One of first American-built locos back on railway track

One of first American-built locos back on railway track

27 August 2025

ONE of the first American-built locomotives to run in Ireland is back on track at the Downpatrick and County Down Railway.

The 121 class loco took centre stage at the railway’s 40th anniversary gala celebrations on Saturday.

Built in 1961 by General Motors, the 121 Class were the first American-built locomotives to operate in Ireland, transforming CIE’s fleet with their reliability and distinctive styling.

Withdrawn in the mid-2000s, most were scrapped, and for years many doubted they would ever run again.

No 124 had been placed in long-term storage at Moyasta, Co Clare, since 2008, only moving to Downpatrick in June. After just two months of intensive restoration, it returned to service in time for the gala, making a surprise debut to an enthusiastic but unsuspecting crowd of visitors and photographers.

The major milestone was made possible by the railway’s partnership with the Irish Traction Group.

The day began with cab rides in G-Class locomotive G617 and run-pasts featuring the railway’s fleet.

However, the biggest cheer of the afternoon came when 124 appeared for the first time, surprising everyone as it rounded the corner with a fully loaded ballast train.

Later in the day, the locomotive made history by hauling the first passenger trains operated by a 121 class locomotive since their withdrawal from mainline service.

This special trip to Inch Abbey, using the DCDR’s vintage Edwardian carriages, was packed with enthusiasts eager to be part of the occasion.

The event was further enhanced with heritage buses on display outside the station from Ards Bus Preservation and Irish Transport Heritage, while Táilte Tours provided a connecting coach link from Dublin, underlining the all-Ireland interest in the gala.

Irish Traction Group committee member Mike Beckett praised the team effort that brought the locomotive back to life.

“A huge thanks has to go to all our supporters and especially Downpatrick and County Down Railway and its volunteers for all the work that went on behind the scenes to make the diesel gala event on 23rd August such a major success,” he said.

“Our relationship with DCDR has been ongoing for many years, and we have always been grateful for their support with our diesel locomotive fleet based here.”

He continued: “Following the arrival of 124 in early June, Downpatrick-based volunteers really pulled out all the stops to try to get 124 into service for this diesel gala event.

“Every spare minute was spent repairing electrics, air systems, coolant systems and testing every operational aspect of the locomotive. The final hurdle was getting the all important paperwork completed, and risk assessments written, and agreement from the railway regulator in Northern Ireland, the Railway Safety Authority at Stormont.

“Thanks to the hard work of ITG and DCDR volunteers, including burning the midnight oil for some last minute faults, it is hard to describe the appearance of 124 at the gala as anything other than triumphant, operating the first 121-class hauled trains in preservation anywhere in Ireland.

“The crowd were expecting a different locomotive, but we somehow managed to keep this secret until the train started rolling down the line, and jaws were ping and looks of disbelief and amazement broke out as we powered past the spectators.

It’s a real win for ITG and DCDR, and a testament to the skills and perseverance of the volunteers from both groups.”

Robert Gardiner, chairman of the Downpatrick and County Down Railway, said: “We are proud to host 124 and to work with the Irish Traction Group on this achievement.

“This gala not only celebrated our 40th anniversary, but also demonstrated our comeback from the devastating floods of 2023 – as well as the importance of cross-border cooperation in preserving Ireland’s transport heritage.”

He added: “The urge to share the updates on 124’s progress has been pretty strong, but we really wanted to keep this under wraps so that there would be absolutely zero spoilers for our passengers. We’re more shocked than they are probably that we successfully kept it quiet.”

The gala drew visitors from across Ireland and the UK, cementing Downpatrick’s role as the home of mainline diesel preservation in Ireland.

With No 124 now operational, albeit still a bit shabby from over 16 years exposed to the wild Atlantic winds in Co Clare, work is still not yet complete.

Significant work is needed on overhauling mechanical components and bodywork, as well as an eventual repaint.

Effort is also continuing to restore the DCDR’s steam services following the 2023 floods, with work on the locomotive shed hoping to be carried out in the near future.