The Córas Iompair Éireann 611 class locomotives were delivered from the manufacturers, Motorenfabrik Deutz at Cologne, Germany between December 1961 and February 1962, entering revenue earning service in the following August after receiving the new tan / black paint job at Inchicore.

G611 class
CIÉ G611 class No. G613 at work on the Downpatrick & Co Down Railway, which also hosts G611 and G617.
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel Hydraulic
BuilderMotorenfabrick Deutz, Köln, West Germany
Serial number57223–57229 (not in order)
Build date1961–1962
Specifications
Configuration:
 • UICB
Gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Driver dia.3 ft 1+12 in (0.95 m)
Length6.43 m (21 ft 1 in)
Loco weight22 t (22 long tons; 24 short tons)
Prime moverDeutz A8L 714 air-cooled diesel
Engine typeV8
Cylinders8
TransmissionVoith hydraulic, chain drive final
Performance figures
Maximum speed42 km/h (26 mph)
Power output120 kW (160 hp)
Tractive effort12,000 lbf (53.38 kN)
Career
Operators
Number in class7
NumbersG611–G617
First run1962
Withdrawn1967–1977
DispositionFour preserved, remainder scrapped

History

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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 120 kilowatts (160 hp), with Voith hydraulic transmission, weighed 22 tonnes (22 long tons; 24 short tons) and had a maximum speed of 42 kilometres per hour (26 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 journeys on the Foynes and Loughrea lines, they never hauled passengers anywhere else 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With their original lightweight branch line haunts all closed, and therefore little to do, they were withdrawn from service between 1967 and 1977.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 remaining three scrapped.

Fleet list

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G611 & G617
 
G613
Key: Scrapped Preserved
Number Status Notes
G611 Preserved Owned by ITG at DCDR - out of use
G612 Scrapped
G613 Preserved Privately owned, based at DCDR - partway through restoration
G614 Scrapped
G615 Scrapped Cab preserved privately
G616 Preserved Owned by ITG at Carrick-on-Suir - under restoration
G617 Preserved Owned by ITG at DCDR - fully operational

Model

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The 611 Class has been made as a 00 gauge brass kit by Worsley Works Models [1].

References

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  • Strickland, David C. (September 1983). Locomotive Directory: Every Single One There Has Ever Been. Camberley: Diesel and Electric Group. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-906375-10-5. OCLC 16601890. OL 27959920M. Wikidata Q105978499.
  • "CIE G 611". rangierdiesel (in German). Retrieved 23 March 2014.
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