GNRI Class Q
Encyclopedia
The Q Class 4-4-0
steam locomotive
s of the Great Northern Railway (Ireland)
(GNR) were mainly used on cross-border mixed traffic duties between Dublin and Belfast
, as well as the "Derry Road" between and Derry
. It was designed for the GNR under the auspices of Charles Clifford and built by Neilson Reid
, North British Locomotive Company
and Beyer, Peacock and Company
. The Q Class is slightly smaller than the GNR class S
4-4-0 but powerful enough to haul a rake of eight or more carriages.
Faster running was achieved with the addition of superheated boilers and widened cylinders (under the supervision of G.T. Glover in the 1920s). In 1932 a two coach special hauled by No. 135 covered Dublin to Drogheda at an average speed of 79.2 mph (35.4 m/s), the fastest run in Ireland up to that time.
. It was used mainly on northern routes, the former Ulster Railway
main line between Belfast and Clones
and the "Derry Road" between Belfast and Derry
via . While in service it was in standard GNR black livery. It worked on Córas Iompair Éireann
lines from 1958 and was withdrawn in October 1963.
In the late 1970s the locomotive was repainted and placed on a plinth at Dundalk station
. In June 1984 No. 131 and its tender were moved to Mallow, County Cork
as the main locomotive of the Great Southern Railway Preservation Society. However, this venture was unfulfilled and the locomotive (partially stripped down and with the boiler and firebox out of the frames) was moved to Inchicore
Railway Works in the late 1990s while the running frames were moved to Whitehead, County Antrim
in May 2003. The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland bought the locomotive from CIÉ in April 2005.
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...
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 of the Great Northern Railway (Ireland)
Great Northern Railway (Ireland)
The Great Northern Railway was an Irish gauge railway company in Ireland.The Great Northern was formed in 1876 by a merger of the Irish North Western Railway , Northern Railway of Ireland, and Ulster Railway. The Ulster Railway was the GNRI's oldest constituent, having opened between Belfast and...
(GNR) were mainly used on cross-border mixed traffic duties between Dublin and 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...
, as well as the "Derry Road" between and Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
. It was designed for the GNR under the auspices of Charles Clifford and built by Neilson Reid
Neilson and Company
Neilson and Company was a locomotive manufacturer in Glasgow, Scotland.The company was started in 1836 at McAlpine Street by Walter Neilson and James Mitchell to manufacture marine and stationary engines...
, North British Locomotive Company
North British Locomotive Company
The North British Locomotive Company was created in 1903 through the merger of three Glasgow locomotive manufacturing companies; Sharp Stewart and Company , Neilson, Reid and Company and Dübs and Company , creating the largest locomotive manufacturing company in Europe.Its main factories were...
and Beyer, Peacock and Company
Beyer, Peacock and Company
Beyer, Peacock and Company was an English railway Locomotive manufacturer with a factory in Gorton, Manchester. Founded by Charles Beyer and Richard Peacock, it traded from 1854 until 1966...
. The Q Class is slightly smaller than the GNR class S
GNRI Class S
The Great Northern Railway class S was a class of 4-4-0 steam locomotive that the Great Northern Railway introduced in 1913 to haul Belfast – Dublin express passenger trains.A preserved example exists, No...
4-4-0 but powerful enough to haul a rake of eight or more carriages.
Faster running was achieved with the addition of superheated boilers and widened cylinders (under the supervision of G.T. Glover in the 1920s). In 1932 a two coach special hauled by No. 135 covered Dublin to Drogheda at an average speed of 79.2 mph (35.4 m/s), the fastest run in Ireland up to that time.
Preservation
One member of the Q Class, Number 131, is presently being restored by the Railway Preservation Society of IrelandRailway Preservation Society of Ireland
The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland is an Irish railway preservation group operating in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1964. The Society has its headquarters at Whitehead, County Antrim, Northern Ireland and a base at Mullingar, County Westmeath...
. It was used mainly on northern routes, the former Ulster Railway
Ulster Railway
The Ulster Railway was a railway company operating in Ulster, Ireland. The company was incorporated in 1836 and merged with two other railway companies in 1876 to form the Great Northern Railway .-History:...
main line between Belfast and Clones
Clones
Clones is a small town in western County Monaghan, in the 'border area' of the Republic of Ireland. The area is part of the Border Region, earmarked for economic development by the Irish Government due to its currently below-average economic situation...
and the "Derry Road" between Belfast and Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
via . While in service it was in standard GNR black livery. It worked on Córas Iompair Éireann
CIE
-Organizations:* Cambridge International Examinations, an international examination board* Cleveland Institute of Electronics, a private technical and engineering educational institution — the International Commission on Illumination...
lines from 1958 and was withdrawn in October 1963.
In the late 1970s the locomotive was repainted and placed on a plinth at Dundalk station
Dundalk railway station
Dundalk Clarke railway station serves Dundalk in County Louth, Ireland. It consists of an island platform, with a bay facing south. It is served by the Dublin-Belfast "Enterprise" express trains as well as local Commuter services to and from Dublin...
. In June 1984 No. 131 and its tender were moved to Mallow, County Cork
Mallow, County Cork
Mallow is the "Crossroads of Munster" and the administrative capital of north County Cork, in Ireland. The Northern Divisional Offices of Cork County Council are located in the town....
as the main locomotive of the Great Southern Railway Preservation Society. However, this venture was unfulfilled and the locomotive (partially stripped down and with the boiler and firebox out of the frames) was moved to Inchicore
Inchicore
-Location and access:Located five kilometres due west of the city centre, Inchicore lies south of the River Liffey, west of Kilmainham, north of Drimnagh and east of Ballyfermot. The majority of Inchicore is in the Dublin 8 postal district...
Railway Works in the late 1990s while the running frames were moved to Whitehead, County Antrim
Whitehead, County Antrim
Whitehead is a small seaside town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland, lying almost midway between the towns of Carrickfergus and Larne. It lies within the civil parishes of Island Magee and Templecorran, the barony of Belfast Lower, and is part of Carrickfergus Borough Council...
in May 2003. The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland bought the locomotive from CIÉ in April 2005.
See also
- Diesel Locomotives of IrelandDiesel locomotives of IrelandAlthough prototype diesel locomotives ran in Britain before World War II, the railways of both the Republic and Northern Ireland changed over much more rapidly from steam to diesel traction, in the 1950s than those in Britain, due to the island's limited coal reserves and ageing steam locomotive...
- Multiple Units of IrelandMultiple Units of IrelandA wide variety of diesel and electric multiple units have been used on Ireland's railways. This page lists all those that have been used. Except with the NIR 3000 class the numbers given by each class in the lists below are those allocated to the coaches that make up the units in that class,...
- Coaching Stock of IrelandCoaching Stock of IrelandA wide variety of hauled coaches have been used on the railways of Ireland. This page lists all those since 1945.-Republic of Ireland:When formed in 1945, Córas Iompair Éireann inherited from its constituents a motley collection of coaching stock from various manufacturers, in equally variegated...
- Steam locomotives of IrelandSteam locomotives of IrelandA wide variety of steam locomotives have been used on Ireland's railways. This page lists all those that have been used in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland...