Rail freight stock of Ireland

When formed in 1945, Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) inherited a GSR wagon fleet insufficient for post-war requirements. A major wagon building programme in the 1950s and 1960s eliminated this pre-war stock. The new stock consisted of open or covered general purpose wagons of the four-wheel loose-coupled design, without vacuum brakes and limited to 35mph. There were also a few specialised wagons built for tar, grain and cattle.

These vehicles were in turn superseded and phased out by the introduction of the intermodal fleet in the 1970s. The new liner-trains, complete with vacuum brakes and Y25/Y27 bogies, enabled high speed (60 mph) transportation.

Today, all of Iarnród Éireann's freight stock is maintained at Limerick Colbert. Most of the company's withdrawn freight wagons are stored here as well, though some can be found at Heuston, North Wall Yard and Tralee. A large number of disused flat wagons are stored on disconnected sidings near the former Comhlucht Siuicre Eireann factory in Mallow.

Current freight flows
  • Lead and Zinc Ore from Tara Mines (Near Navan) to North Wall, Dublin
  • Intermodal traffic between Ballina and North Wall, Dublin
  • Intermodal traffic between Ballina Belview Port, Waterford
  • Timber traffic between Westport/Ballina and Belview Port, Waterford

Freight listing
Wagon Length Introduced Numbers Tare Coupling Capacity Image Notes
Fertiliser 42 ft 9 in
13,030 mm		 1974 35001-35090 21.8 long tons
24.4 short tons; 22.1 t		 Instanter 40 long tons
45 short tons; 41 t
Bogie Flat 42 ft 9 in
13,030 mm		 1971 & 1978 30001-30212 16 long tons
18 short tons; 16 t		 Instanter
Bogie Flat 47 ft 6 in
14,480 mm		 1978 30219-30278 17 long tons
19 short tons; 17 t		 Instanter
Rail Truck 62 ft 0 in
18,900 mm		 1973 24224-24240 20 long tons 10 cwt
23.0 short tons; 20.8 t		 Instanter 41.5 long tons
46.5 short tons; 42.2 t
Wagon Instanter
Cement "Bubble" 20 ft 0 in
6,100 mm		 1964-1972 25050-25199 10 long tons 4 cwt
11.4 short tons; 10.4 t
10 long tons 10 cwt
11.8 short tons; 10.7 t		 Instanter 20 long tons
22 short tons; 20 t
4-wheel Flat 20 ft 0 in
6,100 mm		 1970-1975 27101-27791 7 long tons 6 cwt
8.2 short tons; 7.4 t		 Instanter 20 long tons
22 short tons; 20 t		 27756 Preserved at Downpatrick & Co. Down Railway
Bogie Cement 42 ft 9 in
13,030 mm		 1979 33001-33012 22 long tons
25 short tons; 22 t		 Instanter 50 long tons
56 short tons; 51 t
Ballast hopper 20 ft 0 in
6,100 mm		 1972 & 1977 24113-24148, 24250-24263 9 long tons 8 cwt
10.5 short tons; 9.6 t		 Instanter 20 long tons
22 short tons; 20 t
Ammonia Instanter
Timber flat 62 ft 0 in
18,900 mm		 Instanter In use on Coillte trains between Westport/Ballina and Waterford.
Zinc wagon In use on Tara Mines trains between Dublin and Navan.
Shale wagon All withdrawn at Limerick Colbert. Some converted to zinc wagons.
Pocket wagon In use on DFDS Liner Trains between Waterford and Ballina.
Tank wagon Withdrawn at Limerick and Heuston.
Beet wagon

See also
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