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Niles
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Decent of it to put on a nice suit for a funeral.
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The "Eyre Lee Bird" railtour Cork-Galway-Return 5th April 2025
Niles replied to Niles's topic in What's On?
If you see someone in a Táilte jacket looking they haven't slept in days it's probably me. re: mkIVs, generally the 'odd hour' trains out of Heuston and 'even hour' out of Cork are mkIV worked, plus at peak times you should get one on the 08:00, 16:00 and 18:00 down. The 21:00 is an ICR set. I believe the 14:25 up this Sunday is an ICR though so you may or may not want to avoid that. -
The "Eyre Lee Bird" railtour Cork-Galway-Return 5th April 2025
Niles replied to Niles's topic in What's On?
Yep, unforunately we haven't been able to procure a trolley service this time but obviously passengers are welcome to bring their own. In addition to the main lunch break in Galway there is a (subject to timely running) 40 minute break in Limerick on the way back and the station is close to some purveyors of liquor and other nourishment... -
The "Eyre Lee Bird" railtour Cork-Galway-Return 5th April 2025
Niles replied to Niles's topic in What's On?
Just over a week to go and some places left but quite a lot gone, there always to be pent up appetite when we run a railtour from Cork! The onboard crew will include @jhb171achill and I, among others from this parish, so do say hi if you're travelling, we don't (normally) bite. -
A further update on progress: https://www.downrail.co.uk/2025/03/volunteers-complete-ballasting-of-new-siding/
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Worth bearing in mind that, in this day and age, the non-enthusiast market are your bread and butter. As some of you know in my voluntary life I look after marketing for DCDR and Táilte Tours, in both cases it's the non-enthusiasts that make up the critical mass to make events viable. What's interesting is the old notion that you have to have steam to win the general public isn't necessarily the case, both groups I work with have had to use 1980s/90s vintage diesel railcar stock and with the right proposition non-enthusiasts will and do travel. It's been a decade or so since I was involved with RPSI but the same rang true there too (non-enthusiasts being the main costumer base, not the railcars!).
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Agreed. I don't think being able to remember them will have as much an impact for locos of this stature. I mean, how many of us ran big Hornby British steam locos without any memory of seeing them in the flesh? It would be different if it were say, an ex-DSER J1 or something like that (I'd still buy one!).
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CIEs 1948 order for 6 1800bhp express locomotives for Dublin-Cork line.
Niles replied to Mayner's question in Questions & Answers
There's a report from the early 50s(?) which actually advocated the building of new steam locos, tied in with a proposal to cull a lot of the numerically-weak classes in an attempt at standardisation. Interestingly, the usefulness of the 2 K2 class locos (461 and 462) was noted and they would have been spared from the 'cull small classes' plan, had it come to pass. I must dig it out, but it suggests not all in CIÉ where necessarily committed to full dieselisation at that point. -
I wonder was the livery influenced by the fact that the LMS had a seat on the GSR board through its LNWR/DSER stake?
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There's a school of thought that the 800s did as much for the GSR in terms of PR and marketing than they did in terms of engineering, I suspect this will be the same for IRM and hopefully our little corner of the hobby in general. Two days in and I'm still deliberating which version of 802 to go for, though as I said to @jhb171achill yesterday isn't it a great position to be in, deliberating 'which' 802 to get.
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I would say it's at least possible in the case of 801 and maybe 800. 802 was withdrawn in 1957 so less likely though marginally possible. (Open to correction but I think the first Park Royals in service were on the Dublin suburban which 802 most certainly would not have appeared on ).
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I'm pretty certain I've seen pictures of a six wheeler stuffed between an 800 and bogie stock, so a head start for anyone with the Hattons stock. And, as pointed out, Bulleid opens work for 801...
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untilA day excursion from Cork to Galway back via the scenic Western Rail Corridor, a rare chance to travel by 2600 class 'Arrow' railcars into the west of Ireland. Pick up at Mallow and Limerick Junction. Tickets available from https://www.tailtetours.com/event-details/the-eyre-lee-bird-railtour Railtour pickup/set down times: Dept Cork Kent Station 08:45 (back for 19:20) Pick up Mallow 09:10 (back for 18:50) Pick up Limerick Junction 09:50 (back for 18:00) Arrive Galway 12:43 (dept 14:33) Passengers from Dublin may wish to connect in the morning at Limerick Junction. On the return connections will be available at Limerick Junction, Mallow and Cork. The last train from Cork to Dublin is at 20:25 so there will be time to get refreshments in Cork should Dublin passengers wish to stay on until the end.
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Tickets now available at https://www.downrail.co.uk/event/easter/
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Downpatrick & County Down Railway are operating Afternoon Tea trains on Mother's Day, 30th March, using the 450 class railcar set, advance booking a must (the Afternoon Teas tend to sell out fast). https://www.downrail.co.uk/event/mothers-day/
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