CIE 121 Class
With problems within its early fleet of diesel locomotives the C.I.E. placed an order with American builders
General Motors to supply a class of 15 locomotives to one of their standard designs adapted to the Irish broad gauge, this becoming their
Class 121.
The
Córas Iompair Éireann 121 Class locomotives were built in 1961 by General Motors, numbered B121 to B135, and were in regular service in Ireland until 2005.
As of 2006 two units still see service on freight duties. Prior to 1961, almost all Irish diesel locomotives had been built in the British Isles (the
601 Class locomotives being the exception), but from then on GM became the normal supplier for CIÉ locomotives, and later for
Northern Ireland Railways locomotives too.
The new locos were a typical American ‘road switcher', with only one cab. The layout of the cab was vastly different to other CIÉ diesel models, with the controls to the side of the driver, rather than to the front. The G.M. engines were the first to be sold into Europe and arrived in Ireland in 1961. However, it was ultimately agreed that the locomotives would only work with the cab leading the train, rather than the other way about as was the case in the U.S.
They were fitted with a GM 8-567CR engine of 950hp, weighed 64tons and had a maximum speed of 77mph. 126-129 were later rebuilt with a GM 8-645E engine of 1100hp; the same sort as were used for the rebuilt
201 Class locomotives.
By 1995, the 121 Class was displaced from most passenger routes by the 201 class. Throughout the late 1990's the fleet dwindled and by 2005, only No's. 124 and 134 remained in service, with No. 123 in store. The rest had been earlier withdrawn and scrapped following the arrival of new locomotives and the ongoing decline in light freight traffic that these locomotives were used for.
The last ever 121 class service was a Dublin-Sligo-Dublin special on July 16th, 2005. Hundreds of railway enthusiasts from throughout Ireland and Britain gathered in Sligo to bid a fond farewell to 124 and 134, ‘the Class of 121', the oldest surviving locomotives in the Irish Rail fleet. The event raised €10,000 for the international Railway Children's Charity.
Last day of the 121'sThey have subsequently seen occasional use on the Ballina branch.
On delivery the locomotives were painted in a Yellow and Grey livery, hardly in keeping with anything else on the system and not easy to keep clean either. This was replaced within a year by the new black / tan (orange) colour scheme, to which, in time, narrow (approx. 1" / 25mm) white bands were added separating the colours.
