NCC Class B3

Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Builder	Beyer, Peacock & Co., Gorton Foundry, Manchester
Build date	1890–1898
Rebuilder	NCC, York Road works, Belfast
Rebuild date	1927–1931

Specifications
Configuration	4-4-0
Gauge	5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Leading dia.	3 ft 0 in (0.914 m)
Driver dia.	6 ft 0 in (1.829 m)
Wheelbase	40 ft 9 ¹⁄₄ in (12.43 m) including tender
Length	49 ft 6 in (15.09 m)
Width	8 ft 4 in (2.54 m)
Height	13 ft 2 in (4.01 m)
Axle load	16 long tons 0 cwt (35,800 lb or 16.2 t)
Adhesive weight	30 long tons 8 cwt (68,100 lb or 30.9 t)
Loco weight	45 long tons 2 cwt (101,000 lb or 45.8 t)
Total weight	72 long tons 0 cwt (161,300 lb or 73.2 t)
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	6 long tons (13,400 lb (6.1 t)
Water cap	2,120 imperial gallons (9,600 l; 2,550 US gal)
Boiler pressure	Nos.21, 24, 28: 160 psi (1.10 MPa) Nos.60, 61: 200 psi (1.38 MPa)
Heating surface	1,038 sq ft (96.4 m²)
• Tubes	508.7 sq ft (47.26 m²)
• Firebox	103 sq ft (9.6 m²)
Superheater:
• Heating area	233.7 sq ft (21.71 m²)
Cylinders	Two
Cylinder size	18 in × 24 in (457 mm × 610 mm)
Valve gear	Walschaerts
Valve type	8-inch (203 mm) piston valves
Train brakes	Automatic vacuum

Performance figures
Tractive effort	Nos.21, 24, 28: 14,688 lbf (65.3 kN) Nos.60, 61: 18,360 lbf (81.7 kN)

Career
Operators	LMS NCC
Number in class	5
Nicknames	Whippet
Scrapped	1938–1947

The LMS (Northern Counties Committee) Class B3 4-4-0 passenger steam locomotives were rebuilds of Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (BNCR) two-cylinder compound locomotives. They operated services throughout the NCC’s 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) broad gauge system in the north-east of Ireland.

History

The locomotives that comprised the Northern Counties Committee Class B3 were rebuilds of two classes of BNCR “Light Compounds”. These had been built by Beyer, Peacock and Company in the 1890s to the design of the BNCR Locomotive Engineer Bowman Malcolm. The first two members of the class were originally Class C Light Compound 2-4-0s. Rebuilding began with No.28 in 1927 and No.21 in the following year. The other three Class B3 locomotives (24, 60 and 61) were derived from Class B Light Compounds whose only original difference was that they had always been 4-4-0s and not 2-4-0s.

However, before alteration to Class B3, Nos.60 and 61 had already undergone an earlier rebuilding to become Class B1 compounds in 1921 to be followed by No.51 in August 1926. On the other hand, No.24 was rebuilt as a simple (i.e. not compound) in February 1925 to become the solitary member of the somewhat ephemeral Class B2.

All five engines had 18 by 24 inches (460 mm × 610 mm) cylinders with 8-inch (203 mm) piston valves and retained their 6 ft 0 in (1.829 m) driving wheels. The first three members of the class had boilers rated at 160 psi (1.10 MPa) but Nos.60 and 61 had the advantage of 200 psi (1.38 MPa) boilers.

During rebuilding, they were fitted with LMS standard boilers that had to be placed higher than the originals to allow the firebox and ash pan to clear the rear driving wheel axle. The smokebox saddle was extended accordingly to offer support. The closely coupled driving wheels accentuated the appearance of the high-pitched boiler, earning these engines the nickname of “Whippet” because of a perceived resemblance to the breed of racing dog.

All members of the class were officially named after Ulster counties.

No.28 was withdrawn in December 1938 having run just over a quarter million miles in her rebuilt form. The remaining locomotives served throughout World War II and were scrapped in 1946–1947.

Building and withdrawal data

The following table summarises the rebuilding and renumbering history of the Class B3 locomotives.

Original No.	Class	Date Built	Date Rebuilt	Class	Rebuilt to B3	New No.	Name	Scrapped
51	C	000000001890-05-01-0000May 1890	1926 August	B1	000000001928-12-01-0000December 1928	21	County Down	000000001947-06-01-0000June 1947
24	B	000000001898-05-01-0000May 1898	1925 February	B2	000000001928-09-01-0000September 1928	24	County Londonderry	000000001947-06-01-0000June 1947
58	C	000000001890-04-01-0000April 1890	—	—	000000001927-06-01-0000June 1927	28	County Tyrone	000000001938-12-01-0000December 1938
60	B	000000001897-07-01-0000July 1897	1921	B1	000000001932-06-01-0000June 1932	60	County Donegal	000000001946-10-01-0000October 1946
61	B	000000001897-10-01-0000October 1897	1921	B1	000000001932-01-01-0000January 1932	61	County Antrim	000000001946-10-01-0000October 1946

Livery

The Class B3 locomotives were painted in crimson lake with yellow and black lining. The LMS crest was carried on the upper cab sides. The initials “NCC” in shaded serif gold capital letters were placed centrally on the tender sides. Number plates were brass with raised digits and edge; they were carried on the lower cab sides with another placed centrally on the back of the tender tank. Curved nameplates were fitted above the leading driving wheel splashers. Buffer beams and number plate and name plate backgrounds were painted red. The engine number was applied to the front buffer beam in shaded gold digits.

References

Arnold, R.M. (1973). NCC Saga. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN 0 7153 5644 5.
Arnold, R.M. (1973). Supplement to NCC Saga. Whitehead: Railway Preservation Society of Ireland.
London Midland and Scottish Railway (Northern Counties Committee). Class B3 general arrangement drawing. Belfast: LMS (NCC).

Steam locomotives of Ireland

Belfast and County Down Railway (1846–1948)	1 4 5 6 8 9 14 22 26 29

Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (1860–1903)	A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S

Northern Counties Committee (1903–1949)	A1 B1 B2 B3 D1 E1 F1 K1 L1 S1 S2 U U1 U2 V W WT Y

Great Northern Railway (1876–1958)	A AL B BP BT C D E G H J JT NQG NLQG P PG PP Q QG QGTs QGT2 QL QLG QNG RT S & S2 SG & SG2 SG3 T T2 U V UG VS 203 204

Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway (1875–1957)	Erne Faugh-a-Ballagh Glencar Leitrim Lough Pioneer Sir Henry Waterford

Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway (1849–1924)	1, 2 1, 2, 4A, 8 2 (II) 3, 4 3, 9, 10, 18 5, 6 7 (I) 7 (II) 9, 10 11 5, 6, 12, 16, 17 14, 15 19, 20 4, 8, 11, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20 Argadeen St Molaga Slaney

Dublin and South Eastern Railway (1854–1925)	24, 25, 32, 33 52–54 3, 10, 11, 28, 45, 46 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 28, 44–47, 49 50, 51 42–44 55–58 20, 34, 35 65, 66 8, 12, 27, 29, 30, 40 4, 5 13, 14, 18, 65, 66 17 18 69, 70 15, 16

Great Southern and Western Railway (1845–1924)	1 2 21 23 27 & 35 33 37 41 43 44 45 28 & 47 52 56 60 62 64 90 91 92 99 100 101 102 104 110 & 112 116 117 119 122 124 133 139 144 201 & 203 204 207 & 217 211 213 249 & 351 257 301 305 309 321 333 341 355 362 368 400 500 900 Fairy Jumbo Sambo Sprite

Midland Great Western Railway (1847–1924)	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7–12 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 A, As & A1 B C & Cs C & C1 D D2 E F, Fa & Fb H K L & Lm Ln P W

Great Southern Railways (1925–1944)	280 342 372 393 495 670 700 710 800 850

Córas Iompair Éireann (1945–1962)	Turf Burner No. CC1

Tralee and Dingle Light Railway (1891–1953)	1,2,3,6,8 5 7,8(4T)

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