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Córas Iompair Éireann A class (later 001 class)
001 Class locomotive No. 051
Type and origin Power type Diesel–electric Builder Metropolitan-Vickers, Dukinfield Works, Manchester Build date 1955–1956 Total produced 60
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR C-C  • UIC Co′Co′ Gauge 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Length 15.55 m (51 ft 0 in) Width 2.692 m (8 ft 10.0 in) Height 3.835 m (12 ft 7.0 in) Loco weight 84 tonnes (83 long tons; 93 short tons) Prime mover Crossley HSTV8 Re-engined 1968–1971 with EMD 12-645E Generator DC generator Traction motors Metropolitan Vickers MV137CW/K, 6 off DC traction motors Transmission Diesel electric Loco brake Vacuum Train brakes Vacuum
Performance figures Maximum speed 120 km/h (75 mph) Power output Crossley HSTV8: 1,200 hp (890 kW) at 625 rpm EMD 12-645E: 1,325 hp (988 kW) at 830 rpm EMD 12-645E: 1,650 hp (1,230 kW) at 900 rpm (Nos. 027, 036, 046, 054 & 059. All later de-rated to 1325 hp) Tractive effort 275 kN (62,000 lbf) starting, 77 kN (17,000 lbf) continuous at 35 km/h (22 mph)
Career Operators Córas Iompair Éireann Iarnród Éireann Class A, later 001 Numbers A1–A60, later 001–060 Withdrawn 1973–1995 Disposition Four preserved, remainder scrapped

The Córas Iompair Éireann 001 Class locomotive was manufactured by Metropolitan-Vickers at their Dukinfield Works in Manchester. The 001 Class locomotive was the backbone of mainline passenger and freight train services on the Irish railway network for forty years from 1955 until the mid-1990s when they were replaced by the new 201 Class.

Engines

Crossley

Initially they were fitted with eight-cylinder two-stroke, port-controlled Crossley engines. These were a loop scavenge type, which utilised a patented principle that recycled the normally wasted exhaust-pressure pulse to boost charge air in the cylinder. They produced 890 kW (1,200 hp) at 625 rpm and could do 120 km/h (75 mph). The original sandboxes, which were used to improve traction with the rail, were removed after a few years.

Their Crossley engines proved to be notoriously unreliable from the start. Amongst a plethora of problems were:

• Unbalanced engines resulting in vibration-induced fuel pipe and water pipe fractures
• Cylinder defects
• Excessive water temperature causing shutdowns

There were also problems with generator and motor flashovers.

Similar problems were also encountered on the Crossley-engined Western Australian Government Railways X Class and British Rail Class 28 locomotives.

EMD

These problems were tackled between 1968 and 1971 through the progressive re-engining of the entire class with a 1,650 horsepower (1,230 kW) 12-cylinder EMD 645E engine (a similar process was implemented for the original 201 Class). However, this power output stressed the ability of the original cooling and transmission systems and the engine output was reduced to 1,325 horsepower (988 kW) for improved reliability. When built, these locomotives were originally numbered A1 to A60, and as locomotives were re-engined, they had the suffix 'R' added to their number. From 1972, the prefix letters were dropped and the locomotives were renumbered 001 to 060.

Accidents and incidents

• On 5 December 1963, locomotive A17 was hauling a passenger train from Westland Row to Westport when it broke down at Mullingar, County Westmeath. Locomotive A42 was sent to its assistance, but collided with the stationary train at a speed of 30 to 40 miles per hour (48 to 64 km/h). Both locomotives were damaged, 16 people were injured.
• On 23 October 1973, 008 suffered bomb damage at Meigh.
• On 20 December 1978, 010 collided with three NIR vehicles at Lisburn.
• On 21 April 1979, 046 suffered bomb damage at Killeen Bridge (near Newtowncloghoge).
• On 23 July 1979, 004 was hijacked, derailed and burnt out at Goraghwood.
• On 12 March 1983, 032 sustained damage after running away in Cork Yard.
• On 2 June 1988, 040 sustained damage in a shunting accident at Heuston station.

Preservation

Four A class locomotives survived into preservation, the details of which are outlined in the table below:

• A15
• A39_R

Model

The A Class is available as a 4mm scale (OO) ready-to-run (RTR) model from Irish Railway Models. Announced in October 2018, it was released in October 2021. In the past it has been made as a 00 gauge kit by Silver Fox Models.

References

1. "Report of Inquiry into Accident on Railway System Córas Iompair Éireann near Mullingar, Co. Westmeath on 5th December 1963" (PDF). Department of Transport and Power via Rail Accident Investigation Unit. 1964. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
2. ^ Jones, Peter; Marshall, Andrew (2004). Irish Railways Traction and Travel (4th ed.). Stockport: Irish Traction Group. p. 12. ISBN 0952149613.
3. Silver Fox Models. "Iarnród Éireann 001 Class (A Class) Co-Co". Archived from the original on 31 March 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2009.

External links

• Eiretrains - Irish Locomotives
• Irish Traction Group webpage for preserved 001 Class No.A3r
• Irish Traction Group webpage for preserved 001 Class No.A39
• Hells Kitchen Museum, Home of preserved 001 Class No.A55

• Iarnród Éireann locomotives
• Metropolitan-Vickers locomotives
• Co-Co locomotives
• Railway locomotives introduced in 1955
• 5 ft 3 in gauge locomotives
• Diesel–electric locomotives of Ireland
• Co'Co' Diesel Locomotives of Europe