An extract from the May 1939 issue of The Railway Magazine describing the introduction of the new “800” Class 4-6-0 locomotives of the G.S.R., including their specifications and intended service on Dublin–Cork express trains.
No. 800, the first of the new series of G.S.R. 3-cylinder 4-6-0 locomotives
Introduction and purpose
THE first of a series of 3-cylinder 4-6-0 express passenger locomotives for service on the heavy Dublin-Cork express trains has recently been turned out of the Inchicore works of the Great Southern Railways of Ireland. Three of these engines, Nos. 800-2, comprise the present order and they are to be known as the “800” class. The principal dimensions are as follow:—
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Principal dimensions
Cylinders (3), dia. . . . . . . . . 18½ in.
stroke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 in.
Piston valves, dia. . . . . . . . . 9 in.
“ travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 3/4 in.
Coupled wheels, dia. . . . . . . . 6 ft. 7 in.
Evaporating heating surface, tubes 1,670 sq. ft.
” ” firebox . . . . . . . . . . 200 sq. ft.
total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,870 sq. ft.
Superheating surface . . . . . . . 468 sq. ft.
Combined total heating surface . . 2,338 sq. ft.
Firegrate area . . . . . . . . . . . 33½ sq. ft.
Boiler pressure, per sq. in. . . . 225 lb.
Tractive effort (at 85 per cent.
boiler pressure) . . . . . . . . 33,000 lb.
Adhesion weight . . . . . . . . . . 63 tons
Weight of engine . . . . . . . . . . 84 tons
Water capacity of tender . . . . 5,000 gal.
Coal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 tons
Weight of tender . . . . . . . . . . 51 tons
Total weight of engine and tender 135 tons
Mechanical details
Independent sets of Walschaerts motion are provided for the three cylinders, with needle roller bearings to the quadrant link trunnion and eccentric rod ends and ball bearings to the return cranks. Roller bearings are also fitted to the axles of the engine bogie and to those of the tender.
The boiler which is 6 ft. in diameter with a parallel length of 13 ft. 10½ in., is constructed of two per cent. nickel steel plates. A double chimney is provided and a multiple-valve regulator in conjunction with a 28-element superheater is employed. Two 12-feed mechanical lubricators are provided, one supplying the cylinders and the other the axleboxes, slidebars, etc.
The cab is exceptionally roomy, being 9 ft. wide inside, and is fitted with sliding side windows and window wiper on the driver’s look-out. The coupled wheelbase of the engine is 15 ft. 9 in., the total wheel base of the engine and tender 56 ft. 7 in., and the length over buffers 67 ft. 9 in. Instead of the standard G.S.R. dull grey shade, the “800” class engines are to be painted blue-green, picked out with black and yellow lining.
Development context
The new engines, with their ample cylinder volume and adhesion weight, high boiler pressure and excellent front end arrangements, may be trusted to give a good account of themselves in service.
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