Niles

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It’s our birthday – and we’re having a party – and you’re invited.

 

 

 

nspired our founders, on our birthday night, Saturday 2nd August at 7pm.

We’re thrilled to be joined by Tim McGarry, one of Northern Ireland’s best-loved comedians, who (with his love of history) will bring his sharp wit and probably a few well-aimed digs at our expense.
The evening will be hosted by the brilliant radio broadcaster Anne-Marie Wallace, who’ll be keeping things running smoothly (unlike some of our locomotives in the early days…).

And to top it all off, we’ll round out the night with live music from the incredible Linley Hamilton Quartet, bringing smooth jazz to the dining room and a classy close to the festivities.
We want to see as many of our supporters there as possible to help us celebrate this special anniversary — whether you’re a regular visitor, a supplier, a volunteer, or just someone who’s cheered us on over the years.

Tickets are on sale now, with discounts for volunteers, members, and sponsors, so save the date and get ready to celebrate!

You’ve been part of our story, now come be part of the party.

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.

11 minutes ago, skinner75 said:

Murphys Models announced Dart Plus? Where did you see that? Nothing on their website about it

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

This thread reminds me of a visit to the West Somerset Railway (the longest standard gauge heritage line in these islands) a few years ago. I was chatting to some of the volunteers, and mentioned I was involved in Downpatrick. I asked how many volunteers the West Somerset had, I got the somewhat mournful response 'We used to have over 1,000, now it's only about 600'.

Yes, 'only' 600... 

From experience in Downpatrick, even a small line takes a lot of  volunteers and certainly in our case there's plenty of examples of volunteers 'double jobbing' (more often 'treble'). Generally speaking all board members will also be found grafting on the ground in some shape or form, the concept of lines having volunteers who are solely managerial is way beyond a luxury. Thus is the reality of heritage railway operation in Ireland, I know our friends at the various narrow gauge lines can tell a similar story.

Interesting, I wasn't aware of this either. 

On 13/6/2025 at 10:49 AM, GSR 800 said:

 

Photos from Tailte tours show 802 in her prime, with the Enterprise at Amiens street. This can be dated therefore between 1950 and 53, shows her with 2 handrails, single chimney, no vertical brackets and a dart instead of a wheel. The site says 51 was when she received her single chimney, this certainly appears to be the case. Quite possible that the heavy overhaul in 1952 is when she received her experimental light green also. @Niles may have further insight.

 

 

I've read varying sources suggesting that 802 (a)received the experimental livery in the late 40s and later was repainted into the regular green, (b) that she was painted in the regular green, then experimental, then back to regular, and (c) that we she was painted regular green and then experimental for the rest of existence. Doesn't answer your question at all I know. 

The 800s can be confounding. As iconic and well known as they are, there's actually quite a bit about them that doesn't seem clear, with a healthy dose of typical Irish yarns woven into the canon. 

That theory on 801 running with 802's tender is interesting, hard to tell but that photo does give the appearance of being different shade. Mind you, I recall from my RPSI days there were occasions when 461's tender appeared to be a slightly different shade to the loco itself, the simple reason being when stabled in Connolly yard it was easier to clean one end than the other while lighting up.. maybe something similar is going on here, it's hard to tell...

A volunteer colleague undertook a study of this a few years ago, one taking was that those schemes that have been successful, and endured, in Ireland have been those that started small and developed out, e.g. Stradbally, Downpatrick, Dromod.

Nice as they'd have been, schemes such as Shillelagh-Tinahely, Fenit-Tralee simply would have been too big to have been sustainable (I had a sight of a report which I believe @jhb171achill was involved in regarding the former, there were options for Shillelagh-Tinahely, Tinahely-Woodenbridge, the whole branch, or something to that affect. The figures were mouthwatering).

I suppose Downpatrick, Dromod and Whitehead also have the benefit of being easily accessible by public transport, the former is right beside a bus station and the other two adjacent to mainline rail stations. I know for a fact all three of these have regular enthusiast volunteers not just from the locale but Dublin too.

Local buy-in is another important factor, and it's worth bearing in mind that volunteers don't necessarily have to come from enthusiast ranks, I've known many 'non-enthusiast' people who just like getting involved in something local and have made excellent volunteers.

Might be of interest... 

https://www.irishtractiongroup.com/2025/124-lives

https://www.irishtractiongroup.com/2025/190-roars-again

Video of the start up here: https://www.irishtractiongroup.com/2025/124-lives

3 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

Thanks for the link to the photo at Arklow - It is tricky to interpret. It could be silver but it's not entirely conclusive - it could be freshly-painted light green and a more flush-sided coach catching the light more than the panelled coach in front of it. I'm sitting on the fence with that one!

 

Tricky is the word. There some green highlights but I can't tell if that's just the reflection of the vegetation...

Re: silver Park Royals, I was always under the impression none of them were, however, a while back I copped this Tom Davitt photo in the IRRS Flickr Archive (you'll need to be a member to view the link)

The third vehicle from the loco appears to be a silver Park Royal.

https://flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53511615324/in/photolist-2pwBnJp-2pwDBh6-2pwCeH4-2pwD1Vj

If only the 10 'mainline' ones were done as such then it would explain the lack of colour photos, probability wise.

Another 'myth' was that Park Royals never carried the earlier dark green; while researching this for the DCDR restoration a few years ago we discovered that several were, likely the early suburban ones (in fact they've appeared on at least three IRRS journal covers over the years, hidden in plain sight).

On 10/6/2025 at 8:53 PM, Mol_PMB said:

 

Interesting to see that Fry 'invented' a 51st member of the class, 1430. 

152 arrived safely at Downpatrick over the weekend...

https://www.irishtractiongroup.com/2025/o-christmas-tree-o-christmas-tree

The DCDR website has been updated with a little bit of the history of this weekend's arrival, 152:

https://www.downrail.co.uk/rollingstock/152/

2025 marks 40 years since ireland's first standard gauge heritage railway, the Downpatrick & County Down Railway, was founded.

DCDR has come a long way since 1985, and is marking the journey in proper style at the hotel built by the very railway that inspired our heritage line, the BCDR.

Bookings are now open for a very special evening at the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa in Newcastle on Saturday 2nd August, for a sumptuous three-course meal, 40 years to the day since the Downpatrick and Ardglass Railway Company Limited was formally incorporated on 2nd August 1985.

Our special guest for the night will be Tim McGarry, one of Northern Ireland’s best-loved comedians, and no stranger to heritage or history, who will be offering his own uniquely sharp and witty take on our society’s journey – and possibly a few home truths along the way.

And when the speeches are done, it’s time to sit back and enjoy the sensational Linley Hamilton Quartet, the perfect soundtrack to a night of celebration.

https://www.downrail.co.uk/event/dcdr40/

For those travelling up, Saturday August 2nd is a normal running day at Downpatrick, tickets for which can be purchased at the station.

I haven't seen much mention of this here (maybe I'm slow), but hats off to the Mid West Model Railway Club on their first exhibition in Limerick this weekend gone. 

There was a good vibe and lovely to see a great turnout for a first time event. Their Treaty Junction layout really evokes that Limerick junction feel.

Looking forward to next year already!

More info here: https://www.irishtractiongroup.com/2025/itg-locos-on-the-move 

and 

https://www.downrail.co.uk/2025/06/new-locos-arrive-at-downpatrick/

More deets here:

https://www.irishtractiongroup.com/2025/itg-locos-on-the-move

A few places left on this, steam and diesel traction to feature

https://www.tailtetours.com/event-details/the-on-the-laois-tour

25 minutes ago, MD220 said:

That I don't know. That's my understanding of the situation anyway, I stand to be corrected. 

Yep, 015 is privately owned.

Full ITG loco list here: https://www.irishtractiongroup.com/locos 

2 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

I still have to commute on the 150s - their underfloor-engined equivalents. I'm afraid I can't get dewy-eyed over 450s (or 150s), but at least they were better than Pacers. 

The diesel locos are of much more interest, as are the other exhibits and rolling stock. I've never been to Downpatrick before. It looks like there's a reasonable bus service from Belfast?

Yes Translink routes 15/215/515 are quite frequent on a Saturday, and the bus station is about 2 mins on foot from the DCDR station.

Point of note,  the Downpatrick buses now start from Adelaide St in Belfast rather than Grand Central (I'd allow 10 min to walk from either GC or Lanyon).

The first diesel loco running day since the floods of 2023, locos 146 and A39 will be in action between Downpatrick & Inch Abbey along with 'thumper' railcar set 458 on Saturday 24th August.

Full details at tickets available at:  https://www.downrail.co.uk/event/summer-diesel/

(The last diesel day sold out within weeks so I'd recommend booking sooner rather than later, unlike heritage lines in GB we don't have the luxury of being able to add more carriages unfortunately).

If you're travelling from Dublin, there will be a Táilte Tours bus connection, bookable seperately at https://www.tailtetours.com/event-details/bus-to-downpatrick-diesel-day-23rd-august-2025

If that's your first effort and I can't imagine how good your 'experienced' one is. 

DCDR's preserved rake of 4 wheel ballast wagons successful undertook a trial operation over the weekend, while they have previously operated on runpasts at a gala this is their first time 'working' in preservation as an actual ballast train. Some inspiration for those of you with the lovely IRM models.

https://www.downrail.co.uk/2025/05/ballast-hoppers-test/ 

Full video here: