BUILT BY : NAYSMYTH, WILSON YEAR BUILT : 1907 WITHDRAWN : 1960

'Drumboe' at Whitehead in 2006.The dome cover actually belonged to Baltic tank No.11 'Erne'. Photo by P McCann.

After the County Donegal Railway closed in 1959, the locomotive was purchased, along with three other steam locomotives, assorted rolling stock and much other equipment, by Dr Cox (an American dentist) for presevation in the United States of America.

The engines, however, never made the Atlantic crossing. Instead, 'Drumboe' sat outside at Strabane with sister engine No.4  'Meenglas'. Another engine, No.6 'Columbkille', was stored inside the General Store at Stranorlar.

Another County Donegal engine, 4-6-4 'Erne' survived as well, stored in the open in Letterkenny, but it was scrapped in 1970. Meanwhile 'Drumboe' and 'Meenglas' deteriorated and were attacked by vandals. The North West of Ireland Railway Society salvaged the locos in the late twentieth century.

County Donegal Railway Restoration Ltd, of Donegal town, now have 'Drumboe' on loan. The engine was given a cosmetic restoration for outdoor static display.

The aim of the County Donegal Railway Restoration Ltd is to rebuild a section of the old railway. They have long dreamed of a train of original CDR rolling stock pulling into Donegal station behind "Drumboe".  They asked RPSI Engineering at Whitehead to carry out some restoration work, and the loco was delivered to Whitehead in 2006.

New side tanks were made, as well as a new chimney and smokebox door. The wheels and axles were overhauled and bearings replaceed and repaired. The locomotive was temporarily reassembled for a trip back to Donegal for her 100th birthday.

The engine has been moved back to Whitehead and is dismantled again for further work, to include motion parts and boiler cladding.