BNCR Class A

Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Builder	BNCR/NCC, York Road works, Belfast Midland Railway, Derby Works
Build date	1901–1908
Total produced	13
Rebuilder	LMS (NCC)
Rebuild date	1927–1936

Specifications
Configuration	4-4-0
Gauge	5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Leading dia	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; 17.14 short tons)+ 14.45 long tons (14.68 t; 16.18 short tons)
Adhesive weight	29.75 long tons (30.23 t; 33.32 short tons)
Loco weight	45.05 long tons (45.77 t; 50.46 short tons)
Tender weight	28.85 long tons (29.31 t; 32.31 short tons)
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	6.00 long tons (6.10 t; 6.72 short tons)
Water cap	2,090 imp gal (9,500 l; 2,510 US gal)
Boiler pressure	175 psi (1.21 MPa)
Heating surface	930 sq ft (86 m²)
• Tubes	824 sq ft (76.6 m²)
• Firebox	106 sq ft (9.8 m²)
Cylinders	Two
High-pressure cylinder	LHS: 18 in × 24 in (457 mm × 610 mm)
Low-pressure cylinder	RHS: 26 in × 24 in (660 mm × 610 mm)
Valve gear	Walschaerts
Train brakes	Automatic vacuum

Performance figures
Tractive effort	16,065 lbf (71.5 kN)
Factor of adh	4.15

Career
Operators	BNCR NCC
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.

History.

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 18-inch (457 mm) high pressure cylinder and a 26-inch (660 mm) diameter low pressure cylinder, each with 24-inch (610 mm) stroke. Inside Walschaerts valve gear was fitted which was standard on the BNCR. The driving wheels were of 6 ft (1.829 m) 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 long tons (6.1 t; 6.7 short tons) of coal and 2,090 imperial gallons (9,500 l; 2,510 US gal) 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.

Rebuilding

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 by 24 inches (457 mm × 610 mm) diameter x 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	000000001901-04-01-0000April 1901	Queen Alexandra		000000001928-04-01-0000April 1928		A1	Knocklayd	000000001950-10-01-0000October 1950	†*
3	York Rd	000000001902-07-01-0000July 1902	King Edward VII	33 (1926)	000000001928-12-01-0000December 1928		A1	Binevanagh	000000001949-11-01-0000November 1949	†
4	York Rd	000000001903-08-01-0000August 1903		62 (1924)	000000001928-07-01-0000July 1928		A1	Slemish	000000001954-08-01-0000August 1954
9	York Rd	000000001904-12-01-0000December 1904		69 (1925)	000000001933-06-01-0000June 1933		A1	Slieve Bane	000000001954-08-01-0000August 1954
20	York Rd	000000001905-05-01-0000May 1905			000000001929-12-01-0000December 1929	84	U2	Lisanoure Castle	000000001961-12-01-0000December 1961
63	Derby	000000001905-05-01-0000May 1905	Queen Alexandra		000000001936-01-01-0000January 1936	87	U2	Queen Alexandra	000000001957-08-01-0000August 1957	*
64	Derby	000000001905-05-01-0000May 1905			000000001929-08-01-0000August 1929		A1	Trostan	000000001954-08-01-0000August 1954
65	Derby	000000001905-05-01-0000May 1905			000000001929-06-01-0000June 1929		A1	Knockagh	000000001950-10-01-0000October 1950
66	Derby	000000001905-05-01-0000May 1905			000000001930-05-01-0000May 1930		A1	Ben Madigan	000000001954-08-01-0000August 1954
5	York Rd	000000001906-08-01-0000August 1906		59 (1925)	000000001932-09-01-0000September 1932	86	U2		000000001960-03-01-0000March 1960
17	York Rd	000000001907-01-01-0000January 1907		58 (1927)	000000001934-02-01-0000February 1934		A1	Lurigethan	000000001954-08-01-0000August 1954	‡
67	Derby	000000001908-06-01-0000June 1908			000000001934-01-01-0000January 1934	85	U2		000000001960-03-01-0000March 1960
68	Derby	000000001908-06-01-0000June 1908			000000001927-12-01-0000December 1927		A1	Slieve Gallion	000000001947-11-01-0000November 1947

* The name Queen Alexandra was transferred from No.34 to No.63 in November 1932.
† Locomotives 34 and 3 were built by the BNCR prior to being taken over by the Midland Railway in 1903.
‡ The name Lurigethan was allocated, but never carried.

Livery

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.

References

Arnold, R.M. (1973). NCC Saga. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-5644-5.
Arnold, R.M. (1973). Supplement to NCC Saga. Whitehead: Railway Preservation Society of Ireland.
London Midland and Scottish Railway (Northern Counties Committee). Class A general arrangement drawing. Belfast: LMS (NCC).

Steam locomotives of Ireland

Belfast and County Down Railway (1846–1948)	1 4 5 6 8 9 14 22 26 29

Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (1860–1903)	A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S

Northern Counties Committee (1903–1949)	A1 B1 B2 B3 D1 E1 F1 K1 L1 S1 S2 U U1 U2 V W WT Y

Great Northern Railway (1876–1958)	A AL B BP BT C D E G H J JT NQG NLQG P PG PP Q QG QGTs QGT2 QL QLG QNG RT S & S2 SG & SG2 SG3 T T2 U V UG VS 203 204

Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway (1875–1957)	Erne Faugh-a-Ballagh Glencar Leitrim Lough Pioneer Sir Henry Waterford

Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway (1849–1924)	1, 2 1, 2, 4A, 8 2 (II) 3, 4 3, 9, 10, 18 5, 6 7 (I) 7 (II) 9, 10 11 5, 6, 12, 16, 17 14, 15 19, 20 4, 8, 11, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20 Argadeen St Molaga Slaney

Dublin and South Eastern Railway (1854–1925)	24, 25, 32, 33 52–54 3, 10, 11, 28, 45, 46 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 28, 44–47, 49 50, 51 42–44 55–58 20, 34, 35 65, 66 8, 12, 27, 29, 30, 40 4, 5 13, 14, 18, 65, 66 17 18 69, 70 15, 16

Great Southern and Western Railway (1845–1924)	1 2 21 23 27 & 35 33 37 41 43 44 45 28 & 47 52 56 60 62 64 90 91 92 99 100 101 102 104 110 & 112 116 117 119 122 124 133 139 144 201 & 203 204 207 & 217 211 213 249 & 351 257 301 305 309 321 333 341 355 362 368 400 500 900 Fairy Jumbo Sambo Sprite

Midland Great Western Railway (1847–1924)	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7–12 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 A, As & A1 B C & Cs C & C1 D D2 E F, Fa & Fb H K L & Lm Ln P W

Great Southern Railways (1925–1944)	280 342 372 393 495 670 700 710 800 850

Córas Iompair Éireann (1945–1962)	Turf Burner No. CC1

Tralee and Dingle Light Railway (1891–1953)	1,2,3,6,8 5 7,8(4T)

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