GNRI Class U

Great Northern Railway (Ireland) class U
204 Antrim on a passenger train leaving Omagh, 7 June 1957
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer George T. Glover[1] Builder Beyer, Peacock & Co.[1] Serial number 5904-8, 7244-8 Build date 1915 (5), 1947 (5)[1] Total produced 10[1]
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-4-0[1]  • UIC 2′B h2 Gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)[1] Driver dia. 5 ft 9 in (1.753 m)[1] Fuel type coal Boiler pressure 175 psi (1.21 MPa) Cylinders Two, inside[1] Cylinder size 18 in × 24 in (457 mm × 610 mm)[1]
Performance figures Tractive effort 16,763 lbf (74.6 kN)[1]
Career Operators GNR(I) UTA CIÉ Class U Numbers 196–205 Delivered 1915, 1948 First run 1915 Last run 1965 Withdrawn 1959–1965 Scrapped 1959, 1961-1965 Disposition All scrapped

The GNR(I) class U was a class of 4-4-0 steam locomotives built for the Great Northern Railway (Ireland).

Five were built by Beyer, Peacock and Company in 1915. The class was so successful that an additional batch of five was built in 1947, making them the last inside-cylinder 4-4-0 locomotives to be manufactured anywhere in the world.^[1]

The earlier locomotives were initially unnamed. However, after the later locomotives were delivered with names of counties along the GNR(I) route, the earlier locomotives received names of Loughs.

All were still in service in 1958 when the GNR(I) was divided between the Ulster Transport Authority (UTA) and Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ), with each receiving five locomotives.

No. 198 Lough Swilly was the first to be withdrawn in 1959 before its CIÉ number (198N) was applied. CIÉ withdrew steam traction in 1963, whereas the UTA withdrew their U class fleet between 1961 and 1965. None of the class were preserved.

An 00 gauge model of No. 205 Down is currently available as an etched-brass kit from Studio Scale Models. It includes transfers, brass etches and cast white metal parts.

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