CIÉ 401 Class

{{Short description|Class of locomotives}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox locomotive

| name = Córas Iompair Éireann E class
(later 401 class)

| image =

| caption = 401 at Mullingar

| builder = CIÉ, Inchicore Works

| builddate = 1957–1958

| totalproduction = 19

| uicclass = C

| gauge = {{RailGauge|1600mm|lk=on}}

| wheeldiameter = {{convert|3|ft|2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

| length = {{convert|8.95|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| width =

| height =

| locoweight = {{convert|39.4|t}}

| primemover = Maybach MD220

| transmission = Hydraulic, Mekydro KL64 torque converter

| maxspeed = {{convert|40|km/h|abbr=on}}

| poweroutput = {{convert|420|hp|kW|abbr=on}}

| tractiveeffort = Starting: {{convert|97|kN|lbf|abbr=on}}

| operator = Córas Iompair Éireann

| operatorclass = E Class (later 401 class)

| fleetnumbers = E401–E419

| withdrawndate = 1968–1977

| disposition = All scrapped

}}

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 {{convert|420|hp|kW|abbr=on}}, with diesel hydraulic transmission via a Mekydro KL64 transmission, and were of C wheel arrangement.

Though they had a design maximum speed of {{convert|100|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, experience showed that they did not ride well when travelling at speeds over {{convert|40|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} and so henceforth were limited to that speed. They were numbered E401–E419, and were withdrawn from service between 1968 and 1977 and none were preserved.{{Cite web |url=http://www.irishtractiongroup.com/loco_photos/E402%20Mullingar.jpg |title=See also Irish Traction Group info. |access-date=2007-06-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927013520/http://www.irishtractiongroup.com/loco_photos/E402%20Mullingar.jpg |archive-date=2007-09-27 |url-status=dead }}