Editing CIÉ 001 Class

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}

{{Infobox locomotive
|name            = Córas Iompair Éireann A class<br>(later 001 class)
|powertype       = Diesel–electric
|image           = 23.10.93 Wellington Bridge 051 & 012 (6033721762).jpg
|caption         = 001 Class locomotive {{Abbr|No.|Number}} 051
|builder         = [[Metropolitan-Vickers]], [[Dukinfield]] Works, [[Manchester]]
|builddate       = 1955–1956
|totalproduction = 60
|aarwheels       = C-C
|uicclass        = Co′Co′
|gauge           = {{RailGauge|1600mm|lk=on}}
|length          = {{convert|15.55|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|width           = {{convert|2.692|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|height          = {{convert|3.835|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|locoweight      = {{convert|84|t}}
|fuelcap         = 
|primemover      = [[Crossley]] HSTV8<br>Re-engined 1968–1971 with [[Electro-Motive Division|EMD]] 12-[[EMD 645|645E]]
|tractionmotors  = [[Metropolitan Vickers]] MV137CW/K, 6 off DC traction motors
|transmission    = [[Diesel–electric transmission|Diesel electric]] 
|generator       = [[Direct current|DC]] generator
|maxspeed        = {{convert|120|km/h|abbr=on}}
|poweroutput     = ''Crossley HSTV8:'' {{convert|1200|hp|kW|abbr=on|lk=in}} at 625 rpm<br>''EMD 12-645E:'' {{convert|1325|hp|kW|abbr=on}} at 830 rpm<br>''EMD 12-645E:'' {{convert|1650|hp|kW|abbr=on}} at 900 rpm (Nos. 027, 036, 046, 054 & 059. All later de-rated to 1325 hp)
|tractiveeffort  = {{convert|275|kN|lbf|abbr=on|lk=in}} starting,<br>{{convert|77|kN|lbf|abbr=on}} continuous at {{convert|35|km/h|abbr=on}}
|locobrakes      = [[Vacuum brake|Vacuum]]
|trainbrakes     = Vacuum
|operator        = [[Córas Iompair Éireann]]<br>[[Iarnród Éireann]]
|operatorclass   = A, later 001
|fleetnumbers    = A1–A60, later 001–060
|withdrawndate   = 1973–1995
|disposition     = Four preserved, remainder [[scrap]]ped
}}

The [[Córas Iompair Éireann]] '''001 Class''' locomotive was manufactured by [[Metropolitan-Vickers]] at their Dukinfield Works in [[Manchester]]. The 001 Class locomotive was the backbone of mainline passenger and freight train services on the Irish railway network for forty years from 1955 until the mid-1990s when they were replaced by the new [[IE 201 Class|201 Class]].

==Engines==

===Crossley===
Initially they were fitted with eight-cylinder [[two-stroke diesel engine|two-stroke]], port-controlled [[Crossley]] engines. These were a [[Two-stroke cycle#Loop-scavenged|loop scavenge]] type, which utilised a patented principle that recycled the normally wasted [[Exhaust pulse pressure charging|exhaust-pressure pulse]] to boost charge air in the cylinder. They produced {{convert|1200|hp|kW|abbr=on|lk=on|disp=flip}} at 625 [[Revolutions per minute|rpm]] and could do {{convert|120|km/h|abbr=on}}. The original [[sandbox (locomotive)|sandboxes]], which were used to improve traction with the rail, were removed after a few years.

Their Crossley engines proved to be notoriously unreliable from the start. Amongst a plethora of problems were:
* Unbalanced engines resulting in vibration-induced fuel pipe and water pipe fractures
* Cylinder defects
* Excessive water temperature causing shutdowns

There were also problems with generator and motor [[electric arc|flashovers]].

Similar problems were also encountered on the Crossley-engined [[WAGR X class|Western Australian Government Railways X Class]] and [[British Rail Class 28]] locomotives.

===EMD===
These problems were tackled between 1968 and 1971 through the progressive re-engining of the entire class with a {{convert|1650|hp}} 12-cylinder [[EMD 645]]E engine (a similar process was implemented for the original [[CIÉ 201 Class|201 Class]]). However, this power output stressed the ability of the original cooling and transmission systems and the engine output was reduced to {{convert|1325|hp}} for improved reliability. When built, these locomotives were originally numbered A1 to A60, and as locomotives were re-engined, they had the suffix 'R' added to their number. From 1972, the prefix letters were dropped and the locomotives were renumbered 001 to 060.

==Accidents and incidents==
*On 5 December 1963, locomotive A17 was hauling a passenger train from [[Dublin Pearse railway station|Westland Row]] to [[Westport railway station, Mayo|Westport]] when it broke down at [[Mullingar]], [[County Westmeath]]. Locomotive A42 was sent to its assistance, but collided with the stationary train at a speed of {{convert|30|to|40|mph|km/h}}. Both locomotives were damaged, 16 people were injured.<ref name=Mullingar >{{cite web
  |url=http://www.raiu.ie/download/pdf/accident_mullingar.pdf |title=Report of Inquiry into Accident on Railway System Córas Iompair Éireann near Mullingar, Co. Westmeath on 5th December 1963 |publisher=Department of Transport and Power via Rail Accident Investigation Unit |year=1964 |access-date=16 May 2014
}}</ref>
*On 23 October 1973, 008 suffered bomb damage at [[Meigh]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Jones |first=Peter |title=Irish Railways Traction and Travel |last2=Marshall |first2=Andrew |date=2004 |publisher=[[Irish Traction Group]] |isbn=0952149613 |edition=4th |location=Stockport |pages=12}}</ref>
*On 20 December 1978, 010 collided with three [[NI Railways|NIR]] vehicles at Lisburn.<ref name=":0" />
*On 21 April 1979, 046 suffered bomb damage at Killeen Bridge (near [[Newtowncloghoge]]).<ref name=":0" />
*On 23 July 1979, 004 was hijacked, derailed and burnt out at [[Goraghwood railway station|Goraghwood]].<ref name=":0" />
*On 12 March 1983, 032 sustained damage after running away in [[Cork (city)|Cork]] Yard.<ref name=":0" />
*On 2 June 1988, 040 sustained damage in a shunting accident at [[Heuston railway station|Heuston station]].<ref name=":0" />

==Preservation==
Four A class locomotives survived into preservation, the details of which are outlined in the table below:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Number
!Owner
!Location
!Operational
!Livery
|-
|A3<sub>R</sub>
|[[Irish Traction Group]]
|[[Moyasta]]
|No
|Black and Tan
(Low bands)
|-
|A15
|[[West Clare Railway]]
|Moyasta
|No
|Unlined green
|-
|A39<sub>R</sub>
|Irish Traction Group
|[[Downpatrick and County Down Railway|Downpatrick]]
|Yes
|Black and Tan
(High bands)
|-
|A55
|[[Castlerea Railway Museum]]
|[[Castlerea]]
|No
|Lined green
|}
<gallery>
File:A-Class015.JPG|A15
File:A39r, Downpatrick.JPG|A39<sub>R</sub>
</gallery>

==Model==
The A Class is available as a 4mm scale (OO) ready-to-run (RTR) model from Irish Railway Models. Announced in October 2018, it was released in October 2021. In the past it has been made as a [[00 gauge]] kit by Silver Fox Models.<ref >{{cite web|url=http://www.silverfoxmodels.co.uk/ie/001class.htm |title=Iarnród Éireann 001 Class (A Class) Co-Co |author=Silver Fox Models |access-date=11 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331092648/http://www.silverfoxmodels.co.uk/ie/001class.htm |archive-date=31 March 2009 }}</ref>

{{-}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|CIÉ 001 Class}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081012121240/http://eiretrains.com/Photo_Gallery/Irish%20Locos/A%26Bindex.html Eiretrains - Irish Locomotives]
*[http://www.irishtractiongroup.com/003.html Irish Traction Group webpage for preserved 001 Class No.A3r]
*[http://www.irishtractiongroup.com/039.html Irish Traction Group webpage for preserved 001 Class No.A39]
*[http://www.hellskitchenmuseum.com/museum.htm Hells Kitchen Museum, Home of preserved 001 Class No.A55]

{{Ireland Diesel Locomotives}}
{{EMD misc}}

[[Category:Iarnród Éireann locomotives]]
[[Category:Metropolitan-Vickers locomotives]]
[[Category:Co-Co locomotives]]
[[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1955]]
[[Category:5 ft 3 in gauge locomotives]]
[[Category:Diesel–electric locomotives of Ireland]]
[[Category:Co'Co' Diesel Locomotives of Europe]]