MGWR Class K

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 namesand numbers. The class was also known as the Great Southern Railways (GSR) 650 G2 class.[2][3][4]

MGWR Class K
MGWR Class K 2-4-0 on an express at Clifden in 1914.
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerMartin Atock
BuilderBroadstone Works
Build date1893-1898
Total produced20
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-4-0[1]
Gauge5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Leading dia.4 feet 0 inches (1.22 m)
Coupled dia.5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m)
Length26 feet 5.25 inches (8.0582 m)
Axle load15 tons
Adhesive weight26 tons
Loco weight38 tons
Career
OperatorsMGWR
GSR
CIÉ
NumbersMGWR 13-24,27-34
GSR/CIÉ 650-668
Official nameMGWR Class K
GSR Class 650 G2
Withdrawn1923 (Civil War loss)
1954-1963 (remainder)

Locomotives
MGWR No. Name Introduced GSR No. Withdrawn
13Rapid18936591961
14Racer18936501959
15Rover18956601959
16Rob Roy18956511959
17Reindeer18946611959
18Ranger18936521954
19Spencer18946531963
20Speedy1896War loss1923
21Swift18966621955
22Samson18966631959
23Sylph18966641961
24Sprite18966651959
27Clifton18966661957
28Clara18966541963
29Consilla18966551961
30Active18976561957
31Alert18976671957
32Ariel18976681959
33Arrow18986571961
34Aurora18986581954

[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
  1. "THE BALLAGHADERREEN BRANCH". Irish Failfan News. 7 (3): 14–16. July 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  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.
  3. Clements, Jeremy; McMahon, Michael (2008). Locomotives of the GSR. Colourpoint Books. pp. 208–210. ISBN 9781906578268.
  4. Beaumont, Jonathan (2002). Rails to Achill. pp. 98–99, 101. ISBN 978-0853615880.
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