CBSCR Baldwin saddle tank
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The CB&SCR Baldwin saddle tank was a class of two of 0-6-2ST locomotives purchased by the Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway (CB&SCR), being the first purchase of locomotives for Ireland from America.[3][a] They were not very successful, with a service life of 14 years or less.
History
In January 1900, supply from British builders proving expensive with quotes between £3,000 and £3,600 in the context of a time of high demand and strikes, so the CB&SCR accepted an offer to supply two goods locomotives at a cost of £2,575 from Burnham Williams & Co (Baldwins), the first purchase of a locomotive for Ireland from America.[3] The first was under trial by October but there were problems with its heavy weight and weak frames, and a compensation of £100 from Baldwins was accepted.[3] The railway decided to alter the brake blocks, which all applied to the front of each driving wheel, so that the last pair had the blocks applied on the rear.[3] Other alterations included replacing "annoying" whistles, open footsteps with "standard" Bandon ones, and the relocation of sandboxes from the saddle tank.[3] A. J. Chisholm, writing in the Railway Magazine said he had observed No. 19 of them shunting in Cork and described it as an "ungainly looking machine" and terming it a "Yankee".[4]
By 1908 chief engineer Johnstone (junior) doubted the locomotives would last four more years, No. 20 being sold for scrap in 1912, while No. 19 was noted in traffic hauling a special goods in 1914.[4] Shepherd remarks "whilst the purchase of these engines was regarded as a necessity at the time, they proved to be a poor bargain."[3]
References
Notes
- ^ According to Rowledge's 1993 register these were the only steam locomotives built in America for Ireland; it seems probable the next supply from America were the CIÉ 121 Class diesels in 1961
Footnotes
- ^ Rowledge 1993, p. 86.
- ^ Shepherd 2005, pp. 148–9.
- ^ a b c d e f Shepherd 2005, p. 109.
- ^ a b Chisholm 1901, pp. 55–60.
Sources
- Chisholm, A.J. (1901). "A run with an Irish excursion train: an account of how the Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway conducts its excursion traffic" (PDF). The Railway Magazine. Vol. 11. pp. 55–60 – via Creedon @ Cork local.
- Rowledge, J. W. Peter (1993). Irish Steam Loco Register. Stockport, England: Irish Traction Group. ISBN 9780947773335. OCLC 30815253.
- Shepherd, Ernie (2005). Cork, Bandon & South Coast Railway. Hinckley: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-198-9. OCLC 57062763.