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Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford Railway (DW&WR) 52 to 54 were a class of three 4-4-2T locomotives designed by William Wakefield for Kingstown Pier to Kingsbridge (Dublin Heuston) boat trains. At one point they carried the names Duke of Connaught, Duke of Abercorn and Duke of Leinster respectively.[2]

DW&WR 52–54
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer William Wakefield Builder Sharp Stewart Serial number 3909–3911 Build date 1893 Total produced 3 Rebuilder DSER & GSR Rebuild date 1913–1926
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-4-2T Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Leading dia. 3 ft 1+1⁄2 in (952 mm) Driver dia. 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Trailing dia. 3 ft 9 in (1,140 mm) Length 36 ft 7 in (11,150 mm) Axle load 15.75 long tons (16.00 t) Loco weight 55 long tons (56 t) Water cap. 1,400 imp gal (6,400 l; 1,700 US gal) Boiler pressure 160 lbf/in2 (1.10 MPa) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 18 in × 26 in (457 mm × 660 mm)[1]
Performance figures Tractive effort 17,050 lbf (75.84 kN)
Career Operators DW&WR DSER GSR CIÉ Class C3 (Inchicore) Power class N/MT Number in class 3 Numbers 52(458), 53(460), 54(459) Locale Ireland Withdrawn 1960
As built[2]

Ahrons describes them as the larger than other types at the time of their introduction in 1893.[3] They seem to be have been a generally well balanced and successful engine though it was noted that they had a reverse level and could become problematic and even unsafe when worn. Unlike the subsequent Dublin and South Eastern Railway's (DSER)[Note 1] 4-4-2Ts it had no apparent problems with trains on gradients. On the 1925 amalgamation to Great Southern Railways (GSR) in 1925 they became numbers 458, 460 and 459 of GSR Class 458/C3. In GSR rebuilt No. 460 with a lower pitched boiler and a forward cab extension, it being the only locomotive not re-boilered by the DSER. The last in service, No. 460, was withdrawn in 1960, the others having been withdrawn in the preceding decade.[2]

A 1948 report for C.I.É. had assessed the engines as "DSER heavy passenger engines — quite good even with certain inherent troubles".[2]

Notes and references

Notes

References

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