Following withdrawal by CIE in July 1977 this locomotive, along with sister locomotives G611, G613, G615 and G617, was sold to Comhlucht Siuicre Éireann (Irish Sugar Company). G616 was then used for shunting at the sugar factory at Carlow. Locomotive G616 was subsequently moved to the Thurles factory when rail-borne operations at the Carlow factory ceased. G616 was to remain at the Thurles factory until it was preserved, along with G617, by the now defunct Great Southern Railway Preservation Society (GSRPS) in the mid-1980s. Both G616 and G617 were then moved to the GSRPS’s base at Mallow, where as start was made on their restoration.  

However, this project eventually floundered in 1990, and both locomotives were then sold to the Deutz Operators Group (DOG) in November 1990. The DOG consisted of four of the then Committee members of the ITG, who stepped in to ensure that these two locomotives were not disposed of for scrap, as at that time the ITG were unable to take them as the Group had not yet secured an operating base. Whilst they were at Mallow some restoration work was carried out on G616, however, as both locomotives were stored outside, and off their wheels, the scope of work that could be carried out was extremely limited. 

Once the ITG had secured its base at Carrick-On-Suir, ownership of both G616 and G617 was transferred to the ITG in August 1993. Both locomotives were re-united with their wheels, and were then moved by low-loader to Carrick-On-Suir. Once at Carrick-On-Suir, work commenced on stripping down G616. Over the next three years, good progress was made on its restoration, with most of the underframe being cleaned up and repainted, and many of the cab fittings repainted. However, a lack of volunteers, coupled with other commitments, meant that work on G616 was halted. 

G616 remains in a dismantled state inside the Goods Shed awaiting volunteers to help complete the restoration work and reassemble the locomotive. 

G616 under restoration at Carrick on Suir.