It has been an objective for quite some time to restore this loco to its former glory, and we are delighted to have completed this project just in time to mark it's 60th anniversary.
The locomotive has been completely rebuilt and restored by volunteers at Dromod, all parts, spares, paint, sheet steel, air tanks etc. were purchased by the team of volunteers working on the locomotive at no cost to the Cavan & Leitrim Railway.
The locomotive is now fitted with air brakes for use on passenger trains and meets all EU and RSC safety standards.
Big thank you to all the following volunteers who worked on this locomotive; Michael, Philip, Paul, Rod, Keith, Chris, Vincent & Brendan. The same team have started work straight away to restore another vintage diesel locomotive to the same standard.
History & Origins
LM114 was built by Ruston & Hornsby, Lincoln, England. LM114 was purchased new by Bord Na Mona in 1954, and operated in Boora serving the power station at Ferbane Co. Offely.
It is a 7 ton locomotive, but in service was fitted with extra Steel ballast weights and armoured shields at each end for use on tracklaying trains so now weighs well over 8 Tons.
When new it was fitted with a 48hp Ruston Type 4VRH diesel engine, but while in service with Bord na Mona it was rebuilt with a more powerfull Gardner Type 4LW 75hp diesel engine.
LM114 is believed to have ceased operations in 1997 and remained unused along with other scrap locos on a siding out on a bog at boora. While parked out on the bog at Boora between 1997 and 2008 it was badly vandalised and became overgrown with trees and bushes which were growing around and through it
The Cavan and Leitrim Railway purchased LM114 and brought to Dromod on January 28th 2008
Joe St Leger (1930-2012)
"The man in the brown coat" was a well respected railway photogrpher and enthusiast. His live's work spans a vast collection of photos and film, capturing over five decades of Irish railway.
Joe's dedication to transport photography took him across Ireland capturing everything from loco's and wagons to cranes and more, building one of Irelands greatest records of railway life and times.
Joe passed away on September 19th 2012. Joe was one of the first members of the Cavan and Leitrim Railway Society a very good friend to us. We are proud to dedicate our newest engine to his memory. Flickr- "Joe St. Leger Collection" by Fred Dean jnr
Gallery