CIÉ 101 Class
The Córas Iompair Éireann 101 Class locomotives, numbered B101-B112, were built in 1956 by the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company. They were fitted with Sulzer 6LDA28 engines of 960hp, with four Metropolitan-Vickers MV157 traction motors. They were of A1A-A1A wheel arrangement, weighed 75tons and had a maximum speed of 75mph.[1]
They were intended for mixed traffic duties, hauling both freight and passenger trains. In particular, they found regular use on the lines around Limerick, Waterford, Mallow and Tralee. They were generally successful locomotives, but during the 1960s many of the secondary lines that they were used on were closed and, following the arrival of the 181 Class, they were confined to minor use such as engineering trains.
The first withdrawal took place in 1969 (B111), and the last in February 1978 (B106). A proposal to re-engine them in the light of similar refurbishments of the 001 and 201 Classes came to nought, and the decision was taken to order new locomotives in the form of the 071 Class instead.
After withdrawal, the entire class was lined up together with the two 113 Class locomotives to form a sound barrier around Inchicore Works. Official withdrawal of the class came in April 1984, and the majority were scrapped during 1987. However, 103 survived and has been preserved by the Irish Traction Group at Carrick-on-Suir[2].
![[2]](http://www.irishtractiongroup.com/sr103.jpg){kind=link}