CIÉ 611 Class
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox locomotive
| name = G611 class
| powertype = Diesel Hydraulic
| image = CIE G613.JPG
| caption = CIÉ G611 class No. G613 at work on the Downpatrick & Co Down Railway, which also hosts G611 and G617.
| builder = Motorenfabrick Deutz, Köln, West Germany
| buildmodel =
| serialnumber = 57223–57229 (not in order)
| builddate = 1961–1962
| uicclass = B
| gauge = {{RailGauge|1600mm|lk=on}}
| driverdiameter = {{convert|3|ft|1+1/2|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
| length = {{convert|6.43|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| locoweight = {{convert|22.|t|abbr=on}}
| primemover = Deutz A8L 714 air-cooled diesel
| enginetype = V8
| cylindercount = 8
| transmission = Voith hydraulic, chain drive final
| maxspeed = {{convert|42|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
| poweroutput = {{convert|120|kW|hp|abbr=on|lk=on}}
| tractiveeffort = {{convert|12000|lbf|kN|2|abbr=on}}
| operator = {{ubl|CIÉ (1962-77),|Irish Sugar Co. (1977)}}
| numinclass = 7
| fleetnumbers = G611–G617
| firstrundate = 1962
| withdrawndate = 1967–1977
| disposition = Four preserved, remainder scrapped
}}
The Córas Iompair Éireann 611 class locomotives were delivered from the manufacturers, Motorenfabrik Deutz at Cologne, Germany. They were delivered between December 1961 and February 1962, entering revenue earning service in the following August after receiving the new tan / black paint job at Inchicore.
History
Nos. 611 to 617 were a larger development of the earlier 601 class locomotives. They were fitted with a Deutz F/A8L 714 engine of {{convert|120|kW|hp}}, with Voith hydraulic transmission, weighed {{convert|22|t}} and had a maximum speed of {{convert|42|km/h|mph}}.
They went into traffic in various parts of the country, as shunting engines at smaller depots such as Dublin's North City Mills siding and branch line duties such as the Loughrea branch line between Attymon and Loughrea. They briefly appeared on the Limerick - Foynes mixed train service for a few months until that line was closed in 1963. Unlike the earlier 601 class, these locomotives were fitted with brake connections enabling them to work passenger trains. Apart from their use on the Foynes and Loughrea lines, they never hauled passengers until preservation in Downpatrick, where all three preserved have served on public passenger trains.
With their original lightweight branch line haunts all closed and therefore little to do, they were withdrawn from service between 1967 and 1977. Nos. 611, 613, 615, 616 and 617 were sold to Cómhlucht Siúicre Éireann (Irish Sugar Co., now known as Greencore) in 1977. Four of these locomotives have been preserved, with the remainder scrapped.
Fleet list
File:G's Under The Cathedral.JPG
| class="wikitable"
!Key: |bgcolor=lightgrey |Scrapped |bgcolor=lightskyblue |Preserved |
| class="wikitable"
!Number !Status !Notes |
| bgcolor=lightskyblue
|G611 |Preserved |
| bgcolor=lightgrey
|G612 |Scrapped | |
| bgcolor=lightskyblue
|G613 |Preserved |Privately owned, based at DCDR - partway through restoration |
| bgcolor=lightgrey
|G614 |Scrapped | |
| bgcolor=lightgrey
|G615 |Scrapped |Cab preserved privately |
| bgcolor=lightskyblue
|G616 |Preserved |Owned by ITG at Carrick-on-Suir - under restoration |
| bgcolor=lightskyblue
|G617 |Preserved |Owned by ITG at DCDR - fully operational |
Model
The 611 Class has been made as a 00 gauge brass kit by Worsley Works Models [http://www.worsleyworks.co.uk/4mm/4mm_Irish_Standard_Gauge_Diesel.htm].
{{clear left}}
References
- {{Strickland Locomotive Directory|page=166}}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.rangierdiesel.de/index.php?nav=1406282&lang=1 |title=CIE G 611 |work=rangierdiesel |accessdate=2014-03-23 |language=German}}
External links
{{commons category|CIÉ 611 Class}}
- [http://www.downrail.co.uk/locos.htm#Gclass Downpatrick & County Down Railway Preserved G611 Class] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061014040253/http://www.downrail.co.uk/locos.htm#Gclass |date=14 October 2006 }}
- [http://www.irishtractiongroup.com/611.html Irish Traction Group webpage for preserved G611]
- [http://www.irishtractiongroup.com/616.html Irish Traction Group webpage for preserved G616]
- [http://www.irishtractiongroup.com/617.html Irish Traction Group webpage for preserved G617]*
{{Ireland Diesel Locomotives}}
Category:Iarnród Éireann locomotives
Category:5 ft 3 in gauge locomotives
Category:Diesel locomotives of Ireland