Westcorkrailway

Well that was helpful…as the tank plate still exists. it appears to have tank 199, which would make this 25199, which would make it the last one ever produced???

Looking at the photos I have, the number plates have been whipped but no doubt the owner has it jotted down somewhere

And the one that does exist, has only survived due to sheer willpower of one man, otherwise it would have been scrapped years ago.

There at least was a shed kept on site. Shame I never took photos. If I remember correctly, there was 2 locos, all I could tell you about the 2nd loco is that it was nothing like the above pictured. It was like a simplex or Ruston machine. No idea if it’s still there.

Was there in about 2019 and it looked like it had long been abandoned by then. Thought accessing the stock was more then possible

Actually yes, I think the dual truck is set up as far as the junction for mungret (not layed but the alignment is made for it and level crossings made double track) M new LC signs have been put up, which gives me small hope that there actually thinking about doing the spur, although as you can see, it hasn’t been cleaned up in a decade

Indeed, but the opposite can be said for the navan line which otherwise looks pristine at the moment. Yes years will eventually out pay to this line if it isint maintained. But it’s not like a south Wexford of a WRC. The track is there and it’s good and it’s unlikely to be used in the future

Does sitting out the back of the brakevan on the lifting train count as “air conditioned”

Certainly on paper it would make sense, especially if one day, mainline heritage operation is barred leaving a bit of a vacum for such a thing to become politically feasible. As far as I know the line has very few level crossings. The connection of 2 large towns, both with a rail connection on either end (this assumes that’s the M3 route is built at the time is proposal would be considered) would make that Dublin and indeed northern access easier. But you’re talking about a huge project which required a pile of money to make a facility at navan for something like this to work. Essentially a Mullingar 2.0 but better course this is only thoughts to occupy ones mind. I’ve done basically 0 volounteer work, so others on here will be able to give a better analysis of the potential of the line.

I’ll still beat the Bandon Tank Drum for as long as I live. Problem is that it would only be useful for maynooth runs in the modern day preservation scene. A bit too hungry for Downpatrick. Even if the CRRS had preserved it in the mid 1960s, it’s hard to imagine how 464 would have survived to now unless treated like similar size loco lough Erne That’s thinking with my heart, but with my brain I think by far the biggest gap would be for the MGWR E Class / J26. Not only would it give the Midland a deserved representation in preservation aside from coaches. it would also be practical, being perfect for Downpatrick’s Demands and not as hungry as some other monsters! Helpings it’s case for a new build is it’s also one of the best proportioned locos on this island. The class was also extremely well traveled, traveling to virtually every corner of the country, working alongside No. 90 in Cork ending up replacing it on the T&C section!

Not sure if I ever posted these here. But this is from a local modeller who wishes to be anonamous. @Mol_PMB noted that many industrial lines were in the cork/Kerry region. And while I can’t speak for the rest of the network. The West Cork System had a number of private sidings. Beamish had one in Bandon. A small branch for the mills at Desert, Allmans Distillery famously had its own locomotives, Coffeepot and latterly a Peckett 0-4-0 which later became GSR 495. Ironically this locomotive was not only purchased for its age (being less then 10 years old at the time of purchased versus the rest of the aging GSR fleet!) and used for the Fords/Dunlop siding. The tight curves on some Cork City Railway Curves around the quays and the Corn Mills on the marina making it ideal anyways I’m missing a major one here. Shannonvale mill in between Ballinascarthy and Clonakilty still stands tall, it closed a year or two after the railway line that served it closed. Shannonvale mills had its own 400 odd meter siding off the Clonakilty branch. Rather than a private locomotive, a horse worked the branch. The last horse work the line known as paddy, who retired to a local farm rather then facing the scrap! Gravity would work the wagons into to Mill while paddy would bring them back out. A deadly dangerous quick release system would engage at the top of the gradient and paddy, along with the workers would have to dash out of the way. the track may have been lifted by CIE funnily enough as according the local accounts was lifted by a rail tractor (which CIE used to lift the T&C branch line among other light track some footage of paddy https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxL5hDnFAZ6geNU215dcVm84m_Tt7wHGfk?si=6t1xIjELaKddy9Dp https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxYZD5EQbx7WjEFkncZEAksHxedcphB8wA?si=O9mofvztnjWiukhZ interestingly Cork and Bandon Railway are recorded as saying that locomotives did end up going down there. Impossible the verify other then word of mouth and one recorded interview from the 1960s. Beet was certainly stored down there during a particularly busy season in the 1950s according to Ray Good 31/03/1961 taken from the cab of the last Ex-Clonakilty mixed train the pulls up to the mills where the last wagons will be taken (C) Brian Baker anyways this layout is supposed to capture the mill, not long after closure. Enjoy!

Some more early photos

And if it wasn’t already clear. AEC Built the 1953 stuff whereas the later wedge heads were Icore built

These photos hopefully provide a simple answer