NIR 101 Class
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With the return to the working of the Belfast - Dublin "Enterprise" service with coaching stock instead of augmented diesel railcar sets Northern Ireland Railways (NIR) found itself with no suitable main line diesel locomotives. The Class 101 (DL) became the answer to the immediate problem working in conjunction with the newly acquired ex – BR Mk. 2 coaches.
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[edit] History.
The 101 Class of NIR consisted of three mainline diesel-electric locomotives designed for use with the Enterprise passenger services between Belfast and Dublin. The intention was to reduce the time for the 112 3/4-mile journey to two hours. The design of the superstructure and bogies was carried out by the Hunslet Engine Company of Leeds with English Electric / AEI being responsible for the electrical traction. The contract stipulated a ten month delivery period but with Hunslet's workshops already committed, the superstructure and assembly was contracted out to (BREL), Doncaster, Hunslet providing the bogies. They were of Bo-Bo wheel arrangement and fitted with CSVT Mk. II 1350hp engines. The locomotives were fitted with buckeye couplers as standard and had air brake capability for operation with the Mk.2 coaches. The press launch of the new "Enterprise" was held on 3rd July 1970 when a special train, carrying invited guests, ran from Great Victoria Street, Belfast to Dublin with two locomotives working the train, one at each end. This was generally well received, however comments were made regarding the train "hunting" due to the second locomotive pushing from the rear. All three re-use names previously used by the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) Class V locomotives, as follows:
| No. | Name | Builders Details. | Date Completed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | Eagle | Works No. 7197 | 8.5.70 |
| 102 | Falcon | Works No. 7198 | 22.5.70 |
| 103 | Merlin | Works No. 7199 | 8.6.70 |
[edit] Replacement
Towards the end of the 1970's, although only 10 years old the class were suffering regular failures and they were displaced from the principal passenger workings by the arrival of the NIR 111 Class locomotives. The '101's' were cascaded to lesser duties. All three locomotives have since been withdrawn from service, the first having been stored in 1989 (103) and the last in 1998 (102). It was expected that 102 would be re-instated in 2002, but after only one outing it was stopped once more. No. 103 was scrapped in 1997, but 101 and 102 are now owned by the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland, based at their site at Whitehead, County Antrim.
No. 102 is currently in the process of being restored to working order (as of 9/10/05) while 101 is being cannibalised for spare parts.
[edit] Livery.
When delivered the locomotives were painted in an unlined maroon livery with, on the ends, a "flowing V" in a golden yellow colour. The "NIR" logo and numbers were transfers. From 1978 the livery was changed to blue with an orange / red shallow 'V' stripe on each end ( See photograph above). The first locomotive in the new livery appeared on 3rd July.
[edit] External links
| 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 |
