Locomotive G611 is one of seven G Class shunting locomotives constructed between 1961/62 by Motorenfabrik Deutz at Köln, Germany. CIE ordered this fleet for shunting and light branch line work. Locomotive G611 entered traffic with CIE on 1st June 1962, and lasted in service until 22nd July 1977. CIÉ officially withdrew he locomotive on 29th September 1977.
Next, the Comhlucht Siuicre Éireann (Irish Sugar Company) bought this G Class locomotive, along with sister locomotives G613, G615, G616 and G617. Under their ownership, G611 initially shunted at their factory at Thurles. However, this locomotive subsequently moved to Limerick Depot . Here, CIE ‘adopted’ G611 for shunting at the adjacent wagon works.
CIE kept the little loco G611 stabled inside Limerick shed for most of the time. Depot staff kept the loco in full working order. However, in 1991, CIE decided to dispose of this locomotive. They sold G611 for preservation to the Irish Narrow Gauge Trust. The Trust moved the loco to Cahir, Co. Tipperary, on 28th March 1991. They stored it on an isolated section of track in the station yard.
In September 1994 the owners of G611 decided to sell the locomotive. They gave first refusal to the ITG. The Group bought G611 as a fully operational locomotive. On 5th February 1995 we moved G611 by low-
Locomotive G611 was in regular use at Downpatrick for many years. It operated both passenger and engineer’s trains on the line. The little Deutz also regularly performed shunting duties.
G611 has seen occasional use in 2024-2025 to assist with brief moves on complex shunts. The most notable of these was when it shunted of Railbus RB3 to the station front yard for loading onto the road trailer for transport to Wales. It remains on restricted use for occasional low speed shunting moves until a major overhaul can be completed.
