Last Saturday saw the ITG’s Deutz G class loco No. G617 have the honour of being the first locomotive to run the full length of Downpatrick’s Loop Line in nearly 10 years. The Downpatrick & County Down Railway PW team has undertaken a lot of work in recent months. With the G class being the lightest locos in the fleet, Driver Morgan Young took G617 carefully down the Loop Line on 27th June. The DCDR track team carefully observed the movement to ensure all was OK.
All went well, so 124 soon followed, driven by Mike Beckett. This was the first working of a 121 class loco over the Loop Line. Care was taken to check it for clearance.
Next, it was the turn of 146. The 141 class loco collected Park Royal carriage 1944 and UTA carriage 728 and hauled them down the line. Volunteers checked clearances for all stock, as the track on the curved part of the Loop Platform had been moved as part of the project. Everything went without a hitch.
Congratulations to the DCDR track team on their achievement. We look forward to the Loop Line featuring in diesel galas in the years to come.
