GS&WR Class 201

The Great Southern and Western Railway Class 201 was a class of ten 0-6-0 side tank locomotives designed by Locomotive Engineer, H. A. Ivatt in 1887 for shunting heavy goods trains at Kingsbridge and Cork yards.[1] Although the design is generally attributed to Ivatt they were actually created in the last year of Alexander McDonnell's tenure.[2]

Great Southern & Western Railway Class 201
Class 201 No. 220 (right foreground) at Cork (Glanmire Road) Locomotive Depot, 17 July 1955
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer H. A. Ivatt Builder Inchicore Works Build date 1887 (4), 1895 (2), 1901 (4) Total produced 10
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-6-0T  • UIC C n2t Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Driver dia. 4 ft 6 ^1⁄2 in (1.384 m) Axle load 1887/1895 locos: 15 long tons 0 cwt (33,600 lb or 15.2 t), 1901 locos: 15 long tons 10 cwt (34,700 lb or 15.7 t) Loco weight 1887 locos: 40 long tons 5 cwt (90,200 lb or 40.9 t), 1895 locos: 42 long tons 15 cwt (95,800 lb or 43.4 t), 1901 locos: 43 long tons 16 cwt (98,100 lb or 44.5 t) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 1887 locos: 2 long tons 0 cwt (4,500 lb or 2 t) 1895/1901 locos: 1 long ton 10 cwt (3,400 lb or 1.5 t) Water cap 1887 locos: 945 imp gal (4,300 l; 1,135 US gal) 1895/1901 locos: 730 imp gal (3,300 l; 880 US gal) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 18.8 to 19.3 sq ft (1.75 to 1.79 m^2) Boiler pressure 150 to 160 psi (1.03 to 1.10 MPa) Heating surface:  • Tubes 823 to 938 sq ft (76.5 to 87.1 m^2)  • Firebox 105 to 112.5 sq ft (9.75 to 10.45 m^2) Cylinders Two, inside Cylinder size 18 in × 24 in (457 mm × 610 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 18,200 to 19,400 lbf (80.96 to 86.30 kN)
Career Operators GS&WR → GSR → CIÉ Class GS&WR: 201 GSR/CIÉ: 201 or J11 Numbers 201, 202, 207–210, 217–220 Withdrawn 1949–1963 Disposition All scrapped

Design

The decision to proceed with an 0-6-0T design was discussed between Ivatt and Aspinall due to issues with preceding 0-6-4T locomotives.[3] Ivatt's design incorporated the same cylinders, coupled-wheels and boilers as the 0-6-4T's.[4]

Service

Constraints on the locomotive design meant that the coupled wheelbase had to be as short as possible to negotiate the curves in the dock areas but the locomotive had to have sufficient power available for the increasing load of the trains.

Under the system employed by the Great Southern Railways they became Class J11.[1] All of the class survived until 1949, with No. 217 being withdrawn in 1961 and No. 201 withdrawn in 1963.[1]

References

1. Clements, Jeremy & McMahon, Michael (2008). Locomotives of the GSR. Newtownards: Colourpoint Books. pp. 84–85. ISBN 978-1-906578-26-8.
2. Boocock, Colin (1 October 2009). "Locomotive Compendium Ireland" (1st ed.). Ian Allan. p. 23. ISBN 9780711033603.
3. Bulleid, H.A.V. (1967). The Aspinall Era. Ian Allan, London. p. 73.
4. Murray, K. A.; McNeil, D.B. (1976). The Great Southern & Western Railway. Irish Record Railway Society. pp. 148–149. ISBN 0904078051.

See also

• Diesel Locomotives of Ireland
• Multiple Units of Ireland
• Coaching Stock of Ireland
• Steam locomotives of Ireland