GSR Class 850

39 ft 2+1⁄2 in (11,951 mm)Adhesive weight47.5 long tons (48.3 t)Loco weight71 long tons (72 t)Water cap.1,700 imp gal (7,700 L; 2,000 US gal)Boiler pressure260 lbf/in² (1.79 MPa)Heating surface:​ • Firebox119 sq ft (11.1 m²)SuperheaterBelpaireCylinders2Cylinder size17+1⁄2 in × 28 in (444 mm × 711 mm)Valve gearWalschaerts

Performance figures
Tractive effort	17,700 lbf (78.73 kN)

Career
Operators	Great Southern Railways (GSR) CIÉ
Class	P1 (Inchicore)
Power class	H/HT
Number in class	1
Numbers	850
Locale	Ireland
Withdrawn	1955

^{[1]: 259–262}

The Great Southern Railways (GSR) Class 850 consisted of a single 2-6-2T tank locomotive built by Inchicore railway works in 1927, the sole example carrying the same number as the class. It was the first locomotive designed and built by the GSR since it was formed.^{[1]: 259–262}

Design

The design incorporated elements while retaining some features typical of previous Inchicore engines. It was suggested that parts of the last unaccounted for Class 393 kit supplied from Woolwich may have been incorporated into the design.^{[1]: 259–262}

Service

The locomotive worked Dublin—Bray—Greystones services and particularly was noted for regular appearances on the 17:07 Greystones express and Dún Laoghaire pier for the boat connections. It also had a short spell on Waterford—Limerick services in the 1930s. The locomotive was powerful but was prone to a rolling motion at speed.^{[1]: 259–262} Number 850 was noted for long and frequent periods out of service for repairs.^[2]

Incidents

In 1946 the locomotive fell into the turntable pit outside the Dublin Harcourt Street railway station and required extensive repairs.^{[1]: 259–262}

References