Two locomotives which have just gone on permanent display at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum provide fascinating insights into how the railways operated in Ireland following World War 2.
Both the Falcon and the B113, which can be seen in the Transport Gallery of the Museum, weight over 80 tonnes and are over 50 feet long.
The diesel-electric Falcon was one of only three locomotives specially commissioned in 1970 to operate the Belfast to Dublin Enterprise railway service. Designed by Hunslet and built by British Rail Engineering, it had a top speed of 80mph and was able to reduce the 112 mile (180km) journey to 130 minutes.
It was one of three Hunslet Diesels, the 101 Eagle, 102 Falcon and 103 Merlin commissioned specifically for the Enterprise. The intention was to transform it into a modern rail service capable of competing with fast road and air links.
The Córas Iompair Éireann Locomotive B113 is the oldest surviving mainline diesel locomotive in Ireland, built in 1950 to haul both freight and passenger trains.
Although designed for ‘mixed traffic’ it was used immediately after introduction on Dublin to Cork express passenger trains.
Mark Kennedy, Acting Road Transport Curator for National Museums Northern Ireland, said: “Many people will instantly remember the Falcon locomotive as it was still operating on Northern Ireland Railways in 1998.
“The engines served on the Enterprise for over a decade before being reallocated to secondary services. Unfortunately in later life they suffered from reliability problems and ended up shunting goods traffic. Nevertheless, they were part of an important step in cross-border relations and trade and helped rebuild the Enterprise’s reputation, despite their technical problems.
“A second locomotive of the B113 class, the B114, was built in 1951. Unfortunately, although they exceeded the railway’s power and speed needs, both locomotives had serious brake problems. When B114 ran away with a goods train in 1971 they were withdrawn for modification. B113 was altered and ran for a few more months but B114 was never reinstated. These historic locomotives were then put in storage sharing the fate of many experimental ‘firsts’ in railway technology.”
The Falcon was acquired and preserved by the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland, from which it was recently purchased by the museum for a nominal sum. It has been cosmetically restored by the RPSI using some parts cannibalised from the diesel engine 101 Eagle. Engine 103 was scrapped in 1997.
B113 was generously donated by Phil Verster of Iarnrod Eireann (Irish Rail).