Irish Narrow Gauge Railways

As one of two volunteers (including Michael) who are on the ground volunteering on this forum......you are somewhat incorrect, there is tremendous co-operation between Dromod and Stradbally and the WSVR, in fact I have helped out on all three particularly the first two........as for "steam locos doing nothing" would you like to contribute to Dromod through donations or assistance on the ground to solve that? It is unfortunate that the locos are lying unused at Bushmills.....including Stradbally number 2's sister number 3.

As Micheal surmised above there are dedicated people that chose to get out there and save these items in appalling conditions as opposed to sitting at home by the computer saying "shouldn't someone"..........there's one on this forum that I know all too well and he knows who he is Michael and all his volunteers deserve to be commended on dromod surviving, I'm sure all here will tune in to Michael Portillo later this month when he will visit Dromod on BBC2 I believe.

 

Avonside2, are there any chances now for the extension to Mohill?

 

I was trying to explain the much greater challenges of the Irish context to a GB audience, not belittle any railway. I do in fact direct what donations I can make to Irish preservation, despite being on the other side of the British Isles, because I know how much it is needed.
What I am concerned about is that the meagre financial resources currently available are stretched so thin because everyone has their own scheme that little progress is made anywhere. Some locations have locos but no funds and are in places where visitors are scarce, others have better locations but no steam, etc. As an example, would the C&L lend Nancy to the W&SV if (for argument's sake) that would get her steaming quicker and/or give her more of a run? I believe that is the sort of radical collaboration that is needed to get some viable and stable lines running, which should in time help the other sites too. It might mean mothballing some lines for a while and transferring assets.
Of course I would love all the lines to prosper, but at the moment none are. There are no easy answers.
Of course a somewhat run down and potentially unreliable railway is entirely historical for most Irish NG...

 

Yes If you have 4 or 5 Million Euros

 

You don't Know How Much we have went trough to Save what we have, also their are Politics in Railway Preservation in Ireland.
I don't Think I ever Got a Donation from You , But I could be Wrong

 

We Got a Lovely Piece on Michael Portello's Great Train Journeys of the World on Thursday Night,
BBC2 . So if you Want to have a look , try the BBC I player, Coming from Dromod.
Regards
Micheal Kennedy

 

Are Ye Right There Michael?

 

Is there an Association of heritage railways of Ireland?

 

No, but there is very good cooperation between the various groups.


Keith

 

I enjoyed the footage (and the singing!), hope the publicity gets you some more visitors, supporters and volunteers.

 

here the Link to our Latest Project to get the Locomotive "Nancy" up and Running Again.
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https://goo.gl/35ZaDa&h=ATPdTGSiJxbZIk2SCfT1hc5LUtnF4yMt3yqjVXtszzMPmbiDn-hHMxynskDlGota56xrjtOZycuLVsuE_00zG2uJbv3_6_VDiYLelQw95qxdnDAwpzL2tt9HQMWZ5kkd1JWYwYAFJ1JtrqkKZ221-t1EGGw74pffcF-AS-CmTl_njxfGDR5IgbA8NPztZS2hs0fd4suRY3MbT1pVqFLhpjyP1nSC9cxsU10obDwe65QVi8U_r4OB2IFXNmtGbxXg40Qqng8y_It8hSGjsFKxxDR2JpTv8WhUjV4

We have Gathered over €2500 in less than a month, so if you want to give a few bob just follow the link. Help the Irish Narrow Gauge, Micheal Kennedy

 

It's a tad depressing though that the C&L is raising funds to restore a steam loco that (it seems) can only even run on a quarter of a mile of track, while the W&SVR has 8 and a half miles but no steam loco....
Perhaps a restored Nancy could be loaned semi-permanently until (if ever) the C&L can extend to Mohill, or at least to somewhere?

 

Its Already Been Done, Last August , and To Date No Reply , So we are going it alone With support from all the other Narrow gauge Railways in the Republic.
Micheal kennedy

 

What happened to the ex-Shane's Castle locos and stock at Bushmills? Is it all still there? Are there any plans to overhaul either of the steam locos or is the railway looking to sell them on at some point?

Some great footage here btw of number 1 being restored and run in Belfast and then at Shane's Castle.

http://digitalfilmarchive.net/media/super-8-stories-the-back-garden-628

 

Thanks for the link - never seen that footage before even though I've seen many hours of the late Fred Cooper's films over the years.

All the stock is still stored in the carriage/loco sheds at Giants Causeway station. I don't think anything is for sale, but the line seems to be run by the (ugly/inaccurate) diesel tramcars now.


Keith

 

Good find John, thanks for posting the link. Maybe a field trip to the Bushmills is required?
Ray.

 

That sounds like an excellent idea, Ray! Maybe they'd lend us number 1 as a station pilot for Douglas?

 

worth seeing but not worth going to see....

 

Have a Look at this I think you will enjoy
https://www.rte.ie/archives/2015/1111/741113-donegal/

 

I did . Thanks.