Galtee More Locomotive engine

Three trains that we know of were called 'Galtee More' and are featured here. Two were engines from the great age of steam, one built in Dundalk, Ireland, and the other built in England, while the other was a diesel locomotive built during the 1960s. Any further information would be welcomed.

This photograph of Ex LNER A3 Class 4-6-2 60049 'Galtee More', was recently purchased from a collector.

From a CATALOGUE OF STEAM ENGINES, VINTAGE & CLASSIC TRACTORS, ASSOCIATED MACHINERY AND MEMORABILIA For Sale by Public Auction, SATURDAY, 23RD OCTOBER 2004 (Cambridgeshire, England) comes the following item related to the above train:

A SMOKEBOX NUMBER PLATE No.60049 Carried by "Galtee More" LNER A3 Class Gresley Pacifics 4-6-2. Built in September 1924 with original works No.1604 and in 1948 re-numbered as 60049. Built as A1 Class and re-built in 1945 as Class A3, painted BR blue in 1950 and green in 1952. Withdrawn in 1962. Included in the lot is a framed black and white photograph of Galtee More. Provenance British Rail Bishops Gate 1963 Estimate £700-£900

It would be a romantic notion to think that this great train was named after the mountain peak which is the subject of this website but the truth is that a series of British trains were once named after famous racehorses. 'Galtee More' being the most famous horse his name was bound to be used.

Imagine being an Irish emigrant waiting for a train in England back in the 1920s and -30s and hearing that 'Galtee More' was arriving at the station. What memories its name must have brought back to anyone who knew the mountain.

Click to enlarge

The information for this diesel engine was supplied by Matt Pickford. The locomotive above was named "Galtee More" and it carried the number 47 446. During the 1960s British Rail introduced 512 Class locomotives to the rail system and they still remain in service to this day (only a small handful though).
446 was given the name Galtee More by the depot staff at Tinsley depot (Sheffield) and was one of a number of locos given "unofficial" names at the time. (An official name would require a small ceremony and cast nameplates. Tinsley painted their names on).

60049 Galtee More BR lined green, ex-GNR tender, double chimney, deflectors

Small Model of the Steam Engine ' Galtee More'

Price £900 but this one is no longer available!

This indeed is the stuff of history - being able to tell what a particular train was doing at a fixed moment in time. Thanks to Matt Pickford who gave permission to use pictures of 47446 Galtee More taken from www.class47finale.co.uk . Well worth a look if you have any interest in locomotives.

	Irish Galteemore Train from www.rpsi-online.org/5ft3/FFT_05.pdf with kind permission of Railway Preservation Society of Ireland
	THE S CLASS Fred Graham In the month of May 1938 there emerged from Dundalk Works the first of the renewed S class locomotives - Nos. 173 and 192 - to be followed in August by 171; then in October No.172 was turned out. During January 1939 No.191 left the shops; 190 in July was followed by 170 in August and lastly, in October, came No.l74.The engines were not “rebuilt” but, as I have already stated, merely “renewed”, the most striking change being the beautiful blue livery officially described as Azure Blue with Signal Red under framing. They did, however, receive new and heavier frames, new 200 lb. pressure boilers, new cylinders with the valve travel increased from 3 inches to 5 inches, which gave much free rrunning and a harder exhaust beat. The brake rodding, which was formerly placed outside the driving wheels was moved inside, necessitating a change in the position of the injector which was now located just forward of the footstep on the fireman’s side. This injector isthe only pattern made in Ireland and is specially designed to enable any part to be serviced without dismantling. Its design is mostly the work of Paddy Mallon, now an RPSI member....All of the class were paired with the standard 3,500 gallon tenders with the exception of 170 and 172 which retained the 2,500 gallon flared top tender - the idea being that they would be required to run special trains between Dublin and Warrenpoint, where the turntable was too short for turning an S with one of the larger tenders...The original names 170 “Errigal”, 171 “Slieve Gullion”, 172 “Slieve Donard”, 173“Galteemore” and 174 “Carrantuohill” were restored to the 1913 engines and new names given to the 1915 engines. These were 190 “Lugnaquilla”, 191 “Croagh Patrick” and 192“Slievenamon”.The chief dimensions were cylinders 19” x 26”, heating surface - firebox 141 sq. ft., tubes905 sq. ft., superheater 214 sq. ft., and grate area 22.09 sq. ft. and the tractive effort at 85%boiler pressure 20,198 lbs. The weight in working order was increased from 52½ tons to 53tons 6 cwt, made up as follows:- 18 tons on the bogie, 18 tons on the drivers and 17 tons 6cwt on the coupled wheels.
	Fancy a trip on an Irish Steam Train! Visit the website of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland. http://www.steamtrainsireland.com/