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TheSLNCR Lough Class was a class of0-6-4T steamtank locomotives of theSligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway (SLNCR).
By the end ofWorld War II the SLNCR's locomotive fleet was in poor condition, but neither theGreat Northern norCóras Iompair Éireann could spare any suitable locomotives for hire.[1] The SLNCR considered ordering aGarratt locomotive to haul heavier trains, but it could scarcely afford one locomotive of such a large size.[2] Therefore, it decided instead to order two more smaller locomotives, on the basis that if one required maintenance the other could still be available for traffic.[2]
In June 1946 the SLNCR ordered just one new locomotive fromBeyer, Peacock & Company[1] at Gorton Foundry,Manchester, England. The SLNCR's financial situation was worsening, but despite this it ordered the second locomotive about a year later.[1] TheLough class was a more modern and more powerful development of theSir Henry class, which was also built by Beyer, Peacock & Company but was introduced in 1904.[3]
Beyer, Peacock & Company completed both locomotives ready for delivery in spring 1949[1] but by then the SLNCR could not afford to pay for them.[4] The SLNCR therefore asked theGovernment of Northern Ireland's Ministry of Commerce to lend it £22,000 to pay for the two locomotives.[1] Protracted negotiations between the SLNCR, Ministry of Commerce and Beyer, Peacock eventually resulted in ahire purchase agreement in 1951, and the two locomotives were shipped from England toBelfast in June and July of that year.[1] They were taken first to the GNR's Adelaidelocomotive depot in Belfast, where their side tanks were fitted.[5] They were then delivered to the SLNCR's locomotive depot atManorhamilton,County Leitrim.[5]
TheLough class became the last new steam locomotives to enter revenue-earning service with an Irish railway company.[5]CIÉ's turf-burning locomotive entered traffic later, but remained experimental and never entered revenue-earning service.[5] TheLoughs could haul trains 25% heavier than theSir Henrys, and they were worked hard from 1951 until the SLNCR's closure.[6]
The SLNCR had never prospered, and in 1957 it closed to all traffic. On Monday 30 September 1957Lough Melvin hauled the company's last service, amixed train from Eniskillen to Sligo.[7]
By the 1950s the SLNCR's locomotive livery was unlined black.[2] Brasswork was also painted black but the borders and lettering of the locomotivenameplates were picked out in red.[2]Coupling rods andbuffer beams were also painted red.[2]
The SLNCR did not number its steam locomotives but named them. TheLough Class were namedLough Melvin andLough Erne.
| Name | Builders | Works No. | Date | UTA No. | Withdrawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lough Melvin | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 7138(a) | 1949 | 26 | 1965 |
| Lough Erne | Beyer, Peacock & Company | 7242(b) | 1949 | 27 | 1969 |
(a) : Beyer, Peacock & Company works numbers 7136/7/8 were originally allocated to threeWar Department Garratt locomotives.[citation needed] This order was cancelled, 7136 and 7137 were re-allocated to two extra Garratts for theGreat Western Railway of Brazil, added to a delayed pre-war order sub-contracted toHenschel & Son.[citation needed]
(b) : The last tank locomotive built by Beyer Peacock & Company, order No.1427.[citation needed]
When the SLNCR closed at the end of September 1957 theLoughs were still on hire purchase from their builders.[6] Beyer, Peacock eventually sold the pair in 1959 to theUlster Transport Authority (UTA).[6]
The UTA designated theLoughsClass Z and numbered them 26 and 27, but they continued to carry their names and nameplates. For a short while the UTA allocated both locomotives to Adelaide shed for service as shunters on the quays and Grosvenor Road goods yard.[6] It then transferred them to York Road,[6] where they eventually replacedNCC Class Y.[citation needed]
On 28 May 1960, locomotive 26Lough Melvin hauled a two-coachIrish Railway Record Society special train fromBelfast York Road toAntrim,Lisburn and via the formerBelfast Central Railway toBelfast Queen's Quay, the tour eventually terminating atGreat Victoria Street.[citation needed] This was recorded as the first passenger working of an ex-SLNCR locomotive in the ownership of the UTA.[citation needed]
The UTA withdrew 26Lough Melvin from service in 1965 but did not dispose of it.[6]Northern Ireland Railways (NIR) took over the UTA's railway operations in 1967 and soldLough Melvin for scrap in 1968.[6] NIR withdrew 27Lough Erne in 1969.[8]
TheRailway Preservation Society of Ireland boughtLough Erne and used it to shunt its yard at Whitehead until its boiler failed in 1972.[8]Lough Erne remains at Whitehead awaiting extensive restoration.[8]
