GS&WR Class J30

The Great Southern and Western Railway Class J30 is a class of 0-6-0T steam locomotive. They were one of the smallest steam locomotives to be inherited by the CIÉ on its formation.

History

In 1875 Inchicore works outshopped two railmotors, steam locomotives with a carriage on the same chassis, for working the Castleisland and Gortatlea Light Railway. In 1890 one of the railmotors was rebuilt, removing the carriage portion and leaving the locomotive as a small and light 0-6-0T. The other followed the example. The two examples were numbered 90 and 100 and were put to work in the Cork area. Unusually the locomotives had their centre driving wheel flangeless giving them great capabilities of working over tight radius tracks. Regular work was found shunting along the quayside at Cork and working car trains from the Ford works to Rocksavage yard. In the summer months both locomotives were coupled together to work the excursion trains on the lightly laid Timoleague and Courtmacsherry Railway.Also in 1890 the class was enlarged, Inchicore building two further examples for use on the Fermoy to Mitchelstown branch and two for the Kingsbridge to Inchicore branch, which they worked until 1945.Over the years several detail changes were made, one of the most noticeable being the chimney which originally had a pronounced taper from base to apex. This was replaced with a parallel version with a distinct lip.

Dimensions

* Driving Wheels: 3' 8½" (10 spokes), centre wheels flangeless.
* Cylinders: (2) 12" x 18"
* Boiler Pressure: 150 lb / sq.in.
* Weight: 22 tons 9 cwts

Livery

As locomotives they were painted in green with black and white lining, numbers were large, yellow, shaded white and blue. Under the CIE they were painted black with large yellow numbers on the tank side.

Preservation

One example, No.90, was preserved for many years as a static exhibit at Mallow. This was painted in the green livery, as detailed above, but a cast number plate with black numerals on a silver background (not original) has replaced the painted numbers. After a brief spell in the C.I.É. workshops at Inchicore No.90 was removed to the workshops of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland at Whitehead in 2005, to undergo restoration. The locomotive was back in steam by November 2006 and is expected to work at the Downpatrick Railway Museum in the 2007 season.

ee also

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

External links

* [http://www.rpsi-online.org/locomotives/loco90.htm Number 90]
* [http://www.downrail.co.uk/locos.htm#GSWR90 Downpatrick]