THE Downpatrick & County Down Railway (DCDR) took delivery of its now-preserved Northern Ireland Railways 80 Class unit over the weekend of May 12-13 following an unprecedented response to its fundraising appeal (RM April).
The four vehicles that make up the ‘Thumper’ – power cars No. 8090 and 8069 and driving trailers Nos. 8752 and 8749 – were transported from Translink’s York Road depot using a specialist low-loader, which had been brought across from England by Reid Freight Services.
The sight of Nos. 8069 and 8749, which had been recently repainted into the original maroon & blue livery by York Road staff, would have likely turned a few heads as they made the journey from Belfast, recalling the days when the units dominated rail services in the province.
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