Steam locomotives of Ireland explained

A wide variety of steam locomotives have been used on Ireland's railways. This page lists most if not all those that have been used in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Irish railways generally followed British practice in locomotive design.

The list that follows is roughly geographic (north to south) order.

Northern Ireland

The Ulster Transport Authority, which controlled the railways in Northern Ireland between 1948 and 1966, replaced steam haulage on passenger trains with diesel multiple units, but had only two diesel shunting locomotives, which meant a continued role for steam on freight work. Twenty-three locomotives passed to Northern Ireland Railways in 1967, but most were not used again and all had been withdrawn by 1971.

Belfast and County Down Railway

The Belfast and County Down Railway was founded in 1848. It absorbed the Belfast, Hollywood and Bangor Railway in 1884 and continued operating until it was nationalised in its centenary year into the Ulster Transport Authority as a result of the Ireland Act 1949.

Type Fleet
numbers
Quantity
built
Manufacturer Dates
built
Dates
withdrawn
Notes [1]
4 1848 1858–1865 align=left No. 2 renumbered 8 and rebuilt as 0–4–2; withdrawn 1890s
2 1850–1851 1867–1877 align=left Renumbered 4 and 5 in 1859
2 1857–1858 1894–1894 align=left No. 5 renumbered 7 in 1859
1 1859 1880s align=left
2 1859 1886–1887 align=left
5+2 1864–67 1890–1909 align=left 12–13 sold to BH&BR 1–2 in 1870; renumbered 15–16, along with two identical locos bought new by BH&BR (3 & 6) → BCDR 17, 20
1 1867 1909 align=left rebuilt as 0–4–2 in 1884
2 1868 1888–1904? align=left
1 1875 1904 align=left
1 1878 1922 align=left
1 1880 1937 align=left rebuilt as 0-4-2T in 1902
1 BCDR Queens Quay Works, Belfast 1881 1897 align=left
2 1870 1891 align=left ex BH&BR 4 & 5
4 1886–1890 1914–1949 align=left rebuilt as 0–4–2T (1900–1902); 9 renumbered 28 in 1945
4 1891 1920 align=left Compounds; rebuilt as 4-4-2T in late 1890s
3 1892 1921 align=left Compounds
1 1892 1950 align=left
1 1894 1956 align=left
6 1896–1897 1923–1950 align=left
12 1901–1921 1956–1962 align=left UTA renumbered by adding 200
1 1904 1954 align=left Renumbered 214 by UTA
3 1905–1906 1924 align=left Carriage portions saw further use
2 1914–1921 1956 align=left 4 renumbered 204 by UTA
4 1920 1956 align=left Renumbered 222–225 by UTA
1 1923 1956 align=left Renumbered 229 by UTA
3 1924–1945 1956 align=left UTA renumbered by adding 200
C d 1 1933 align=left Renumbered 2 in 1937
(1A)(A1)d 1 1937 align=left Renumbered 28 in 1937

Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (1848–1903) & Northern Counties Committee (1903–1949)

The Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (BNCR), was a railway that served the north-east of Ireland. It had its origins in the Belfast and Ballymena Railway that opened to traffic on 11 April 1848. The Northern Counties Committee came into existence on 1 July 1903 as the result of the Midland Railway taking over the BNCR. At the 1923 Grouping the Committee became part of the London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS); with the nationalisation of the railways in Britain in 1948 the line passed to the British Transport Commission and in the following year, 1949, it was sold to the Ulster Transport Authority (UTA) as a result of the Ireland Act 1949.

Belfast and Ballymena Railway (1848–1860) and other constituentsThe early locomotives of the constituent companies were to assorted designs from a number of manufacturers. The first locomotives for the Belfast and Ballymena Railway were purchased from Bury, Curtis and Kennedy. These were four 2-2-2 singles and one 0-4-2 goods engine. Later, four more 2-2-2s were ordered but this time from Sharp Brothers. Fairbairn 2-2-2s were to be found on the Ballymena Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine and Portrush Junction Railway but this company also favoured Sharp locomotives which were double framed 2-4-0s.

Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (1860–1903)

The BNCR introduced class letters for its locomotive stock in 1897. The MR (NCC) and later the LMS (NCC) continued to use the system adding new classes as required.

Class Type Fleet
numbers
Quantity
built
Manufacturer Dates
built
Dates
withdrawn
Notes
3–5, 9, 17, 20, 34, 63–68 13 York Road Works (7)
Derby Works (6)
1901–1908 1929–1936 align=left Heavy compound locomotives
24, 59–62 5 1897–1898 1924–1932 align=left Light compound locomotives
21, 33, 50–52, 56–57 7 1890–1895 1926–1942 align=left Light compound locomotives; 50 renumbered 58
50, 55 2 1895 1944–1946 align=left Heavy compound locomotives; named Jubilee and Parkmount; rebuilt as 4-4-0 in 1897
53–54 2 1892 1934–1944 align=left Compound goods locomotives
45–46, 23 3 1880–1885 1938–1942 align=left
6, 8, 10–11, 22, 27, 29, 40–41 9 Sharp, Stewart & Company (7)
Beyer, Peacock & Company (2)
1872–1878 1925–1933 align=left
12–17 6 1856 1908–1924 align=left
40–41 2 1868 1924 align=left Renumbered 1–2
25, 47–49 4 1883 1932–1934 align=left Rebuilt as saddle tanks
7, 28, 30–32, 38–39, 43–44 9 Sharp, Stewart & Company (7)
Beyer, Peacock & Company (2)
1867–1880 1925–1947 align=left
18–19, 35 3 1857–1861 1925–1933 align=left
36–37 2 1863 1928–1932 align=left
26 1 1873 1925 align=left
42 1 1875 1925 align=left
60–62 3 1874–1875 1911–1923 align=left Narrow gauge locomotives; ex Ballymena, Cushendall and Red Bay Railway 1–3; renumbered 101–103
63–64 2 1877–1878 1920–1928 align=left Narrow gauge locomotives; ex Ballymena and Larne Railway 1 & 4; renumbered 104–105
65–67 3 1877–1882 1931–1933 align=left Narrow gauge locomotives; ex Ballymena & Larne Railway 2, 3 & 6; renumbered 106–108
68 1 1880 1934 align=left Narrow gauge locomotive; ex Ballymena & Larne Railway 5; renumbered 109
69–70 2 1882 1946–1954 align=left Narrow gauge compound locomotives; renumbered 110–111

Northern Counties Committee (1903–1949)

Class Type Fleet
numbers
Quantity
built
Manufacturer Dates
built
Dates
withdrawn
Notes
3, 4, 9, 17, 34, 64–66, 68 9 (1927–34) 1947–1954 align=left Simple rebuilds of class A
60, 61 3 (1921) (1932) align=left Rebuilds of class B
24 1 (1925) (1928) align=left Simple rebuilds of class B
21, 24, 28, 60, 61 5 (1927–32) 1938–1947 align=left Simple rebuilds of classes B1, B2, C and C1
21, 51, 52, 57 4 (1926–31) 1931–1947 align=left Rebuilds of class C
50 1 (1926) 1946 align=left Rebuild of class D
53–54 2 (1907–11) 1934–1944 align=left Rebuilds of class E
46 1 (1928) 1938 align=left Rebuild of class F
6, 10, 27 3 (1910–13) 1931–1933 align=left Rebuilds of class G
30, 32, 38–39, 43–44 6 (1909–22) 1927–1938 align=left Rebuilds of class K
112–113, 103–104 4 1908–1920 1938–1954 align=left Narrow gauge compound locomotives; 112–113 renumbered 102–101
101–102 2 (1928–1930) 1942 align=left Narrow gauge compound locomotives; rebuilds of class S; renumbered 41–42
110 1 (1931) 1946 align=left Narrow gauge compound locomotive; rebuild of class S
90–91 2 1905 1913 align=left Railmotor units
113–114 2 1908 1940–1942 align=left Narrow gauge locomotives; ex Ballycastle Railway 3 & 4
16 1 1914 1951 align=left
14–15, 69–70 4 1914–1922 1924–1937 align=left Renumbered 70–73; rebuilt as class U2
1–4 4 1924–1931 1946–1949 align=left Named after Glens
70–87 18 North British Locomotive Company (7)
York Road Works (7+4)
1924–1936 1956–1963 align=left
71–73 3 1923 1961–1964 align=left "renumbered" X–Z; then 13–15
? 91 1 1925 1932 align=left
90–104 15 Derby Works (4)
York Road Works (11)
1933–1942 1956–1965 align=left Most named
1–10, 50–57 18 1946–1950 1968–1971 align=left Nicknamed "Jeeps"
18–19 2 WG Bagnall (1)
Hunslet Engine Company (1)
1926–1928 1956–1963 align=left Re-gauged LMS Fowler Class 3F; arrived 1944

Cross-Border Lines

Following the division of Ireland in 1921 into two administrations, a number of railways now found themselves operating on both sides of the newly created boundary between Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State (later Republic of Ireland).

West Donegal Railway

The 30NaN0 West Donegal Railway became the Donegal Railway in 1892; and the County Donegal Railways Joint Committee after being jointly acquired in 1906 by the Great Northern Railway and the Midland Railway's Northern Counties Committee.

Class Type Fleet
numbers
Quantity
built
Manufacturer Dates
built
Dates
withdrawn
Notes
1–3 3 1881 1909–1926 align=left
4–9 6 1893 1931–1937 align=left
10–11 2 1902 1933 align=left
12–15 4 1904 1953–1959 align=left Renumbered 9–12 in 1937
16–20 5 1907 1940–1950 align=left Renumbered 4–8 in 1937
21, 2A, 3A 3 1912 1959 align=left Renumbered 1–3 in 1937

Great Northern Railway

The Great Northern Railway (GNR) was formed in 1876 acquiring a variety of locomotives. Nos 1 to 23 were from Dublin and Drogheda Railway; Nos. 24 to 41 from the Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway; Nos. 43 to circa 78 from the Irish North Western Railway and Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway; Numbers in the eighties from the Newry and Armagh Railway and nos. 100 to 141 from the Ulster Railway. Later acquisitions in the 1880s from the Newry, Warrenpoint, and Rostrevor and the Belfast Central Railway were numbered in the Nineties. The GNR straddled the border between the Republic and Northern Ireland (after 1921), and so was not incorporated in either the CIÉ or Ulster Transport Authority. However, mounting losses saw the network purchased jointly by the Irish and British governments on 1 September 1953. It was run as a joint board, independent of the CIÉ and UTA, until 30 September 1958 when it was dissolved and the remaining stock split equally between the two railways.

? (1877–1881)
Class Type Fleet
numbers
Quantity
built
Manufacturer Dates
built
Dates
withdrawn
Notes
6, 26–27, 34, 62–63, 65–67 9 1877–1880 1925–1938 align=left
24–25, 46–47, 59, 80 6 1877–1883 1913–1921 align=left Several renumbered
84–87 4 1880–1881 1931–1932 align=left
James Crawford Park (1881–1895)
Class Type Fleet
numbers
Quantity
built
Manufacturer Dates
built
1958
CIÉ
1958
UTA
Dates
withdrawn
Notes
28, 31, 33, 79–83, 60–61, 64, 145–146, 149–150 15 Beyer, Peacock & Company (13)
Dundalk Works (2)
1882–1891 3 0 1937–1961 align=left Several renumbered; three sold to SL&NCR
2–8, 91–92, 97–100 13 Beyer, Peacock & Company (3)
Dundalk Works (10)
1885–1893 1910–1935 align=left Several renumbered
17–21, 45, 48, 115–119 12 1885–1889 1921–1934 align=left 45/48 renumbered 15/16; two sold to SL&NCR
88–89 2 1885 1904 align=left Named Victoria and Albert
51–54, 72–73, 82–83 8 1892–1895 3 0 1950–1959 align=left Rebuilt with superheaters as class Ps
29, 32, 36, 55–59, 151–153 11 Beyer, Peacock & Company (7)
Dundalk Works (4)
1893–1896 6 2 1957–1961 align=left 151/152 renumbered 141/140
90, 93–94, 95, 13–14 6 1895–1902 1 0 1955–1963 align=left 13/14 renumbered 91/92
Charles Clifford (1895–1912)
Class Type Fleet
numbers
Quantity
built
Manufacturer Dates
built
1958
CIÉ
1958
UTA
Dates
withdrawn
Notes
12, 25, 42–46, 50, 70–71, 74–77, 106–107, 129 17 Beyer, Peacock & Company (15)
Dundalk Works (2)
1896–1911 5 7 1957–1963 align=left Rebuilt with superheaters as class PPs
10–11, 78, 100–103 7 Neilson, Reid & Company (3)
Dundalk Works (4)
1899–1904 0 7 1960–1964 align=left Rebuilt with superheaters as class PGs
120–125, 130–136 13 Neilson, Reid & Company (9)
North British Locomotive Company (2)
Beyer, Peacock & Company (2)
1899–1904 5 4 1951–1963 align=left Rebuilt with superheaters as class Qs
152–155 4 1903–1904 4 0 1962–1963 align=left Rebuilt with superheaters as class QGs
88–89, 104–105 4 1904–1906 1 0 1956–1960 align=left Rebuilt with superheaters as class Ps
24, 113–114, 126–128, 156–157 8 North British Locomotive Company (7)
Beyer, Peacock & Company (1)
1904–1910 0 3 1932–1960 align=left Rebuilt with superheaters as class QLs
98–99 2 1905 1 0 1957–1960 align=left Rebuilt with superheaters as class QGTs
78, 108, 110–111, 158–164 11 North British Locomotive Company (9)
Dundalk Works (2)
1906–1908 6 5 1958–1963 align=left Rebuilt with superheated as class LQGs
22–23, 166–167 4 1908–1911 0 4 1958–1963
9, 38–39, 109, 112 5 1911 2 3 1958–1963 align=left Four rebuilt with superheaters as class NQGs; one rebuilt to class LQGs
165 1 1911 0 1 1961 align=left Rebuilt to class LQGs
168–169 2 1911 1957 align=left
170–174 5 1913 3 2 1964–1965 align=left Named after mountains; CIÉ locos to UTA in 1963
37, 40–41, 137–138 5 1913 3 2 1961–1965 align=left
G. T. Glover (1912–1933)
Class Type Fleet
numbers
Quantity
built
Manufacturer Dates
built
1958
CIÉ
1958
UTA
Dates
withdrawn
Notes
185–189 5 1913 1 4 1959–1964 align=left Rebuilt with superheaters as class T1
180–184 5 1915 3 2 1961–1963 align=left
190–192 3 1915 1 2 1960–65 align=left
196–200 5 1915 3 2 1959–1963 align=left Named after Loughs
6–8, 13–14, 20, 47–49, 96–97, 117–118, 201–202 15 1920–1921 7 8 1960–1967 align=left 201–202 renumbered 40–41
1–5 5 1921 2 3 1959–1964 align=left
21, 30, 115–116, 139, 142–144, 147–148 10 1924 6 4 1958–1963 align=left 147–148 renumbered 67 and 69
15–19 5 1924–1926 2 3 1959–1965 align=left
Crane 31 1 1928 0 0 1963 align=left to Dundalk Engineering Co. (as part of Dundalk Works) in 1958; to CIÉ in 1960
62–66 5 1929–1930 3 2 1959–1960 align=left
83–87 5 1932 2 3 1959–1963 align=left Three-cylinder compound; named after birds of prey
G. B. Howden (1933–1939)
H. R. McIntosh (1939–1953)
Class Type Fleet
numbers
Quantity
made
Manufacturer Dates
built
1958
CIÉ
1958
UTA
Dates
withdrawn
Notes
145–149 5 1948 3 2 1960–1968 align=left
201–205 5 1948 2 3 1962–1965 align=left Named after counties
206–210 5 1948 3 2 1960–1965 align=left Three-cylinder simple; named after rivers

Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway

Broad gauge locomotives (1862–1882)
Type Fleet
numbers
Quantity
built
Manufacturer Dates
built
Dates
withdrawn
Notes
2 G&W 1862 1883–1885 align=left No. 2 renumbered 3; No. 1 sold to Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners
2 1864 1869–1882 align=left No. 4 renumbered 2; Sold to Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners
2 1876–1879 1885 align=left Sold to Cork and Bandon Railway as their Nos. 14–15
Narrow gauge locomotives (1882–1954)
Type Fleet
numbers
Quantity
built
Manufacturer Dates
built
Dates
withdrawn
Notes
1 1882 1911 align=left Sold to a contractor
2 1883 1912–1913 align=left
1 1885 1940 align=left renumbered 17 in 1913
2 1874 1899 align=left Ex Glenariff Iron Ore and Harbour Company, acquired 1885; renumbered 5A and 6A in 1899
4 1899–1902 1940–1954 align=left 5 and 6 renumbered 15 and 16 in 1913
4 1902 1940–1954 align=left Owned by the Letterkenny and Burtonport Extension Railway
2 1904 1928–1954 align=left
2 1905 1933–1954 align=left
2 1910 1940–1943 align=left to Letterkenny and Burtonport Extension Railway in exchange for L&BER 5 and 6
2 1912 1954 align=left Owned by the Letterkenny and Burtonport Extension Railway; to L&LSR in exchange for 13 and 14.

Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway

The Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway was a small cross-border railway that closed in 1957. Its locomotive fleet never carried numbers, only names.

Class Type Names Quantity
built
Manufacturer Dates
built
Dates
withdrawn
Notes
Pioneer
Sligo
2 1877 1921 align=left
Fermanagh
Leitrim
Lurganboy
Lissadell
Hazlewood
5 1882–1899 1947–1957 align=left also known as Fermanagh class
Erne 1 1883 1910 align=left rebuilt as 4-4-2T in 1885
Faugh-a-Ballagh 1 1878 ? align=left Acquired 1897: ex contractors' locomotive
Waterford 1 1893 ? align=left Acquired 1897: ex contractors' locomotive
Sir Henry
Enniskillen
Lough Gill
3 1904–1917 1957 align=left
Blacklion
Glencar
(2) 1885–87 1928–1931 align=left Acquired 1921: ex GNRI Class J nos. 118 (Blacklion) and 119 (Glencar)
Glencar ‘A’
Sligo
Sligo
(3) 1882–1890 1940–1949 align=left Acquired 1927–1940: ex GNRI Class A nos. 31 (Glencar) and 149 (Sligo); latter swapped for GNRI 69 in 1940
Lough Melvin
Lough Erne
2 1949 1957 align=left to UTA in 1959 as nos. 26–27, UTA class Z; withdrawn 1968–1970

Irish Free State and Republic of Ireland

The railways wholly in the Irish Free State were merged into one private company — Great Southern Railways — in 1925. The GSR renumbered all the broad gauge locomotives into one series with the former Great Southern and Western Railway locomotives retaining their old number. The GSR had two parallel classification systems – a numerical system which was the lowest number of a locomotive in that class, and an alpha-numerical which used a letter to indicate the wheel arrangement, and a number, with the lowest number given to the most powerful class with that wheel arrangement. The latter system was only used by Inchicore Works for accounting purposes, while the former was used by locomotive crews and the drawing office at Inchicore Works.

Letter Wheel
Arrangement
Letter Wheel
Arrangement
Letter Wheel
Arrangement
A F K 2-6-0
B G L 0-4-2
C H M 0-4-0
D I N 2-2-2
E J P 2-6-2
Note that narrow gauge locomotive classes included the letter N after the prefix letter, letter C was also used for Bo-Bo diesels, and that letters B, C, D, F, J, and K were used for the same wheel arrangements by the London and North Eastern Railway, while E and G changed places.

In 1945, the GSR became part of Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ), which amalgamated the railway, road transport and canal functions of the State. CIÉ was nationalised in 1950 and settled on a policy of replacing steam with diesel locomotives, a process that was completed in 1962.

Midland Great Western Railway (1847–1924)

M. Atock (1872–1901)
E. Cusack (1901–1915)
W. H. Morton (1915–1924)

Great Southern and Western Railway (1845–1924)

Alexander McDonnell (1864–1883)
John Aspinall (1883–1886)
Henry Ivatt (1886–1896)
Robert Coey (1896–1911)
Richard Maunsell (1911–1913)
E. A. Watson (1913–1922)
J. R. Bazin (1922–1924)

Waterford & Limerick Railway

The Waterford and Limerick Railway changed its name to Waterford, Limerick and Western Railway in 1896. It was acquired by the Great Southern and Western Railway in 1900; by which time all but one of its locomotive fleet had been designed by Robinson.

Type Fleet
numbers
Quantity
built
Manufacturer Dates
built
GSWR
Class
GSWR
Nos.
GSR
Class
Inchicore
Class
Dates withdrawn Notes
6 1847 1860–1862 style=text-align:left
1 ? ? 1871 style=text-align:left Acquired secondhand from William Dargan in 1853; origin unknown
3 1848–49 1880–88 style=text-align:left Acquired secondhand from William Dargan in 1850–52; né Newry, Warrenpoint and Rostrevor Railway 1 to 3 (not in order)
7 1853–55 264 264 1872–1903 style=text-align:left
4 1853–54 1891–96 style=text-align:left
3 1862–64 223 223 1890–1901 style=text-align:left
1 1864 280 280 1902 style=text-align:left
1 1865 228 228 228 1925 style=text-align:left
2 1876 1888–92 style=text-align:left
10 1874–82 281 277, 281–283, 261, 285–289 1902–11 style=text-align:left
4 1876 278 272, 278, 284 1899–1910 style=text-align:left
1 ? ? 229 229 1901 style=text-align:left Acquired secondhand in 1878
2 1883 230 230–231 1909–10 style=text-align:left
1 1862 232 232 1901 style=text-align:left Acquired secondhand in 1883; ex Neath & Brecon Railway No. 3; né Anglesey Central Railway
1 1879 221 221 1909 style=text-align:left Acquired second-hand in 1884; rebuilt as 0-6-0ST in 1899
1 1886 262 262 1912 style=text-align:left
1 1886 265 265 1907 style=text-align:left
1 1886 227 227 1910 style=text-align:left
J. G. Robinson (1888–1900)[2]
Type Fleet
numbers
Quantity
built
Manufacturer Dates
built
GSWR
Class
GSWR
Nos.
GSR
Class
Inchicore
Class
Dates withdrawn Notes
3 1888–93 224 224 to 226 1905–1909 style=text-align:left
8 1889–94 276 263, 275, 273, 276, 290 to 293 276 G3 1907–1959 style=text-align:left
2 1891 266 226 and 227 267
491
F4
F5
1933–1935 style=text-align:left 226 sold to CMDR 6 in 1913; to GSR 491 in 1925
1 1892 260 260 1912 style=text-align:left
4 1893–95 233 233 to 236 235 J22 1911–1951 style=text-align:left
1 1894 268 268 1912
2 1895 294 294 and 295 295 E2 1910–1954
4 1896–97 269 269 to 271, 274 269 C5 1949–1957
3 1896–97 296 296 to 298 296 D15 1928–1949
3 1897 237 237 to 239 222 J25 1934–1951
1 1899 279 279 279 E1 1953
3 1900 222 222, 222 J25 1929–1950 style=text-align:left 4 and 11 sold before delivery to MGWR 141 and 142

Dublin and Kingstown Railway

Type Class
lead
Quantity
built
Manufacturer Dates
built
GSR
Class
Inchicore
Class
GSR
Nos.
Dates withdrawn Notes
3 1834 align=left
3 1834 1842 align=left Hibernia, Britania, Manchester
1 1836 align=left Star[5]
2 1836 align=left Victoria & Comet - first tank locomotives in public service subsequently converted to 2-2-2T
5 1841 align=left Princess, Belleisle, Shamrock, Erin, Albert
4 1845 align=left Burgoyne, Cyclops, Vulcan, Jupiter (increased wheelbase)

Dublin and South Eastern Railway (1853–1924)

The Dublin and South Eastern Railway started out in 1846 as the Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow and Dublin Railway Company. In 1853 it was renamed the Dublin and Wicklow Railway Company, and in 1860 it was renamed the Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford Railway Company and on 31 December 1906 it was renamed again as the Dublin and South Eastern.

Frederick Pemberton (1854–1856)
  • S. W. Haughton (1856–1864)
  • William Meikle (1856–1864)
  • Type Fleet
    numbers
    Quantity
    built
    Manufacturer Dates
    built
    GSR
    Class
    Inchicore
    Class
    GSR
    Nos.
    Dates withdrawn Notes
    2 1853 1892–1901 align=left No. 2 renumbered 45 in 1885
    1 1853 1898 align=left Rebuilt as 2-4-0T in 1884
    2 1853 1872–1900 align=left No. 5 renumbered 5A in 1897
    4 1854–55 1902–03 align=left Renumbered 6A, 7A, 10A, 11 between 1894 and 1896
    2 1855 1890–1903 align=left Rebuilt as 2-4-0T
    3 1860 1902–23 align=left
    2 1860 1922–25 align=left
    7 1864 1899–1925 align=left No. 21 rebuilt as 0-4-2T in 1904
    J. Wakefield (1865–1882)
    Type Fleet
    numbers
    Quantity
    built
    Manufacturer Dates
    built
    GSR
    Class
    Inchicore
    Class
    GSR
    Nos.
    Dates withdrawn Notes
    5 1864–73 422 G7 422 1928 align=left No. 26 rebuilt as 2-4-0T in 1900
    7 1865 1886–94 align=left Ariel, Elfin, Kate Kearney, Kelpie, Oberon, Titania, Banshee.[6] Four sold to contractors
    2 1869 1887 align=left
    9 Grand Canal Street (7)
    Neilson & Company (2)
    1871–1887 1902–23 align=left 4 renumbered 30 in 1902
    3 1876 1923–25 align=left
    1 1882 1925 align=left rebuilt as 2-4-0T in 1903
    W. Wakefield (1882–1894)
    Type Fleet
    numbers
    Quantity
    built
    Manufacturer Dates
    built
    GSR
    Class
    Inchicore
    Class
    GSR
    Nos.
    Dates withdrawn Notes
    3 1883 1925 align=left
    11 1885–96 423 G1 423–426 1925–55 align=left 10, 28, 45, 46 rebuilt as 2-4-2T between 1900 and 1910
    2 1896–98 428,430 F2 428 1953 align=left
    (4) (1900–10) 428 F2 429–433 1925–57 align=left rebuilt from 2-4-0T
    2 1891 447 J7 447 1925–30 align=left
    3 1893 458 C3 458–460 1953–1960 align=left
    T. Grierson (1894–1897)
    R. Cronin (1897–1917)
    Type Fleet
    numbers
    Quantity
    built
    Manufacturer Dates
    built
    GSR
    Class
    Inchicore
    Class
    GSR
    Nos.
    Dates withdrawn Notes
    2 1897 448 J1 448–449 1940–50 align=left rebuilt as 0-6-0 in 1908
    1 1899 440 J20 440 1929 align=left
    1 1899 1913 align=left
    1 1900 441 J14 441 1934 align=left
    6 1901–09 434 F1 434–439 1950–53 align=left
    6 1883–96 427 427 1916–36 align=left ex London & North Western Railway 4-ft 6-in Tanks, acquired 1902 and regauged
    5 Grand Canal Street (3)
    Beyer, Peacock & Company (2)
    1905 442 J8 442–446 1930–1957 align=left
    2 1905 454 D8 454 1925–1949 align=left
    2 1906 (1907) align=left Rebuilt 1907 as separate 0-4-0T and coach; locos numbered 69–70
    2 (1907) Imp M1 Elf
    Imp
    1928–31 align=left Rebuilt from railmotors 1 and 2; later Class M2
    3 Grand Canal Street (1)
    Beyer, Peacock & Company (2)
    1911–1924 455 C2 455–457 1955–59 align=left
    G. H. Wild (1917–1924)

    Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway (to 1924)

    Type Fleet
    numbers
    Quantity
    built
    Manufacturer Dates
    built
    GSR
    Class
    Inchicore
    Class
    GSR
    Nos.
    Dates withdrawn Notes
    2 1849 1867 align=left
    2 1849–1851 1889–1890 align=left
    2 1852 1879–1887 align=left
    5 1874–1887 482 G6 477, 482 1919–1930 align=left
    2 1865 1893–1895 align=left ex West Cork Railways 1 and 2, acquired 1880
    1 1877 1904 align=left ex West Cork Railways 3, acquired 1880
    5 1891–1894 472
    474
    475
    J24
    J23
    J21
    1925–40 align=left
    2 1876–1879 1908–1910 align=left ex Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway 4 and 5, acquired 1885 rebuilt as 4-4-0T between 1893 and 1898
    4 Dübs & Company (2)
    Neilson & Company (2)
    1891–1894 471
    479
     
    C6
    471
    479–481
    1930–1936 align=left most rebuilt as 4–4–2T between 1898 and 1902; No. 10 rebuilt as 4-6-0T in 1906
    2 1900 1912–1914 align=left
    1 Cork Works 1901 478 478 1934 align=left
    8 1906–1920 463 B4 463–470 1945–1961 align=left

    Minor broad gauge railways

    Waterford & Tramore Railway

    Cork & Macroom Direct Railway

    Timoleague & Courtmacsherry Light Railway

    Narrow gauge railways

    Cavan & Leitrim Railway (to 1924)

    Cork, Blackrock & Passage Railway (to 1924)

    Cork & Muskerry Light Railway (to 1924)

    Schull & Skibbereen Railway (to 1924)

    Tralee & Dingle Light Railway (to 1924)

    West Clare Railway (to 1924)

    Bord Na Mona

    Great Southern Railways (1925–1944) and Córas Iompair Éireann (from 1945)

    The GSR introduced just under sixty steam locomotives between 1925 and 1944,[8] whilst CIÉ introduced one, the experimental Bulleid turf burner. CIÉ did however acquire 83 steam locomotives, which was precisely half of the Great Northern Railway stock, when that company was split between CIÉ and the Ulster Transport Authority after 30 September 1958.[9]

    J. R. Bazin (1925–1929)
    W. H. Morton (1929–1932)
    A. W. Harty (1932–1937)
    Edgar Craven Bredin (1937–1942)
    M. J. Ginnetty (1942–1944)
    C. F. Tyndall (1944–1951)
    O. V. S Bulleid (1951–1958)

    Preserved locomotives

    See also

    Sources

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Locomotives of the Belfast and County Down Railway . The Belfast & County Down Railway Museum Trust . 2013-06-04 . 17 August 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130817151200/http://countydownrailwaymuseum.org.uk/Locomotives%20of%20the%20BCDR.htm . live .
    2. Haresnape & Rowledge (1982), pp. 17–27
    3. Book: Kullman, Kurt. "The First Irish Railway: Westland Row to Kingstown". Rolling Stock. 978-0750987646. 28 May 2018. THP Ireland. 45.
    4. Book: Murray, K. A.. 1981. Irish Railway Record Society. Ireland's First Railway. 0904078078. 10 — Locomotives.
    5. Dublin Historical Record. Dublin's First Railway. 1. 2. 36−37. 30080094.
    6. Book: Shepherd, Ernie. The Dublin & South Eastern Railway. 1 85780 082 6. Midland Publishing Ltd. 1988. 1988. 140,199,202.
    7. Tom Rolt
    8. Book: Locomotives of the GSR. 9781906578268. Clements. Jeremy. McMahon. Michael. 2008. Colourpoint Books.
    9. Book: Baker, Michael H. C.. "Irish railways since 1916". Ian Allan Publishing. 0711002827. 1972.