BNCR Class B

Specifications
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	4-4-0
• UIC	2′B
Gauge	5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Leading dia.	3 ft 0 in (0.914 m)
Driver dia.	6 ft 0 in (1.829 m)
Wheelbase	39 ft 0+1⁄2 in (11.90 m)
Length	47 ft 8+1⁄2 in (14.54 m)
Width	8 ft 4 in (2.54 m)
Height	13 ft 2 in (4.01 m)
Axle load	14 ton 0 cwt +; 12 ton 6 cwt
Adhesive weight	26 long tons 6 cwt (58,900 lb or 26.7 t)
Loco weight	39 long tons 17 cwt (89,300 lb or 40.5 t)
Tender weight	28 long tons 17 cwt (64,600 lb or 29.3 t)
Total weight	68 long tons 14 cwt (153,900 lb or 69.8 t)
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	6 long tons (6.1 t)
Water cap.	2,090 imp gal (9,500 L; 2,510 US gal)
Boiler pressure	160 psi (1.10 MPa)
Heating surface:
• Firebox	87.91 sq ft (8.167 m2)
• Tubes	705.24 sq ft (65.519 m2); (later arrangement)
• Total surface	795.15 sq ft (73.872 m2)
Cylinders	Two
High-pressure cylinder	LHS: 16 in × 24 in (406 mm × 610 mm)
Low-pressure cylinder	RHS: 23.25 in × 24 in (591 mm × 610 mm)
Valve gear	Walschaerts
Train brakes	Automatic vacuum

Type and origin
Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Builder	Beyer, Peacock & Company
Build date	1897–1898
Total produced	5

BNCR Class B
BNCR Class B
Power type
Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Builder	Beyer, Peacock & Company
Build date	1897–1898
Total produced	5
Configuration:;
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	4-4-0
• UIC	2′B
Gauge	5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Leading dia.	3 ft 0 in (0.914 m)
Driver dia.	6 ft 0 in (1.829 m)
Wheelbase	39 ft 0+1⁄2 in (11.90 m)
Length	47 ft 8+1⁄2 in (14.54 m)
Width	8 ft 4 in (2.54 m)
Height	13 ft 2 in (4.01 m)
Axle load	14 ton 0 cwt +; 12 ton 6 cwt
Adhesive weight	26 long tons 6 cwt (58,900 lb or 26.7 t)
Loco weight	39 long tons 17 cwt (89,300 lb or 40.5 t)
Tender weight	28 long tons 17 cwt (64,600 lb or 29.3 t)
Total weight	68 long tons 14 cwt (153,900 lb or 69.8 t)
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	6 long tons (6.1 t)
Water cap.	2,090 imp gal (9,500 L; 2,510 US gal)
Boiler pressure	160 psi (1.10 MPa)
Heating surface:
• Firebox	87.91 sq ft (8.167 m2)
• Tubes	705.24 sq ft (65.519 m2); (later arrangement)
• Total surface	795.15 sq ft (73.872 m2)
Cylinders	Two
High-pressure cylinder	LHS: 16 in × 24 in (406 mm × 610 mm)
Low-pressure cylinder	RHS: 23.25 in × 24 in (591 mm × 610 mm)
Valve gear	Walschaerts
Train brakes	Automatic vacuum
Tractive effort
Performance figures
Tractive effort	11,560 lbf (51.4 kN)
Factor of adh.	5.09
Operators
Career
Operators	BNCR; NCC;
Numbers	24, 59–62
Withdrawn	1924–1932
Disposition	All rebuilt as classes U1, B1 and B2

The Belfast and Northern Counties Railway Class B was a class of 4-4-0 two-cylinder compound steam locomotives that was introduced for passenger service in the north-east of Ireland during the late 1890s.

History

The Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (BNCR) in the north-east of Ireland had standardised on locomotives with a 2-4-0 wheel arrangement for its principal passenger locomotives during the 1870s and construction continued through to the mid-1890s. With increasing loads and heavier trains the limitations of that wheel arrangement became apparent and a new design was needed. In 1897 the first purpose-built 4-4-0s, the Class B "Light Compounds", entered service.

Built by Beyer, Peacock & Company in Manchester, England, the Class B was turned out as a 4-4-0 version of the Class C 2-4-0 that had been introduced during 1890–95. With the same type of boiler and identical cylinder sizes, it was no more powerful than the earlier design.

Two of the class, Nos.59 and 62 were "renewed" in 1924 as Class U1 4-4-0 locomotives although probably very little remained of the original engines except for their wheels and valve gear.

The other three members of the class received less radical rebuilding. Nos.60 and 61 were firstly rebuilt as Class B1 compounds following which they underwent further alterations to become Class B3 4-4-0s in 1932. No.24 was rebuilt as a simple to become the only member of Class B2 in 1925 and again to Class B3 in 1928.

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 B general arrangement drawing. Belfast: LMS (NCC).

v t e 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 Kingstown Railway (1834–1856)	Vauxhall Hibernia Star Victoria Princess Burgoyne
Dublin and South Eastern Railway (1854–1925)	1, 2, 6–7, 9–10, 28, 44–47, 49 3, 8, 10–12, 27–30, 40, 45–46 4–5 13–14, 18, 65–66 15–16 15–23, 37–39, 48 17, 36 20, 34–35 24–26, 32–33 42–44 50–51 52–54 55–58 59–64 67–68 69–70
Great Southern and Western Railway (1845–1924)	1 2 21 23 27 33 37 41 43 44 45 28 & 47 52 56 60 62 64 90 91 92 101 102 104 110 & 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 B C D D-bogie D2 E F H K L 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 4 5 7, 8 (4T)
Industrial engines	CSÉT Shunting Locomotives R. H. Smyth