GSR Class 800
By a large margin, the class B1a were the biggest and most powerful engines ever to run in Ireland. They were designed under the supervision of E.C. Bredin. His Chief Draughtsman, H J A Beaumont, prepared the drawings.
The engines had three 18½ in x 28 in cylinders and 225 lb/in2 boiler pressure. The nominal tractive effort was 34 799 lbf, which corresponded with Great British main-line power. Further, it was the only design which exploited the full extent of the extra width afforded by the 5 ft 3 in gauge. Originally five were to be built, named Maedbbh, Macha, Tailté, Gráinne, and Deirdre, but only three were eventually turned out - 800 "Maedhbh" in 1939, with Macha (801)and Tailté (802)in 1940. They were intended for the Dublin-Cork route but wartime coal shortages and the early 1950's advent of diesels on main line services resulted in their never having had much chance to show what they were capable of. In the 1950's they gradually became neglected and even resorted to light goods trains on occasion, with little other work to do.
The locomotives have been described as "Queens", on the assumption that they were all named after mythical queens. This is partially incorrect. Maedhbh was a warrior queen referenced in the Tain Bo Cuailnge, The Great Cattle Raid of Ulster. Macha was the Goddess of Sovereignty of Ulster, and Tailte was the wife of Eochaid Mac Erc, the last Firbolg of Ireland. The nameplates were written in old Irish Script.
Maedhbh (pronounced "Maeve") was built in 1939 at the CIE Inchicore Works, Dublin and was withdrawn from service in 1964 and is now on display at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum, Cultra, N. Ireland.
LIVERY
The locos were turned out in a completely unique livery which no other locomotives ever carried. In the height of the Great Southern era, when every single locomotive in the Republic of Ireland wore a plain unlined battleship grey livery, these engines were turned out in a smart mid green, with a distinct blueish tint. The green was lined in black and light yellow, and the GSR coat of arms was carried on the tender, flanked by large pale yellow letters "G S", which appear to have been shaded in red and gold. the cabside number plates and nameplates had blue backgrounds, and raised polished brass rims and numerals.
In CIE days they received the 1950's standard green, somewhat darker than they had carried before, with black and white lining. This is the livery the preserved 800 carries, though rather than the CIE "Flying snail" emblem which would be appropriate to this later livery, she incorrectly carries the earlier "G S" without shading, and a replaced GSR coat of arms.
