Class 141/181 Profile and Models
149 at Drogheda. Date unknown. ©Darren Hall
The CIE 141 Class locomotives were built in 1962 by General Motors Electro Motive Division (EMD) in the United States. Numbered B141 to B177, they were an updated version of the 121 Class locomotives, mechanically very similar but with cabs at each end. Later in 1966, a batch of 12 additional locomotives were built as Class 181 - these were virtually identical to the 141s but had a more powerful 645 engine, thermostatically controlled cooling fan and inlet shutters. Following crew training trials between Inchicore and Monasterevin (passenger trains), Kildare (goods trains), and Hazelhatch (light engines), the class appeared on main line trials from Amiens Street (Connolly) to Drogheda, and Westland Row (Pearse) to Arklow on Tuesday 4 December 1962, entering traffic on the Dublin to Cork main line four days later. In later years, regular passenger duties included trains on the Rosslare to Waterford/Limerick lines, until they were superseded by railcars on these duties. |
|
Type of Locomotive |
Diesel-Electric |
Builder |
Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) |
Build Dates |
1962 to 1966 |
Total Built |
Class 141: 37 Class 181: 12 |
Tractive Effort |
Class 141: 44,000 lbf Class 181: 38,000 lbf |
Power Output |
Class 141: 960hp Class 181: 1,100hp |
Top Speed |
75 mph |
Wheel Configuration |
Bo-Bo |
Operated By |
Córas Iompair Éireann (CIE) Iarnród Éireann/ Irish Rail |
Main Duties |
Mixed Traffic |
In Service Until |
2011 |
Surviving Examples |
Class 141: 5 Class 181: 1 |