If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

County Donegal Columbkille steamed in the 70s?

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by GHWood, Feb 25, 2017.

  1. GHWood

    GHWood Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2007
    Messages:
    295
    Likes Received:
    63
    Having just reactivated my subscription to the Railway Magazine Archive (which I would highly recommend although it's a good way to make an afternoon disappear..), I found this picture of Columbkille looking like it is in steam supposedly in 1975 at Victoria Road, Londonderry. I am fairly certain that the caption is a typo (1955?) but can anyone shed any further light on this? (Photo copyright of the Railway Magazine).
     

    Attached Files:

  2. andrewshimmin

    andrewshimmin Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2011
    Messages:
    1,761
    Likes Received:
    2,160
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
  3. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    May 18, 2011
    Messages:
    6,081
    Likes Received:
    2,217
    nice photo though....
     
  4. GHWood

    GHWood Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2007
    Messages:
    295
    Likes Received:
    63
    Thanks for the info, Andrew. Having done a bit more research myself, I found an article in 'Narrow Gauge Times' no 5 (Winter 76/ 77) which includes an article about the North West of Ireland Railway Society taking a lease on Victoria Road station and setting up a museum. There are pictures of Columbkille being delivered in November 1974 along with railcars, wagons etc. and a comment that it could steam again but that it needs new tubes. Don't have a complete set of NGT so don't know if there is a report of it steaming.

    So Columbkille definitely made it to Victoria Road in the 70s (I think the NWIRS moved out in the early 80s and equipment moved to Shane's Castle when the site was redeveloped) but no evidence (other than the pic) that she was steamed unless anyone knows differently. The pic certainly looks like she's in steam but (assuming the date is correct), I guess the steam could be coming from a lance cleaning it or similar.

    Your link btw is to Drumboe which is at the RPSI awaiting funding to finish her restoration. I think Columbkille is in the Foyle Valley museum at Londonderry but I stand to be corrected! Interestingly, the link does say that Columbkille had been stored inside the general store at Stranolar which I suppose adds some fuel to the fire that it probably was in reasonable condition/ few parts missing when it went to Londonderry.
     
    Last edited: Feb 26, 2017
  5. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    May 29, 2006
    Messages:
    3,967
    Likes Received:
    5,064
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    N.Ireland
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The location is correct. Columbkille and Blanche (in UFTM) are both complete locos. Drumboe is now well on the way to recovery, but will need another chunk of funds to repair the boiler, and of course the Donegal town group don't have a line to run it on yet. I seem to recall Columbkille was used on the dismantling trains which is why she was still in good order at the end.

    Keith
     
  6. Alan C

    Alan C New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2018
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    7
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Armagh
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Hi folks, I was looking around for information about the old NWIRS today and stumbled upon your conversation. I was a young member of the NWIRS in the 1970s and can confirm that No. 6 (Columbkille) was definitely steamed in 1975. I was 11 at the time and remember that we spent much of a Saturday putting water in the side tanks from a hose and the fire was lit and steam generated on the Sunday, when there were no visitors around as it was a step into the unknown! So far as I know she didn't move under her own steam, but pressure was definitely raised on that occasion. So the date in the caption on the photo is correct.

    Hope this helps.
     
    taliesin1999, Tobbes, ghost and 2 others like this.
  7. sleepermonster

    sleepermonster Member

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2007
    Messages:
    919
    Likes Received:
    1,024
    Sadly I've never been to Ireland, north or south, but I can date the photo to about 1975, because the track is Bullhead, which appears in photos of the museum, but the old CDR was all FB rail.
     
  8. GHWood

    GHWood Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2007
    Messages:
    295
    Likes Received:
    63
    Thanks for the reply, Alan - that’s quite a turn up for the books (I was fairly certain the date was a typo)! I don’t suppose you can remember why steam was raised can you (I’m guessing it was just to test things/ ‘because we can’!)? Would be great to know if she was able to move.
     
  9. Alan C

    Alan C New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2018
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    7
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Armagh
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I believe the steaming was just to test things in order to see what worked and what didn't as well as what might be needed to bring her back into action. As I said, I was only a lad at the time but I can remember things like rust holes in the side tanks which were temporarily 'patched' with a nut and bolt and a couple of rubber washers. So far as I'm aware, she didn't move under her own power so presumably there was insufficient pressure or too many steam leaks to drive the pistons. If some of the older NWIRS members are on here, they may be able to give a fuller picture through a better understanding at the time. I just enjoyed working around the rolling stock and doing odd jobs in the museum every Saturday.
    We also had two diesel railcars (nos. 12 and 18) and they were definitely runners, despite having been out of service for 20-odd years!
     
    NGChrisW and GHWood like this.
  10. NGChrisW

    NGChrisW New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2011
    Messages:
    172
    Likes Received:
    110
    Location:
    Surrey
    Very interesting. I guess there were probably a few "lets steam it and see what happens" occasions in the early days of preservation which have been lost in the mist of time (or were best quietly forgotten about!)
    I visited the Foyle Valley museum in Londonderry during a quick tour around former CDR territory back in July so was able to see Columbkille and she is still in pretty good nick even now. Her sister Blanche, in the museum at Cultra, still pretty much looks as if you could put a fire in her and see what happened!

    Chris
     
    GHWood likes this.

Share This Page