DERAILED

Collooney – Claremorris – inspection car. 30th November 1981. The Burma Road is a 47 mile long line linking Claremorris to Collooney Junction (on the Dublin/Sligo line). Nicknamed after the notorious railway built by Japanese POW’s during World War II the line has always been unpopular with railwaymen due to its numerous level crossings, gradients and switchback nature Closed to passenger traffic as far back as 1963 and to freight in 1975 the line literally owes its continued survival to divine intervention! This takes the form of Fr.Micheal McGreil S.J., who has tirelessly campaigned to have the line re-opened since the late 1970’s. Although this hasn’t happened to date the line remains in situ which is more than can be said for many of the other lines mothballed at the same time. By good luck I had met Fr.McGreil some months earlier and managed to wangle an invitation for the big day - a trip over the entire line in an inspection car. On the outward journey 11 officials from CIE and members of the Mayo/Galway Regional Development Organisation packed into the nominally 7 seat inspection car. On the outward journey from Claremorris I travelled by road with two permanent way inspectors to open the level crossing gates and to take photographs. The weather was atrocious, and the rain teemed down in a way that it only seems to in Mayo. At Collooney an Expressway bus whisked the VIP’s away for a feed/meeting in Sligo, and I made my way into town to buy a towel for myself and, more importantly, for my cameras. Back at Collooney (GSWR station) I boarded the inspection car for a quick brew-up before setting off for Claremorris at 13.15. There were only five of us for the return journey so I was able to enjoy a front seat ride in the company of Chief PW inspector John Cronan, Driver Patrick Conroy, Platelayer Noel Armstrong (Claremorris) and PW inspector Jerry Dwyer (Claremorris). Good time was made despite having to stop to remove illegal fences replaced since the outward run. Only in cuttings had vegetation encroached to any extent and in some places it was difficult to believe that the line hadn’t been sprayed or maintained for years! However, many of the stations had suffered considerable vandalism. Following a brief photographic stop at Kiltimagh, and a grisly encounter with some sheep we reached Claremorris at approximately 16.00. The line is still intact today - the last movement over it being on the 24/9/88 when two carriages were delivered by rail to the Folk Museum at Kiltimagh station. Sadly, I sold my Super 8 movie some years ago, and my stills were lost by a processing lab while the local photographer in Claremorris lost his negatives. On a positive note I found this video yesterday which shows some footage of the outward Claremorris/Kiltimagh part of the inspection run.

Upton (2ft gauge) – “The Upton Rocket” Midleton – Youghal – Knock Specials, Summer Sundays, Cork 800. Irish Steel Haulbowline (4ft 8.5") - IRRS tour sometime in 1980s.

Lisburn – Antrim Belfast (York Road) – various destinations Shane’s Castle – Last day of operation. Picture is from a postcard and ticket from last day - forget date. Foyle Valley Railway to end of the line at its furthest extent.

TALLOW ROAD When I looked at it in 1989 it was a burnt out wreck with cows sheltering inside but the owner wouldn't sell. Whoever bought it must have spent a fortune on it as there's a big extension to the house and the goods shed (?) is also brand new. In 1992 I had sale agreed on the even more impressive station at Lismore (on 11 acres) for 55,000 pounds! Both stations were originally paid for by the Duke of Devonshire. Tallow Road would be a lonely spot and you would need security on it 24/7 these days.

Sold.

Available here: http://briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/tag/southern-steam-2017/

Good copy of this elusive book, but no dustwrapper. €20 including p+p.

Three ultra rare reports of the 1908 Vice Regal Commission into Irish Railways plus two superb coloured maps - see extract photo. Contains hundreds of pages of fascinating details from a myriad of Irish railways. In very good condition having been rebound for the Pennsylvania State Library. The text pages are in mint condition - almost unread. The maps are very bright and clean but would be best extracted and framed. Very heavy - can be collected from Enniscorthy or left in central Dublin (opp.Connolly Station). €120 if delivered to Dublin €100 if collected from Enniscorthy. Payment in advance if I deliver to Dublin.

The whole thing is so bloody typical of the way things are done down here and that's why we are left with nothing. The Fry Collection would be better sent north of the border where they know how to do things. Cultra, Downpatrick and soon Whitehead - all with museums - and we have a hay shed in Howth. I'm truly glad to be completely removed from the railway scene these days. Incidentally, anybody with half a brain would think that bringing the Fry Collection back to Inchicore Works would be worth considering, but don't hold your breath.

All sold elsewhere.

Some more pics - wagons, buffers etc.

The damaged station. I never attempted anything but sticking it back together, and somebody good at weathering should have no problem with this. There is also an undamaged platform waiting room that comes with this. If I didn't mention it previously, there's very little, if any, play-wear on any of the items listed.

Goods Shed picture. Also boxed.

It's the end of the line for yet another failed project! Time to de-clutter. I would prefer to sell as one lot and collection from Enniscorthy preferred but delivery to Connolly Station area possible. OO Gauge Bachmann 30-015 Local Suburban Train Set containing 0-6-2 BR green Class 56XX Tank Loco No.6622, 2 x BR crimson and cream Collett Coaches (Composite and Brake Composite) along with controller with wall mounted transformer and oval of track with point and siding, contents appear unused and in Excellent condition in good but faded box. * NOT actual box - mine is better. Hornby Skaledale - R8534 – Signal Box – long discontinued and quite Irish in appearance. Boxed. Hornby – R8536 - Single Road Locomotive Shed. Boxed. Hornby Skaledale - R8639 – Stone Water Tower. Boxed. Hornby Skaledale - R8521 – Strawsons Warehouse. Boxed. Hornby Skaledale Wooden Bus Shelter R8680. Boxed. “Percy” Loco.6. from Thomas the Tank Engine series. “Bill” Loco from Thomas the Tank Engine series. Skaledale- R8646 - Low relief terrace shop 'Smeeton's. Boxed. Hornby Thomas the Tank Engine and carriages “Annie” and “Clarabel”. 11 misc. freight wagons 4 LIMA bogie wagons including 2 bogie coal wagons. 2 ‘foreign’ bogie carriages Quantity of track including long straights and additional points. Skaledale platform. Good condition. CIE Road Freight artic vehicle - mint. Skaledale Goods Shed R8582 - Irish in style BOXED. Damaged Skaledale Station - MORE PICTURES SHORTLY. €200 THE LOT IF DONE BY THIS WEEKEND - A BARGAIN!

Sold elsewhere.

A 100% original Shipping Poster for the Dominion Line dating from 1900. I have sold a number of these down the years and they came from a dealer in the Georges Street Arcade in Dublin. He acquired them from somebody who found them in a skip on the North Wall when they were cleared out of an office there. The posters were intended for display on the station advertising boards of the Great Southern & Western Railway throughout Ireland, but due to the Boer War in South Africa the ship was requisitioned and the sailings cancelled. The poster is in excellent condition with very slight foxing. It has been mounted on card at some stage and comes in a frame. A rare opportunity to pick up an historic gem! Collection or courier are the only delivery options. Could also be left for collection (pre-paid) adjacent to Connolly Station. €200 ono.

Could things be any worse than they currently are? Despite all the shiny new railcars outside the Greater Dublin area railways are withering away under CIE control. Another few years will see at least the closure of Limerick/Ballybrophy plus Limerck Jn./Waterford and possibly more. The SLNCR and CDRJC ran far leaner, tighter ships than CIE has ever done and could be a model for how different routes could be farmed out. Of course it will not happen but something needs to be done before the railway becomes nothing more than a memory.

I'm very out of touch with the railway scene these days and didn't even know that Norman Johnston had passed away - a true gentleman. Mention of his name always brings back a now funny but at the time acutely embarrassing memory for me. Norman was paying his first visit to the new C&L Rly at Dromod and during conversation with yours truly made some reference to the 'Cantonese Sausage' . I duly nodded in agreement not understanding what on earth he meant and hoping he would move on to another subject but he was looking for a response! I mumbled something about the Cantonese Sausage.....which seemed to stun the poor man until somebody else translated for me - the Kent & East Sussex! You couldn't make it up and I wished the ground would open up and swallow me. That must be more than 20 years ago and I still remember the incident like it happened yesterday. He did have quite a strong accent.....

131 in steam - never thought that I'd see the day. Great pics by the way!

Well it didn't take long and for those of you who like bloodsports it's all happening here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/385672148111486/ and more here: http://irishrailways.blogspot.ie/ All so predictable.

Sold.

Sold.

This book gives a good overview of some of the very many different narrow gauge railways that have served British industry over the last century or so. The narrow gauge railway was born within the mining and quarrying industry but despite the huge interest in such railways worldwide the number of books giving a detailed coverage of them is still relatively small so it is hoped that this new work will help meet a real need. Primarily pictorial in content it consists of around 125 black and white illustrations most previously unpublished, giving a good general coverage of industrial of all gauges less than standard in Great Britain and operated by all forms of motive power from the horse to the diesel locomotive. The contents have been grouped into ten areas, each section preceded with a brief introduction and location map with a detailed caption for every illustration. It is hoped that the appearance of this book will prove of value to modellers in all scales as well as those engaged in preservation or with a general interest in this fascinating subject who wish to learn more. AS NEW. €5 plus p+p or can be collected from Enniscorthy

30 b+w negatives taken by Joe St.Leger showing 5T after arrival in Dublin and then on arrival in Tralee. Good quality negs unlike my poor ipod pics. €40 including p+p or nearest offer.

June 11th 1994: Kerr Stuart steam locomotive "Dromad" arrives at the Cavan & Leitrim Railway. Photographs taken by the late Joe St.Leger. Copyright transfers with the 39 negatives. €40 ono.