Niles

A39R was out in action last weekend for the DCDR 40th celebrations, hauling its first passenger trains since the floods of 2023. https://www.irishtractiongroup.com/2025/a39r-works-its-first-passenger-trains-since-floods

Ian had an amazing knowledge and seemed to be known throughout the IÉ system. I travelled on his tour as a passenger back in 2006, one of the best I've ever been on. I got to know him in more recent years, he offered his assistance towards our fledgling Táilte operations, knowing the niceties of railtours perhaps better than anyone, he would ensure that our 2600 set was on the platform well in advance so we weren't stressed with loading etc and tried to give us 'surprise' movements, such as routing our recent Eyre Lee Bird tour through the new platform 6 in Cork, wanting it to be the first railtour to pass through it. He'd give me calls while cycling home from the bus, often late at night, telling stories from his travels across the system. For a relatively young man, he had got to plenty of interesting places now vanished from the IÉ map such as New Ross, Kingscourt and Foynes via the weedspray train. He had also extensively travelled the Bus Éireann system. Sleep well Ian, you will be sorely missed, and thank you for all your help.

In fairness, surely the tariff would still be charged regardless of courier? It's hardly the doing of Accurascale...

great spot! I suspect your theory on scraping them together was the case.

In fairness, I don't think many will miss the modern-ish building, @jhb171achill can confirm I believe the original was demolished in the 1960s? There are still some lovely parts of it though.

8402 I believe

Full story here: https://www.irishtractiongroup.com/2025/moyexit-the-final-chapter

A wee update on the latest loco to arrive at Downpatrick https://www.downrail.co.uk/rollingstock/a3r/

Everyone deserves a special treat on their birthday. The Downpatrick & County Down Railway is celebrating its 40th on Saturday 2nd August, and to celebrate, we'll be using our restored Edwardian carriage set on services that day. This is a rare opportunity to travel on these beautifully restored carriages, two of which are original Belfast & County Down Railway vehicles. Trains will depart Downpatrick on this date at 13:00, 13:45 and 14:30, hauled by one our vintage diesel fleet. Book your tickets online now at https://www.downrail.co.uk/event/summer-trains/ (If you're attending our 40th Anniversary dinner later that evening, simply show us your dinner ticket and you can travel for free).

An update on the restoration of GSWR 6 wheeler No.69 has been added to the DCDR website. This will be a lovely little vehicle to travel in once completed: https://www.downrail.co.uk/2025/07/restoration-update-gswr-carriage-69/

Tickets available here, I know there's some from this parish going so should be a nice social event if you can make it https://www.downrail.co.uk/2025/07/40th-gala-dinner/ And if you're making a day of it, DCDR will be operating heritage services between Downpatrick and Inch Abbey earlier in the day.

They had samples at the Clontarf Show, I think developed in conjunction with Alstom?

Michael Baker did Irish Railways Past & Present and Irish Railways Past & Present: Dublin in the mid 1990s. they've been updated once or twice since. A nice selection of images during that period. He also did a Bradford Barton volume in the 70s (I got a copy as a child in the 90s, the 'new' stock mentioned in the book was the mk2ds of 1972!). I don't think they're too hard to come by on the second hand market. Colin Boocock's Irish Railways: 40 Years of change 1956-1996 is another 90s title with plenty of images from your period, and there's a bit of a narrative to it. Colm O'Callaghan's Irish Traction: Iarnród Éireann is a great volume, thought might be a little late for your period. As as been pointed out, past IRRS Journals and their Flickr page are a treasure throve.

Another 'first' in Irish preservation has just been achieved... https://www.irishtractiongroup.com/2025/a-trio-of-bo-bos

Another update on 124: https://www.irishtractiongroup.com/2025/tests-continue-on-loco-124