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 5^th 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 1^st April 1995. Its final official working was to transfer wagons from Castlemungret cement factory to the yard at Limerick on 5^th 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 23^rd 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 6^th 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 9^th 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 15^th/16^th June 1996, to which 003 had been invited. Locomotive 003 was hauled up from Limerick to North Wall on Saturday 8^th 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 8^th 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 6^th 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 18^th/19^th 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 1^st 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 27^th March 1999. Its first run under its own power on Iarnród Éireann tracks under ITG ownership was on 23^rd 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 25^th 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 27^th March 1996, and so locomotive A39 was used in its place. Following repairs, A3R undertook another loaded test run to Portlaoise and back on 17^th May 1999, in preparation for its next booked appearance on the “Mayo-Metro-Vick” railtour on Saturday 12^th June 1999.

On Friday 11^th June 1999 locomotive A3R ran light engine from Inchicore Depot to Dublin Connolly ready to work the following railtour:

12^th 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 9^th 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 9^th 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.

003 Howth Jn 20 May 1989.

Jonathan Allen

A3R in the running shed at Inchicore. Peter Jones.