GNRI Class Q

The Q Class 4-4-0 steam locomotive of the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) (GNRI) was mainly used on cross border mixed traffic duties between Dublin and Belfast. It was built for the GNRI by Neilson Reid in Glasgow and was designed under the auspices of Charles Glifford. The Q Class is slightly smaller than the GNRI Class S 4-4-0 [ [http://www.rpsi-online.org/locomotives/loco171.htm The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland ] ] but was powerful enough to handle a rake of eight or more carriages.

An example of the Q Class, Number 131 [ [http://www.rpsi-online.org/locomotives/loco131.htm The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland ] ] , is presently being restored by the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland. She was used mainly on the northern routes from Belfast-Clones and Belfast-Derry [http://www.rpsi-online.org/5ft3/FFT_05.pdf] . While in service she maintained standard GNRI black livery. She operated on CIÉ lines from 1958 and was withdrawn in October 1963. In the late 1970s the locomotive was repainted and placed on a plinth at Dundalk station. In June 1984, No.131 and her tender were moved to Mallow, County Cork as the main locomotive of the Great Southern Railway Preservation Society. Unfortunately this venture did not bear fruition and the locomotive (partially stripped down and with the boiler and firebox out of the frames) was moved back to Inchicore Railway Works in the late 1990s while the running frames were moved to Whitehead, County Antrim in May 2003.

References

ee also

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