Class 121 (CIE) Profile and Models
No. 134 at Inchicore Railway Works in August 2004. ©Manfred Kopka
The Class 121 locomotives were produced by General Motors for use on the Irish railway network. The design is of a typical American-style single cab "road switcher" and was very different to other Irish diesels of the time. Due to poor visibility, the locomotives were often operated with the cab leading and in later years, they were converted to allow multiple working with two locomotives coupled nose to nose, like the British Rail Class 20s. The locomotives were heavily used on passenger services, with some modified for use with BR Mk3-based push-pull train units. The 121s also saw use a shunters and on maintenance trains in their twilight years. |
|
Type of Locomotive |
Diesel-Electric |
Builder |
General Motors EMD, Illinois, USA |
Build Dates |
1960 to 1961 |
Total Built |
15 |
Tractive Effort |
44,000 lbf |
Power Output |
960 to 1,100 hp |
Top Speed |
77 mph |
Wheel Configuration |
Bo-Bo |
Operated By |
Córas Iompair Éireann Iarnród Éireann |
Main Duties |
Mixed Traffic |
In Service Until |
2008 |
Surviving Examples |
2 |