CIE 201 Class

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Irish Rail 201 Class
CIE Metro Vick "C Class"/Class 201 No.C231 at Inchicore Works, Dublin, repainted in late 50's livery
Also called:	Metro-Vick “C” Class
Builder:	Metropolitan Vickers at Dukinfield Works, Manchester
Years Built:	1957-58
Number Built:	34
Replaced By:	DART/DMU
Engine:	Crossley EST V8 Re-engined '69-'80 with EMD 8 cylinder B645E by CIE at Inchicore Works, Dublin
Transmission:	Electric. 4 Metropolitan Vickers traction motors.
Wheel Arrangement:	Bo-Bo
Width:	9' 6"
Height:	14'
Weight:	61.5 tons
Maximum Speed:	80 mph (129 km/h)
Engine Horsepower:	Crossley - 550 hp (410 kW) EMD - 1100 hp (820 kW)
Fuel Capacity:	300 Imperial Gallons
Operators:	CIE/IR

The Córas Iompair Éireann 201 Class locomotives were the lighter and less powerful sisters of the 001 Class locomotives, both being built by Metropolitan Vickers. They were delivered to CIE during 1957 and 1958, and were intended for mixed traffic (freight and passenger) use on branch lines.

Unfortunately, these locomotives suffered from two distinct problems. Firstly, CIE underwent a large scale closure of its branch lines during the late 1950s and early 1960s, leaving them without a purpose. Secondly, they suffered badly from the unreliability of their Crossley engines, which were of insufficient power even when they did work.

As a result, attempts were made to re-engine these locomotives with more suitable equipment. In 1965-1966, a Maybach MD650 engine of 980hp was tested in 233 and 234. However, a permanent solution was found by converting the entire class with General Motors engines from 1969 (a similar process was also undergone by the 001 Class). From this time they were partnered with former diesel multiple units converted to four-car push-pull carriage rakes to operate the suburban services around Dublin.

When built, these locomotives were numbered C201-C234, and as locomotives were re-engined, they were renumbered B201-B234 to reflect their increased power. However, the prefix letter was later dropped. From 1984 the class was replaced by electric multiple units operating the newly-electrified Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) services, and the remaining examples were all withdrawn over the following two years, the first, No.201 was bomb damaged and withdrawn in 1973, the last in 1986).

[edit] NIR use

After withdrawal from CIE, six locomotives were sold to Northern Ireland Railways, which designated them 104 Class. They entered traffic for NIR in 1986-1987, except 105. Originally CIE 224 was intended to become 105, but it was subsequently rejected by NIR and replaced by 218, which only entered traffic in 1991. 224 was left stored on NIR until it was scrapped in January 1996.

Of those that entered service, some had very short lives working for their new owners. They were stored as soon as any problems arose (e.g. a seized engine or traction motor), and the whole class was formally withdrawn in 1993 (107/109) or 1995 (the others). The locomotives involved, their new numbers and their withdrawal are set out below:

[edit] Preservation

Two 201 Class locomotives, numbers 226 and 231, have been preserved by the Irish Traction Group [1]. 226 was the first mainline diesel to be preserved in Ireland. C231 is currently based at Inchicore, whilst 226 is undergoing restoration at Carrick-on-Suir [2].

A third example, NIR 106/CIE 227 was preserved privately and displayed at Cahirciveen, County Kerry [3] [4] and carries the number C202, which was supposedly the number of the locomotive hauling the last train from Cahirciveen in 1960 but it was in fact 227 which worked the train. Unfortunately it has suffered almost continuous vandalism since being displayed in 1997.[5]. It may be moved to another location in the future as there are other groups interested in it.