ICRs and 121s

[LNERW1]

In a phone conversation with a friend around my age, we were discussing withdrawal dates and whether we were alive to see certain loco types on the IÉ network (as all cool young people do). In the process we stumbled across the fact that some 121s were in service until 2009, and so for two years or so could have been seen beside an ICR. Now, in my mind these two are worlds apart and seperate the "good" (121) and "meh" (ICR) eras of IÉ, but represent two whole different eras nonetheless. As such, I wondered whether anyone on here has a photo of the two side-by-side, as my curiosity is piqued- I have to see this now! I'm sure given the vast photo collections from members on here that this is almost certainly recorded somewhere. Bonus points for 121s beside MKIVs or 2800 and 2600s. Please help me fulfil my incredibly specific curiosity- what else is this forum for?

All the best,

LNERW1

Edited Tuesday at 21:18 by LNERW1

[Metrovik]

Now I wonder who this friend could have possibly been?

[jhb171achill]

2 hours ago, LNERW1 said:

In a phone conversation with a friend around my age, we were discussing withdrawal dates and whether we were alive to see certain loco types on the IÉ network (as all cool young people do). In the process we stumbled across the fact that some 121s were in service until 2009, and so for two years or so could have been seen beside an ICR. Now, in my mind these two are worlds apart and seperate the "good" (121) and "meh" (ICR) eras of IÉ, but represent two whole different eras nonetheless. As such, I wondered whether anyone on here has a photo of the two side-by-side, as my curiosity is piqued- I have to see this now! I'm sure given the vast photo collections from members on here that this is almost certainly recorded somewhere. Bonus points for 121s beside MKIVs or 2800 and 2600s. Please help me fulfil my incredibly specific curiosity- what else is this forum for?

All the best,

LNERW1

By the time the ICRs appeared, about the only thing the last two 121s were doing was transfers of wagons containing wheels to be turned between Limerick and Inchicore, as far as I know, or shunting within the works. Beet was gone.

[LNERW1]

12 hours ago, Metrovik said:

Now I wonder who this friend could have possibly been?

Haha I didn’t want to mention you as I always get a bit iffy talking about private conversations without the other conversee’s consent.

10 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

By the time the ICRs appeared, about the only thing the last two 121s were doing was transfers of wagons containing wheels to be turned between Limerick and Inchicore, as far as I know, or shunting within the works. Beet was gone.

Oh yeah of course basically nothing happening but they were on the network at the same time as the ICRs, which have been (I think) on every currently open passenger line on the network, and sure they’d be going along the Cork line. There’s also a possibility, now I say it, they could have been photographed on the quad track as well, as far as I know it only opened in 2009, the year they were retired, but surely it was under construction for a few years beforehand?

[Niles]

124 and 134 were withdrawn around March 2008, the first ICR sets went into service the previous December so there would have been a very narrow window when both were in service (and of course the ICRs would have been roaming about on trial for a the bones of the year before). But a window nonetheless.

The 121s' last duties tended to be on PW (in fact I think their very last train was PW flats to Portlaoise). They were brought back to Inchicore immediately after and sat on the same siding as 123 before it was scrapped around April that year, meaning there was a very, very narrow window when the last three 121s were in close proximity.

Someone will remember better than I but I have it in my head that the Mayo line was next to get the ICRs after Sligo?

Edited Wednesday at 14:43 by Niles