DERAILED

The most depressing part about the state of 467a - if it is that carriage - is that it was in running order when delivered by rail to Mallow. It was either the Cork or Limerick breakdown van - I forget which without digging out my notes - but it is a sorry indictment of preservation in the Republic.

Here's a crude effort that I came across on Done Deal today. Only €30 and the seller was not making any claims for its authenticity. Vaguely similar to one that used to be adjacent to the road overbridge at Claremorris station. It's a long time since I last saw that sign and I think that it has disappeared in the intervening years but I doubt it had as many spelling mistakes. 

4 hours ago, JasonB said:

Sorry, who are you, another one of Captain Nostalgia's musketeers? 

I'll explain what I mean. It's quite simple really. Nowadays, Irish Rail get passengers from A to B and in the process of doing so, try to break even. Reason being, because it's not 1984 anymore. @Noel brought up forty years ago, which by the way has nothing to do with the original post in this thread. 

@DJ Dangerous has explained exactly what I meant above, so has saved me the bother of wasting anymore of my time on this today. 

Sorry, who are you some sort trainspotter who thinks he should be on the stage?

I'll explain what I mean, It's quite simple really. Back in the 1980s, CIE/IE got passengers from A to B in a good deal more comfort than they do today and in the process, tried to break even. They failed to do so then and there's no sign that by making rail travel an endurance test rather than a pleasure, they are any nearer to breaking even. I'll put your patronising bad manners down to the fact that you're probably not old enough to remember the 1980s yourself. As an aside, do you ever take the train or are you one of the camera swinging brigade that swan around the country in their car taking photographs . I suspect if you were a regular rail user you might have stronger views on the range of facilities available.

47 minutes ago, JasonB said:

Yeah, I think it goes a little further than just seat covers. And by the way, it's not 1984 anymore. 

It's not 1984 anymore - what does this even mean? In a great many ways the railway has gone backwards since 1984 something as basic as catering cannot even be provided anymore, neither can parcels be carried, stations be manned or passengers be protected from assorted types of pond-life...Yes, it's not 1984 anymore.

Wouldn't it be nice if IE gave the Mk IV's a bold new, serviceable livery too - something simple like, or identical to, that used by Belmond? Incidentally, no word when they are going to upgrade 1st class on the Rosslare line?

We already have a fairly jumbled up thread on fake signs and I thought it might be nice to have one on genuine items that still pop up from time to time.

This DNGR boundary marker sold on eBay today for £131 - quite a bargain for a fairly rare item. It came with a good provenance from a reliable seller - I think he's on here. Initially I was sceptical as a number of these have sold at auction over the years and there can't have been that many but the wear, paint etc. corresponds with other examples sold and added to the details the seller provided me with I was happy - to £66. I only wanted it to sell on and at £131 things were definitely too risky - a nice item.

The 2200s are a horrible experience to travel on - airless, noisy internally from underfloor engines, noisy from lack of any internal partitions, tiny toilets apart from the wheelchair ones, no buffet car and no catering at all.. Having got rid of loco haulage and the associated vans they are now reinventing the wheel. Train travel is now an endurance which I partake of as infrequently as possible.

According to IE's latest Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/iarnrodeireann

Inter-city trains are to become even ridiculous - see image. Hot on the heels of this comes more speculation about terminating Rosslare trains at Wicklow or Greystones....and it's not even April 1st.

https://m.independent.ie/regionals/wexford/news/works-to-help-improve-rosslare-to-dublin-railway-service-are-ongoing/a2134218808.html

3 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

Schemes like that can have a precarious long-term prospect. There are several existing (operational) examples of this species; a privately-owned operation funded by one individual with very deep pockets, but no preservation society as such to take it over when they age, like all of us. We see what’s happening at Moyasta; a well-meaning individual now getting on in years, close to being no longer able to run it. 

The other issue with places like Moyasta, Maam Cross, Finntown and the like is that they are in the absolute back end of nowhere. There is zero financially self-supporting market, and few or no local volunteers. Finntown exists due to being funded by a local co-operative. The others mentioned are the private property of one person, and thus dependent upon their personal funds and circumstances - and health!

While I am open to correction on this, it is my understanding that the owners of several of the privately owned ones - two at least - are (perhaps unwisely) completely opposed to having a preservation society set up to administer and run the thing.

In terms of my own earlier comments, I was sticking to those which got up and running, and do so; and also a few “might have beens”. 

Just thought of another; in the 1990s again, I was told of a plan (which, for numerous reasons was utterly impractical) to restore about a mile of the Achill line near Mulrany!

Malranny was indeed examined in the early nineties but considered too remote and we mistakenly settled on the other place. At the time the station and GS hotel at Mulrany were on the market with 80 acres for IR£120,000 - how times have changed!

EDIT: My memory fails - it was IR£175,000 but still a bargain.

Over the years I have put numerous proposals to politicians of all colours, and others, on the need for a National Transport Museum and I might as well have been talking to the wall. I have nothing further to say on the matter but as the saying goes, a picture paints a thousand words and this recent photo of the 'preserved ' MV Naomh Éanna (CIE's Aran Island Ferry) says it all.

https://www.facebook.com/MVNaomhEanna

6 hours ago, Mike 84C said:

Mike Beckett; I do not understand the politics of Irish preservation. If its not too contentious, please explain the joy over the collapse of Moyasta and from where?

 

You need to have been involved in it to understand and there's no way it can be explained adequately to an outsider. As for Moyasta, I won't mourn its passing - it was always going to end this way run by an arrogant SOB. I know from first-hand experience of dealing with the individual concerned. Blennerville was hijacked by a coterie of local business interests and Tralee UDC and was always doomed to fail once they drove off the enthusiasts. As for the other well known project...what goes around comes around and I won't be shedding any tears.

The 2007/09 volume is now sold. The other two volumes are still available.

Hard to believe - well over 1,000 views and no enquiries. Do people not read anymore?

3 hours ago, LNERW1 said:

would it be possible to collect this?

Normally, but at this time of year I don't want to tie myself down being available at times/dates. Sorry.

Detailed fleet listing with photos of Bord na Mona narrow gauge fleet as it was in 1996. 48 pages, soft cover.

In excellent condition save for two dents to front cover see images. Scarce volume. €10 plus postage.

I still have loads of IRRS Journals, RPSI 5ft 3" and Donegal "Phoenix" mags, and various other Irish titles - message me with your wants.

A4, soft cover, 116 pages plus cover - indispensable when searching for articles in your IRRS Journal collection.

In good condition.

Also included are two folded indexes for VOLUME 24 (2010-11) and VOLUME 25 (2012-13)

I also have hundreds of IRRS Journals available - in excellent condition - feel free to message me with your wants.

Scarce item: €10 plus postage.

1 hour ago, Horsetan said:

....or, as it's properly known in Ireland, "The Emergency"

We don't all march to the same tune. 

It's mainly timetables with some pages on terms and conditions and fares.

A glimpse into the horrors of WW.II. rail travel with little more than a skeleton service available and horrendous journey times.

60 page booklet in generally very good, clean condition. The only damage is a small hole top left which runs through the whole booklet and was probably caused by it being hung on a hook in the ticket office.

The barely noticeable hole does not detract from the timetable and, strangely, the staple has NOT rusted.  €15.

With the Queen to Killarney by Randal McDonnell. Pub.Sealy, Bryers & Walker, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin (1900). Hardback, 98 pages by the author including 'With the Queen to Killarney', 'A tale of a Southern Express' and 'Round the Inchicore Works'. Also 32 pages of advertising for other books from the publishers. A really unusual work and the only copy that I have ever come across in more than 40 years of collecting. Generally very good condition with light foxing to rear end papers. - €30. - NOW SOLD

On 3/10/2023 at 12:03 AM, S.R said:

Hi I am interested in purchasing it.

I have a second copy if you're interested. PM sent.

Great Southern Railways: Appendix to the Working Timetable 1st March 1935 until further notice.
Two hundred and fifty pages of fascinating information for the the serious enthusiast, All sorts of operating instructions, dimensions of turntables, location and capacity of water towers, accommodation crossings, lengths of platforms etc. All bound in a canvas cover. This particular copy, while being in very good overall condition, has seen the addition of pages from the weekly circular stapled in at various times and these staples have started to rust. They can easily be removed but that is for the new owner to undertake. Once to be found in every signal cabin in the country they have become almost impossible to find as the former were replaced by CTC.  - €20 plus postage.

Somebody must have tipped them off as the description was updated and they managed to get €38 for the 'signal arms '.

If you're getting tired of all the signs here's some vintage farm machinery coming up for sale on Sunday next.