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In early 1994, the Irish Traction Group were asked by Iarnród
Éireann to nominate three 001 (A) class locomotives for possible
preservation by the Group. The three locomotives selected by the
Group as being in the best condition at the time were 001, 003
and 039. Locomotive 001 was subsequently ruled out as it
suffered a cracked fuel tank, which left 003 and 039 as the two
locomotives to be preserved by the Group. 003 was selected by
virtue of the fact that it was the last 001 (A) class locomotive
to receive a rewire and a body overhaul in 1993.
Locomotive 003 was the last 001 (A) class locomotive in regular
service with Iarnród Éireann, being officially taken out of
traffic on 5th April 1995. During its final few weeks
in service it was based at Limerick Depot, being used to
transfer cement wagons between Limerick and the nearby cement
factory at Castlemungret. This locomotive also had the honour of
hauling the last regular passenger service by a member of this
class, when it operated the 09:50 Limerick to Ballybrophy and
10:20 Ballybrophy to Limerick services on 1st April
1995. Its final official working was to transfer wagons from
Castlemungret cement factory to the yard at Limerick on 5th
April 1995. However, this was not the end for 003, as staff at
Limerick kept 003 in working order, using it to perform
occasional shunting duties at Limerick Wagon Works. However, 003
was only running on four traction motors at this time, both the
defective motors being on the same bogie.
Following the “farewell” railtour utilising locomotive A39 on 23rd
September 1995, everybody thought that this was going to be the
last passenger working of a 001 (A) class in Iarnród Éireann
ownership, but this proved to be incorrect. Just two weeks
later, 003 put in a very welcome, if totally unexpected,
appearance on the ITG’s “Flying Pig” railtour, when it was used
to haul the railtour the short distance between Limerick station
to Limerick Check and back on the section from Limerick to
Foynes.
Locomotive 003 was eventually purchased by the Irish Traction
Group on 6th December 1995, aided by a grant of €
10,000 from the Irish Heritage Council. At this point 003
remained stored at Limerick Depot. As part of the sale
agreement, Iarnród Éireann had agreed to replace the two
defective traction motors. On Saturday 9th March
1996, 003 was hauled to Limerick Junction and back to enable the
locomotive to be turned on the triangle at Limerick Junction so
that the bogie with the defective motors could be positioned
under the overhead gantry crane within the main workshop.
However, following further testing, it was found that a third
motor, on the other bogie, was also defective. Three recently
overhauled traction motors were then sent down from Inchicore
Works to Limerick and were fitted during mid-April 1995. Other
electrical and mechanical work was also carried out on 003 at
the same time to ensure that it was now in full working order
once again.
At around this time, preparations were being made for the
“Inchicore 150” anniversary celebrations over the weekend of 15th/16th
June 1996, to which 003 had been invited. Locomotive 003 was
hauled up from Limerick to North Wall on Saturday 8th
June 1996, and then tripped from North Wall to Inchicore Works
the following morning and placed in Diesel No. 2 Shop. Work
immediately commenced on repainting the locomotive into “black
and tan” livery, and renumbering the locomotive back to A3R.
Repainting was finally finished just a few hours before the
gates at Inchicore Works were opened. Locomotive A3R was
positioned at the head of a display of diesel locomotives
outside Diesel No. 2 Shop for the duration of the event.
Following the Inchicore 150 event, A3R was returned to Limerick
for storage on 8th July 1996, where it as to remain
for the next two years or so. Locomotive A3R did venture out
briefly once during this period when it was exhibited at Thurles
station on 6th April 1998.
Following the securing of the necessary insurance cover to
enable the Irish Traction Group to operate its locomotives under
their own power on Iarnród Éireann tracks, A3R was hauled up
from Limerick to Inchicore Works over the weekend of 18th/19th
December 1999 to have its CAWS and train radio equipment
refitted and for it to be certified fit for main line running.
This work was completed on 1st March 1999, and the
locomotive was certified fit the following day. Its first booked
passenger working was due to be on the “Back in Black” railtour
on Saturday 27th March 1999. Its first run under its
own power on Iarnród Éireann tracks under ITG ownership was on
23rd March 1999, when it ran light engine to Kildare
and back. Even this run was delayed by two hours after the fuel
pump burnt out just before the locomotive was due to leave
Inchicore Depot, and had to be replaced with one recovered from
spares donor locomotive 015.
A
second loaded test run took place on 25th March 1996,
when A3R hauled a rake of steam vans and Cravens coaches to
Lisduff and back. All went well on the outward journey, but A3R
started to suffer from a loss of vacuum on the return journey,
and a fault also developed with the train radio. Unfortunately,
the faults could not be repaired in time for the railtour on 27th
March 1996, and so locomotive A39 was used in its place.
Following repairs, A3R undertook another loaded test run to
Portlaoise and back on 17th May 1999, in preparation
for its next booked appearance on the “Mayo-Metro-Vick” railtour
on Saturday 12th June 1999.
On Friday 11th June 1999 locomotive A3R ran light
engine from Inchicore Depot to Dublin Connolly ready to work the
following railtour:
12th June 1999
Mayo Metro-Vick Railtour
A3R operated faultlessly on the day, working the train from
Dublin Connolly to Ballina and back, the locomotive putting in
an impressive, if somewhat “smokey” performance. A3R returned to
Inchicore Depot light engine two days later.
A3R’s next scheduled appearance was to be on Saturday 9th
October 1999, operating the “Leitrim Leprechaun” railtour from
Dublin Connolly to Dromod, and back to Bray. However, a few days
before the railtour, locomotive A3R developed a serious
vibration problem with its cooling fan, which prevented it being
used. A replacement cooling fan motor was fitted on 9th
November 1999, but this did not rectify the vibration problem,
which is now believed to be a problem with the mountings. At
this point the ITG had decided not to renew its main line
insurance cover due to the excessive cost and dwindling
passenger numbers, and so the repair work to A3R was put on hold
indefinitely.
A3R remains in store at Inchicore Works, sheeted over to help
protect it from the elements until such time that resources and
sufficient finances are available to return the locomotive to
full working order once again.
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003 Howth Jn 20 May 1989.
Jonathan Allen


A3R in the running shed at
Inchicore. Peter Jones. |