DCDR - ITG Diesel Gala 7/1/23

Downpatrick & County Down Railway - Irish Traction Group Diesel Gala Saturday 7th January 2023 Locomotives / Railcars featured during the event. Ex C.I.E / Irish Rail 141 Class GM 146 Ex C.I.E / Irish Rail A Class - 001 Class A39 Ex C.I.E / Irish Rail G Class G617 Ex NIR 450 Class DEMU 458 Antrim Castle And for the steam fans Orenstein & Koppel 0-4-0T No.3 / O&K No.3 was in steam and was running up and down the yard at Downpatrick. The event started with 146 hauling 3 Ex Irish Rail Ballast Hoppers & A Plough Van up and down the station / yard area at Downpatrick for visitors to take a unique opportunity to go for a brake / plough van ride. Getting to travel on a ballast train now that's something you can't do everyday. The 3 Hoppers & The Plough Van were donated to DCDR by Irish Rail in August 2022. Also seen in the video stabled in the siding beside the carriage gallery building is 2 more of DCDR's latest additions to their fleet. Ex NIR Tamper No.5 & The Ex NIR VMT Machine which used to haul the waterjetter during the RHTT season until 2017 when it was replaced by MPV No.11. Next 146 is seen working another brake / plough van ride with the ballast train. Following the end of the plough van rides visitors were escorted out to the North Line for 146 & A39 to perform run pasts. This was very well marshalled by DCDR volunteers 458 Is seen stabled on the south line awaiting it's turn in the spot light later in the day. 146 Provides some beautiful thrash and clag as it runs past with the ballast train. 146 + Ballast Train set back to the yard at Downpatrick. A39 With the running set passes with the her first run past. A39 & Train set back and preform a 2nd run past with some nice thrash. Following the end of the run pasts visitors are escorted back to the station with some photographs being taken on route. Seen in the photos are. 458 Stabled on the South Line 146 Awaiting it's next turn of duty. The Ballast Train 80 Class Power Car 90 stabled in the yard awaiting it's turn for restoration. 80 Class Power Car 69 seen in the workshop undergoing it's restoration. A39 Works the first train out to Inch Abbey. Sadly the weather takes a turn as A39 runs around the train at Inch Abbey this is followed by a lineside photograph opportunity. The sun shines again as A39 brings the train back into Downpatrick. A39 Is released from the train and runs back into the yard to be stabled. 146 Takes over and works the next train of the day out to Inch Abbey. With 458 making it's presence known as the train turns onto the North Line. 146 Runs around the train at Inch Abbey which is followed by another lineside photo opportunity this time is far better weather. 146 Works the train back to Downpatrick. Back at Downpatrick O&K No.3 is seen running in the yard. At this state 146 developed brake problems when being taken off the train. 146 Was eventually removed from the train and was failed. G617 Takes over the train and hauls it out to Inch Abbey with no shortage of clag. Back at Downpatrick G617 hauls the train into the station loop for stabling and then makes way for 458. 458 Arrives into the platform to work the last train of the day out to Inch Abbey. The train performs 2 runs along the line with on board footage taken in the power car & intermediate trailer. 458 Calls at Inch Abbey for another lineside photograph opportunity. 458 Heads back to Downpatrick with on board footage taken in the driving trailer. And finally as daylight fades and at the end of a fantastic day 458 moves out to her stabling position and 146 is seen shunting in the yard after her little hic up earlier in the day. 146 Can be seen shunting A Class A39 , Ex NIR DBSO 8918 & C Class C231. Thank you very much to everyone involved at the DCDR & ITG for planning a really enjoyable day.