CIE 121 Class

Infobox Locomotive
name = Córas Iompair Éireann class 121
powertype=Diesel-electric


caption = 121 class locomotive number 124
buildmodel = EMD GL8
builder = General Motors Electro-Motive Division, La Grange, Illinois, USA
ordernumber=702667–702681
serialnumber=26271–26285
builddate= December 1960 – January 1961
withdrawal= 2008
totalproduction=149 (15 for CIÉ)
gauge=RailGauge|1600|lk=on
primemover= EMD 8-567CR
126-129 Re-engined with EMD 8-645E
enginetype=Two-stoke diesel
aspiration=Roots-type supercharger
tractionmotors=EMD D47, axle-hung, nose-suspended, 4 off
transmission = D25 DC generator
DC traction motors
aarwheels = B-B
wheeldiameter=convert|40|in|mm|0|abbr=on|
uicclass=Bo'Bo'
trainbrakes = Air and Vacuum
length = convert|39|ft|10|in|m|2|abbr=on
width =
height =
weight = convert|64|t|lb
topspeed = convert|77|mph|abbr=on
poweroutput= "EMD 8-567CR:" convert|875|hp|abbr=on
"EMD 8-645E:" convert|1000|hp|abbr=on
cylindercount=8
tractiveeffort =
fuelc

railroad=Córas Iompair Éireann
Iarnród Éireann
numinclass = 15
roadnumber = B121–B135 (later 121–135)
disposition= All Withdrawn, the last two during June 2008The Córas Iompair Éireann 121 class is a railway locomotive which was manufactured by General Motors Electro-Motive Division. These locomotives were in regular service on the Irish railway network until 2005.

History.

The Class 121 locomotives were manufactured in December 1960 and January 1961 and numbered B121 to B135. The last two locomotives that survived in traffic (Nos. 124 and 134) were both withdrawn from service on 3rd May 2008. Prior to 1961, almost all Irish diesel locomotives were built in Great Britain, but from the 1960s onwards, GM became the sole supplier of locomotives to CIÉ, which eventually also extended to Northern Ireland Railways locomotives at a later stage. These were EMD's first ever fully American-built locomotives delivered to Europe.

The Class 121 locomotives were a typical American-style single cab ‘road switcher'. The layout of the cab was quite different from the other conventional CIÉ diesel models of the time, with the controls to the side of the driver, rather than the front. Due to apparent driver complaints of reduced visibility when operating with cab trailing, it was ultimately decided that these locomotives should only operate in a cab-leading formation. Later conversion for multiple-unit working allowed two 121 class locomotives to be coupled hood-end to hood-end, removing the need to turn them around for their return journey.

Although originally fitted with an EMD 8-567CR engine of convert|875|hp, all were later fitted with 645 type "power packs" (piston & liner assemblies) for parts standardisation, while at the same time keeping their original power output for reliability reasons. They weighed 64 tons and had a maximum speed of convert|123|km/h|abbr=on. Numbers 126-129 were later rebuilt with an EMD 8-645E engine of convert|1000|hp; as used in the 181 Class locomotives.

All but three (121, 125, and 135) were fitted with Train Door Control equipment for operation with the Inchicore-built, BR Mark 3 based, Push-Pull train units. The push-pull equipment of locomotive 132 was subsequently decommissioned. Entering service in 1989, these trains, consisting of a single 121 class and up to six carriages, were mainly used on the Dublin northern suburban passenger railway service. These were to be the last regular passenger duties for the 121s. In 1994, a railcar "revolution" had begun, and the push pull carriages were later re-deployed to inter-city duties with the Class 201 locomotives.

By 1995, the class 201 had replaced the class 121 on most passenger routes. Throughout the late 1990's the fleet dwindled, and by 2005 only numbers 124 and 134 remained in service, with number 123 in storage for five years until eventually being scrapped in 2008. The rest of the fleet has since been scrapped, due to the ongoing decline in freight traffic that they were also used for.

The last known passenger working of this class was the 13:15 Heuston-Waterford service on 2007-01-18. Upon arrival in Waterford, numbers. 124 and 134 took the head of a delivery of new rails. Previously, these locomotives had filled in on the Manulla-Ballina service or the occasional service from Limerick. Their last scheduled mainline passenger working was on Saturday, 2005-07-09 on the Sligo mainline

The VERY last use of them in public service was in the early months of 2008 on maintenance trains - by this stage 124 and 134 were the only survivors. Both were retired by degrees and officially withdrawn in July 2008, though at this stage neither had done much for many weeks.

The Irish Traction Group has a fund set up for the eventual preservation of a member of this class [http://www.irishtractiongroup.com/funds.htm] .

Livery

On delivery, the locomotives were painted in a Yellow and Grey livery. This was replaced within a year by a black / tan (“golden brown”) colour scheme with a thick white band similar to the Cravens coaching stock, delivered in 1963. With time, the colour scheme changed to tan with a black band. Soon after CIÉ Rail services became known as Irish Rail, the colour scheme was enhanced when two white bands (approx. 25mm / 1") separating the colours were added. At the same time, as a safety aspect, self-adhesive high-visibility panels were added to the front of the Locomotives.

Model

The 121 Class has been made as a 00 gauge Whitemetal kit by Model Irish Railways. [http://website.lineone.net/~sjohnson40/Loco%20Profiles/B121.html] .

External links

* [http://groups.msn.com/IrishRailwayTechnologyandinformation/_whatsnew.msnw Irish Railway Technology and Information -reporting on all aspects of irish railways]

ee also

Diesel locomotives of Ireland