CO (J=1->0) has been observed with the 15-m SEST and the 30-m IRAM telescope in the direction of 1302 IRAS sources with colors of star forming regions located within 10 deg of the galactic plane in the interval between 85 and 280 deg. Emission components with line profiles that are non-Gaussian (showing, e.g., possible self-absorption or wings) are identified; this information may serve as a basis for selecting sources for future research. For all components, kinematic heliocentric and galactocentric distances, and distances from the galactic plane are derived. For those components which may be associated with the IRAS sources, bolometric luminosities are derived. These data will be analyzed and compared with HI data in subsequent papers.