This locomotive was purchased in November 1992 as a source of spare parts for No. 226, and was moved from Inchicore Works to Carrick-On-Suir for storage in December 1992. However, as this locomotive was virtually complete, and we had already acquired a good stock of spare parts from other withdrawn “C” class locomotives, it was decided that No. 231 was in too good a condition to dismantle for parts, and was now an excellent candidate for restoration as well. 

In December 1995, after spending nearly three years in store at Carrick-On-Suir, No. 231 was first moved to Waterford, and then back to Inchicore Works in readiness for its eventual display at the “Inchicore 150” open weekend in June 1996. Over the following few months, various corroded sections of the locomotive’s body side were re-panelled. The locomotive was eventually repainted into CIE green livery, and renumbered C231, a few days before the open weekend. Following the event, the locomotive remained at Inchicore Works.  

In June 1999 Iarnród Éireann offered the Group the opportunity to have the locomotive shipped back to the UK on a low-loader that would otherwise have gone back empty. Negotiations were started with RMS Locotec at Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, to have No. C231 returned to working order. The locomotive was subsequently moved to Dewsbury on 30^th September 1999. Whilst there, the locomotive was completely re-wired and the cooler group overhauled, with some parts being manufactured to replace rotten items. The locomotive’s engine was successfully started for the first time in seventeen years on 14^th July 2000. 

Following this, the locomotive was shipped back to Ireland in August 2000 following its display at the Old Oak Common Depot open weekend on 5^th and 6^th August 2000. It was then the intention to have Iarnród Éireann undertake further work on the locomotive to complete its restoration. However, this never happened, but most of the remaining work has since been undertaken by ITG volunteers. No. C231 is now drained down and sheeted over at Inchicore Works.

231 before restoration.

C231 following restoration.