irishrail201

nice job on T&D number 4!

On the subject of railcars......what about an AEC unit in GNR royal blue/cream, CIE green, CIE black and tan and even NIR maroon on some??

Many thanks for the kind comments john, much appreciated! We have been talking to the WHHR, I really do like their operation. I must admit 5T would be a mssive project, that is why a museum at blennerville was suggested. I like the idea of a partially restored coach, however it would depend on us getting them out of dromod and protecting them. id nearly think getting the coaches and lady edith would be easier!! the museum would naturally be enclosed unlike the line of rusting rustons and metal relics at dromod. There are other locos other than 5T, and a diesel. There are two small 0-6-0T peckett locos possibly available one in the Uk called "scaldwell" the other in South Africa!! However it is important as it is the last peckett built loco, and has been offered for sale to us! We can apply for charity status in the ROI like the waterford and Kilmeaden rly, however we must deal with the revenue commission here in IRL. Ideally a list of charities should be set up but I have no such "high" position! I do think heading westwards towards Castlegregory would be difficult to sustain, I do believe the the railway as is sustainable (once effective marketing is implemented and seasonal events etc.) However a future extension in the other direction is a pipe dream, towards tralee town park, this is closer the town centre about a 5-10 minute walk unlike the current 15-25 minute walk! The extension would follow the course of the river lee, and the new cycleway as far as the fbd building and curve sharply over the ring road onto the edge of the town park, the kerry county museum is located here along with tourist office. I don't see why the NRA could object as there are new traffic lights where the railway should cross the road, the section is also in between two roundabouts roughly a mile apart, so there are speed restrictions. The crossing could be like Wexford with no barriers but warning lights, this would act as an advertisement for the railway, rather like what the downpatrick railway is planning with the proposed racecourse extension. Darragh http://www.facebook.com/groups/traleeanddinglesteamrailway/ Now at 160 members!!!

I know what your saying, but its more reminisant of the original railway. Would you not agree that a museum type building e.g the carriage hall at downpatrick would attract more visitors, and be educational at the same time?

Many thanks, The downpatrick railway have a carriage hall of unrestored and restored vintage coaches, we can do the same on the narrow gauge with whats left! Surely that has added to their steam railway? The west clare are also building their museum of ITG diesels, that will also surely add to their railway? On the question of the name of the railway, the company founded in 1993 (just befor my time!) was the Tralee and Dingle Steam Railway co. ltd. but is colloquially known as the blennerville railway. Does the West Clare Railway go all through west clare i.e kilrush and kilkee towards lahinch etc.?? Does the downpatrick and county down railway go from downpatrick to newcastle or comber?? Does the cavan and leitrim steam railway actually enter county cavan?? I think they are all slightly misleading, wouldnt you agree???!!!!!!

In relation to the above comments: I think I should make this clear, I nor any other member of the group have not been involved with the previous ring masters of the railway, we are a voluntary group, everyone is willing to contribute, not just a few sections of society, so i cannot comment on the serious mistakes of the past, they are not our doing! Yes I have made a 5-10 year plan (10,000 words), which focuses on what both of ye are saying! i.e to change from a ride to a steam railway. I hate the fact it was a fairground ride for 20 years (this summer actually 1993-2013) The plans should be released as soon as the company is reorganised to form a charity etc.. There would be a plan for one steam loco to be in traffic, and one under overhaul (I know jhb171achill said 3, but thatsnot economic at the moment) Yes there are immediate plans for buildings of railway architecture atall 3 stations, and signals within the kerry area have been identified for future static use (like kilmeaden), mostly CIE and GSWR versions,i the future Tralee signal cabin along with abbeydorney or killarney may be on the cards. (there is no need to have working signalling as there are no crossing loops as one-engine in steam is used) Yes you may think repatriation is a waste of money (its a future proposal, after we have things running) but if brought back it will be the oldest n.g locomotive in the ROI (or joint oldest in all ireland) thats pretty important historically wouldnt ye agree? the museum will be of national significance, in that it would be the national narrow gauge museum of Ireland, not like any junkyard or cash cow operations in other parts of Ireland (in the south at least). and in relation to coaching stock, the spanish set may not be irish or historic (they have kitchen door handles!! whivh is a no no as far as im concerned), but they have large carrying capacity and shouldnt be cast off so quickly, the TDLR stock from dromod (if we can get them out) willl be restored as funding is available. If we cannot get them I have secured notice from the isle of man railways that it is possible we could use some redundant "pair" compartment coaches.(for vintage trains) It is possible (over time) to be the leader of narrow gauge railways in ireland (a narrow gauge mirror of Downpatrick), but only if we have the imagination and will to do it! We will have to see this as a new begining, like the downpatrick railway did in 1989. We do have disadvantages in that downpatrick for example hasnt, like they have the HLF crossborder "peace" grants and a willing local authority and tourism board support. Watch this space.................... http://www.facebook.com/groups/traleeanddinglesteamrailway/ dingletrain@live.ie

I think Ill need it!!!

The plan is to display Lady Edith and Meenglas: because meenglas is too big to run for the 3km operation and as regards lady edith I believed shge was in ok mechanical condition? Anyway she would be on static display also as 5T would get priority for a return to steam, I believe her boiler alone would cost something like £140,000! Transport to whitehead is roughly £3000 each way. While waiting for funding for her, I believe it may be possible to restore an english 3ft saddle tank loco or import a 1000mm loco from greece of all places! The coaches in dromod (if we can get them out!) would cost something like £60,000-70,000 each, the coach 10T is in reasonable condition. Not all wooden bodied coaches would be restored to operational condition like the composite 18T in the USA would be static display. the movement of the vehicles by a ro-ro service to cork, isnt too bad at roughly £10,000 excluding marine insurance (based on value) and customs, hopefully a situtaion where relief could be gotten on the items like in the UK as they are of historical significance. Replicas would cost somewhere between £80,000 and £130,000 in boston lodge works. Never say Never!!!!

I would like to think the museum would let her come home, and not forgetting the TDLR coaches in dromod. I have got info that a british man would be willing to buy her, so she could come to ireland (blennerville)

I hope so too! There may be difficulty in securing lady edith and the coaches in the usa, and in dromod! Extra steam power will be required, unfortunately meenglas would cost a fortune to overhaul, lady edith and 5T need new boilers, extra steam power will be needed!!

That is unfortunate, I am trying to help the tralee and dingle steam railway reopen, there are draft plans for a museum to be there, with 5T, meenglas, lady edith in the usa, the tdlr coaches at dromod and the TDLR stock in USA repatriated. Another loco would be broughtfrom the UK to run services while funding gathers for an overhaul and new boiler for 5T. Plans also sought a small 5'3" display with the possible display of ex WLWR 6w coaches 900 (belturbet) and 907 (halfway, cork) and the storage of 6111, i stress storage as tere is no way a small railway like us could possibly overhaul it alone! I would propose we store it away from the elements. I also asked the ITG if they would be interested in displaying G601 or G616, they unfortunately declined.

Users, I heard on another site that the front section of an AEC railcar has been saved in the back garden somwhere near monkstown on the Bleach green to antrim line. Also half of an SLNCR coach at manorhamilton?? Are these true?? They would make great models

Should we not be focussing on creating an all-island railway network to cut beaurocracy and costs????

Users, It looks as though the Blennerville steam railway, Tralee, co. Kerry, may make a comeback within the next year or two. I am trying to push the council into reopening it, if you would like to give suggestions or ask questions, please visit: http://gswrg.webs.com/ Go raibh maith agaibh Irishrail201

Users, It looks as though the Blennerville steam railway, Tralee, co. Kerry, may make a comeback within the next year or two. I am trying to push the council into reopening it, if you would like to give suggestions or ask questions, please visit: http://gswrg.webs.com/ Go raibh maith agaibh Irishrail201

The price will now drop to €130.50 which includes post and packing (registered) to anywhere on the island of Ireland, regards, irishrail201

Its actually around £114 (to be precise), The 201 can be bought in England for £129, excluding postage it would amount to approx £142 from England including post and packing, I can get registered post anywhere on the island of Ireland, so what I have is not a bad deal!!

The price is negotiable, please contact me if your interested!!

I have a 201 co-co class loco 220 "River Blackwater", in original box never run,in absolutely perfect condition.I only bought it last month! I would sell it for €140.00 (bearing in mind they have an RRP of €164.99), please let me know if anyone is interested! Kind Regards, Darragh