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B141 Class

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C201 Class

201 Class

D301 Class

E401 Class

E421 Class

F501 Class

G601 Class

G611 Class

K801 Class

CIE E401 Class

The Prototype

In the mid 1950's, CIÉ decided it needed some shunting/transfer locomotives. These were designed in house and became known as the E401 Class. Nineteen locomotives built between 1956 and 1958. They used the Maybach MD220 diesel engine which developed 420bhp. Power was transmitted to the six wheels by a Mekydro KL64 torque converter. Although six wheeled, they have an unusual wheelbase of 4ft 11 11/16in x 8ft 0 5/16in. All wheels are driven by the torque converter, so that they have the somewhat rare wheel formation of 'C'. The top speed of these locomotives was originally quite high at 60mph, but the odd wheel spacing and consequent bad riding led to them being limited to 25mph.

In 1962, a further batch of fourteen locomotives were built. This batch differed slightly from the E401 Class and were designated E421 Class. The E421's used a Mekydro KL64U torque converter and had a revised exhaust silencer routing, with the large silencer cowling being ommitted from the bonnet top. Both classes had been withdrawn by 1983. Three of the E421 Class have been preserved.

The Model

At the time I built these, only one model had been offered. Sold as a kit to make both types, Q Kits made a cast resin body kit many years ago. These are no longer available. Fortunately, I had managed to obtain two of these kits and have made a model of both the E401 and E421 types. The body finish is typical of early cast resin types, lacking in crisp detail. Although sold as a kit to make both types, the Q Kits version was really an E401 Class with an optional exhaust cowling. Although basically the same, the E421's are longer at 31ft 4¼in as opposed to the E401's length of 29ft 4¼in. Most of this extra length is taken up with longer cab and an extended running plate in front of the bonnet.

Assembly of the body parts is relatively straightforward, being limited to filing out the windows, fitting the exhaust cowling, sideframes and buffers. The air horn is mounted on one side of the exhaust cowling on top of the engine casing. The model was painted in the CIÉ Golden Brown/Black/White livery with Letraset numbers and Mabex CIÉ orange roundals. My own version of flush glaze windows were fitted.

The Chassis

The chassis caused a bit of a problem at first, no-one did a 13ft wheelbase bogie, or a 4ft 11 11/16in for that matter. However, Tenshodo did produce a 31mm wheelbase Spud. So I constructed a chassis using the Spud at the rear to cover the 8ft spaced wheels and a non-driven set at the nose end.

The locomotives do not look to bad, but do leave a little to be desired.  For the new and improved 21mm gauge P4 layout, something better is needed. The answer may be the 3D printed bodies made by Valve Design and available on the Shapeways site.