CIE 421 Class
Encyclopedia
The Córas Iompair Éireann
421 Class was a railway locomotive
, built by the CIÉ at Inchicore Works between 1962–1963 and designed for branch line traffic use and shunting.
The 421 Class was a larger development of the earlier 401 Class
, and were fitted with a Maybach MD220 engine of 420 hp with diesel hydraulic transmission via a Mekydro KL64U torque converter. Unlike the earlier E401 class, these locomotives were fitted for multiple operation. They were of C wheel arrangement
.
The first of the class made its debut in early October 1962 on pilot duties in the Dublin area and although they had a design maximum speed of 100 km/h (60 mph), experience (notably the derailment of a trial train hauled by E421) showed that they did not ride well when travelling at speeds over 40 km/h (25 mph) and so henceforth were limited to that speed and used simply for shunting duties instead. They were numbered E421–E434, and were withdrawn from service between 1979 and 1983.
Three of these locomotives have been preserved, as follows:
Córas Iompair Éireann
Córas Iompair Éireann , or CIÉ, is a statutory corporation of the Irish state, answerable to the Irish Government and responsible for most public transport in the Republic of Ireland and, jointly with its Northern Ireland counterpart, the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, between the...
421 Class was a railway locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
, built by the CIÉ at Inchicore Works between 1962–1963 and designed for branch line traffic use and shunting.
The 421 Class was a larger development of the earlier 401 Class
CIE 401 Class
The Córas Iompair Éireann 401 Class locomotives were built in 1957-1958 and designed for use on branch line traffic and shunting. They were fitted with a Maybach MD220 engine of 420 hp, with diesel hydraulic transmission via a Mekydro KL64 torque converter, and were of C wheel arrangement.Though...
, and were fitted with a Maybach MD220 engine of 420 hp with diesel hydraulic transmission via a Mekydro KL64U torque converter. Unlike the earlier E401 class, these locomotives were fitted for multiple operation. They were of C wheel arrangement
UIC classification
The UIC classification of locomotive axle arrangements describes the wheel arrangement of locomotives, multiple units and trams. It is set out in the International Union of Railways "Leaflet 650 - Standard designation of axle arrangement on locomotives and multiple-unit sets". It is used in much...
.
The first of the class made its debut in early October 1962 on pilot duties in the Dublin area and although they had a design maximum speed of 100 km/h (60 mph), experience (notably the derailment of a trial train hauled by E421) showed that they did not ride well when travelling at speeds over 40 km/h (25 mph) and so henceforth were limited to that speed and used simply for shunting duties instead. They were numbered E421–E434, and were withdrawn from service between 1979 and 1983.
Three of these locomotives have been preserved, as follows:
- E421 and E432: Owned by and based at the Downpatrick & County Down Railway, Northern IrelandNorthern IrelandNorthern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
http://www.downrail.co.uk/locos.htm. E421 is operational; E432 is in store. - E428: has recently moved from Inchicore Works to Dunsandle, Co. Galway under private ownership.