CIÉ 113 Class

The Córas Iompair Éireann 113 Class locomotives were the first mainline diesel locomotives used in Ireland, being built in January 1950 and October 1951 by CIE at their Inchicore Works. They were fitted with Sulzer 6LDA28 engines of 915hp (uprated to 960hp in 1956), with four Metropolitan Vickers MV157 traction motors. They were of Bo-Bo wheel arrangement, weighed 80tons and had a maximum speed of 55mph. They were initially numbered 1100-1101 in the steam locomotive number series (and designated Class C2a), but were subsequently renumbered B113-B114 in 1957.

They were intended for mixed traffic duties, hauling both freight and passenger trains. When they were first introduced, they were used on some of the express passenger duties between Dublin and Cork. However, with the arrival of production diesel locomotives (the 001 and 101 Classes) from 1955, these two locomotives were used more for freight work, mostly in the area around Dublin.

They suffered from a recurring brake fault and following a serious incident in August 1971 when 114 ran away while working a goods train, both locomotives were withdrawn for modifications to be made to their brakes. In fact, 114 was never reinstated and 113 only worked for a few months at the end of 1974 before it too was stored again. Both were then used at Inchicore Works as part of a sound barrier with 101 Class locomotives. B113 has been retained by Iarnród Éireann under the care of the Heritage Committee, but 114 was not so lucky and was scrapped in March 1995.[1]