Jawfin

Is 837 the one that used to tootle about on the weedsprayer? I recall seeing pictures of it with camping-coach esque boards on the sides when being used

In addition, Irish Railfan's News for April 1959 says(I should probably have thought to have looked at it before posting this thread, but it's started an interesting conversation anyway):

"Bookings are being arranged for one and two week periods on condition that the hirers buy in advance ordinary return rail tickets from their home station to the camping coach site for not less than six adults. Priority is being given to parties travelling the longest rail distance. The rentals of the coaches range from £7:10:0 to £12:0:0 per week depending on the month chosen."

April '60:

"CIÉ have also announced that charges for all camping coaches will be reduced in the off-peak periods while the obligation on those booking coaches to buy six return tickets from their homes to the site has been reduced this year to three return tickets. A special ticket costing £2:10:0 allowing unlimited travel in the area of the coach site is also provided this summer for those availing of the coaches. At the end of January last, English visitors alone had already booked for a total of 32 weeks holidays in the CIÉ camping coaches for the coming summer."

I'm no expert on inflation: was that a good price or expensive or what?

Here's the pic in that book of HC 8 at Tramore:

934 I think at Killarney

The Camping Coaches were announced in the Spring of 1959. Six were prepared for the 1959 season, two each for Dungarvan, Killarney and Carrick-on-Shannon, available from 2nd May to 24th October. Each coach cost £650 to convert and included sleeping berths for eight, a spacious living room and fully equipped kitchenette. Lighting, heating and cooking was by Kosangas. Bed and table linen, crockery, cutlery and cooking utensils were also provided. Livery was described as being CDJRC style or dull pink and cream. HC1 was completed in early March and put on display in Platform 3 at Amiens Street from 16th to 28th March, presumably to advertise the service and encourage bookings.

HC1 to HC6 were converted from 803, 811, 802, 934, 832, 347. Unfortunately which went where is not recorded.

 

Apparently the season was successful and two more coaches were converted for the 1960 season, for Tramore. However, the two at Carrick-on-Shannon were transferred to Galway. HC7 and HC8 were converted from 818, 837. The W&T closed on 31/12/60 and apparently all coaches, including the HC's, were moved to Waterford, where one at least had to be removed, as the next mention of allocations is as late as 1967, (which appears to be the last season), when HC4 and HC5 were at Killarney and HC1, 2, 3, 6, 7 were at Youghal.

 

Early in 1968 the Camping Coaches were withdrawn. They were stated to be for likely use as Staff Sleeping Cars and it was noted two had been at Tuam during the beet campaign. HC7 became 529A and was located at Dungarvan for the lifting crews on the Mallow - Waterford route. HC6 became 528A and was seen at Limerick Junction on 18th March 1968. 529A retained its roof boards reading "Holiday Camping Coach" and both were still red and cream.

 

That appears to be the last reference. Pender & Richards shows the following conversions to Departmental use.

523A from 803, 524A from 811, 525A from 802, 526A from 934, 527A from 832, 528A from 347, 530A from 837. It doesn't show 529A but that must be 818 as above. Presumably, if they did become staff coaches, they were replaced by the ISO type boxes placed on four wheel flats, dating from 1970?

Thanks very very much, very useful information

Any idea what 'HC' stood for?

Thanks very much, very interesting.

Far one could be ex-MGWR 13?

I also vaguely recall GSWR 813 being one of the Tramore pair as HC7. Can anyone expand?

Hi all

Is anyone aware of the identities of any of the camping coaches used by the GSR? Any other info would be greatly appreciated.

Lovely. Speaking of van-type things, I believe that the thing that replaced the now-thoroughly scrapped 2557 in Drogheda bowls clube is a CIÉ container.

Very interesting. Thanks very much, all

The clerestorey coach referred to earlier was - if it IS a six-wheeler rather than half a bogie - probably GSWR 1878-built four compartment all-first No. 332.

Sounds absolutely fantastic! I'd kill to see it. I must try and look for it on google maps later.

Great thread, I must say

And composite GSWR 907 from 1889, built by the WLWR, w/1949. Any idea of its original No.? It's in Halfway, Cork, along with one of the four remaining CSET Rustons, a beet wagon, a wagon body, and a brake van.

Not my pic

Three nice grounded coaches in use at 5-star at Glenlo Abbey hotel in Galway

 

 

 

http://www.glenloabbeyhotel.ie/en/pullman-restaurant-galway/

 

Recently enjoyed by another forumite!

An interesting one, that Leona thing. LNER Pullman built 1927, a regular on the Devon Belle and Golden Arrow, used in 1965 on Churchill's funeral train, carried 'reverse rail blue' livery before withdrawl in 1969. I have more info on the three coaches there if you're interested (one is half a GUV).

Evening all

Surprised that a topic like this hasn't been posted yet.

In the past week, I've learned of at least 5 grounded coach bodies across Ireland that I previously didn't know existed. This has got me wondering what else is out there, so a few friends and I have decided to try and compile a list. Some examples that we're aware of are listed below; would anybody be able to add to this, or at least add details?

- 6203 and 6205 in Naas

- GNR 6-wheeler in Louth

- GNR 6-wheeled full brake in Louth

- BCDR 18 in Antrim

- NIR 771 in Antrim

- Half a GNR bogie... Somewhere (forget if it's still there or not)

- A couple of GSWR things

- Unidentified one... Somewhere

- Half of SLNCR No. 10 in Manorhamilton - would be surprised if it's still there

Of course, it would be inappropriate to post the locations of some coaches, so mere references - or even photos - would be still very interesting.

Hello all

A friend recently told me about a railway on Rathlin Island, used for the construction of the lighthouse. I quote here:

"Progress was slow and during 1914 the Board of Trade enquired if the work could not be hastened. When one sees the amount of concrete poured and set against the cliff at Crockantirrive coupled with an inclined railway built at Corraghy so that materials could be landed and brought across to the new station, no wonder the building took so long".

Anyone have any info on it? Gauge, stock, when it closed etc.? I would imagine that it was man-powered.

In addition, there appears to be this 'carriage' on the island. While I personally think that the wheel on it could be a road wheel, I'd be interested to see people's thoughts on it:

http://www.geograph.ie/photo/2474054

I think C231 was the only C never to carry silver. 232, 233, and 234 all did I'm quite sure.

Great pics and stories. Any idea of a date for the move?

Thanks. Ignore my rablings!

I have down here that 69 was withdrawn in either '68 or '69. It was rebuilt 1923 - would I be proving my madness if I thought that it originally had a clerestory?

Here's a photy of it under restoration

Is it just 071 and 084 with the plaques? Any idea why only those two have them (or maybe it's just so far?)

NIR had three MU07-16 tampers ('type 7', to you and I) - Nos. 5 and 6 from around 1976: I think No. 5 is at Ballymena, No. 6 was scrapped after being hit with a Hunslet. No. 7 is from 1978, and is of course at Downpatrick.

The other tamper at Downpatrick is 'HC1', the hedgecutter that was built as a tamper for NIR and converted. I don't know much about its history or make apart from the fact that it has a 'GM' engine! I will need a hoke around it for a works plate or something. It appears to have been a pretty early thing

Saw this on t'internet earlier today, thought it was pretty amusing:

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens spoilers:

Supreme Leader Snooki kills Dumbledore

BB8 has an unrequited crush on R2-D2

Luke Skywalker marries Leia Organa

Kylo Ren is Jar Jar Binks under the mask

The First Order is actually good, and the Rebels are evil

Finn has a bizarre rap battle with Lando Calrissian, and loses

Coruscant is destroyed by a Death Star, but later restored by a Life Star

Chewbacca lost his voice and can only communicate through dance

Taxation of trade routes plays a major role in the film's secondary plotline

There's approximately two and a half truths in the list above, the rest is made up. Have fun!"

Do you happen to have the drawings for 813, JB? Never managed to see a pic of it (although it apparently looks like 836)

Was it the last item of stock with end tumblehomes?

Thanks very much both

Here it is rather recently

http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3903

It's now olive green

Curiously, I couldn't find 900 (the WLWR family saloon which rest at claremorris for years and whose rotting remains are now in a shed at Belturbet) in the 1924 book at all....

I was just about to ask about that. Glad there's two WLWR coaches around.

Wonderful photos of Derry, I've only seen a few pics of LPHC No. 1 (before the museum of course). Any pics of No. 2?

Do you happen to have the drawings for 907, JB?