Niles

15 minutes ago, chris said:

5601 is the only re-release in all of these, isn't it?

Restaurant car 5411 too. But given the silly prices these go for it's no harm...  

Sounds like a handy source

On 11/8/2023 at 9:20 PM, BosKonay said:

The plan is to deliver the mk2b and c and def and a and park royals and laminates and mk3 and mk4 and everything else to our standard. 

On 7/8/2023 at 8:13 PM, Flying Snail said:

I'm not aware of any decorated samples having been shown off to the public so I'd go with the livery descriptions for now. Those photos on Hattons are of previous runs (Yes the photos are supertrain livery)

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.

On 5/8/2023 at 10:02 AM, Northroader said:

I might have got me geography wrong, but I got the idea from somewhere there was a branch up to Glendalough. Maybe I just imagined it?

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. 

38 minutes ago, 228RiverOwenboy said:

They look fairly similar to the laminates numbered 2419-2422 (With 2422 and 2421 being preserved as fair as I know).

 

Credit: Dawgz  (Wikipedia)

2419 is preserved too  https://www.downrail.co.uk/rolling-stock/cie-2419/

Although strictly speaking they're not laminates. 

1 hour ago, 228RiverOwenboy said:

Oh, I see. Did that particular type of coach have a name?

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

7 hours ago, Darrman said:

My only actual concern is diverting Wexford intercities to Waterford and across a reinstated South Wexford and leaving shuttles between Greystones and Rosslare for the DSER: I can't imagine that being faster.

^ 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...

7 hours ago, Flying Snail said:

... and breathe!

Phew, I was worried there for a little while. Good to see all's still on track 

10 hours ago, DJ Dangerous said:

Another few decades from now, while hanging onto his Zimmerframe, @Niles posts:

Turn the volume up for a taste!

If anyone is looking for a heritage railcar fix, the preserved 22000 will be operating regular services at Downpatrick on Sunday August 13th.

This set is painted in the popular "Tippex" livery that it wore towards the end of it's life, in itself paying tribute to the long forgotten 071 Class locos, while the rest of the 22000 sets wore all-over advertising, after IE remembered that they have the largest mobile advertising capacity in the country.

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 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/

Quote

The Clown Prince of Crime and the ever-unpredictable Harley Quinn are known for their terrifying brand of mayhem, and there’s no telling what chaos might unfold if they get their hands on Downpatrick! But there’s one thing the devious duo haven’t counted on: Gotham’s caped crusader is following them here, ready to put a stop to their fiendish plot.

That’s right, Batman is on his way to Downpatrick, and he’s bringing his Justice League allies Wonder Woman and the Flash to help him. But that’s not all – with DCDR being a name in the superhero community after fighting off a few villains from another dimension last year, we’ve been asked to join the fight to stop Joker and Harley once and for all. But this is going to be a tough mission, and we’re going to need all the help we can get.

We are therefore putting out an emergency distress call to all young heroes and heroines ahead of what will surely be an epic showdown – Batman, Wonder Woman, and the Flash will need your help if we are to have any hope of saving Downpatrick!

Dress up as your favourite superhero to join forces and help to save the day – and the planet!

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.

45 minutes ago, jhb171achill said:

I want to go on one to Cavan.

 

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

2 hours ago, Bob229 said:

Is that a hint 

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 ).