Niles

Sounds like a handy source

There were some on display at the Raheny show last October, definitely some with the 'IR' branding (like this one https://flic.kr/p/x8cNNf )

A plethora of 141/181s have bubbled up on Adverts lately too... be interesting to watch how the prices fluctuate over the next while.

no but a nice thought for a 'might have been'. Even as a 3ft scheme. Incidentally, there was a proposal for a Gorey to Courtown line branching off the main south of Gorey, one imagines it would have been popular in the summer but died a death in the 60s if not killed off earlier by the GSR when they culled Achill and Clifden.

Saturday also saw our Treasurer David Walsh hand over our donation to Jonathan King, board member and fireman at the Downpatrick and County Down Railway, towards their fundraising project to restore Inchicore-built tank engine No.90. Built in 1875, once restored she will be the oldest operational engine in Ireland, and quite older than a lot of operational other engines worldwide too. This little engine originally ran on the Castleisland Railway in Co Kerry, later spending a lot of time in West Cork. It was restored by the former Westrail Tuam group in the late 1980s and operated in on the Tuam-Athenry line among others. It moved to Downpatrick in the 2000s and after a number of years on static display her return steam is once again on the horizon. In addition to the donation, Táilte Tours will also be assisting with another aspect of the 90 fundraising campaign in due course... https://www.downrail.co.uk/rolling-stock/gswr-90/

Interesting that MM appear to be re-running the Galway restaurant and EGV, a win for consumers but perhaps not for ebay dealers.

A few quick snapeens from today's ramble, including a bus for those of that persuasion. The live tour commentary by @jhb171achill from the journey up will be available as an audiobook on download and CD.

2419 is preserved too https://www.downrail.co.uk/rolling-stock/cie-2419/ Although strictly speaking they're not laminates.

I don't think there was an official term. I've seen them referred to as 'mk2 Bredins' but I don't believe that was an official one or even if it had much circulation in enthusiast circles. CIÉ carriage history is full of (oft-used) misnomers, you'll often see people mistakenly use 'laminate' or 'Park Royal' as a generic term when they actually refer to very specific types. The fact that they were all used together in indiscriminate mixed rakes doesn't help I guess. Then you have the various types of diner in the 24xx series, which profile wise are probably closer to the carriage above, but continued to be built into the laminate era. And that's before we get into the various conversions... CIÉ carriage-ology can be a confusing study.

Neither actually... it's one of the early 1950s builds that came after the GSRs* but before the laminates. *(I'll refrain from calling them Bredins as technically they were a Harty design ).

We've upgraded to a bigger coach so have a few more seats free now if anyone fancies joining us this Saturday. One or two surprises in store for Saturday too... https://www.tailtetours.com/event-details/downpatrick-county-down-railway-day-tour

^ This. The need to change at Greystones won't make it attractive to daily commuters either. As it stands there's two bus operators running direct to the city centre, I commuted the route for years and an additional hassle like that wouldn't win me over to rail...

I remember back in the 2000s online forums (who remembers the MSN groups?) people joked about the idea of a 450 being preserved one day, yet, here we are (and it's really come into its own too). I know @jhb171achill loves 450s... Similarly 2600s were once seen as "just railcars" but our jaunt from Cork to Waterford in one proved more popular than even its organiser (eejit I hear) envisaged. Everything has its time...

If anyone is looking for a heritage railcar fix, 458 will be operating regular services at Downpatrick on Sunday August 13th. https://downrail.digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/10462?catID=9235& (Sound on for a taste) VID_20211010_123246.mp4

If you've a family of superhero fans you won't want to miss this event at Downpatrick on Saturday 11th August. https://www.downrail.co.uk/event/supertrain2/

One thing I love about preservation is that sometimes you see odd stock movements unlikely be found in "service" days. Here we have 146 hauling ballast plough 24582, UTA "Festival Express" carriage 728, CIÉ Park Royal 1944 and G class G617 acting as another brakevan. So if anyone wants an excuse to run IRM plough vans with their Park Royals...

Oddly enough it's one of the few routes that has actually since reverted to loco haulage.

On comfort, one of the most comfortable train journeys I've ever been on was a Danish IC3 railcar/multiple unit set from Hamburg to Copenhagen (standard class btw). Dispelled any notions of railcars being less comfortable than hauled stock by nature. Personally I find the 22000s quite comfortable for what they need to do, I don't have much interest in them as an enthusiast but that's a non-argument. You also have to consider the output of each individual engine in a railcar set versus a loco hauled set (factoring in a huge loco engine and generator van). It's not quite as simple as 6 railcar engines is the same as 6 locomotive engines.

Ssshh...we can't spoil the Greenway Galavanter tour destination.

I suspected it would get that reaction. Everything happens in time but it's not an immediate plan. (Now I know how @Warbonnet and co feel ).

The latest Táilte Tours blog article celebrates the first 20 years of the 29000 class railcars. Maybe one day we'll see them work one of our railtours... https://www.tailtetours.com/post/celebrating-20-years-of-the-29000-class-irish-railcars

nothing wasteful about those photos!