GS&WR Class 333

The Great Southern and Western Railway Class 333 consistent of eight 4-4-0 mixed-traffic locomotives designed by Robert Coey and built by Inchicore railway works in 1907/8. In 1936, the successor company - the Great Southern Railways - built five similar engines known as GSR Class 342.

Design and modifications

The design used the same taper boiler and 18 in x 20 in cylinders as Coey's express 4-4-0 express passenger engine 321; however, the smaller driving wheels and less than 16 long ton maximum axle load were suitable for go anywhere and secondary passenger and mixed duties.
The later Class 342 locomotives were essentially modeled on the 1927 rebuild of locomotive No. 338 of the 333 Class.

Service

In practice, all members of these classed were treated interchangeably for operational purposes. A maximum axle load allowed the class to be used almost anywhere. They were assessed in 1948 as quite powerful and fast and especially useful for passenger specials.

Loan to GNRI

In 1946, No. 346 was lent to the Great Northern Railway to operate the Dublin-Bundoran express as far as Dundalk.