Lot 300 Brass Steam Locomotive LMS-NCC Nameplate "ANTRIM CASTLE". As carried by an Irish Railways Class U2 4-4-0 locomotives (U1 U2 B3 and A1) No 75. Built 1931 by NBL (works number 23097) in Glasgow at a cost of £5378 and delivered in July 1924. Based mainly at York Road, Belfast it also spent time at Ballymena. NCC locos had no shed plates and often went on short term allocation to other depots to cover for engines in for overhaul. No 75 was named ANTRIM CASTLE in Nov. 1931. She last worked in 1955 and was scrapped June 1956. One of 18 class U2 4-4-0 engines, the most powerful of the four classes of 4-4-0 at work in the inter war years. As such they were scheduled for top link work from Belfast to Portrush and Londonderry. Eleven were built at Belfast (8 using parts from other locos) and with Derby too busy, seven were built in Glasgow and because of this the whole class were known locally as "Scotch engines". These locos looked very much like LMS 2Ps and had the same G7S boiler. Vendor purchased directly from the Railways in the 1957. Totally Ex - Loco condition. Never been offered in auction before.

 

  Lot sold for £3500