124

Locomotive 124 was built for Coras Iompair Éireann (CIE), the Irish State owned transport company in 1960. It was constructed by General Motors at their premises at La Grange, Illinois, USA. Originally numbered B124, it was part of a class of 15 single cab Bo-Bo locomotives. These were designated ‘B’ class and numbered B121 – B135 inclusive, later simply known as the 121 class. The locos were based on the American ‘switcher’ type design, more specifically, the EMD GL8 loco. They were the first General Motors built locomotives to enter service with CIE. When built, the locomotives were fitted with a GM 8-567CR engine of 950 hp.

B124 entered traffic with CIE on 29th March 1961. The letter prefix ‘B’ was dropped from 1972 onwards, and the locomotive eventually became 124. From that point the fleet became known simply as the 121 class.

The 121 (B) class locomotives could be seen operating all over the Irish Rail network. They hauled both passenger and freight services. However, due to problems encountered with driver visibility when running bonnet first, their sphere of operation when running singly was restricted as they had to be turned on turntables at the end of most journeys so that the cab was leading each time. In the early days this was not too much of a problem, as most terminal stations still had operational turntables left over from steam days.

Multiple working

However, as the number of operational turntables gradually reduced over a period of time, this restricted the number of routes that the class could operate over when running singly. As such, the locomotives were then regularly marshalled in pairs, operating in multiple with their cabs outermost, or coupled in multiple with 141 (B) or 181 (B) class locomotives, again with the 121 class’ cab outermost.

In the 1970s and early 1980s, pairs of 121 class locomotives were the staple form of motive power on the Dublin Connolly to Sligo line and also the Dublin Connolly to Rosslare Harbour line. However, two notable duties did still remain for a single 121 class locomotive. Firstly, there was the early morning Dublin Heuston to Cork passenger/mail service, which returned from Cork to Dublin Heuston during the late afternoon. In the later years, this train was usually formed of just one Travelling Post Office, one Cravens passenger coach, and one Steam Generating Van. This service continued until the transport of mail by rail was discontinued in January 1994.

The other passenger duty for a single locomotive was the Bray to Greystones push/pull shuttle service. This was formed of former AEC railcar vehicles built between 1951 and 1954, which were converted to push/pull hauled stock in 1972/73. The 121 class locomotives took over operating this push/pull service in 1985/86, following the withdrawal of the 201 (C) Class locomotives which had previously operated this service. The use of 121 class locomotives on this working eventually ended in September 1987 when the AEC-built push/pull set was finally withdrawn.

A new lease of life on pushpull services

In 1988-89, a new duty for these locomotives operating singly was introduced. They would work with new Mark 3 push/pull sets on the Dublin Suburban services between Dublin and Drogheda/Dundalk. The locomotive was coupled to one end of the train, with a Driving Trailer coach at the other end of the set.

Thirteen of the 121 class locomotives were modified for this type of operation; the only locomotives not fitted with push/pull equipment were 121, 125 (already stopped following fire damage) and 135. However, not every locomotive fitted had this equipment commissioned for operation. Locomotive 124 was a regular performer on these services. 121 class locomotives continued to operate these services until 1995/6. They were replaced by the new 201 class locomotives. After that, the 121 class locomotives were mainly to be found operating in pairs on freight services and engineer’s trains.

The next 121 class locomotive to go was locomotive 132.  This suffered an electrical fire on 19th May 1994. Locomotive 121 was the next of the class to be taken out of service. It also suffered fire damage, on 29th June 1995. This was closely followed by locomotive 126 which suffered serious engine damage during July 1995.

While originally built with GM 8-567CR engines, many of the 121 class locomotives would go onto have their original engines exchanged with GM 8-567CR engines. These had been originally fitted to the 141 class locomotives. In some cases the 121s received GM 8-B645E engines reclaimed from former 201 (C) class locomotives, which were withdrawn in the mid-1980s. Locomotive 124 was to eventually receive a GM 8-567CR engine from a 141 class locomotive during its period in service, which it still retains to this day.

The final years of the 121 class locomotives

Around 2001/2002,it was decided decision to refurbish the 121 class locomotives, and things hopeful. . The refurbishment was to include an overhaul of the body and cab interior. However, a decline in freight traffic meant led to a decision to withdraw most of the class. Ultimately, only 123, 124, 131 and 134 received this overhaul. Withdrawals started in mid-2002. By March 2003 124 and 134 were the only 121 class locomotives left in traffic. 123 lingered on as the Inchicore pilot locomotive until August of that year. The rest of the 121 class locomotives were quickly scrapped around this time.

However, the 121 class retained one passenger duty, that being the Limerick to Limerick Junction shuttle service. This used a short Mark 3 push/pull carriage set. 124 and 134 would take turns on this service until 9th March 2004.  After this date, the shuttle was taken over by 2700 class railcar sets.

After the being ousted from the Limerick Junction shuttle, locomotives 124 and 134 continued to fly the flag for the 121 class, often (but not exclusively) running together as a pair. Duties included freight and permanent way trains, with the locos also being popular on railtours during this period. 124 and 134 were finally withdrawn on 31st March 2008, thus ending the career of the 121 class locomotives on Irish Railways after four and a half decades.

Preservation beckons

Following their eventual withdrawal, both locomotives were then stored at Inchicore Works awaiting preservation. Locomotive 124 was secured for preservation by the Irish Traction Group on 7th November 2009, and was sold to the Group for the nominal sum of €1 plus VAT.

124 was moved by low-loader from Inchicore Works to the West Clare Railway, Moyasta, Co. Clare, on 26th November 2009. It was intended for display inside a new museum. The museum never came to pass unfortunately. 124 began a new chapter in 2025 when it was moved to a new home at the Downpatrick & County Down Railway. The loco arrived at Downpatrick on 1st June.

124 was successfully started for the first time in preservation on Saturday 14th June 2025. This marked the start of restoration to running order.

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