jhb171achill

In the late 50s, steam still ruled at Dugort Harbour, especially on fair days, when three extra locos would be brought in. Here, our intrepid photographer captures a few scenes in July 1958….. From early days J15s were almost the staple motive power diet at Valentia, Kenmare, Castleisland - and Dugort Harbour. Here, an unusually clean 195 makes a brisk departure from Castletown West not long before the C class appeared, in summer 1958.

In summer 1960, C231 arrives in Dugort Harbour with the morning mixed. It is seen later on shunting wagons before departing again. Once it gets to Castletown, it has the long slog back to Tralee with the all-stations goods.

A23R leaves Dugort Harbour for Castletown West in June 1971….

In 1963, most B121s were still grey, but getting pretty shabby. Here, an unidentified member of the class is seen on a rare visit to Dugort Harbour, shunting wagons.

Good to see frames & wheels green; black alternatives were a British Rail 1950s thing! Superb job, congrats!

Very possibly, yes.

Fair Day, August 1966. A few scenes with cattle trucks being shunted, and B141 on the extra passenger service from Castletown West…. At the end of a long day, B141 idles at the platform before returning light to Castletown for the night. It’s been drizzling, the platform is wet. B141 will be on the Tralee goods in the morning… The three tin vans parked up on the back loop came down yesterday with crates of homing pigeons from Ballymena (once a lesser-known but occasionally busy part of railway life!)

It’s that time of year again, late summer 1964. Kerry are about to take on Galway in Croke Park. As well as a six-car AEC set from Castletown West, and similar from Tralee & Killarney, a loco-hauled empty set arrives at Dugort Harbour at 06:50 from Cork (Glanmire carriage sidings). It will be a quieter group of Kerrymen who arrive back at 01:12 on the Monday morning, after a five point defeat at the hands of the Tribesmen…. well, there’s always the lock-in at O’Donoghues Harbour Bar until 7 a.m….. Jackie will make a fortune, at sevenpence a pint now! At least there’ll be ONE winner in Kerry tonight…

“I tell ya, boy, Kerry by five points at least!” ”Sure ye said that lasht year, an’ we lost….!”

It’s 1963, and a 141 appears at Dugort Harbour for the first time….

Autumn 1961, and local management have decided to put a brand-new “yank” on the Dugort Harbour branch. Although still seeing some steam activity, the turntable is long out of action, so visits of these locomotives will always be rare, as they can only run cab-first over the four miles up to Castletown. Today, we see the first ever visit of a B121 as it leaves with the 11:40 mixed. Just as well they picked today, because Crossley C209 has failed at Castletown, again.

Not anything specific. On even cursory inspection, none of these GWR, SECR, SR, LMS or LNER coaches look truly like anything that ever ran on this island. (Exception: LMS designs on the NCC, but mixed in with older flatosided BNCR stock!). However, the height and positioning of the windows on some SR stock vaguely suggests MGWR, whereas some GWR and LMS designs have a vaguely GSWR (and therefore GSR, and CIE) look about them. The livery change helps hugely, of course. By sheer luck, the Hattons 6-wheelers were very similar in overall styling to be close enough to several batches of GSWR 6-wheelers, hence the run of them that was done. But, yes, a number 163M on that yoke certainly gives the right overall impression! Had considered that too myself. A former MGWR bogie in West Kerry in the 1950s is not beyond the bounds of possibility, because one was seen at kenmare on occasion, and also (possibly the same one?) visited Wisht Caark, boy, too!

Me in car next while!

The clerestorey has very much a GSWR-like look to it. I have one of these, currently repainted green, but as yet unlined. I've painted the roof black as it is, but I'm debating putting a normal roof on it. Your green coach is closer to MGWR styling, but of course perfectly appropriate in your scenario, as the very last MGWR bogies lasted until the mid-1960s, and a few even ended up black'n'tan.

Latest pics of this under way…. for a 2nd attempt at brass I’m quite pleased with it so far.

This is going to be a STUNNER!

Agreed!

Woooohooooo!!!! Roll on the opening in 3012!

S U P E R B!

Even I would have to find a reason to have one appear in 1960 West Kerry at Dugort Harbour! A joint GAA / Time Machine special train?

Interesting one, never heard of those. If so, could be for luggage. Where did these terminate? As Mayner says, it wouldn’t have been Ballinacourty. Kilmacthomas?

Hunslet.

True indeed, but why the bogie van behind the locos?

Couldn’t make out the livery. A van like the one behind the loco would primarily have worked in mail trains, rented to carry the like. You’d hardly get it in a special. Therefore, I’d say it’s exceptionally unlikely this is anywhere near Dungarvan. It’ll be a Dublin - Waterford, or Waterford - Dublin train.

If you call to the Malahide Fry museum some time when we’re both free, I’ll get anything you want out of the display cabinet so you can inspect / measure / photograph it.