The

Midland Great Western Railway The Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR) was the third largest Irish gauge () railway company in Ireland. It was incorporated in 1845 and absorbed into the Great Southern Railways in 1924. At its peak the MGWR had a network of , making it Irelan ...

(MGWR) Classes 6, 8, 10, 11, 17 and 18 were locomotives introduced in the period 1852-1870. The 22 locomotives were spread across 6 different manufacturers and all were withdrawn in the decade between 1880 and 1890 though some donated parts to other builds at Broadstone Works.

MGWR Class 6

Ordered from

R. B. Longridge and Company R. B. Longridge and Company was a steam locomotive works which was established in 1838 at Bedlington, Northumberland, England, by Michael Longridge (1785-1858). The firm was directed by Robert Bewick Longridge (1821-1914), who was Michael's fou ...

, the MGWR Class 6 were locomotives were the first

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locomotives on the MGWR. They ran high mileages for goods engines and were noted on passenger duties in

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in 1876. They were withdrawn in 1880.

MGWR Class 8

The four engines ordered from

William Fairbairn & Sons William Fairbairn and Sons, was an engineering works in Manchester, England. History William Fairbairn opened an iron foundry in 1816 and was joined the following year by a Mr. Lillie, and the firm became known as Fairbairn and Lillie Engine Mak ...

in 1852 were designated MGWR Class 8. They may have resembled similar locomotives order for the

Waterford and Limerick Railway The Waterford, Limerick and Western Railway (WL&WR), formerly the Waterford and Limerick Railway up to 1896, was at the time it was amalgamated with the Great Southern and Western Railway in 1901 the fourth largest railway in Ireland, with a mai ...

at this time, later designated GSWR Class 264. Locomotive No. 35 is noted for working the

Ballaghaderreen branch line The Ballaghaderreen branch line connected Ballaghaderreen railway station to Kilfree Junction on the Dublin to Sligo main line. It opened in 1874 and closed in 1963. History The Sligo & Ballaghaderreen Junction Railway (S&BJR) was incorporat ...

from 1874 (when the line opened) until the locomotive was withdrawn in 1885.

MGWR Class 10

The MGWR Class 10 engines from Thomas Grendon and Company of Drogheda were introduced in the period 1856-1860.

MGWR Class 11

MGWR Class 11 consisted of a single engine from R. Stephenson. The almost-immediate delivery from time of order indicated it was likely the engine had already been constructed.

MGWR Class 17

This Fossick & Hackworth locomotive was originally supplied to the Dublin & Meath Railway where it was known as ''drag-all''. In 1864, the Dublin & Meath Railway were undergoing some financial difficulties which may account for the locomotives transfer. It was later renumbered from 11 to 85 to be outside the range used for the later MGWR Class 18. It was reputed to be less successful on the MGWR.

MGWR Class 18

The final engines ordered in the pre Martin Atock era were from Avonside and formed MGWR Class 18. They were the only significant non

4-2-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles, two powered driving wheels on one axle and no trailing wheels. This type of locomotive is often called a ...

order made by the locomotive engineer Robert Rampage. They were replaced in 1889 by six Broadstone build

2-4-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles and no trailing wheels. The notation 2-4-0T indi ...

locomotives of MGWR Class 7–12 carrying the same numbers and names.

References

{{Ireland Steam Locomotives 2-4-0 locomotives 5 ft 3 in gauge locomotives Railway locomotives introduced in 1852 06 Scrapped locomotives Steam locomotives of Ireland