103 'Merlin' NIR Blue, with Red Chevrons - DCC Sound Wheelsets Works number 3810 was completed

Works number 3810 was completed in 1954 and sold directly to the NCB

allowing operation over a minimum radius of 371mm (1st radius set-track)

with two types of side handbrake arrangement catered for

Etched metal factory fitted detailing

Initial allocation was to Tyseley but was soon sent North to Birkenhead

103 'Merlin' NIR Blue, with Red Chevrons - DCC Sound Wheelsets Works number 3810 was completedHaving undertaken a programme of station refurbishment, improved its ticketing arrangements and introduced new on track plant and shunting locomotives, in 1969 the still embryonic Northern Ireland Railways set out to improve the Dublin Belfast Enterprise service, by replacing the existing diesel railcar sets with a locomotive hauled service. Intended to reduce the time for the 180 km journey to just two hours, the NIR Class 101 (DL) locomotives were