G601 - copyright ITG C231 - copyright ITG
 
 

 

 

 

Withdrawn Locomotive Classes

 

Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail)

001 (A) Class Co-Co locomotives
Built: by Metropolitan Vickers, Dukinfield Works, Manchester, England. (1955-56)
Engine: General Motors 12-645E of 1375 hp
Weight: 82 tons
Maximum Speed: 75 mph
Locomotive Numbers 001 - 060

Originally numbered A1 to A60. The last examples of this class were taken out of service in 1995. Two are now preserved by the Irish Traction Group, 003 and 039. Locomotive 015 has been preserved as a static exhibit at Moyasta Junction on the West Clare Railway. The shell of locomotive 055 is preserved as a static exhibit in the Hell's Kitchen Bar and Restaurant, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon.

Photo: 009 at Dublin Connolly on the 18:30 to Rosslare on 10 April 1989. Derek Thompson

   
101 (B) Class A1A-A1A locomotives
Built: by The Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company at Smethwick, England (1956-57)

Engine: Sulzer 6LDA28 of 960 hp

Weight: 75 tons
Maximum Speed: 75 mph
Locomotive Numbers 101 - 112

Originally numbered B101 – B112. The last examples of this class were taken out of service in 1978. The only surviving example 103 is preserved by the Irish Traction Group.

Photo: 110 and 111 at Inchicore Works in 1986 waiting movement to North Wall (Dublin) for scrapping. A.J. Marshall.

   
113 (B) Class Bo-Bo locomotives
Built: by CIE at Inchicore Works, Dublin (1947-51)

Original Engine: Sulzer 6LDA28 of 960 hp

Weight: 80 tons
Maximum Speed: 55 mph
Locomotive Numbers B113 - B114

Originally numbered 1100 and 1101. The last example of this class was taken out of service in 1975. The only surviving example 113 is stored at Inchicore Works, Dublin.

Photo: B114 in Inchicore Works. A.J. Marshall.

   
121 (B) Class Bo-Bo locomotives
Built: by General Motors, La Grange, Illinois, U.S.A. (1960)

Original Engine: General Motors 8-567CR of 950 hp

Some locomotives subsequently re-engined with General Motors 8-B645E of 950 hp or General Motors 8-645E of 950 hp

Weight: 64 tons
Maximum Speed: 75 mph

Locomotive Numbers 121 - 135

Originally numbered B121 – B135. The last examples of this class were taken out of service in March 2008. Locomotive 124 has been preserved by the Irish Traction Group, whilst the only other surviving example, 134, is currently stored at Inchicore Works pending possible preservation.

Photo: Johnny Brindle

181 (B) Class Bo-Bo locomotives
Built: by General Motors, La Grange, Illinois, U.S.A. (1966)

Original Engine: General Motors 8-645E of 1100 hp

Some locomotives subsequently re-engined with General Motors 8-B645E of 1100 hp or General Motors 8-567CR of 1100 hp

Weight: 67 tons
Maximum Speed: 75 mph
Locomotive Numbers: 181 - 192
Originally numbered B181 – B192. The last example of this class was taken out of service in November 2009. The only surviving example, 190, has been preserved by the Irish Traction Group
Photo: Johnny Brindle

   
201 (C) Class Bo-Bo locomotives
Built: by Metropolitan Vickers, Dukinfield Works, Manchester, England. (1955-56)

Original Engine: Crossley ESTV8 of 550 hp

These locomotives were re-built and re-engined at Inchicore Works between 1969 and 1980 with General Motors 8-B645E engines of 1100 hp.

Weight: 62 tons
Maximum Speed: 80 mph
Locomotive Numbers 201 - 234

Originally numbered C201 – C234, then B201 – B234. The last examples of this class were taken out of service in 1986. Two are now preserved by the Irish Traction Group, 226 and 231. Locomotives 216, 218, 227, 228, 230 and 234 were sold to Northern Ireland Railways in 1986 and became 104 – 109.

Photo: 212 stands at Connolly Depot. Peter Jones.

   
301 (D) Class 0-6-0 locomotives
Built: by CIE at Inchicore Works, Dublin (1946-48)
Engine: Mirrlees TLDT6 of 487 hp
Weight: 53 tons
Maximum Speed: 25 mph
Locomotive Numbers D301 - D305
Originally numbered 1000 – 1004. The last example of this class was taken out of service in 1972. All were cut up in 1977 and none survive today.
Photo: D302 Inchicore 1972. Jonathan Allen

   
401 (E) Class C locomotives
Built: by CIE at Inchicore Works, Dublin (1956-58)
Engine: Maybach MD220 of 420 hp
Weight: 39 tons
Maximum Speed: 25 mph
Locomotive Numbers E401 - E419

The last examples of this class were taken out of service in 1979. All were cut up between 1977 and 1984 and none survive today.

Photo: E402 at Dublin Heuston April 1971. Jonathan Allan

   
421 (E) Class E locomotives
Built: by CIE at Inchicore Works, Dublin (1962)
Engine: Maybach MD220 of 420 hp
Weight: 43 tons
Maximum Speed: 25 mph
Locomotive Numbers E421 - E434

The last examples of this class were taken out of service in 1983. Two are now preserved at the Downpatrick & Co. Down Railway, 421 and 432, whilst 428 is privately preserved at Dunsandle, Co. Galway.

Photo: E428 prior to working between Claremorris and Ballina on 3rd April 1988. Peter Jones.

   
501 (F) Class 0-4-0 + 0-4-0 locomotives
Built: by Walker Gardner, Wigan, England (1954)
Engines: Two Gardner of 224 hp
Weight: 23 tons
Maximum Speed: 25 mph plus an overdrive facility for 32 mph on passenger trains.
Locomotive Numbers F501 - F503
Originally numbered C31 – C33. These locomotives were constructed for use on the West Clare Narrow Gauge Railway. The locomotives were withdrawn in 1961 when the line closed. These locomotives were cut up in 1968 and none survive today. 
Photo: Locos F501 - F503 withdrawn at Inchecore in 1966. Peter Excell

   
601 (G) Class B locomotives
Built: by Motorenfabrik Deutz at Köln, Germany (1955-56)
Engine: Deutz A8L 614 of 130 hp
Weight: 18 tons
Maximum Speed: 20 mph
Locomotive Numbers G601 - G603
The last example of this class was taken out of service in 1972. The only surviving example 601 is preserved by the Irish Traction Group.
Photo: G601 at Inchicore. Peter Jones.

   
611 (G) Class 0-6-0 locomotives
Built: by Motorenfabrik Deutz at Köln, Germany (1961-62)
Engine: Deutz A8L 714 of 160 hp
Weight: 22 tons
Maximum Speed: 26 mph
Locomotive Numbers G611 - G617

The last examples of this class were taken out of service in 1977. Three are now preserved by the Irish Traction Group, 611, 616 and 617, whilst 613 is privately preserved at the Downpatrick & Co. Down Railway.

Photo: G613 at Downpatrick

   
801 (K) Class 0-8-0 locomotives
Built: by Maschinenbau at Kiel, Germany for GNR (B) (1954)
Engine: MAK 800 hp
Weight: 57 tons
Maximum Speed: 50 mph
Locomotive Number K801

Originally numbered 800, then K800. This locomotive was taken out of service in 1974, and was then sold in 1976 to a scrap dealer in Co. Galway. The locomotive was then used to power a car crushing plant before suffering a seized engine in 1977. The remains of this locomotive were eventually cut up in 1999.

Photo: K801 at Inchicore. Jonathan Allan

   
Translink (Northern Ireland Railways)
   
   
1 (DH) Class 0-6-0 locomotives
Built: by English Electric, Vulcan Foundry Newton le Willows, England (1969)
Engine: Dorman 12QTV of 620 hp
Weight: 42 tons
Maximum Speed: 29 mph
Locomotive Numbers 1 - 3

The last example of this class was taken out of service in 1989. All three of these locomotives were originally preserved by the Irish Traction Group, but 2  and 3  were subsequently sold for re-use in Sri Lanka in 2005, whilst locomotive 1 was sold in January 2010 to Beaver Power Limited, Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, for possible industrial use.

Photo: DH 1 on static display at Lisburn in 1989. A.J. Marshall.

   
101 (DL) Class Bo-Bo locomotives
Built: BREL at Doncaster as sub-contractors for the Hunslet Engine Company, Leeds. (1970)
Engine: English Electric 8CSVT of 1350 hp
Weight: 68 tons
Maximum Speed: 80 mph
Locomotive Numbers: 101 - 103

The last example of this class was taken out of service in 2002. Two locomotives, 101 and 102, were originally preserved by the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland at Whitehead, Co. Antrim, but 101 was subsequently scrapped for spare parts in January 2010.

Photo: 103 at Belfast York Road Works. Peter Jones

   
104 (MV) Class Bo-Bo locomotives
Built: by Metropolitan Vickers, Dukinfield Works, Manchester, England. (1955-56)

Engine: General Motors 8-B645E of 1100 hp.

Weight: 62 tons
Maximum Speed: 80 mph
Locomotive Numbers: 104 - 109

Originally numbered 216, 218, 227, 228, 230 and 234 by CIE. Purchased by Northern Ireland Railways in 1986 and renumbered 104 - 109, the last remaining example was withdrawn from NIR service in 1995. The only surviving example, 106, was initially preserved as a static exhibit at Cahirciveen, Co. Kerry, and was erroneously numbered C202. This locomotive was subsequently purchased by a preservation group based in the Waterford area, and has now been moved to a private site in Waterford

Photo: 109 at York Road Works. Peter Jones.

   
UTA Diesel Locomotives (Northern Ireland)
   
   
Diesel Shunter
Built: by Harland & Wolff, Belfast (1938)
Engine: Harland Burmeister & Wain TR6 of 225 hp
Weight: 28 tons
Maximum Speed: 20 mph
Locomotive Numbers: 20/16

Used by Harland & Wolff until January 1945, when it was loaned to LMS (NCC). Returned to Harland & Wolff 01 April 1946 and allocated no 20. Returned to UTA as number 16 in January 1951 in exchange for number 2 ex B&CDR. Survived in use into NIR days until at least 1973.

Photo: 16 York Road scrap yard. Peter Excell

   
  Diesel Shunter (Class X)
Built: Harland and Wolff, Belfast for LMS (NCC) (1936)
Engine: Harland Burmeister & Wain TR8 of 330 hp
Weight: 49 tons
Maximum Speed: 50 mph
Locomotive Number: 17

On loan until purchased in 1941. Although passing to NIR in 1968, it had been sold out of use for some time before this date. Named "Harlandic"

Photo: Not Available

   
  Diesel Shunter (Class X)
Built: Harland and Wolff, Belfast to shunt at Heysham Harbour (1933)
Rebuilt: Harland and Wolff, Belfast for LMS (NCC) (1945)

Engine: Harland Burmeister & Wain of 225 hp

Weight: 27 tons
Maximum Speed: 10 mph
Locomotive Number: 22

Rebuilt and re-gauged from LMSR 7057 built by Harland & Wolff (order no. 2503) in 1933. Withdrawn by LMSR January 1944 and sold back to Harland & Wolff January 1945. Loaned to LMS (NCC) in 1945 and later purchased by UTA (as successors to LMS (NCC)) October 1949.

Photo: Not Available

   
Diesel Electric
Built: Harland and Wolff, Belfast, for the Belfast & County Down Railway (1937)

Engine: Harland Burmeister & Wain TR8 of 500 hp

Weight: 48 tons
Maximum Speed: 60 mph
Locomotive Number: D2/28

Originally only loaned to the B&CDR. Withdrawn by B&CDR in December 1944 and then loaned by Harland and Wolff to LMS (NCC) in July 1945. Withdrawn for a second time (by UTA) September 1952, returned to Harland & Wolff. Ran on trials on GNR(I) 1957-1961. Finally purchased by UTA in 01 November 1962, retaining the number 28. Survived to NIR days before suffering a failure in 1970. Last reported dumped in Belfast in 1973.

Photo: 28 Great Victoria St 1966. Peter Excell

   
Diesel Electric 1A-A1
Built: Harland and Wolff, Belfast, for the Belfast & County Down Railway (1933)

Engine: Harland Burmeister & Wain TR4 of 270 hp

Weight: 33 tons
Maximum Speed: 50 mph
Locomotive Number: D1/2/202

Sold back to Harland & Wolff January 1951, who rebuilt it to an 0-4-0 shunting loco for their own use. It remained in use until October 1967.

Photo: ex-BCDR D1 in Harland & Wolff shipyard 1966. Peter Excell

   

Full details of Irish Locomotives, Multiple Units and Rolling stock can be found in the book “Irish Railways, Traction and Travel (4th edition)”, published by the Irish Traction Group.

 
 
Date last updated: 03 July 2010