Irish Railway Models evaluates A Class decorated samples

Irish Railway Model's forthcoming OO gauge models of the Metropolitan Vickers-built A Class diesel-electric locomotives will reflect the class throughout its career, with both original and rebuilt conditions being catered for. IRM is also providing numerous liveries as carried by the class throughout its career, with as delivered silver, greens, black, black and tan and a variety of orange and black variants.

A special limited-edition model of A1 in silver is to be produced with a wooden presentation box.

60 of these locomotives were ordered from Metropolitan Vickers by CIE and delivery commenced in 1955. They featured the ill-fated Crossley two-stoke power plant (also fitted to the BR Class 28 Co-Bo locomotives) and would be plagued with reliability issues, resulting in a major rebuild with EMD 645 engines in the late 1960s at Inchicore works. The rebuild afforded the class an extended life of over 25 years, with the last of the class withdrawn from traffic in 1995.

Delivery of the main range is expected in October 2020. A special edition model of A1 in silver with a wooden presentation box limited to just 250 pieces is also being produced. For more details, visit its website.