cheesy_peas

A few of the smaller badges; the B&CDR, GS&WR and Donegal coats of arms badges are enthusiast badges, sold in gift shops/trade stands and not uniform badges as such. The cloth badges are rare enough survivors, moths and bonfires usually got them first. Uniform badges in the UK would have been manufactured in the hundreds of thousands (BR had 629,000 staff on its formation) here the numbers produced were far smaller, plus I think people here were more inclined to throw such things away, rather than hold onto them.

Hand hold for clambering up to access tank filler. Presume they got removed when tank removal and repairs were carried out and just shoved on in a different place. Perhaps it was less liable to get snagged on something placed on the inside?

Try North Cork Railways on Facebook, there's a few on there.

Tried out part of the Trans Pennine Trail once (former Woodhead Route) was surprised to see horse riders using it. Horses are expressly forbidden from the greenways here. It was quite mucky in some parts, a maintenance issue rather than horse by-product. But yes, people with busy lives and kids just want a plug and play venue, with easily followed signs, cafes and bike hire places.

There's quite a vocal cycle lobby and road running is very popular. You would be made mincemeat of if you attempted cycling, running or walking on many of the regular roads the way people drive these days, so there's that. Hiking/cross country walking is niche by comparison and hamstrung by having no "right to roam" legislation here. Greenways are seen, rightly or wrongly, as free* to use leisure facilities which bring visitors and their money to an area**. *yes I do know they cost money to build and maintain. **results may vary.

A source told me they were made up for the IRRS and sold as a fundraiser around the 60s.

The IRRS cap badge is a strange one, something someone made up themselves for working specials? Or a souvenir from the sales stall?

Design dates from 60s, post flying snail era, but used as staff cap badges until the break up of CIE into IR, BE and DB so could be 1980s just as well. Early ones were made by Quinn of Dublin, got a couple of Caxton of Kew badges from a staff member who probably was still in nappies in the 60s!

Back in GS&WR days there were railway police, I have seen a reference to a company policeman with regard to an 1870s murder case. I'm not certain if Irish railway police would have worn "custodian's helmets" as their British railway police counterparts did.

That would beat the record for shortest lived station, Meelick (3 months)

I guess seaside excursion goers would have been supplied with hampers and cases of beer and the empty bottles got thrown out of the windows. The one time I wouldn't be mad at people littering if I found one!

LMSNCC bottles are quite plentiful, the MRNCC ones are scarce. Any other Irish railway bottles are like hens' teeth.

Maybe a Fry commission?

Turning the Broken Wheel into a life ring

What was the deal with stationary boiler locos? What were they supplying steam to? I assume they were withdrawn locos used in that capacity until they needed major attention and then replaced with another off the scrap line and cut up?