BUILT BY : GENERAL MOTORS ELECTRO MOTIVE DIVISION, LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS, USA 
YEAR BUILT : 1962 
WITHDRAWN : 2010 

Locomotive 141 is the first of the double-ended locomotives produced by the Electro Motive Division of General Motors in 1962 and is of national and international importance. The locomotive has just been taken out of regular service, and ran its first preservation trip working in multiple with sister 142 in February 2010.

The 15 strong members of the (GL8) 121 class locos of 1961 were intended to solve the motive power crisis then existing on CIE. They soon proved to be reliable when not overloaded, problems with poor braking were resolved with later modifications based on experience with the 141 class. The main disadvantage with the 121's was the single end cab, meaning turning at terminal stations, with consequent time and maintenance of tables. The issue of not being fitted with multiple working was resolved with the introduction of the 141s, the 121 locos were so fitted later in Inchicore.

CIE announced at an order signing ceremony in June 1962, that a further 37 locomotives were to be obtained from General Motors, this time to be double cabbed and fitted with improved brakes, and a multiple working facility. The new class was to be GM's type JL8, numbered B141 to B177. The first of the new locomotives was delivered to the North Wall, Dublin on 22nd November 1962, the whole order was completed within 2 weeks.

Driver training and trials commenced 2 days later to Hazelhatch, Kildare and Monasterevan, further trials to Drogheda and Arklow took place later the next week.   Introduction to traffic was on December 10th 1962 on services to Belfast, Cork , and Double headed to Limerick. Route clearance on the UTA was carried out, the only restrictions were, no double heading over the "Lagan Shaky Bridge" on the Belfast Central line, and members of the class were not permitted on the branch to Coalisland!

The use of the 141 type on passenger services cascaded the A and C classes to freight services, where the extra weight and power of the A class anyway was much appreciated. There was no real acceleration of passenger trains due to the fact that most stations were still open for business. When "rationalisation" of smaller stations took place,  this coupled with signalling improvements meant that the 141s could start to show just what they could do.

A series of speed trials on the Cork main line was planned for January 1965, aiming for a journey time of 2 hours 30 minutes for the 165 miles, but it was soon realised that to achieve this a double headed pair would have to be "flogged" continuously, which was not acceptable. An alternative "best" time of 2 hours 45 minutes was preferred, hopefully reducing to 2 hours 40 minutes. Further trials took place in September and October 1966, leading to a timetabled time of 2 hours 50 minutes in the June 1967 timetable, the introduction of the later 181class in 1967/8 ensured that this schedule was achieved that bit easier.

Later the introduction of the 071 class in 1977 cascaded the 141s to all sorts of more menial jobs, they could literally appear anywhere on anything, from passenger work on the Limerick to Nenagh branch, to shale trains between Kilmastulla and  Foynes. The permanent way dept. liked them, they were a favourite on rail trains from Portlaoise, to any part of the system. Many of them got a good coating of cement at Platin or Castlemungret, and they were often to be seen as station pilots at Limerick, Heuston or Connolly

Two plaques are attached to the locomotive, the wording is as follows;

The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Phil Verster, Chief Mechanical Engineer of Iarnród Éireann - Irish Rail, in the preservation of this locomotive.

The purchase of this locomotive for preservation was funded by Paddy Murphy of Murphy Models Dublin.
  

After its visit to the Inchicore Paint Spray Facility, apart from a few detail differences, 141 looks like new again. Photo by P McCann.

	In 1994 a freshly painted 141 was captured with this train of cement bubbles at Drogheda. The cutting side to the right of the picture was completely removed when the railcar servicing facility was built in 2004.  Photo by B Pickup
	In more recent times, 141 was repainted into the "three pin plug" livery she is seen wearing here. Seen here south of Mosney and in company with 175 she is probably returning to Connolly for refuelling. Photo by B Pickup