CIE 611 Class

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. 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 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.

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 type Diesel Hydraulic Builder Motorenfabrick Deutz, Köln, West Germany Serial number 57223–57229 (not in order) Build date 1961–1962
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC B Gauge 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Driver dia. 3 ft 1+1⁄2 in (0.95 m) Length 6.43 m (21 ft 1 in) Loco weight 22 t (22 long tons; 24 short tons) Prime mover Deutz A8L 714 air-cooled diesel Engine type V8 Cylinders 8 Transmission Voith hydraulic, chain drive final
Performance figures Maximum speed 42 km/h (26 mph) Power output 120 kW (160 hp) Tractive effort 12,000 lbf (53.38 kN)
Career Operators CIÉ (1962-77), Irish Sugar Co. (1977) Number in class 7 Numbers G611–G617 First run 1962 Withdrawn 1967–1977 Disposition Four preserved, remainder scrapped

With their original lightweight branch line haunts all closed, and therefore little to do, they were withdrawn from service between 1967 and 1977.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.) in 1977. Four of these locomotives have been preserved, with the remaining three scrapped.

G611 & G617

G613