Your favourite CIE/IR loco class ?

Sligo Quay

gobnaitolunacy wrote: »

There's a reason they were unique, they were rubbish! An absolute nightmare to drive by all accounts, definitely unloved by drivers.

They where solid, did you ever drive 1, you must be very old, only joking:cool:

end of the road

flyingsnail wrote: »

NIR Mk 2 perhaps
http://rfe.railclub.ru/pix/ie/car/NIR/nir_mk2b_912_cd.jpg

its very possible they were, were mark 2 bs similar to cravens? if so that would explain it. reading the article on wikipedia (i know i know) none seem to match my description of those particular carriges though. i think their were a coupl of different types of cravens on our network weren't their?

Captain Chaos

end of the road wrote: »

i think their were a coupl of different types of cravens on our network weren't their?

No, a Cravens was a Cravens. There were Park Royals that were mixed in with Cravens up to the late '80s/early '90s until the PRs were phased out. But none were ever blue. Only NIR Mk2s were blue.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coaching_stock_of_Ireland

end of the road

Captain Chaos wrote: »

No, a Cravens was a Cravens.

fair enough so.

Captain Chaos wrote: »

Only NIR Mk2s were blue.

thats what they were then, thanks for confirming that.

Eiretrains

Itssoeasy wrote: »

The 121s had a unique look that I was assume was strange for people in 1962.

The 121s are my favourite also, for one of the reasons above too. The striking livery was a huge contrast to the antiquated railway in this country when they first entered service. They also managed to traverse lines that have long since closed, such as the Banagher and Ballaghadereen branches, as well as the Meath Rd line. The fact they ran bonnet first in the first couple months must have been a unique sight also.

jca

Love the A class myself. They always had a great "crack" off them they didn't sound as refined as the GM's.

I like the 071class and miss hearing them in the wee hours on the sugar beet.
When I used to go to Kerry as a child it was probably the sound of up to 4 071s in Heuston that got me interested in railways as we got our tickets. Sadly never to be repeated.
Travelling out I remember passing all the dead C Classes in the sound barrier. I wondered would anyone save one.
Little did I know....!

A well respected rail enthusiast once told me that rebuilt they were louder than the 071s. I can confirm that the sciencer of a 141 has a bit more to it than the re-engined C type.

Perhaps JD might know?

Praetorian

071 for sure. Everything before them was underpowered and really struggled even hauling 5-6 carriages at a decent speed with terrible acceleration and top speeds in and around 70mph. Sure 001 / a class / 181 / 201 etc were all around 900 to 1300 hp.

071 class are beasts, 2250 hp, 90 mph max and an absolute magic sound. I always remember specifically waiting for the 8pm NIR service every Saturday which stopped at Skerries and Balbriggan. I would always take a seat at the front, or just stick my head out the window to take it all in!

Ahh the memories.

I am so sad they are not on regular passenger services anymore. The DMUs are soulless

jca

The DMUs are soulless, thats for sure, horrible yokes....

flyingsnail

jca wrote: »

The DMUs are soulless, thats for sure, horrible yokes....

Better than an EMU

gobnaitolunacy

jca wrote: »

The DMUs are soulless, thats for sure, horrible yokes....

The CIE/GNRI AEC's were quite good looking for their day. Pity we can't have a presentable one in Cultra, or anywhere for that matter.

Anthony S

For me it would have to be 071's

topnotch

I would have to go for 071. However the new irish navy style livery is chronic. They would use more colour in north korea. Will have to start giving them all girlie names next LE 071

Captain Chaos

topnotch wrote: »

I would have to go for 071. However the new irish navy style livery is chronic. They would use more colour in north korea. Will have to start giving them all girlie names next LE 071

I think they need a touch of red to set off the new slate livery. What I think would look good world be to keep the small red stripe on top from the current livery and make the buffers and buffer beams red like they used to be in the orange livery. Heck, even red horns like NIR's 112 now has.