In a major first for railway preservation in Ireland, the Downpatrick & County Down Railway in partnership with the Irish Traction Group unveiled a major milestone on Saturday 23rd August, as former Córas Iompair Éireann and Irish Rail diesel locomotive No. 124 hauled its first passenger trains in preservation at the DCDR’s 40th Anniversary Gala event.
Built in 1961 by General Motors in La Grange, Illinois, the 121 Class were the first American-built locomotives to operate in Ireland, transforming CIE’s fleet with their reliability and distinctive styling, looking more like Amtrak switchers (shunting locos) with their distinctive huge cab, with little to compare them to anywhere in Ireland or the UK. Withdrawn in the mid-2000s, most were scrapped, and for years many doubted 124 would ever run again. No. 124 had been placed in long-term storage at Moyasta, County Clare since 2008, only moving to Downpatrick in June 2025. After just two months of intensive restoration, it returned to service in time for the gala, making a surprise debut to an enthusiastic but unsuspecting crowd of visitors and photographers.
The day itself began with cab rides in G-Class locomotive G617, and run-pasts featuring the railway’s fleet, including the recently restored Wickham Railcar No. 713 and 450 Class Railcar No. 458. However, the biggest cheer of the afternoon came when 124 appeared for the first time, surprising everyone as it rounded the corner with a fully loaded ballast train. Later in the day, the locomotive made history by hauling the first passenger trains operated by a 121 Class locomotive since their withdrawal from mainline service. This special trip to Inch Abbey, using the DCDR’s vintage Edwardian carriages, was packed with enthusiasts eager to be part of the occasion.
The event was further enhanced with heritage buses on display outside the station from Ards Bus Preservation and Irish Transport Heritage, while Táilte Tours provided a connecting coach link from Dublin, underlining the all-Ireland interest in the gala.
Irish Traction Group committee member, Mike Beckett, praised the team effort that brought the locomotive back to life: “A huge thanks has to go to all our supporters and especially Downpatrick & County Down Railway and its volunteers for all the work that went on behind the scenes to make the diesel gala event on 23rd August such a major success.
“Our relationship with DCDR has been ongoing for many years, and we have always been grateful for their support with our diesel locomotive fleet based here.”
He continues, “Following the arrival of 124 in early June, Downpatrick-based volunteers really pulled out all the stops to try to get 124 into service for this diesel gala event. Every spare minute was spent repairing electrics, air systems, coolant systems and testing every operational aspect of the locomotive. The final hurdle was getting the all important paperwork completed, and risk assessments written, and agreement from the railway regulator in Northern Ireland, the Railway Safety Authority at Stormont.”
“Thanks to the hard work of ITG & DCDR volunteers, including burning the midnight oil for some last minute faults, it is hard to describe the appearance of 124 at the gala as anything other than triumphant, operating the first 121-class hauled trains in preservation anywhere in Ireland. The crowd were expecting a different locomotive, but we somehow managed to keep this secret until the train started rolling down the line, and jaws were dropping and looks of disbelief and amazement broke out as we powered past the spectators. It’s a real win for ITG and DCDR, and a testament to the skills and perseverance of the volunteers from both groups.”
Robert Gardiner, Chairman of the Downpatrick & County Down Railway, added, “We are proud to host 124 and to work with the Irish Traction Group on this achievement. This gala not only celebrated our 40th Anniversary, but also demonstrated our comeback from the devastating floods of 2023 – as well as the importance of cross-border cooperation in preserving Ireland’s transport heritage.”
The gala drew visitors from across Ireland and the UK, cementing Downpatrick’s role as the home of mainline diesel preservation in Ireland. With No. 124 now operational, albeit still a bit shabby from over 16 years exposed to the wild Atlantic winds in Co Clare, work is still not yet complete, with significant work on overhauling mechanical components and bodywork, and an eventual repaint, will resume as soon as volunteers recover from the past few months of effort. Effort is also continuing to restore the DCDR’s steam services following the 2023 floods, with work on the locomotive shed hoping to be carried out in the near future.