GNR(i) Ambulance Train Loco

[GNRi1959]

On 1st May 1915 the ambulance train arrived in Omagh pulled by loco no. 178. Anyone any clue on the class of this 4-4-0 and anything on it's history?

Edited August 11, 2022 by GNRi1959

[Galteemore]

178 was an SG class 0-6-0. The 4-4-0 number series  stopped at 174 and restarted at 190. 178 was delivered in 1913, new boiler 1949, went to CIE in 1958 and withdrawn Mar 61. Here’s a sister loco courtesy of Ernie. Very easy to see how these are a goods version of the more famous S class - crop off the wheels and the likeness is clear! 

 

Edited August 11, 2022 by Galteemore

[GNRi1959]

Galteemore, thank you for your reply.

I don't imagine an 0-6-0 pulling the nine carriages of an ambulance train on the mainline ferrying wonder soldiers from the battlefields of France.

[jhb171achill]

3 minutes ago, GNRi1959 said:

Galteemore, thank you for your reply.

I don't imagine an 0-6-0 pulling the nine carriages of an ambulance train on the mainline ferrying wonder soldiers from the battlefields of France.

You'd be surprised! They had these engines on a number of military-related trains. I was told a story of two of them (dunno what numbers) allocated to Belfast to Aldergrove trains of sand and supplies for the American air base there........

[Galteemore]

 

10 minutes ago, jhb171achill said:

You'd be surprised! They had these engines on a number of military-related trains. I was told a story of two of them (dunno what numbers) allocated to Belfast to Aldergrove trains of sand and supplies for the American air base there........

Indeed, Jb. One reason they had 5’1 rather than 4’7 driving wheels as with previous GN goods locos was to make them suitable to haul excursion trains when required. 

Edited August 11, 2022 by Galteemore

[GNRi1959]

Excuse my ignorance!

 

[Galteemore]

Hardly ignorance Tony! One of my lecturers used to say that the more you learn about a subject, the more you realise that you don’t know!