Irish Traction Group

The Irish Traction Group is a railway preservation society dedicated to preserving diesel locomotives from Irish Railways. It was formed in 1989, with the intention of attempting to preserve at least one example of every type of diesel locomotive to have operated on Irish Rail.

The Irish Traction Group was founded on 4 June 1989 with the intentions to preserve one locomotive of each class of diesel locomotives to have been operated on the Irish railway system. However, they were unable to initially purchase any locomotives from Iarnród Éireann, who wanted the ITG to have a home for their locomotives before they would consider selling any locomotives to the group. Initially the group was offered the old Portarlington goods shed in December 1990, but were unable to procure the building when IE decided to redevelop the property in March 1991.

The group was later offered the old Carrick-on-Suir goods shed, which they had previously considered but decided against it due to its poor condition, removal of its siding, and its distance from Dublin. However, with few other sites available, the group reluctantly agreed to lease the shed in May 1992, with a one-year rent-free period for the shed to be rebuilt as a workshop. Subsequently, IE began the process of selling diesel locomotive C226 to the group; this was the first locomotive to arrive at Carrick-on-Suir on 6 December 1992 for restoration.

The ITG owns thirteen locomotives and has previously owned another three locomotives:

The ITG are based in the former Carrick-on-Suir goods shed in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary,Current campaigns include fundraising to secure an example of the 141(B) Class locomotives. In addition to the Carrick on Suir goods shed, which serves as the group's main restoration base, some of its locos are located at Moyasta Junction on the preserved West Clare Railway, Co. Clare, where the ITG are building a museum. Locomotives A39, 146, C231, G611 and G617 are on loan to the Downpatrick & County Down Railway, where they are used to haul regular heritage services.

At present, the ITG have four locomotives at their Carrick-on-Suir site, mainline locomotives C226 and B103, and shunting locomotives G616 and G601. Present work is focused on restoring C226, while B103 and G601 are stored outside under protective steel covers. G616 is currently stored inside the shed in a partially dismantled state, the results of an overhaul started in 1993 but stopped in 1996 due to a lack of volunteers to continue work on the locomotive. Work resumed on this locomotive in early 2012. The engine was started for the first time in some 26 years on 29 September 2012.

...
Wikipedia