# MGWR Class A > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/MGWR_Class_A > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/MGWR_Class_A.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MGWR_Class_A > Source revision: 1328239864 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) The **[Midland Great Western Railway](/source/Midland_Great_Western_Railway) (MGWR) A Class**, later [Inchicore](/source/Inchicore_railway_works) **Class D5**, consisted of 6 express passenger locomotives built at [Broadstone Works](/source/Broadstone_railway_works) in the period 1902-1905. The largest express passenger locomotive in Ireland for a short while after introduction they were used on the MGWR's flagship services to [Galway](/source/Galway) with most surviving until the 1950s albeit on less prestigious work. ## Design and modifications In the late 1800s successively more powerful passenger locomotives had been introduced to facilitate increasing train weights and passenger timings. With [Class K](/source/MGWR_Class_K) the limits of the [2-4-0](/source/2-4-0) were being approached and the rival [Great Southern and Western Railway](/source/Great_Southern_and_Western_Railway) (GS&WR) had been using [4-4-0](/source/4-4-0)'s not only on their main [Dublin](/source/Dublin)-[Cork](/source/Cork_(city)) but secondary routes also and were at the beginning of the 1900s introducing [a further generation of larger 4-4-0s](/source/GS%26WR_Class_301).[3][4] [Martin Atock](/source/Martin_Atock) of the MGWR was known to be resistant to [bogies](/source/Bogie) but perhaps influenced by his deputy [Edward Cusack](/source/Henry_Edward_Cusack) in 1900 at the end of his service organised rebuilds of older [2-4-0](/source/2-4-0) locomotives to a [small 4-4-0](/source/MGWR_Class_D-bogie). When Cusack succeeded Atock he chose to quickly follow through with six large [4-4-0s](/source/4-4-0) that to were become known as Class A for the MGWR's premier passenger trains and which were the largest in Ireland for a short while after their introduction.[3] Although the design is attributed to Cusack it is generally understood Morton, at that stage fourth in line, likely did most of the detailed design work. These were the first Broadstone locomotives to be built with a [Belpaire firebox](/source/Belpaire_firebox). They had a restrictively high axle load of 18 tons which limited the routes upon which they could be used.[4] MGWR Class A/A1/As locomotives[4] MGWR No. Name Built GSR No. MGWR Rebuild MGWR Rebuild Class Withdrawn 127 Titanic 1903 545 1920 A1 1955 129 Celtic 1902 546 1918 A1 1959 125 Britanic 1905 547 1917 A1 1954 126 Atlantic 1904 548 1925 As 1955 128 Majestic 1902 549 1926 As 1931 124 Mercuric 1905 550 1916/1924 A1/As 1957 The first to be rebuilt was No. 124 *Mercuric* in 1916 after just 11 years. It was to receive a Belpaire [superheated](/source/Superheated) boiler with Schmidt superheater, cylinders increased to 19 by 26 in (483 by 660 mm) and 8 in (203 mm) piston valves.[4] The Morton designed smokebox extension to accommodate the superheater was felt by [Oswald Nock](/source/Oswald_Nock) to be a cheap and effective solution but that it somewhat spoiled an otherwise *beautiful* design.[5] This increased the tractive effort to 18,600 lbf (82.74 kN). Nos. 125, 127 and 129 were similarly treated between 1917 and 1920. The resulting locomotives were reclassified as *Class As*, though some detail variations began to creep in for example No. 127 had a Robinson Superheater. Due to suspect problems with hot axle boxes on the original tenders the A1 locomotives had theirs switched mostly with those from [Class H](/source/MGWR_Class_H). Rebuilds increased locomotive weight with the maximum axle loading going up towards 19 long tons (19 t).[4] Engine No. 124, which had been upgraded to *As* standard in 1916, was involved in an [Irish Civil War](/source/Irish_Civil_War) incident at [Streamstown](/source/Streamstown) south of [Mullingar](/source/Mullingar) in 1923 which required it to be totally rebuilt with shortened frames and re-designated *A1*. The remaining two A class engines in original condition were rebuilt to *As* standard in 1925 and 1926. The *As* locomotives were readily distinguished by a raised footplate over the coupled wheels.[4] In 1925 on amalgamation they were allocated [Great Southern Railways](/source/Great_Southern_Railways) (GSR) Class 545 / Inchicore Class D5.[3][4] Th 1931 saw the withdrawal of No. 549 (128). No. 546 nearly met the same fate but was rebuilt with parts from no. 549 and boiler from No. 646 in 1933, this being notable as the final rebuild at Broadstone before all such work was handed to [Inchicore](/source/Inchicore_railway_works). No. 646 was again rebuilt in 1936 with a type *A* boiler, as were No.s 545 (127) and 546 (128) in 1937, the resulting locomotives having the maximum axle load reduced to [4] ## Service The introduction of the A class in 1902 enabled 16 minutes to be cut from the prestige *limited mail*[a] service from Dublin to [Galway](/source/Galway), the coaching stock also being upgraded to include [bogie](/source/Bogie) coaches at the same time.[3] In practice high axle load meant they were initially restricted to work [Dublin](/source/Dublin)-[Mullingar](/source/Mullingar) portion of the trip until bridge strengthening at [Athlone](/source/Athlone) allows them to work through to [Galway](/source/Galway).[4] The class was described as not having a great top speed which some attributed to *crossed rods*,[b] while nevertheless being *good pullers*.[3] Oswald Nock in his book "Irish Steam" comments the MGWR schedules did not tax these locomotives and indicated a run of an average speed of 51.4 miles per hour (82.7 km/h) for the 38.6 miles (62.1 km) from Killucan to Ashtown with a load of superheated *Mercuric*.[6] In 1938 and 1945 all were based at Broadstone apart from No. 546 which was based at Cork. Reports in 1948 indicated they were unreliable and only capable of hauling up to 150 tons. There high axle load limited them from most branch lines and they were mostly used for auxiliary goods (freight) for which they were not efficient.[4] Other reports implied they were used on stopping services to Galway.[7] Despite the poor report in 1948 they survived all into the 1950s and the arrival of the diesels with the final withdrawal in 1959.[4] ## Livery When introduced they were painted royal blue and lined in yellow. Buffers and buffer beams and a band around the funnel was bright red.[3] The blue paint was however found not to be durable and faded easily after a few years and was replaced with green, albeit of a lighter shade than the MGWR had used hitherto.[citation needed] From 1913[citation needed] they were painted black.[3] Amalgamation to the GSR saw nameplates removed, change to standard GSR slate grey and eventual replacement of number plates by yellow painted numbers. ## Notes and references ### Notes 1. *limited* for limited number of stops and *mail* due conveyance of mail with connections from the Irish sea mailboats 1. *Crossed rods* refers to the rods crossing when the cranks and eccentrics are in a position nearest the link ### References 1. Nock (1982), p. 59. 1. Clements & McMahon (2008), pp. 188–190. 1. Shepherd (1994), pp. 71,87–88,122,124,125,127,130. 1. Clements & McMahon (2008), pp. 57,188–190,367. 1. Nock (1982), pp. 20–21,51,57–61. 1. Nock (1982), pp. 20–21,51,57–58,60–61. 1. Boocock (2009), p. 31. ## Sources - Boocock, Colin (1 October 2009). *"Locomotive Compendium Ireland"*. 1st ed. [Ian Allan Publishing](/source/Ian_Allan_Publishing). ISBN 9780711033603. - Clements, Jeremy & McMahon, Michael (2008). *Locomotives of the GSR*. Colourpoint Book. ISBN 9781906578268. - Nock, O.S. (1982). *Irish steam : a twenty-year survey, 1920-1939*. [Newton Abbott](/source/Newton_Abbott) and [Pomfret, Vermont](/source/Pomfret,_Vermont): [David & Charles](/source/David_%26_Charles). ISBN 0715379615. [OCLC 9802320](https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/9802320) - Shepherd, Ernie (1994). *The Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland*. Leicester, England: Midland Publishing Limited. ISBN 1-85780-008-7. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [MGWR Class A](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MGWR_Class_A) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MGWR_Class_A?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.