By the end of World War II the SLNCR's locomotive fleet was in poor condition, but neither the Great Northern nor Córas Iompair Éireann could spare any suitable locomotives for hire.[1] The SLNCR considered ordering a Garratt locomotive to haul heavier trains, but it could scarcely afford one locomotive of such a large size.[2] Therefore, it decided instead to order two more smaller locomotives, on the basis that if one required maintenance the other could still be available for traffic.[2]
In June 1946 the SLNCR ordered just one new locomotive from Beyer, Peacock & Company[1] at Gorton Foundry, Manchester, England. The SLNCR's financial situation was worsening, but despite this it ordered the second locomotive about a year later.[1] The Lough class was a more modern and more powerful development of the Sir Henry class, which was also built by Beyer, Peacock & Company but was introduced in 1904.[3]
Delivery and SLNCR service
Beyer, Peacock & Company completed both locomotives ready for delivery in spring 1949[1] but by then the SLNCR could not afford to pay for them.[4] The SLNCR therefore asked the Government of Northern Ireland's Ministry of Commerce to lend it £22,000 to pay for the two locomotives.[1] Protracted negotiations between the SLNCR, Ministry of Commerce and Beyer, Peacock eventually resulted in a hire purchase agreement in 1951, and the two locomotives were shipped from England to Belfast in June and July of that year.[1] They were taken first to the GNR's Adelaide locomotive depot in Belfast, where their side tanks were fitted.[5] They were then delivered to the SLNCR's locomotive depot at Manorhamilton, County Leitrim.[5]
The Lough class became the last new steam locomotives to enter revenue-earning service with an Irish railway company.[5]CIÉ's turf-burning locomotive entered traffic later, but remained experimental and never entered revenue-earning service.[5] The Loughs could haul trains 25% heavier than the Sir Henrys, and they were worked hard from 1951 until the SLNCR's closure.[6]
The SLNCR had never prospered, and in 1957 it closed to all traffic. On Monday 30 September 1957 Lough Melvin hauled the company's last service, a mixed train from Eniskillen to Sligo.[7]
SLNCR livery
By the 1950s the SLNCR's locomotive livery was unlined black.[2] Brasswork was also painted black but the borders and lettering of the locomotive nameplates were picked out in red.[2]Coupling rods and buffer beams were also painted red.[2]
Identification
The SLNCR did not number its steam locomotives but named them. The Lough Class were named Lough Melvin and Lough Erne.
(b) : The last tank locomotive built by Beyer Peacock & Company, order No.1427.[citation needed]
Sale and UTA service
When the SLNCR closed at the end of September 1957 the Loughs were still on hire purchase from their builders.[6] Beyer, Peacock eventually sold the pair in 1959 to the Ulster Transport Authority (UTA).[6]
The UTA designated the LoughsClass Z and numbered them 26 and 27, but they continued to carry their names and nameplates. For a short while the UTA allocated both locomotives to Adelaide shed for service as shunters on the quays and Grosvenor Road goods yard.[6] It then transferred them to York Road,[6] where they eventually replaced NCC Class Y.[citation needed]
The UTA withdrew 26 Lough Melvin from service in 1965 but did not dispose of it.[6]Northern Ireland Railways (NIR) took over the UTA's railway operations in 1967 and sold Lough Melvin for scrap in 1968.[6] NIR withdrew 27 Lough Erne in 1969.[8]
Preservation
The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland bought Lough Erne and used it to shunt its yard at Whitehead until its boiler failed in 1972.[8]Lough Erne remains at Whitehead awaiting extensive restoration.[8]
