jhb171achill

That's an interesting take on it, with which again I agree. I wonder about one aspect, though, which without delving too deep into psychology might be another background to it. When we are young, or "fledgling" enthusiasts, we know we are drawn to the railways, but we don't fully understand what they do and why. We might wonder at the more deadpan attitude taken by those we see actually working ON the railway and IN the trains; there's no "wonder" to them, they've seen it all before. THEY know that when we get to Ballygobackwards, we cross the up goods, and they also know that the 141 normally allocated to it broke down in Cork yesterday morning on the Bantry goods. So they know it'll be something different, and they've a good idea that it will be the pilot engine from Drumnagortihacket, which happens to be the pair of 185+134. And since that means that a crew will end up where they're not normally ending their shift, the 18:05 up will be delayed in departing for seventeen minutes in order to allow them to travel back "on the cushions". And that will result in the "A" on the ballast train taking it back instead of the 071, because of blah blah blah! But to us, it's all exotic. WE don't know what we'll see, but there actually is a pattern to it; we just haven't found that out yet. I like this description: ".....the inherent tension between a fixed system and the world of chance...." - though, to the men behind the scenes, maybe less chance and (to them!) more logic?

Mind you, while I agree 100%, Senior said exactly the same thing about the demise of steam in the 1960s, after the Stormont government did away with much of the GNR, and Andrews killed off the Wisht Caaark system and most branchlines…..!!

I took the train to Belfast & back yesterday. It was a case of “bring your own kitkat”…..

The Aussie "A"'s are 3'6" gauge, and they were green too, so between all of that I'm sure they'll manage........

“What ye make of it! Only ten days in traffic and they send it down here!” ”It’ll not stay that clean for long, I’ll guarantee you….. and sure 650 will be back when she’s had those firebars replaced. That yoke’s only on trial….” ”Nine passengers on today. Away and get the kettle on - there’s two wagons of timber to unload on the goods when he comes in”.

It’s 1962, and a new “yank” makes its first appearance at Dugort Harbour with the daily mixed train.

For sheer variety - which is what I am assuming you mean - the 1950-65 period had many times the amount of variety the 1990s did, plus twice the mileage and then some...... That said, today pales in comparison to the 1990s, indeed!

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I'd say so. It's the least scenic stretch, but also the most "interfered with" by development. I guess that no more than 50 / 60% of it is on (or even near) the old railway line. I did Mulrany to Newport & back with Barry when it opened, and we also did Mulrany to Achill and back, then I did that bit again with Madam another time. Both highly scenic. My favourite bit would have to be west of Mulrany for the first 2 miles, above Bellacragher Bay. Stunning.

Firstly, many thanks for your comments, folks - very much appreciated. To answer the questions above in no particular order, funds for the Connemara railway project can be donated as Jim has set up a "gofundme" link on the Connemara railway website. Regarding books, great to see Leslie's long-standing "The Syndicate" raising funds for this project by donating a part of the proceeds of his sales. During a quarter century of being both RPSI & DCDR Treasurer at different times, both societies (plus others) benefitted from donations made by "The Syndicate", whose sales at IRRS London Area meetings and at other events produced profits to fund these donations. I can say as treasurer at those times that the respective societies appreciated this greatly, and The Syndicate's donations were used to assist with a wide and diverse range of things - everything from locomotive or carriage restoration and maintenance to the bricks and mortar of carriage sheds. The pictures front and rear; the front one was reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder - though it has to be said, it's been widely copied here and there, probably not always with such permission. The rear cover came from a photo of an original poster which jhb171Senior had many years ago, and was sold when he was in a nursing home. Interior pictures - the modern ones were taken mostly by me, with a few others contributed. One of ttc's (of this parish) taken from a drone (or by an exceptionally tall person) and by Jim Deegan, illustrate the Connemara railway project. Of the operational railway, some came from the IRRS years ago (indeed, when I was sourcing illustrations there for "Rails to Achill"!); but most were from Henry Casserley's collection, obtained via his late son Richard. There are a few Lawrence images too, plus a number of others for which after years of trying to find a copyright holder, though seeing the pictures all over the place in the public domain, I simply used them after finding out that information on the copyright owner may no longer be evident. This is as a result of a fire in Galway where some old material was stored, in the 1980s. The late Galway historian Maurice Semple, whose widow was of great assistance to me, published about seven books about Galway history in the 1970s, all copiously illustrated, and without a solitary acknowledgement for any images! I used some of his - and I believe that while he, in his day, COULD have attributed them, the information necessary to do so today went up in smoke forty years ago. Without Casserley, operational images of the line would be few and far between. There were a number of other images which I wanted to include, but were so very poor that no matter what magic Oakwood Press tried to employ, they couldn't possibly be made to make the grade. Several others, including the only two of a track-lifting gang, were so bad that they could only be included as small images. They came from Clifden architect Shane Joyce. Maps are old OS maps, long out of copyright, for which (I think) it was Shane who gave me those. Modelling drawings were from a number of sources. To confuse matters, at one stage I posted a list of acknowledgements for illustrations to the publisher and it never arrived - and I didn't have a copy! As in all books, the disclaimer is always that if I have omitted to thank anyone for anything, please be assured that it's my senility that is to blame and accept my apologies! This day, I have taken delivery of 320 of the things to fulfil a few mail orders and have a stock for the launch. The Irish price will probably be €19.95, though I have yet to have confirmation of this. Should be a good day. Jim has now advertised a special Railtours train leaving Dublin via the 07:35 down day mail to Galway, with a Railtours coach awaiting. A Railtours guide will accompany you via several sites of railway interest en route, arriving at Maam Cross about 1pm. You can get lunch in Peacocke's Hotel, or if you only want a sandwich there's a garage there too. The Maam Cross station site is adjacent to the hotel, and due to social distancing issues the launch will take place there. We're hoping for no rain, no midges, no mosquitoes and no horse flies; on account of me being there, they probably wouldn't bother YOU anyway, as when these airborne terrorists see me they get the best napkins and silver service out, and publicise the feast on social media. At a recent Maam Cross work party, I got 103 bites. Some of the rest of the group got one or two, or none. The launch is at 3pm, and at about 6 (I think) the bus leaves again for Galway station for the 1920 up night mail to Broadstone, sorry, Kingsbridge. It gets back to Dublin at 21:50. I'll be staying over to assist in testing the bar equipment after the lockdown..... Looking forward to seeing many of you in Maam Cross!

I had forgotten about this thread - I omitted to mention I got as far as Foynes too, on a few IRRS & RPSI trips..... and Mullingar to Athlone a number of times on both RPSI and service trains...... If old age and creaking bits permit, Barry Carse & I are thinking of doing the Waterford greenway at some stage soon.... and I've still to do the North Kerry one and Newport - Westport. Must learn how an electric bicycle works. Far cry from a scruffy 0.6.0 but it would have to do.

Or to add to that, Crossley sounds only in silver, green, black, and black-with-yellow-ends liveries, and the early black & tan without the "R" suffix or top headlights. GM sounds only with "R" after the number, and Supetrain & Irish Rail.

The blue one, 216, was in Belfast both this morning and this evening….

But my question was about the one that was once on the Clonmacnoise railway - the green and yellow yoke. Was there one of those, or were there more than one - and where is it / are they now? This / these were not at all like either the Keef one above, or the Dromod one.

Too modern for a fussy oul fossil like me, Bandon Tank! (But, now, if it WAS an actual Bandon tank, now that would be a different kettle o'fish!)

Interesting to see how this develops (and I hope you get your money back), from a general point of information about the rights, wrongs, practicalities and legalities of online selling in general. Personally, I have bought quite a few items online over the years, especially when building up what at one time was a pretty large 009 collection (all since sold to pay for MM 141s and 121s!)….never any major probs, though one of two things I got years ago weren’t QUITE the bargain they appeared to be once I got them…

A tin canister wagon of some sort, on wheels, at Amiens St Station….. Today

Excellent!

When things do eventually calm down, there’s a preserved XA (Aussie A class) in full working order, Crossley engine included, on the preserved Hotham Valley Railway in Oz. Six of the class survive, plus bits of another, in various locations in the land of upside-down kangaroos and man-eating spiders the size of “A” class locos, but only the one operating. Doubtless IRM will set sail, tape recorder in hand, to capture this beast. Same engine as an A, and a very different sound indeed to a GM “Transplant “. Look up “WAGR XA” in your YouTube machines…..

Very much appreciated, folks!

Superb stuff. The 2nd and 3rd were on an IRRS special. Love the one with the cattle trucks - that's precisely the type of "look" I'm aiming for with the "Dugort Harbour" layout.......

That BnM thing - how many of those were built? I always thought it was a one off, but I seem to to recall someone telling there were two?

"Is he the only passenger today?" "There's one already on - that railway enthusiast eejit from Dublin with the camera..." ---------------------------------------- "Ye hear someone's shot Kennedy! It was on the wireless!" "What? The auctioneer? PJ's cousin?" "NO!! The American President! John F!"

The morning local train arrives today....... IMG_9564.MOV Cattle trucks being shunted; tomorrow is fair day again!

Now, that I didn't know.