History
With their design, size and axle loading, they were intended for mixed traffic duties, hauling both freight and passenger trains. They found regular use primarily on the Waterford–Mallow railway line, Waterford-Mallow–Tralee railway line, Mallow-Tralee line and also on the Limerick–Tralee railway line, Tralee-Newcastle West-Limerick line. Given that they were the first main group of diesel locos used in Ireland, they proved very successful and quickly gained a reputation for comfort and reliability by contrast to the poor cab conditions and suspension rocking of the CIÉ 113 Class, 113 Class and the interminable breakdowns of the CIÉ 001 Class, A Class and CIÉ 201 Class, C Class locomotives. However, during the 1960s many of the secondary lines that they were used on were closed and following the arrival of the CIÉ 181 Class, 181 Class, the 101s were relegated to goods, permanent way and pilot duties. 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 Class 001 and Class 201 came to nothing, and the decision was taken to order new locomotives in the form of the CIÉ 071 Class, 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 between December 1986 and March 1987.Preservation
One locomotive, No. 103 survived and has been preserved by the Irish Traction Group, and is currently in storage at Carrick-on-Suir railway station. It was purchased by the group in 1993 directly from Iarnród Éireann and is awaiting eventual restoration.Model
A resin OO gauge model kit is available froSee also
*British Rail Class 24 (fitted with the same engine)References
*External links