Former CIE locomotive A39 (039) in action at Downpatrick railway

This is former Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann / CIE) locomotive A39 (later 039), one of the A class locomotives built by Metropolitan Vickers in the mid 1950s. Originally there were 60 of these locos in service and they were a mainstay on the Irish rail network for four decades until the last one was taken out of service in 1995. The original Crossley engines were unreliable and were later replaced by General Motors engines developing 1,350hp (although six examples were more powerful, rated at 1,600hp). This locomotive was bought by the Irish Traction Group (ITG) after it was withdrawn from service and restored to original CIE livery. It has been loaned to the Downpatrick and County Down Railway by ITG for a period of two years commencing last November. The locomotive sees daily duty, mainly shunting stock around for the steam workings. Here she is seen doing just that on a busy Saturday at the railway, which is Northern Ireland's only full-size gauge preserved railway.

http://www.downrail.co.uk
http://www.irishtractiongroup.com/ITG...