Rolling Stock 151

Irish Railway Record Society

Rolling Stock

LOCOMOTIVES

121-Class There have been further withdrawals and scrapping of 121-class locomotives, with 123, 127, 128, 129, 131, 133, 135 withdrawn from traffic at the end of February. This left only 124 and 134 in service. Both were in Limerick to cover the 3-piece Mk III push-pull set, but were also used on other trains as required. On Thursday 1 May, 134+163 worked the daily 03.35 Waterford-Limerick bulk-cement and 11.34 return. The latter passed Killonan Junction at 13.55 with 20 wagons. On 2 May, 134+163 were the motive power for the 06.45 Limerick-Dublin, with 124 + 3-piece push-pull (DT6102) on the 08.25 Limerick-Limerick Junction. The same evening 163+134 + 18 laden bogies formed the 19.50 North Wall-Ballina liner, returning next morning.

Locomotive 135 was withdrawn in working condition on Saturday 1 March. It had worked the Dublin-Sligo oil train with 144 on 27 February, both returning with the 16.45 empty from Sligo to North Wall next day. On Saturday 1 March, both worked an empty train from Connolly to Heuston, and then to Inchicore, where 135 was taken out of service. It acted as Works pilot in the following week, but was not permitted to leave the Works. It was stripped of re-usable parts and scrapped in April.

Locomotives 130 and 131 were scrapped in March. Locomotive 129 was in the Diesel No. 2 shops being stripped of usable parts in mid-March and was scrapped in April, as were 121 and 128. Locomotives 127 and 133 were lying out of use with parts removed and were expected to be cut up.

Locomotive 123 was being used as a Works pilot in March and is being retained in full working condition as a back up to 124 and 134. These three are the only remaining 121-class from an original fleet of fifteen.

ROLLING STOCK

New InterCity Carriages A contract for the shape, layout and aesthetics of both the driving trailer and passenger vehicles of the new CAF InterCity push-pull trains has been awarded to Design Triangle. CAF and Design Triangle previously worked together on the Heathrow Express and Madrid Metro systems. They have already produced models of the streamlined exterior. The consultancy work, valued at £100,000, involves producing three-dimensional computer-animated models so that practical issues are dealt with, such as ensuring that 'the lights are in the right place, that the coupler is still right and that the drivers cab is big enough'.

Mk III Executive train ‘half-saloon’ No. 7162 now been refurbished and converted into a standard vehicle, with 62 Mk III seats and a space for a wheelchair. No. 7161 has been refurbished with new interior furnishings and continues as a ‘bar-saloon’. Both coaches have been re-painted in the standard orange and black livery, with the word ‘Executive’ in gold script on the sides. It is understood that the City-Gold carriages will be refurbished using the same standard of furnishings.

Mk III Push-Pull New Cummins engines are being fitted to the Control Cars (Driving Trailers).

Mk IId Standard 5208 has returned from Bombardier in England where it received new end pillars to replace wasted parts. The job was regarded as a success and 5203 is now receiving similar attention. IÉ personnel have gone with it to Bombardier for training to allow further vehicles be repaired in Inchicore. No. 5208 will now receive the rest of its general overhaul in Inchicore in the usual manner.

Mk IIab The two remaining sets are expected to be withdrawn from traffic and scrapped when sufficient 2900-class railcars enter service this summer.

Cravens Inchicore Works have nearly finished the current programme of general repairs and overhauls. These vehicles, being largely aluminium bodied, are in very good condition and are expected to out last the mild-steel Mk II fleet despite being forty years old. They will be withdrawn from suburban use when sufficient 2900-class railcars enter service, but will be required for Fridays-Only trains and other provincial services.

GSV Generating Steam-heating Van 3159 has been recommended for withdrawal.

DIESEL RAILCARS

2800-class In January, these railcars were cleared to operate between Dublin Heuston and Portlaoise, with the exception of into platform 5 at Heuston and the bay platform at Portlaoise.

There were also platform clearance trials between Cork and Cobh on 11 March, using 2-car set 2813/14. In April, the class was cleared to operate from Portlaoise to Cork and Limerick (via Limerick Junction).

2900-class (CAF, Spain) Commissioning of the first 4-car set 2901-04 was due to commence on 3 February, but was suspended following the discovery of a fault in the Flender final-drive gear to the axles. The cause of the defect was identified by the suppliers and also affected vehicles awaiting delivery from Spain. These were rectified by CAF at their expense. The first set remained out of use at Inchicore waiting a modified set of bogies, but was used for driver training in the Works.

The discovery of these faults delayed the delivery of the second 4-car set, 2905-08. It was delivered to Dublin Port on Monday 10 March, from the MV RMS RATINGEN. High winds delayed the unloading until late afternoon. The train was taken to Inchicore for pre-commissioning. It operated a trial run to Kildare on Saturday 15 March before transferring to Limerick on Sunday 16 March.

Following gauge testing and clearing, 2905-08 commenced trial running at night between Limerick Junction and Charleville. This was initially on the down line under a possession until it was established that they correctly worked signals. It departed Limerick at 22.40 each weeknight and arrived back at 09.10.

Delivery of remaining vehicles was expected to be at a rate of three train sets per month, with delivery to be completed by September. The third set 2909-12 departed from Inchicore to Limerick on Tuesday 29 April. This left two sets in Limerick. One was stored under the train shed and the other in the loco shed. In May, both sets began test running between Limerick, Mallow and Kildare, commencing at 20.00. On 9 May, one set passed Portlaoise at 22.48 in the up direction. It was anticipated that mileage accumulation and commissioning would take about twelve weeks. Despite the final-drive gear problems, it was envisaged that the first sets would enter service during the summer, with all trains in service early next year.

DART

8100-Class The programme of external re-painting continues and is expected to be finished by the end of June.