CIE 421 Class

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The Córas Iompair Éireann 421 Class locomotives were built by the CIE at their Inchicore Works, in 1962-1963 and designed for use on branch line traffic and shunting. They were a larger development of the earlier 401 Class, and were fitted with a Maybach MD220 engine of 420hp, with diesel hydraulic transmission via a Mekydro KL64U torque converter. Unlike the earlier E401 class these locomotives were fitted for multiple operation. They were of C wheel arrangement.

The first of the class made its debut in early October 1962 on pilot duties in the Dublin area and although they had a design maximum speed of 60mph, experience showed that they did not ride well when travelling at speeds over 25mph and so henceforth were limited to that speed and used simply for shunting duties instead. They were numbered E421-E434, and were withdrawn from service between 1979 and 1983.

Three of these locomotives have been preserved, as follows:

• E421 and E432: Owned by and based at the Downpatrick & County Down Railway , Northern Ireland [1]. E421 is operational; E432 is in store.
• E428: has recently moved from Inchicore Works to Dunsandle, Co. Galway under private ownership.

Diesel Locomotives of Ireland

Republic of Ireland

001, 071, 101, 113, 121, 141, 181, 201 (1st), 201 (2nd)

301, 401, 421, 501, 601, 611, 801

Northern Ireland

1, 101, 104, 111, 208