DSER 15 and 16

Dublin & South Eastern Railway 15 and 16
DSER 15 (as GSR 461), emerges from Whitehead Tunnel heading for Larne Harbour
Power type	Steam
Designer	G. H. Wild
Builder	Beyer, Peacock & Co.
Order number	02160
Serial number	6112–6113
Build date	1922
Total produced	2
Configuration	2-6-0
UIC classification	1'C h2
Gauge	5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Leading wheel diameter	3 ft 0 in (0.914 m)
Driver diameter	5 ft 1 in (1.549 m)
Axle load	15 tons 1 cwt (33,700 lb or 15.3 t)
Weight on drivers	43 tons 9 cwt (97,300 lb or 44.1 t)
Locomotive weight	50 tons 1 cwt (112,100 lb or 50.8 t)
Tender weight	32 tons 10 cwt (72,800 lb or 33.0 t)
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	5 tons 0 cwt (11,200 lb or 5.1 t)
Water capacity	2,600 imperial gallons (12,000 l; 3,100 US gal)
Boiler pressure	175 lbf/in² (1.21 MPa)
Firegrate area	20 sq ft (1.9 m2)
Heating surface: Tubes and flues	952 sq ft (88.4 m2)
Heating surface: Firebox	134 sq ft (12.4 m2)
Superheater area	164 sq ft (15.2 m2)
Cylinders	Two, inside
Cylinder size	19 × 26 in (483 × 660 mm)
Valve type	8 in (203 mm) piston valves
Tractive effort	22,890 lbf (101.82 kN)
Career	DSER » GSR » CIÉ
Class	DSR: None GSR/CIÉ: 461 or K2
Number	DSER: 15–16 GSR: 461–462
Withdrawn	1965, 1963
Preserved	One: No. 15 / 461
Current owner	RPSI

The Dublin and South Eastern Railway 15 and 16 were a pair of 2-6-0 steam locomotives which were built for the heavy goods (freight) traffic on the Dublin to Wexford main line of the Dublin and South Eastern Railway (DSER). The two locomotives were built by Beyer, Peacock and Company at their Gorton Foundry in Manchester.

On account of the risk of damage when new (during the Irish Civil War period of 1921–1922), both examples were initially sent to Belfast for safekeeping. They were stored by the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) at Adelaide yard until 1923, when they were returned to the DSER. The locos were withdrawn in the early 1960s.^[1]

In 1925, the DSER was absorbed into the Great Southern Railways and the two locomotives were renumbered 461 and 462, and placed in Class 461 or Class K2.

Livery

Originally painted DSER green, on becoming part of the GSR, they were painted in standard freight livery of unlined dark battleship grey. In the late 1950s, all-over unlined black was applied. This is the livery 461 currently carries, along with replica cast numberplates of GSR design, as carried in GSR years.

In preservation, No.461 is being outshopped in CIÉ lined green livery upon completion of her overhaul in 2011.

Preservation

Preserved by the RPSI (Railway Preservation Society of Ireland), 461 [1] was allocated to the Wexford goods and in Waterford, working beet traffic until its withdrawal in 1962, a year before CIÉ abolished steam locomotives entirely. It was presented by CIÉ to the RPSI in 1977. An extensive overhaul followed at Whitehead and the locomotive returned to traffic in late 1990. At present, the locomotive recently (2011) completed an overhaul at the RPSI's Whitehead base [2]. Locomotive No.461 has appeared in theatrical film releases such as Michael Collins and Angela's Ashes.^[2]

External links

• webpage for preserved K2 Class No.461

See also

• Diesel Locomotives of Ireland
• Multiple Units of Ireland
• Coaching Stock of Ireland
• Steam locomotives of Ireland

References

1. ^ "DUBLIN & SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY K2 (GSR CLASSIFICATION) 2-6-0 No. 461". Railway Preservation Society of Ireland. http://www.rpsi-online.org/locomotives/loco461.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-15. 
2. ^ "FILM CONTRACTS". Railway Preservation Society of Ireland. http://www.rpsi-online.org/hire/. Retrieved 2009-01-14. 

• Clements, Jeremy & McMahon, Michael (2008). Locomotives of the GSR. Newtonards, County Down: Colourpoint Books. pp. 151–152, 287. ISBN 978-1-906578-26-8.