses more than newly built locomotives. Nevertheless, the majority of the class survived to be taken into Ulster Transport Authority
stock and were scrapped in the mid 1950s.
* Allocated the name shown but this was never carried.
gold capital letters were placed centrally on the tender sides. Number plates were brass with raised digits and edge; they were carried on the lower cab sides with another placed centrally on the back of the tender tank. On the named engines, curved nameplates were fitted above the leading driving wheel splashers. Buffer beams and number plate and name plate backgrounds were painted red. The engine number
was applied to the front buffer beam in shaded gold digits.
During World War II
, the locomotives were painted black with red buffer beams and number plate and name plate backgrounds providing relief.
, the engines were painted black with vermilion and yellow lining. Buffer beams, name and number plate backgrounds were red and the practice of putting the number on the front buffer beam was continued.
The UTA roundel, 14 inches (356 mm) in diameter, with "Ulster Transport" in orange block capitals, lined in red, surrounding a white shield bearing the red hand of Ulster, all on a mid-green background, was placed in the middle of the tender sides.
4-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels...
passenger steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s were rebuilds of Belfast and Northern Counties Railway Class A two-cylinder compound locomotive
Compound locomotive
A compound engine unit is a type of steam engine where steam is expanded in two or more stages.A typical arrangement for a compound engine is that the steam is first expanded in a high-pressure cylinder, then having given up heat and losing pressure, it exhausts directly into one or more larger...
s. They operated services throughout the NCC’s broad gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
system in the north-east of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
History
The Class A1 locomotives were rebuilds of the Class A "Heavy Compounds" that had been designed by the BNCR Locomotive Engineer Bowman MalcolmBowman Malcolm
Bowman Malcom was an Irish railway engineer. He became Locomotive Superintendent of the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway at the age of 22 and later took on the additional role of Civil Engineer...
. The first Class A locomotive had been built by the BNCR at York Road, Belfast in 1901 shortly before amalagamation with the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
and building continued with the Midland Railway constructing six at their Derby works
Derby Works
The Midland Railway Locomotive Works, known locally as "the loco" comprised a number of British manufacturing facilities in Derby building locomotives and, initially, rolling stock in Derby, UK.-Early days:...
. The locomotives were built as two-cylinder compounds using the Worsdell
Thomas William Worsdell
Thomas William Worsdell was a British locomotive engineer. He was born in Liverpool into a Quaker family.-Family:...
-von Borries
August von Borries
August Friedrich Wilhelm von Borries was one of Germany's most influential railway engineers, who was primarily concerned with developments in steam locomotives....
system, the high pressure cylinders having a diameter of 18 inches (457 mm) and low pressure ones of 26 inches (660 mm), both with 24 inches (610 mm) stroke.
Following the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
the state of the locomotives operating in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
was well below that which was needed to run the services effectively; many needed replacing but, however, cost was a major factor. It was decided to implement a "Renewal Programme" in which, not only would new locomotives be built but also suitable classes of locomotives would be rebuilt, in the main following the style of the Midland Railway and the LMS.
As part of this "Renewal Programme" members of Class A were rebuilt as two-cylinder simples (i.e. not compounds). Those reclassified as Class A1 were rebuilt with a Midland Railway type RG6 boiler and new cylinders both of 18 inches (457 mm) diameter by 24 inches (610 mm) stroke. The boiler was higher pitched than the original to allow the firebox and ash pan to clear the rear driving wheel axle and an extension of 24.75 inches (628.7 mm) to the smokebox saddle was needed to offer support. Although the effect was less striking than that of the similarly rebuilt Class B3
NCC Class B3
The LMS Class B3 4-4-0 passenger steam locomotives were rebuilds of Belfast and Northern Counties Railway two-cylinder compound locomotives...
, the modified appearance was such that these locomotives would be included among those that gained the nickname of "Whippet
Whippet
The Whippet is a breed of dog in the sighthound family. They are active and playful and are physically similar to a small Greyhound.- Description :...
" because of a perceived resemblance to the racing dog.
All the class were officially named after mountains although that allocated to No. 58, Lurigethan, was never carried.
The majority of the Class A1 engines were coupled to what was known as the "Standard" tender which could carry 6 LT of coal and 2090 gallons (9,501.3 l) of water. No.34, however, ran with one of the three "Medium" tenders that had a 2590 gallons (11,774.4 l) water capacity and No.62 acquired a spare built up tender with a capacity of 2690 gallons (12,229 l). No.58 acquired a tender cab which led to her being a regular visitor on the Dungiven branch where tender first running was required.
Nos.33, 58 and 69 later received boilers with a working pressure of 200 psi (1.38 MPa) in place of 160 psi (1.1 MPa). This led to their being allocated to the Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
area during the late 1930s where duties were more onerous. No.33 was shedded at York Road while the other two were at Larne.
No.65 worked in a spare capacity at York Road and No.62 was based at Cookstown
Cookstown
Cookstown may refer to either of the following:*Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland*Cookstown, Ontario, Canada*Cookstown, New Jersey, United States...
.
The builders plates showing dates in the late 1920s and early 1930s belied the age of these engines and the heavy traffic that they handled during World War II showed up their weaknesses more than newly built locomotives. Nevertheless, the majority of the class survived to be taken into Ulster Transport Authority
Ulster Transport Authority
The Ulster Transport Authority ran rail and bus transport in Northern Ireland from 1948 until 1966.-Formation and consolidation:The UTA was formed by the Transport Act 1948, which merged the Northern Ireland Road Transport Board and the Belfast and County Down Railway...
stock and were scrapped in the mid 1950s.
Building and withdrawal data
Rebuilding and naming information for the members of Class A1 are shown in the table below:| Number | Builder | Built | Rebuilt | Name as rebuilt |
Scrapped/Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | York Rd | Binevanagh Binevenagh Binevenagh or Benevenagh marks the western extent of the Antrim Plateau formed around 60 million years ago by molten lava. The plateau and steep cliffs extend for over 6 miles across the peninsula of Magilligan and dominating the skyline over the villages of Bellarena, Downhill, Castlerock and... |
|||
| 34 | York Rd | Knocklayd | |||
| 58 | York Rd | Lurigethan* | |||
| 62 | York Rd | Slemish Slemish Slemish, historically called Slieve Mish , is a volcanic plug in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It lies a few miles east of Ballymena, in the townland of Carnstroan.Slemish is the remains of the plug of an extinct volcano... |
|||
| 64 | Derby | Trostan Trostan Trostan is a mountain in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and at 551 metres is the highest point in the county. Trostan is the 362nd highest mountain in Ireland.-See Also:*List of Irish counties by highest point... |
|||
| 65 | Derby | Knockagh | |||
| 66 | Derby | Ben Madigan | |||
| 68 | Derby | Slieve Gallion Slieve Gallion Slieve Gallion is a mountain in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. By road, it is from Moneymore, from Cookstown, and from Magherafelt. It is the eastern limit of the Sperrin Mountains range... |
|||
| 69 | York Rd | Slieve Bane | |||
* Allocated the name shown but this was never carried.
LMS NCC
The Class A1 locomotives were painted in crimson lake with yellow and black lining. The LMS crest was carried on the upper cab sides. The initials “NCC” in shaded serifSerif
In typography, serifs are semi-structural details on the ends of some of the strokes that make up letters and symbols. A typeface with serifs is called a serif typeface . A typeface without serifs is called sans serif or sans-serif, from the French sans, meaning “without”...
gold capital letters were placed centrally on the tender sides. Number plates were brass with raised digits and edge; they were carried on the lower cab sides with another placed centrally on the back of the tender tank. On the named engines, curved nameplates were fitted above the leading driving wheel splashers. Buffer beams and number plate and name plate backgrounds were painted red. The engine number
Engine number
-Automobiles:Every vehicle engine is marked with an engine number by the factory. The engine number includes coded information, which can be decoded to reveal information such as year of manufacture, country of manufacture, and engine type.-Trains:...
was applied to the front buffer beam in shaded gold digits.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the locomotives were painted black with red buffer beams and number plate and name plate backgrounds providing relief.
UTA
Under the Ulster Transport AuthorityUlster Transport Authority
The Ulster Transport Authority ran rail and bus transport in Northern Ireland from 1948 until 1966.-Formation and consolidation:The UTA was formed by the Transport Act 1948, which merged the Northern Ireland Road Transport Board and the Belfast and County Down Railway...
, the engines were painted black with vermilion and yellow lining. Buffer beams, name and number plate backgrounds were red and the practice of putting the number on the front buffer beam was continued.
The UTA roundel, 14 inches (356 mm) in diameter, with "Ulster Transport" in orange block capitals, lined in red, surrounding a white shield bearing the red hand of Ulster, all on a mid-green background, was placed in the middle of the tender sides.