141 Class

Built: 1962 by GM, La Grange Illinois works USA.

37 of these Bo-Bo locomotives were delivered to CIE in 1962 following the success of the 121 Class, and were also designated as the B Class. The 141s also carried the then new black & tan livery on delivery.

The 141 Class is basically a double cab version of the earlier 121 Class, and this made them a lot more versatile. The 141s could also work in multiple within its own class and later with other GM locos such as the later batch of 181 Class locos.

The 141s worked all over the Irish Rail system and included services on the Dublin-Belfast 'Enterprise', and in later years worked Dublin suburban trains from Maynooth, Arklow and Drogheda. Their last passengers duties were on cross country services. The few remaining 141s are employed in shunting duties at Inchicore, Dublin. Four locos have been preserved with Nos.141 & 142 restored to their original 1960s livery by the RPSI.

Max Speed: 80mph Weight: 67tons Length:13.42
Fitted for multiple operation with other GM locos (121+181)
The pioneering 141 Class loco, No.141, is seen stabled on the Navan branch at Drogheda in early 2003. The 141/181 locos generally operated cement trains from the Platin factory just outside Drogheda. No.141 with another baby GM loco, head a permanent way train north through Bagnalstown Station, Co.Carlow, en route from Waterford to Portlaoise. No.141 has since been preserved by the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland. At East Wall, Dublin, No.141 is seen in the company of brakevan No.8456, fitted with a plough for spreading the ballast evenly along the line. No.8456 is in fact the oldest piece of rolling stock on Irish Rail, built at Inchicore Works by the Great Southern & Western in 1906. The signalman hands over the token for the single line section to Limerick City to the driver of locos Nos.141+142 at Ennis Station, Co.Clare.
Restored to their deliveried 1962 CIE 'black & tan' livery, locos Nos.B141+B142, stand at Mullingar Station with the RPSI's 'Diesel Do' railtour from Dublin to Longford, consisting of the vintage steam heated coaching stock Nos.B141 & B142 stand outside the running shed at Inchicore Works, Dublin, shortly after their acquisition by the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland. Nos.142+141 arrive at Ennis with the evening 17:05 Dublin to Limerick and Ennis service, formed of 1980s built Mk3 coaching stock. Seen complete with vintage oil lamps, No.B142 leads sister loco No.B141 at Connolly Station, Dublin, having arrived with the return working of the RPSI's 'Diesel Do' railtour from Longford.
No.B142 heads north from Killester Station, Dublin, while operating light engine to its new home at the RPSI base at Whitehead. No.B142 is seen stabled outside the RPSI base at Whitehead, Northern Ireland. The loco is currently in use as a shunter at this location. Due to a bent frame, 141 Class loco No.143 was confined as a pilot locomotive, carrying out only minimal duties. It is seen stabled by the running shed at Inchicore, Dublin, in 2002. No.144 stands at the bay platform at the north end of Limerick Jct having arrived with a service from Limerick, consisting of the 1960s Craven built coaches.
Locos Nos.144+147 stand at Rosslare Harbour, Co.Wexford, prior to departing north with the return Irish Railway Record Society special to Dublin. A side profile view of loco No.144, seen stabled adjacent to Connolly loco shed, Dublin. The city scape horizon behind the loco would have looked very different to when No.144 entered service with CIE in November 1962. No.144 shunts a rake of Mk3 coaches at Islandbridge Jct, just outside Dublin's Heuston Station. The Mk3s had formed a GAA special to Dublin that morning. No.144 is seen in charge of an 8100 Class DART unit transfer from Inchicore to Connolly Station. This loco has since been withdrawn but not yet scrapped; currently remaining out of use at Inchicore Works.
Nos.145+160 are seen together at the ballast sidings at East Wall yard, Dublin. Both these locos have since been scrapped. In November No.146 is captured passing south through Donabate, north Co.Dublin, with a keg train bound for North Wall yard in Dublin. This loco has since been preserved by the Irish Traction Group. 141/181 Class locomotives Nos.146+189, stand in the middle road at Limerick Jct prior to taking an Irish Traction Group special north to Dublin. Another 141/181 Class loco combination sees Nos.146+190 lead a permanent way train west through Drumcondra Station, north Dublin City.
Nos.146+141 are seen stabled outside Limerick Works, just east of the passenger station in Limerick City. Hazelhatch has changed beyond recognition to when No.146 first went on a trail run from Dublin to here in November 1962. The loco is seen light engine at the station preparing to head south to Portlaoise. Now operating in preservation at the Downpatrick Railway, Co.Down, No.146 prepares to depart King Magnus's Halt with a special to Downpatrick, formed of the ex NIR railbus No.RB3. No.146 stands at Inch Abbey, just north west of Downpatrick town, at the head of a returning Irish Traction Group special.
Nos.147+144 look well in the sun at Enniscorthy Station having arrived from Dublin on an Irish Railway Record Society special to Rosslare. Both these locos have since been withdrawn from Irish Rail service. No.147 stands in front of a rake oil tank wagons adjacent to Connolly loco shed, Dublin. The loco had previously brought over the wagons from the North Wall yard. No.147 is at Drumcondra Station, north Dublin City, has it heads a freight wagon transfer from Dublin to the wagon workshops in Co.Limerick. On the train are a Tara Mines, ballast and bulk cement wagons. Nos.147+141 accelerate through Kildare Station light engine as they head for Inchicore Works on the west side of Dublin City.
In 2002, No.149 is seen looking rather tired stabled in the Guinness yard at Heuston Station. No.149 was eventually withdrawn and scrapped at Inchicore Works. In early 2002, No.150 leads a permanent way train through Sallins Station, consisting of bogey flat wagons loaded with new concrete sleepers from Portlaoise. Bagnalstown, Co.Carlow, plays host to 141/181 Class locos Nos.152+190 as they pause for a photo-stop while working the Irish Traction Group's 'Docklands Pioneer' trip to Waterford. On the approach to East Wall yard, Dublin, No.152 shunts a ballast train beneath the 'East Road' overbridge.
No.152 is seen stabled with a ballast train beside the former bulk cement terminal at the west end of Athenry, Co.Galway. The cement silo here has since been demolished. Locos Nos.152+171 stand at Dublin Connolly's platform 4 at the head of an IRRS special to Limerick, formed of Mk3 coaching stock. 141/121 Class locos Nos.154+127 are seen stabled at the east end of Portarlington Station. Both these General Motors built engines, dating from 1962 and 1961 respectively, have since been scrapped. No.156 reverses out of the dead end terminus at Killarney Station, Co.Kerry, with a Mallow to Tralee service in July 2002. This service is nowadays railcar operated.
Seen at the north end of Limerick Jct, No.156 is propelling a Limerick to Rosslare service out of the station prior to traversing the flat crossing with the main Dublin-Cork line. No.159 stands at Limerick Station having worked a service from Limerick Jct in 2002. No.159 was withdrawn and scrapped in September 2006. Seen in the company of the RPSI's WT 2-6-4 steam loco No.4, Nos.159 & 159 are seen stabled in the sidings at Connolly Station, Dublin. Entering service on the 13th December 1962, GM built No.159 was one of the few 141 Class locos to traverse the former Kilkenny to Portlaoise line just prior to its closure at the end of that month. Seen resting at Inchicore, Dublin, in late 2002, it was withdrawn and scrapped in September 2006.
No.159 looks very sorry for itself as it finally bids fairwell to its Irish railway career at Inchicore. However at least four members of the 1962 built 141 locomotive class, Nos.141, 142, 146 and 152, have been securred for preservation. No.160 are seen in the company sister loco No.145 at the ballast sidings at East Wall yard, Dublin. No.162 stands at Tralee Station, Co.Kerry before forming a morning service to Mallow, consisting of 1960s Craven coaches. No.162 remains in use as a shunter at Inchicore Works, Dublin. Nos.162+171 are seen at the buffer stops at Limerick Station having worked the 20:20 evening departure from Ennis, formed of Mk3 coaching stock.
No.162 is seen stabled in the permanent way yard at Kildare Station with a single ballast wagon. No.162 pauses briefly at Carrick-on-Suir Station with a summers evening service from Limerick to Waterford in 2002. This service is nowadays operated by diesel railcars. No.163 is captured at the western end of the valeting depot at Dublin Heuston while on station pilot duties. No.163 basks in the sun at the carriage stabling sidings at the rear of Dublin's Connolly Station. No.163 was finally withdrawn from Irish Rail service in December 2008.
Final view of No.163 is at Inchicore Works, Dublin, seen stabled at the rear of locomotive shed. The orange livery on No.167 had become much faded when captured at Inchicore, Dublin. Old & new are seen sharing the loco shed at Dublin Connolly, with No.167 stabled beside a modern 22000 Class diesel railcar. No.167 hauls a Mk3 pushpull train out of the carriage sidings adjacent to Islandbridge Junction, Dublin. The Mk3 stock, as well as No.167, has since been withdrawn from Irish Rail service.
No.168 is seen passing along the down side of Dundalk Station, Co.Louth, as it shunts the adjacent freight yard. Today there are no freights trains north of Drogheda on the Dublin to Belfast main line. No.168 at the east end of Claremorris Station, Co.Mayo, stabled with the old weed spraying train. No.168 is seen in the siding alongside the former loco shed at Limerick Jct with a rake of 1960s vintage bulk cement wagons. The loco, as well as the wagons, have since been scrapped. Nos.170+177 are seen stabled on a ballast train in Waterford West yard.
No.170, with an unidentified sister, power south through Sallins Station with a loaded Guinness keg train from Dublin to Cork. This freight service has since ceased. No.170 is seen shunting a rake of 1960s era Cravan coaches at Limerick as it prepares to operate Ian Walsh's 'Boat Train' railtour to Rosslare Harbour. A little later from the previous photo, No.170 pauses for a photo stop at Clonmel, Co.Tipperary, while en route to Rosslare with the 'Boat Train' railtour. In mid 2003, No.171 is seen on station pilot duties at Dublin Heuston, during the reconstruction of the station.
Nos.171+162 are seen backing down onto their train at the south end of Ennis Station, Co.Clare, prior to operating an evening service to Limerick. Nos.171+162 are now seen at the buffer stops at Limerick Station having worked the 20:20 evening departure from Ennis. No.171 is seen light engine at the south end of Pearse Station, Dublin, having hauled two 8100 Class DART units from Inchicore Works on the west side of the city. Nos.171+141 are seen on pilot duties in Waterford West yard shunting two loaded timber wagons, prior to operating an RPSI railtour to Limerick Jct.
Nos.171+141 are now seen in charge of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland's 'Comeragh Railtour' at Clonmel Station, en route to Limerick Jct. Another railtour sees locos Nos.171+152 at Cloughjordan at the head of an Irish Railway Record Society special to Limerick, former of Mk3 coaching stock. Later that day, Nos.171+152 stand at Tipperary Station at the head of the Mk3 coaching stock forming the IRRS special back to Dublin. No.171 is seen creating a haze of smoke through the Drumcondra area at Claude Rd, north Dublin City, as it brings a single bogey flat wagon to the North Wall freight yard.
No.171 brings a rake of empty flat wagons across East Wall road prior to loaded the IWT container train on the Alexandra Road, Dublin Port. The last remaining 141 Class loco in regular service, No.171, is seen creating plenty of smoke as it hauls the RPSI's ex CIE wooden bodied stock from Connolly Station to Inchicore Works. No.171 was last photographed shunting the loaded Ballina to Dublin IWT liner in East Wall yard, Dublin, prior to running down to the Alexandra Road tramway for unloading, which 071 Class No.076 will follow. With its characteristic wonky buffer, 141 Class loco No.173 is seen stabled to the rear of Connolly Station, in the company of 071 Class 079 and WT 2-6-4 tank No.4. A notoriety of No.173 was when the loco operated to Edenderry when new in March 1962.
No.173 is seen in the company of sister loco No.177 at Dublin Port, shunting the then newly arrived 22000 Class railcars. No.173 completed 46 years of service on Irish railways, finally withdrawn and scrapped in November 2008. Nos.175+167 ars seen at East Wall yard, Dublin, on a permanent way train. Seen at the through platforms at Dublin's Connolly Station, No.175 is seen having hauled an 8500 DART set from Inchicore Works on the west side of the city. No.175 is seen again at Connolly Station, shunting a Mk1 generator van which had earlier formed an RPSI steam special.
No.175 is seen by the valeting depot at Heuston while on station pilot duties. No.175 entered service in December 1962, and was finally withdrawn in 2009. No.175 and a sister GM loco head through Newbridge Station, Co.Kildare, with an empty ballast train to Dublin's North Wall yard. No.176, prepares to depart Mallow with a service to Tralee, consisting of the 1960s built Craven coaches. No.176 was eventually withdrawn and scrapped in 2006. Coupled up to the then newly arrived 22000 Class railcars at Dublin Port are veteran 141 Class locos No.177+173, which would eventually all the new railcars to Drogheda.
A study of a clean looking No.177, seen humming away at the carriage sidings at the rear of Dublin's Connolly Station. On a misy afternoon, Nos.177+152 are seen at the head of a Limerick cement train in Waterford West freight yard. This freight traffic from the Castlemungret cement factory in Limerick has since ceased. The Limerick Station pilot/shunter, No.177, stands at the head of a rake of Mk3 stock which had formed an IRRS special from Dublin.