The
Córas Iompair Éireann 141 class locomotives were delivered in November and December 1962 from
General Motors Electro Motive Division (EMD), the first consignment being unloaded at the North Wall, Dublin on 22 November. They were numbered B141 to B177 and were an updated version of the earlier
121 Class locomotives, mechanically very similar but with cabs at each end.
They are EMD model JL8 (J = Double Ended Cabs, L = Lightweight Frame, 8= 8-cylinder 567 engine) and although originally fitted with an
EMD 8-567CR engine of , all were later fitted with
645 type "power packs" (piston & liner assemblies) for parts standardisation. The original power output was kept for reliability reasons. They weighed 67 tonnes and had a maximum speed of . Many of these locomotives were later rebuilt with a GM 8-645E engine of (as used in the re-engined
Class C locomotives), though some have since had the original engine refitted. The locomotives were delivered in the new livery of brown/black/white.
Following crew training trials between Inchicore and
Monasterevin (passenger trains),
Kildare (goods trains), and
Hazelhatch (light engines), the class appeared on main line trials from
Amiens Street (Connolly) to
Drogheda, and
Westland Row (Pearse) to
Arklow on 4 December 1962, entering traffic on the Dublin to Cork main line four days later. The locomotives were fitted for multiple working and
double-headed the 10:40 Dublin to Cork train and the return Cork to Dublin at 15:30. ...
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