14th Sept 1989

Being able to capture images like this at the time really excited me! Two first-generation American diesel switchers double-heading a long-distance express passenger service ("express" in the Irish sense of course!) was so surreal to this British visitor. Irish Rail 121 Class locos nos. 126 and 121 - the latter being the class engine - arrive at Connolly with the 07.35 Sligo to Dublin Connolly service. These two had stayed together for the last 10 days as I photographed them here on a similar service on the 4th. A sight no longer possible of course as these engines have long been withdrawn. Both have been scrapped. You might have thought that the 121 would have been saved!