BNCR Class A
The Belfast and Northern Counties Railway had standardised on locomotives with a 2-4-0 wheel arrangement for its principal passenger trains during the 1870’s and construction continued through to the mid - 1890’s. With increasing loads and heavier trains a new, more powerful, design was needed and in 1897 the first 4-4-0 class arrived on the scene, the “Class B“. This was followed in 1901 with the introduction of the “Class A”.
History.
The Class “A” was the last design of steam locomotive for Irish broad gauge built for independent Belfast and Northern Counties Railway, the first two being completed before the purchase by the Midland Railway in 1903. The first “A” class was built at York Road, Belfast in 1901 and building continued after the take - over of the company by the Midland Railway, in fact several were constructed at the Derby works of the Midland. The only visible difference between the two builders was the number of spokes on the bogie wheels, the Belfast - built batch had nine spokes, while those built at Derby had ten.
The first locomotive of the class was No. 34, outshopped from York Road in April 1901, and which was named "Queen Alexandra", a name which was transferred to No. 63 in November 1932. This was followed, again from York Road, by No. 3, named "King Edward VII" in July 1902, No. 4 (August 1903), No. 9 (December 1904) and No. 20 (May 1905). The first of the Derby - built batch, numbered 63 - 66, arrived in May 1905. York Road followed this with No. 5 (August 1906) and No.17 (January 1907) before Derby completed the class with No's. 67 and 68, delivered in June 1908.
Five of the class were renumbered in the mid 1920's (see table below) and all members of the class were rebuilt and, dependent on the modifications, reclassified between 1928 and 1936. Those reclassified as U2's were again renumbered in a new series (see table below).
| NCC No. | Builder | Date | Name | Re-No. | Rebuilt | New No. | New Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | York Rd | Apr 1901 | Queen Alexandra* | Apr. 28 | A1 | ||
| 3 | York Rd | July 1902 | King Edward VII | 33 (1926) | Dec. 28 | A1 | |
| 4 | York Rd | Aug 1903 | 62 (1924) | July 28 | A1 | ||
| 9 | York Rd | Dec 1904 | 69 (1925) | June 33 | A1 | ||
| 20 | York Rd | May 1905 | Dec. 29 | 84 | U2 | ||
| 63 | Derby | May 1905 | Queen Alexandra* | Jan. 36 | 87 | U2 | |
| 64 | Derby | May 1905 | Aug. 29 | A1 | |||
| 65 | Derby | May 1905 | June 29 | A1 | |||
| 66 | Derby | May 1905 | May 30 | A1 | |||
| 5 | York Rd | Aug 1906 | 59 (1925) | Sept 32 | 86 | U2 | |
| 17 | York Rd | Jan 1907 | 58 (1927) | Feb. 34 | A1 | ||
| 67 | Derby | Jun 1908 | Jan. 34 | 85 | U2 | ||
| 68 | Derby | Jun 1908 | Dec. 27 | A1 |
- The name "Queen Alexandra" was transferred from No.34 to No.63 in November 1932