
Irish Railway Record
Society
Journal 192 - Rolling Stock
LOCOMOTIVES
071-class:
IΙ advertised for the supply and overhaul of dampers on this class as
well as for the 201, 2600, 2800 and 22000 fleets. In addition, a separate tender
was announced for the supply of new bogies and bolsters for the fleet. This is
to be spread over 5 years with a minimum of 2 bogies and 2 bolsters to be
supplied at a time, with all 36 bogies covered.
076
was sent to Cork on Monday 2 January 2017 to collect failed 234.
Retro 071: The Retro liveried class leader
071 was busy from October to January. On Thursday 13 October 2016, it worked 8
empty HOBS wagons from Portarlington to Platin for loading and then dropping on
the Navan Branch
On Monday 17 October, it worked 11:00 Platin
Heuston per way train, then the following day to Thurles from North Wall with 11
empty spoil wagons.
It remained in Limerick area from 22 October
after working the RPSI Special from Dublin Connolly via Athenry. It remained
working there for a number of weeks.
On 23 November, it worked 3 empty timber 10:00
Limerick to Waterford and returned 13:15 Waterford to Limerick with 1 CPW and 1
empty timber wagon.
It remained based in the Limerick area until
Thursday 8 December, when it worked the 07:50 Limerick to Inchicore wagon
transfer consisting of 1 CPW and 1 wheelcarrier, but was swopped at Inchicore
with 084 returning to Limerick L.E. (light engine).
By 20 December, it was on the Tara Mines working
with 077, being observed on 29 December on the 09:20 Tara Mines Alexandra
Dock Road and 14:00 return
On 10 January 2017 it was swapped for 085, and
went L.E. to Kildare for a timber.
201-class:
Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems (UK) won a tender calling for the fitting of
sanding equipment to the 201 fleet. This is to be fitted after the 2600 fleet
has been fully fitted.
231
was adorned with IWT logos for a photoshoot at North Wall. It worked the 09:35
North Wall Ballina IWT on Tuesday 4 October 2016. The logos were only
applied on one end and removed a week later.
229
suffered a cracked windscreen on Wednesday 5 October 2016, the damage occurring
whilst working the 17:00 Heuston Cork. The train terminated in Ballybrophy,
with 3-piece ICR 22047 working onwards. The Mark 4 set (4007) then worked the
18:25 Portlaoise Heuston local service, calling at Portarlington, Kildare,
Newbridge and Heuston (in place of 22047)..
216
was dispatched on 29 November 2016 from Heuston to Mallow to collect failed loco
215. The consist returned that evening.
Locos
217, 220, 232 and 234 were all released to traffic during the period under
review. Of interest is that 217 and 220 have gained yellow-backed nameplates, in
place of the more conventional black-backed nameplates.
218
failed on Thursday 29 December 2016 whilst working the 12:20 Cork Heuston.
Passengers were de-trained at Ballybrophy, and 231 ran Light Engine to rescue
the set (4006).
234
failed on Friday 30 December 2016 whilst working the 07:00 Heuston Cork, the
failure happening south of Mallow. Cork standby 229 went to rescue the set, and
dragged it into Cork. 216 was sent as standby loco.
216
was finally used in passenger service on Sunday 22 January 2017, working the
12:20 Cork Heuston and 19:00 Heuston Cork. It then did a full diagram on
Monday 23 January, finishing up in Heuston and being placed as standby loco for
the Tuesday. On Wednesday it worked the 08:00 Heuston Cork, 11:20 return,
16:00 Heuston Cork and 20:20 return.
Inchicore:
On 7 January 2017, 29016 was in the paint
shop, 222 and 086 were undergoing body overhauls, while 215 and 234 were in
fleet overhaul shop undergoing repairs. 081 was almost ready for re-entry to
traffic after body overhaul, repaint and repairs, as well as modifications
including new air tanks, new cab consoles, new handbrake, replacement overhauled bogies.
082 had finished its body overhaul but undergoing work similar to 081. Noted
body-overhauled so far are: 216, 217, 220, 224, 226, 227, 228, 230, 231, 232,
233, 234.
Railcars
Class
2600:
2601+2602 transferred to Limerick Depot for a B-exam on Wednesday 13 October
2016, working as the 20:30 Cork Limerick Ety.
Sanding
Equipment:
The 2600 class railcars have been retrofitted with an on-board sanding system.
It is a fully automatic variable rate system with an additional manual function.
In automatic mode, the system will deliver sand to the railhead whenever the
train experiences wheel slip or slide as indicated by the Wheel Slip Protection
(WSP) system. As regards variable rate there are limits on the amount of sand
that is allowed to be distributed on the railhead to ensure that train detection
is not lost. A variable rate system can adjust the quantity of sand being
distributed allowing more sand at higher speed
and reducing the amount as the
speed drops.
In
the cab, the activating button on the driver's desk illuminates whenever the
system is dispensing sand in automatic or manual mode.
Externally
a sand box is fitted in each corner behind the front cowling. It is connected to
the main reservoir pipe
which supplies the air pressure for
distributing the sand.
A hose goes from the box to the sanding nozzle which directs the sand
under the leading wheel in the direction of travel. Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems
(UK) fitted the systems at Limerick works.
Class
2800:
Due to the Ballast Cleaning requiring 8-pice ICR formations (that cannot call at
Ballybrophy), the Ballybrophy-Limerick service was extended to Portlaoise on
29/30 October, 5 November, and 5 December for all services, connecting into the
Cork services. This requires an empty trip to Portarlington between runs, due to
the signalling layout at Portlaoise. 2807+2808 were noted on 5 November.
Class
22000 ICR:
The ICR fleet is currently going through an external deep clean, with the
appearance of such sets being far brighter than previously. Sets so far observed
are: 22010, 22027, 22019, 22058, 22006, 22061 and vehicle 22331. In addition,
the fleet are slowly getting blue seat-back tables, to reduce the appearance of
dirt. Sets so far treated are: 22001, 22002, 22005, 22007, 22010, 22019, 22027,
22031, 22038, 22047, 22061.
The
new front as described in Journal 188 continue to be fitted. Since Journal 191,
the following vehicles have been fitted: 22131, 22133, 22135, 22136, 22201,
22202, 22205, 22209, 22210, 22213, 22215, 22217, 22219, 22222, 22225, 22226,
22227, 22230, 22249, 22250, 22252, 22259, 22301, 22302, 22303, 22305, 22309,
22313, 22315, 22317, 22319, 22327, 22328, 22330, 22331, 22332, 22333, 22335,
22350, 22351, 22352, 22359, 22361. This makes 25 sets fully fitted with the new
fronts, with a total of 62 new fronts installed. Of note is that the bottom bar
of the new front is vulnerable to damage, with several vehicles noticed with
damaged or missing bars. Apart from that minor issue, the new fronts are
standing up well to damage.
Numbering:
The fleet is gaining internal UIC numbers displayed over the cab doors,
replacing the previous style. It appears that only the number above the cab
doors are being done, with other numbers left in the original style.
Failures:
22010+22043 failed on Sunday 16
October 2016 whilst working the 09:50 Heuston Galway. They overnighted in
Tullamore, and 22010 was identified as the issue. Repair of 22043 was achieved
on site, and it was worked back to Laois Traincare Depot. Due to the
unavailability of a Laois Traincare driver, the set stabled in the Down Yard at
Portarlington, making a new section of the network covered by ICRs. 22010 was
dragged back to Laois Traincare Depot at a later date.
Unusual
Working:
22036 was allocated to the
16:55 Docklands M3 Parkway service following the failure of booked set
22044. This marked the first visit of a 5-car Premier Class set to Docklands and
M3 Parkway. It worked the 17:05 M3 Parkway - Docklands, 18:25 Docklands - M3
Parkway and 19:05 M3 Parkway Connolly as well.
Trial
Refurbishment:
22038 was chosen as a trial set for a refresh. New lower interior panels have
been fitted, replacing the previous cloth material with a Lamigraf material. The
lower interior panels around the buffet area have also been changed, from a grey
colour to light blue.
Class
8100:
Motor coaches 8107 and 8112 have a new rainstrip fitted along the entire
bodyside in a trial fitting.
Coaching
Stock
COACHING
STOCK
MkIV
News: An additional set
has been brought back into traffic, making the 08:00/16:00 Heuston Cork and
the 11:20/19:20 Cork Heuston Mark IV operation. The table below shows the
workings now in the hands of Mark IVs: