MGWR Class K

Specifications
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	2-4-0
Gauge	5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Leading dia.	4 feet 0 inches (1.22 m)
Coupled dia.	5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m)
Length	26 feet 5.25 inches (8.0582 m)
Axle load	15 tons
Adhesive weight	26 tons
Loco weight	38 tons

Type and origin
Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Designer	Martin Atock
Builder	Broadstone Works
Build date	1893-1898
Total produced	20

MGWR Class K
MGWR Class K
	MGWR Class K 2-4-0 on an express at Clifden in 1914.
Power type
Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Designer	Martin Atock
Builder	Broadstone Works
Build date	1893-1898
Total produced	20
Configuration:;
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	2-4-0
Gauge	5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Leading dia.	4 feet 0 inches (1.22 m)
Coupled dia.	5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m)
Length	26 feet 5.25 inches (8.0582 m)
Axle load	15 tons
Adhesive weight	26 tons
Loco weight	38 tons
Operators
Career
Operators	MGWR; GSR; CIÉ
Numbers	MGWR 13-24,27-34; GSR/CIÉ 650-668
Official name	MGWR Class K; GSR Class 650 G2
Withdrawn	1923 (Civil War loss); 1954-1963 (remainder)

The MGWR Class K was a Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR) 2-4-0 designed by Martin Atock for passenger work and introduced from 1893. They replaced earlier MGWR Class D locomotives that carried the same names and numbers. The class was also known as the Great Southern Railways (GSR) 650 G2 class.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Locomotives

MGWR No.	Name	Introduced	GSR No.	Withdrawn
13	Rapid	1893	659	1961
14	Racer	1893	650	1959
15	Rover	1895	660	1959
16	Rob Roy	1895	651	1959
17	Reindeer	1894	661	1959
18	Ranger	1893	652	1954
19	Spencer	1894	653	1963
20	Speedy	1896	War loss	1923
21	Swift	1896	662	1955
22	Samson	1896	663	1959
23	Sylph	1896	664	1961
24	Sprite	1896	665	1959
27	Clifden	1896	666	1957
28	Clara	1896	654	1963
29	Clonsilla	1896	655	1961
30	Active	1897	656	1957
31	Alert	1897	667	1957
32	Ariel	1897	668	1959
33	Arrow	1898	657	1961
34	Aurora	1898	658	1954

^[2]

Design and historical development

The design was a progression of the MGWR Class D standard passenger locomotive and resulted in a design more powerful than the MGWR Class D-bogie 4-4-0. They were rebuilt with superheated boilers from 1918 increasing their power still further and becoming one of the few if not only superheated 2-4-0 classes in the world.^[3]^[4]

Services

They were initially allocated to top expresses such at the limited mail with some of the heaviest requiring double heading. After the turn of the century they were displaced by 4-4-0 types to secondary duties throughout the MGWR network but became mainly based around the Sligo line in the GSR/CIÉ era. On the Achill line they would be brought in for heavier trains particular after 6 coupled locomotives were banned after 1925 on that branch. They remained active and useful into the 1950s with the last withdrawal in 1963. The locomotive class was also noted for working on the Ballaghaderreen branch line in its final years.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Accidents and incidents

Several of the class were damaged in civil war incidents in 1922/23. In particular No. 20 Speedy was destroyed at Killala on 3 February 1923.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b "THE BALLAGHADERREEN BRANCH". Irish Failfan News. 7 (3): 14–16. July 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Shepherd, Ernie (1994). The Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland - An illustrated History. Midland Publishing Limited. pp. 85–788, 122, 124, 130–131. ISBN 1-85780-008-7.
^ ^a ^b ^c Clements, Jeremy; McMahon, Michael (2008). Locomotives of the GSR. Colourpoint Books. pp. 208–210. ISBN 9781906578268.
^ ^a ^b ^c Beaumont, Jonathan (2002). Rails to Achill. pp. 98–99, 101. ISBN 978-0853615880.

[IRN-JUL1961V7I3-1] "THE BALLAGHADERREEN BRANCH". Irish Failfan News. 7 (3): 14–16. July 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.

[ES-Cl-K-2] Shepherd, Ernie (1994). The Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland - An illustrated History. Midland Publishing Limited. pp. 85–788, 122, 124, 130–131. ISBN 1-85780-008-7.

[JCMM-Cl-K-3] Clements, Jeremy; McMahon, Michael (2008). Locomotives of the GSR. Colourpoint Books. pp. 208–210. ISBN 9781906578268.

[R2A-K-4] Beaumont, Jonathan (2002). Rails to Achill. pp. 98–99, 101. ISBN 978-0853615880.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

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