irish News
Component could re-create lost ‘w’ 2-6-0 - or provide a spare for 2-6-4T no. 4.
CONSTRUCTION of the boiler for the railway Preservation society of ireland’s re‑created LMs‑ NCC locomotive (see sr462) has commenced.
The society is keeping its options open as to whether the project might produce a ‘W’ class 2‑6‑0, none of which survived the end of steam, or a second ‘WT’ class 2‑6‑4T ‑ the G8AS boiler being common to both designs. In the medium term, a spare boiler could provide a replacement for existing 2‑6‑4T No. 4, meaning a quicker turnaround for the ‘Jeep’ at its next major overhaul. Detailed costings for the new locomotive are being established, while the timescale would depend on funding and manpower availability. Work has, however, begun at Whitehead on the boiler, starting with the firebox. Key materials were obtained some years ago when the project was first mooted, so substantial expenditure is not required at this stage. Further components for the locomotive, squirrelled away by the society over the years, need to be sorted, cleaned and overhauled. Peter Scott, of the RPSI’s Locomotive Department, said: “In its most basic form, the project is to find the necessary funding and to provide strategic spares to keep No. 4 available with the minimum time out of traffic for overhaul or unplanned work. “Taking this further, the second stage is to reconstruct a second boiler shell, based on existing parts, again to minimise downtime for No. 4. Further ahead, reactivation of a second 2‑6‑4T would be possible, again based upon existing parts. “A recent twist to this has been the suggestion for an NCC ‘Mogul’ ‑ favoured by some as a significant locomotive and more likely to command support. “Either locomotive would be appropriate to our operational requirements, which now call for larger trains capable of fitting in with intensive timetabled services.” Fitting of an Irish Rail cab radio to No. 4 was completed at Whitehead in early March, and the locomotive was due to return to Dublin Connolly in time to haul the first of this year’s main line trips, ‘The Midlander’, from Dublin to Maynooth on March 19.