Steam gave way to internal combustion power at the Downpatrick & County Down Railway (DCDR) on Saturday October 12 as the Irish Traction Group (ITG) celebrated three decades of diesel locomotive preservation.
Visitors travelled from both sides of the border, and from across the Irish Sea, to join in the celebrations, which saw both ITG stock in action on an intensive timetable between Downpatrick and Inch Abbey, and also to the Loop Platform, hauling DCDR rolling stock, including Park Royal Carriage 1944 that has recently been restored to a very high standard.
A popular trio of ITG-owned locomotives were the main attraction for the day: Metro-Vicks ‘A’ class Co-Co No. A39R in black with orange stripe livery, ‘C’ class Bo-Bo No. C231 in original green livery, along with stalwart General Motors 141 class No. 146 in Irish Rail livery, showcasing three different eras of Irish Rail colour schemes.
The final member of the ITG fleet in action was the diminutive Deutz No. G617. The 1962-built loco is normally confined to shunting duties at Downpatrick, but the diesel gala saw it propelled into the spotlight, hauling a three carriage train to Inch Abbey and making much blue smoke in the process.
ITG volunteers spent weeks beforehand preparing the locomotives to make sure they were in tip-top condition and to avoid any mechanical surprises on the day. The Friday before the gala saw volunteers starting all four locomotives and testing them to make sure the Saturday event went smoothly.
At the start of the day, DCDR’s recently-restored two-car 80 class set (Nos. 69+749) was on display in the station, although it was unable to carry passengers due to ongoing repairs to the floor. The sight and sound of a 1970s-livery railcar set was quite an opener for the gala, as it thumped its way back to the sidings before the main event started. DCDR’s second 80 class was running in a siding at the station to provide some background noise.
Trains operated mainly to and from Inch Abbey through the afternoon, with spirited performances from all three ‘mainline’ locomotives being greatly appreciated by a crowd of around 200 enthusiasts, with drivers playing to the crowd and making as much noise as possible within the overall 25mph speed limit of the railway. Locomotives swapped at the end of each run to provide variety, with cab rides raffled on certain trips through the afternoon, and several photo stops were provided to enable lineside photography. 146 took a train to Magnus Grave and the Loop Platform as well, providing a trip along the less-travelled South Line, which used to run as far as the seaside resort of Newcastle.
A39R has been out of service for engine overhaul for several years, and returned to front line service just a few weeks before the gala, hauling trains in its black and orange livery for the first time. A39R’s return trip along the line will not be forgotten in a hurry, with the powerful GM 12-645E 1325 hp engine working hard and bringing back many memories of mainline travel in years gone by.
C231 was hauling its first passenger trains since the 2014 gala, following rectification of a number of electrical and mechanical faults which had been hampering its performance, and a last minute coat of paint was applied to have the loco looking its best for the photographers.
The ITG volunteers had been working hard to provide a surprise at the end of the day, and the more astute enthusiasts will have spotted 146 and C231 being shunted together and two drivers trying to look innocent when the passenger train passed. With brakes and multi working cable connected, the secret was out - the final train to Inch Abbey was to be hauled by C231 leading 146, the first time in many years that a B and C class had worked in multiple. A sea of cameras recorded the event, and the noise echoing round the Downpatrick marshes was incredible. C231 returned the final train to Downpatrick before the happy enthusiasts finally made their way home.
