GS&WR Class 37
The Great Southern and Western Railway (GS&WR) Class 37 consisted of six 4-4-2T tank engines.[1] The first two built by locomotive superintendent Henry Ivatt (Snr.) were based on a previous 2-4-0T design by McDonnell, as were some 2-4-2Ts Ivatt produced two years earlier for the Kerry branches.[2]
| GS&WR 37 Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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_GSWR_Class_37_Class_(cropped).jpg.webp) 4-4-2T No. 317 partially hidden behind a railmotor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Details for No. 37 as built[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Construction
In 1900 Robert Coey, who by then had been promoted Inchicore Railway Works Manager to locomotive superintendent, produced four of a heavier and more powerful 4-4-2T, these were known as Class 27.[2]
Robert Coey in 1902 produced four more of the lighter class built by Ivatt, these were to be the final passenger tanks built by the GS&WR.[2]
Design
The Class 37 had a very low 13 long tons 6 cwt (29,800 lb or 13.5 t) maximum axle load enabling a very high route availability. By contrast the Class 27 had a higher maximum axle load 15 long tons 10 cwt (34,700 lb or 15.7 t).[1]
Service
On the amalgamation to Great Southern Railways in 1925 some of these classes were allocated to the former Dublin and South Eastern Railway (DSER) services to Bray,[2] where there was a shortage of motive power at least in part due to the ravages of the Irish Civil War. By the 1930s most have been allocated to the Cork local services.[1]
By 1948 the type was regarded as obsolete but all lasted until the 1950s with the last withdrawn in 1955.[1]