| Iarnród Éireann 201 class | |
|---|---|
| IÉ 218 in Mk4 livery, Templemore Station, July 2011 | |
| Power type | Diesel-electric |
| Builder | General Motors Locomotive Group (GMLG), London, Ontario, Canada |
| Model | JT42HCW |
| Build date | 1994–1995 |
| UIC classification | Co'Co' |
| Trucks | GC bogies |
| Wheel diameter | 1,016 mm (40 in) |
| Length | 20.9 m (68' 8¾") |
| Height | 4.02 m (13' 2½") |
| Locomotive weight | 112 tonnes (250,000 lb) |
| Fuel capacity | 4,546 litres (1,000 imp gal; 1,201 US gal) |
| Prime mover | EMD 12-710G3B |
| Engine type | Two-stroke diesel |
| Aspiration | Turbocharged |
| Traction motors | Six axle-hung, nose-suspended D43 traction motors |
| Cylinders | V12 |
| Multiple working | All IÉ and NIR GM-EMD locomotives |
| Top speed | 164 km/h (102 mph) |
| Power output | 3,200 hp (2,400 kW) gross; 2,970 hp (2,210 kW) traction |
| Train heating | HEP: Dayton-Phoenix altenator, model E7145, 438 kVA, 220/380VAC, 3-phase, 50 Hz |
| Locomotive brakes | Air & Vacuum, 27LAV Blended Brakes, not used |
| Career | Iarnród Éireann Northern Ireland Railways |
| Number in class | 34 |
| Number | 201–234 |
The Iarnród Éireann (IE) 201 Class locomotives are the newest and most powerful diesel locomotives operating in Ireland, and were built between 1994 and 1995 by General Motors. They are model type JT42HCW, fitted with an EMD 12-710G3B engine of 3200 hp, weigh 112 tonnes and have a maximum speed of 164 km/h (102 mph). A freight version, the EMD Series 66, with the same engine is used on privately operated British and European mainline freight duties.
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By the early 1990s, the locomotives operating passenger services in Ireland were becoming increasingly obsolete, with the newest type in service being the 071 Class introduced in 1976. The economic boom in Ireland in the mid 1990s allowed Iarnród Éireann to begin significant investment in the infrastructure of the railways, which began with an order for 32 brand new express locomotives from GM-EMD. Northern Ireland Railways also purchased 2. The first were delivered in 1994, with deliveries continuing until 1995.
To allow clearance tests and driver training to commence in advance of the delivery of the main order of 201s, it was decided to transport the first locomotive, number 201, to Dublin by air. An Antonov An-124 was used to transport the locomotive from London, Ontario to Dublin Airport, arriving on 9 June 1994. The first light-engine test run operated from Inchicore works to Kildare on the 14th.[1]
There are three versions within the Class 201:
| Subclass | Number built | Number range | Operator | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 201 (NPP) | 10 | 201-205, 210-214 | Intercity | In storage |
| 201 (PP) | 24 | 215-226, 229, 232, 234 | 215 & 216 in storage | |
| 206-209, 227, 228, 230, 231, 233 | Enterprise | 208-209 owned by NIR; others owned by IÉ |
* NPP = Non Push-Pull Capable; PP = Push-Pull Capable
InterCity operated, push-pull equipped members of the 201 class were repainted in a new livery of Fern Green to coincide with the deployment of new MK4 carriages which were rolled out during 2006-2007 to serve on the Dublin-Cork line. Apart from the Enterprise Dublin-Belfast line, This is the only in Ireland were locomotive hauled coaches are in use.
Numbers 206, 207, 8208, 209, 227, 228, 230, 231 & 233 are dedicated for use on the Enterprise passenger service between Dublin and Belfast, and are painted in a special livery of (Dark Grey (NCS 8502-Y), Light Grey (NCS 5502-Y), Dark Green (NCS 9005-G20Y), Purple (NCS 5040-R40B) & Bronze stripe (3M 180-229)).
Because of the shared nature of these services, 8208 and 209 are owned by Northern Ireland Railways. This explains the different naming arrangements for these two locomotives. Enterprise services require electrical power to be supplied from the locomotive - head end power.
The entire class is named after Irish rivers, with the IÉ locomotives carrying two nameplates, one in Irish and one in English, on each side of the locomotive. As 8208 and 209 are owned by Northern Ireland Railways, they carry English language only nameplates. The nameplates are trapezium shaped, with the names in upper case.
| Number | Name | Push-pull capable |
Livery | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irish | English | |||
| 201 | Abhainn na Sionnainne | River Shannon | No | orange/black |
| 202 | Abhainn na Laoi | River Lee | No | orange/black |
| 203 | Abhainn na Coiribe | River Corrib | No | orange/black |
| 204 | Abhainn na Bearu | River Barrow | No | orange/black |
| 205 | Abhainn na Feoire | River Nore | No | orange/black |
| 206 | Abhainn na Life | River Liffey | Yes | Enterprise |
| 207 | Abhainn na Bóinne | River Boyne | Yes | Enterprise (Full yellow ends) |
| 8208 | - | River Lagan | Yes | Revised Enterprise |
| 8209 | - | River Foyle | Yes | Enterprise |
| 210 | Abhainn na hEirne | River Erne | No | orange/black |
| 211 | Abhainn na Suca | River Suck | No | orange/black |
| 212 | Abhainn na Slaine | River Slaney | No | orange/black |
| 213 | Abhainn na Muaidhe | River Moy | No | orange/black |
| 214 | Abhainn na Broshai | River Brosna | No | orange/black |
| 215 | An Abhainn Mhor | River Avonmore | Yes | Intercity |
| 216 | Abhainn na Dothra | River Dodder | Yes | Intercity |
| 217 | Abhainn na Fleisce | River Flesk | Yes | Intercity |
| 218 | Abhainn na Garbhoige | River Garavogue | Yes | Intercity |
| 219 | Abhainn na Tulchann | River Tolka | Yes | Intercity |
| 220 | An Abhainn Dhubh | River Blackwater | Yes | Intercity |
| 221 | Abhainn na Feilge | River Fealge | Yes | Intercity |
| 222 | Abhainn na Dargaile | River Dargle | Yes | Intercity |
| 223 | Abhainn na hAinnire | River Anner | Yes | Intercity |
| 224 | Abhainn na Féile | River Feale | Yes | Intercity |
| 225 | Abhainn na Daoile | River Deel | Yes | Intercity |
| 226 | Abhainn na Siuire | River Suir | Yes | Intercity |
| 227 | Abhainn na Leamhna | River Laune | Yes | Intercity |
| 228 | An Abhainn Bhui | River Owen | Yes | Intercity |
| 229 | Abhainn na Mainge | River Maine | Yes | Intercity |
| 230 | Abhainn na Bandan | River Bandon | Yes | Enterprise |
| 231 | Abhainn na Maighe | River Maigue | Yes | Intercity |
| 232 | Abhainn na Chaomaraigh | River Cummeragh | Yes | Intercity |
| 233 | Abhainn na Chlair | River Clare | Yes | Enterprise (Full yellow ends) |
| 234 | Abhainn na hEatharlai | River Aherlow | Yes | Intercity |
The future of some of the class is currently unclear. All of the non push-pull locomotives (201-205 and 210-214) were placed in storage at Inchicore during 2009, the last being 214 in July. This is due to the withdrawal and replacement of the Mark 3 coaching fleet with the 22000 Class railcars on the vast majority of passenger services. This will leave the Dublin-Cork services, with the Mark 4, as the only locomotive hauled passenger service operated by Iarnród Éireann. The reduction in the number of locomotive hauled passenger workings, combined with the steady withdrawal of older GM locomotives, has seen 201 Class locomotives increasingly used on freight workings, while four push-pull capable units have been transferred to Enterprise to ease the strain on the four original units. Iarnród Éireann plans to store some of its remaining push-pull capable Mark 3 coaches, [2] which could potentially be used with 201 Class locomotives to enhance Enterprise's service.[3]
In 2001, Murphy Models commissioned LIMA to produce an '00' gauge model of these locomotives.[4] They were produced in IÉ orange (201, 216, 217, 219, 230) and Enterprise (206, 207, 208, 209) liveries, all in batches of 300 (the exception being 500 of #207).
[4]
In October 2010 at the MRSI Model Railway Exhibition, Murphy Models announced plans to produce their own version of the class 201 to an all new tooling, complete with a sample model for production in the next year.
Model Irish Railways produce a resin body shell kit that includes nameplates, numbering, brass grills and the standard yellow / black livery line transfers.
Marks Models also released a resin kit for these locomotives in 00 gauge around the year 2000.
There is also speculation that Hornby, who now own the moulds for these models, may make a full production run of these models. This would be a first, as they have never made an Irish loco for the mainstream market before.
Studio Scale Models [5] make transfers for the full range of 201 liveries, No's 201-234, original and updated Orange, original and updated Enterprise and Green Intercity.
The 201 class has also been released in virtual form as a player driveable locomotive in the Microsoft Train Simulator add-on, "Irish Enterprise North", by Making Tracks.[6]
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