GSWR 90

Sorry, misread the caption – thanks for the correction! That raises the question, I wonder why it was hauling passengers in Fenit? This is therefore probably G617 with the above-mentioned railtour?

Interesting info, thanks for this. I think G613 also worked the Foynes train, but after a quick look I can't find any photos of it doing so. I'd be very interested if anyone has so. Here is an IRRS photo of G613 with passenger coaches at Fenit in September 1963, I wonder what the occasion is for this? Interestingly, G613 seems to have carried black and tan for its whole career with CIÉ; I think it was only repainted black and white while in storage in Athlone before it was moved to Tuam for use by CSÉ.

No work on 90 this weekend – but I noticed that one of its oil cans is stamped “B&NCR” (Belfast and Northern Counties Railway), meaning that it’s at least 124 years old!

Blessings of victory to our glorious volunteers who continue to extract pieces of metal which used to be bolts from 90’s smokebox. Aaron and Shea made excellent progress this weekend, with all the bolts from the front of the smokebox now removed. The auld doll also got a bit of sun on Saturday, as we started up 80 class 69 and opened the doors to let out the exhaust. Meanwhile, your humble narrator has been spending his lunchtimes and evenings trying to get quotes for a contractor to carry out the NDT, boiler repairs, etc. (as well as trying to manage everything else). It never stops!

Ouch – I hope that isn't from experience!

So the Hunslets are being delivered – does anyone have any thoughts on them?

Thank you, no worries as I've pored over that IRRS article plenty of times!

Thanks very much for this. Which book is it from? I'd be interested in learning more about their work at CSÉ if it gives more details. I'm not sure why 613's plates are black and brown. Maybe a varnish that went funny? Here is a photo from the early 2010s, and they're very definitely black and silver: And here's a photo of it in the 1990s, in cream and black:

I hope IRM don't start making G class models. I would be financially ruined.

Contortionists wanted. Removing the cement so we can get at the bolts holding the smokebox to the frames. We’re also having a whack at the ones holding the steam pipe together. I have put together a No. 90 “mood board” so we can illustrate its history to our visitors

Thanks – no, they are not in order, these plates are off 611, 613, and 617 respectively

Hi Paul. Yes, there are vague long-term plans to restore 6111 to as-built condition (without the engine of course) for use on passenger trains. It will hopefully be No. 2624 with composite passenger accommodation, and the cab would make a good guard’s van complete with windows for propelling and a nice view for passengers. That’s a long way away – they were withdrawn from service because they were literally falling apart in the 1980s (a passenger tried to open a door and it fell on top of him), and that was before it was left at Inchicore for 40 years! This is very much on the long finger, as there are much more pressing restoration projects underway, including a couple of other very long-term carriage projects and other carriages which would be much easier to get running again. Of course, there’s also another railcar currently being restored in the Workshop as well. It’s a lot of work (60+ carriages) for a relatively small organisation with limited resources, but in the event that we don’t get around to restoring the AEC in our lifetimes, the main thing is that it is now safe and its future is secured for future generations. I will send you a message re seeing it up-close.

Ireland's most glorious diesel loco, G613 at Heuston, 1962, from the O'Dea Collection. But what is it pulling? A carriage (no underfloor engine) with a window and lights at the end? Not a Bulleid AEC, not one of the Park Royals converted to driving trailers for the Waterford and Tramore – what is it?

Does anyone happen to have the Deutz works numbers for each G611 loco? Thanks

Live reaction from my savings account:

The dismemberment continues – the blastpipe and blower have been removed from inside the smokebox

Does anybody know where these locomotives currently are?

90 appears to have briefly worked in Fenit – from "The Liberator", 18th June 1935

Thar she blows with the carriage portion. It has tumblehomes and a much nicer roof, vents, and doors than 90’s

I think this is from either the IRRS or Irish Railfan News, 1960: "At the end of January last CIÉ announced its intention of increasing the number of holiday camping coaches for the coming summer in view of the success achieved when introduced for the first time last season. Two camping coaches are being provided at both Galway and Tramore this year, in addition to those sited last year at Killarney and Dungarvan. The two coaches provided at Carrick-on-Shannon last season are being withdrawn and transferred to Galway - a more attractive location. Two new coaches are at present (April 1960) being fitted out in Inchicore works No.818 as HC7 and No.837 as HC8 - and when these are completed they will be moved to Tramore. CIÉ have also announced that charges for all camping coaches will be reduced in the off-peak periods while the obligation on those booking coaches to buy six return tickets from their homes to the site has been reduced this year to three return tickets. A special ticket costing £2:10:0 allowing unlimited travel in the area of the coach site is also provided this summer for those availing of the coaches. At the end of January last, English visitors alone had already booked for a total of 32 weeks holidays in the CIÉ camping coaches for the coming summer." 837 is currently at Maam Cross

There are perhaps more still around than you'd think!

BCDR railmotor No. 2 at Holywood. The locos were cut off and the carriages were used as autotrains. The carriage portion of No. 2 became No. 72 and is preserved at Downpatrick.

CSE Carlow No. 3 (Cockerill 3096/1926) seen in 1954, It was withdrawn in 1956. I always wondered why CSE bought vertical boiler Belgian locos, but I recently read that Carlow sugar factory was built under the guidance of a Belgian company so perhaps it was due to their influence. Note that one of the buffers has a curved edge, and the other is flat – standard practice in much of continental Europe to prevent buffers from locking.

Cómhlucht Siúicre Eireann Thurles No. 1 (now preserved at Downpatrick) in use as a stationary boiler, April 1963. CSE was quite a diverse operation, so it's hard to narrow down what the steam is being used for – in addition to refining beet, they made animal feed, lime for fertiliser, and agricultural machinery. In 1957, they bought Ireland's first stored-program computer for making calculations for refining sugar and paying beet farmers across the country

NCC Jinty No. 18 being delivered to Northern Ireland J15 No. 130 in use as a stationary boiler 461, then No. 15, in DSER days