201 Class Locomotives

GM228

Treadhead wrote: »

Looks like it was hauled from York Road facing that way (pics and video posted to FB of them approaching Central from York Road yesterday) . Why it was pointing the wrong way in York Road is beyond me.

209 was reversed for testing with overhauled Enterprise carriages in Fortwilliam Depot (all 201s were reversed via GVS when tested at Fortwilliam as all the Enterprise sets were reversed for overhaul and then turned back the correct way after overhaul), it failed during testing and remained the wrong way round as a result.

demanufactured

How can a 201 be the wrong way...they are the same at both ends no?

MrMorooka

demanufactured wrote: »

How can a 201 be the wrong way...they are the same at both ends no?

After the Enterprise refurb there is a socket needed to work with the coaches that is only on one end of the loco.

BeardySi

Plus the livery wouldn't line up.

Captain Chaos

MrMorooka wrote: »

After the Enterprise refurb there is a socket needed to work with the coaches that is only on one end of the loco.

And the new MMI screen that is the control interface for the Enterprise stock is only installed in the no1 end cab.

goingnowhere

And in 206/7/8/9 the cab at the A end which is normally Belfast end is actually slightly bigger

Itssoeasy

Captain Chaos wrote: »

And the new MMI screen that is the control interface for the Enterprise stock is only installed in the no1 end cab.

So what happens if that screen goes arseways when in use ? I'm guessing the MMI screen and all the new stuff isn't cheap but to me it seems like it doesn't leave much leeway if something goes wrong.

Jamie2k9

Can operate without the MMI

Itssoeasy

Actually I was taking to an ex Irish rail driver this evening and he was saying that the 201 class that IR bought an extra one for parts alone and that it was stripped in six months.

He also gave out about the wipers on the widescreen and how bad they were. He said they used to stop working and break off.

He also praised the 071 class as I was telling him that they repainted one for the 40th anniversary. He said they could get going but the brakes were poor in them.

Captain Chaos

Alot of drivers didn't like the 201s when they entered just like the 071s, the 071s took years to settle in with issues such as overheating bearings, mushy brakes, traction in slippy conditions and shunting issues which actually damaged some rolling stock and brake release issues. That was even before the bogie cracks and yaw damping issues developed.

The drivers didn't like the 201 because if the computer detected any issues it just shut the loco down, in the early days it happened alot. It was seen as over protective where as issues in the older GMs the drivers would just carry on if they didn't think it too serious.

Buying extra for parts is common. Irish rail did the same with the 2600 and 2700 DMUs, they ordered one spare of each and they end up as the hybrid set at the end of their lives after being swaped for damaged units in service.

MrMorooka

It's a bit of a shame, the 201s are my favourite class with IE, but the 071s seem to get a lot more love from the company. While class leader 071 got a great overhaul/painting for the tour today, poor old 201 is in a bad state.

goingnowhere

goingnowhere wrote: »

And in 206/7/8/9 the cab at the A end which is normally Belfast end is actually slightly bigger

Not an issue nowadays but when HEP was in use, the B end was much louder too. So while the loco could run when facing the wrong way, it wasn't ideal.

Captain Chaos

Captain Chaos wrote: »

Alot of drivers didn't like the 201s when they entered just like the 071s, the 071s took years to settle in with issues such as overheating bearings, mushy brakes, traction in slippy conditions and shunting issues which actually damaged some rolling stock and brake release issues. That was even before the bogie cracks and yaw damping issues developed.

Also the issue of them being incredibly difficult to start, they gobbled through batteries and starter motors for a long time. So they were just left running a lot of the time. Some terminal stations had external power supplies fitted to help start them if the batteries were flat.

Captain Chaos

I noticed 228 sticking out of the Connolly VP with an Enterprise set at 5pm yesterday, it looked ready to go as there was a driver in the cab.

Just wondering was that the short set used for testing?

Jamie2k9

Captain Chaos wrote: »

I noticed 228 sticking out of the Connolly VP with an Enterprise set at 5pm yesterday, it looked ready to go as there was a driver in the cab.

Just wondering was that the short set used for testing?

Could it of been preparing for the 18.50 service as ICR was scheduled to operate 13.20/16.05 services yesterday. I also think there was a set down one STD coach recently.

Captain Chaos

That was probably it, it looked like a short set as the EGV wasn't sticking outside the plant.

timber train

220 was sitting light engine outside heuston at 14.45 .

219 was on the cork service seen at 10.40am .

timber train

215 on a liner ballina .

Salmon Leap

Does anyone know if 201s are cleared for the WRC?

timber train

New fresh painted 216 on the empty timber went through castlebar at 7.15pm

Jamie2k9

Salmon Leap wrote: »

Does anyone know if 201s are cleared for the WRC?

Yes but only allowed to run at 60mph (there is a few 70mph sections on the route. You will unlikely every see one on the line anytime soon.

Salmon Leap

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Yes but only allowed to run at 60mph (there is a few 70mph sections on the route. You will unlikely every see one on the line anytime soon.

Thanks Jamie. I was looking at the Belmond tour and I was wondering if the leg from Limerick Jct to Galway would use the WRC or travel via Portarlington.

Jamie2k9

Salmon Leap wrote: »

Thanks Jamie. I was looking at the Belmond tour and I was wondering if the leg from Limerick Jct to Galway would use the WRC or travel via Portarlington.

Completely forgot about this, perhaps they may well travel this route.

GM228

Yes part of the draft itinerary will see Limerick Junction-Galway via the WRC on Thursday mornings around 11.00 (subject to final confirmation).

Jamie2k9

GM228 wrote: »

Yes part of the draft itinerary will see Limerick Junction-Galway via the WRC on Thursday mornings around 11.00 (subject to final confirmation).

Was trying to work out the routing a few weeks ago, are 2 overnights in Athlone scheduled?

GM228

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Was trying to work out the routing a few weeks ago, are 2 overnights in Athlone scheduled?

I posted the draft proposed itinerary last year but here it is again (subject to change/final confirmation etc).

Tuesday-Afternoon train Heuston-Cork, Jameson Experience coach tour, evening train Cork-Charleville (night stop).

Wednesday-Early train Charleville-Cork, coach tour to Blarney and Cork English Market, afternoon train Cork-Killarney, pony and trap tour and boat tour of Lough Leane, evening train Killarney-Tralee-Limerick Junction (night stop).

Thursday-Early train Limerick Junction-Galway (via WRC), day shoping and local entertainment in Galway, evening train to Athlone (night stop).

Friday-Early train Athlone-Westport (night stop), coach trip to Ashford Castle and Connemara National Park.

Saturday-Early train Westport-Dublin, coach/walking tour of Dublin, afternoon train to Belfast Central (night stop), coach trip to Titanic Quarter.

Sunday-Early train Belfast-Portrush (night stop), coach tour to Giants Causeway and Old Bushmills Distillery.

Monday-Early train Portrush-Dublin.

GM228

201 re-engineering to go ahead?

It's been mooted several times and IEs 2014 Annual Report mentioned a possability of re-engineering the 201s.

The possibility of replacing the 20 to 40 year old 2-stroke engines with smaller modern efficient engines, with automatic shutdown provided as standard, is now being considered.

The 2015 report which was published last week states the project is now underway and expected to be tendered in 2016.

http://www.irishrail.ie/media/annualreport2015.pdf

A project to replace the 20 to 40 year old 2-stroke locomotive engines with smaller modern efficient engines, with automatic shutdown provided as standard, is underway. A feasibility study on a measurement system has been completed, aided through the Energy Credits Scheme. Fuel consumption measurement equipment will be fitted in 2016 and baseline measurements will commence. It is expected that the tender process for the “201” fleet will be undertaken in 2016.

The expression of interest tender has been undertaken already a few months ago as already mentioned in this thread, so it looks more realistic that the 201s will be re-engineered with new smaller engines in the future.

https://irl.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/publicpurchase.asp?PID=97392

Plan is to re-engineer 22 201s over 48 months as phase 1 with an option to re-engineer and reintroduce the 12 stored 201s as phase 2 meaning NIRs 8208 and 8209 will be covered also.

Captain Chaos

216 in Belmond livery is in North Wall yard tonight coupled up to tomorrow mornings IWT liner.

Got a better look at 216 this morning and interestingly it has the 210 EVN code and not 310 as was suspected here as it will be fully fitted to work on the NIR network. This number makes it now look that it won't be modified for Enterprise work off season.

GM228

Captain Chaos wrote: »

Got a better look at 216 this morning and interestingly it has the 210 EVN code and not 310 as was suspected here as it will be fully fitted to work on the NIR network.

Indeed 216 has received it's old 210 EVN as that is how it is still registered on the EU national vehicle register. It was originally to receive the 310 number but hasn't for some reason.

Changing EVNs isn't as simply as you may think, for a re-registration it must be approved by the CRR before it can be displayed. Perhaps there is an issue with them. There have been issues previously with vehicle renumbering.

Captain Chaos wrote: »

This number makes it now look that it won't be modified for Enterprise work off season.

The 310 code is for "cross-border fitted" not Enterprise fitted. It doesn't represent stock fitted to work the Enterprise, simply, that it has TPWS, AWS etc. 216 should have the 310 code irrespective of weather it is fitted for the Enterprise or not. I'm told from a reliable source that 216 will receive an MMI system after the current Belmond season.

timber train

226 stabled just outside Heuston .