jhb171achill

In MY book, vastly superior to it! (Apart from the “lifting” bit…..)!

”Yeah, I saw one in Mallow on Tuesday like that, first I’d seen. Very bright, isn’t it?” ”Ye see they’ve dropped the “B” from the number. I wonder does that mean the “A” class will just start with “1”?” ”Tell ye wan thing, I can’t see any o’them air-conditioned super trains, or whatever they call ‘em, coming down here!” ”Wonder what it’s like IN an air-conditioned train? Is it some sort of heating? And ye can’t open the windows in those things, apparently…” ”No idea….. what I’m wondering, is what’s for dinner!”

The same month sees the first-ever appearance at Dugort of a newly-repainted loco in the “Supertrain” livery….. it’s bringing in empty ballast wagons. Quite a contrast with its scruffy sister about to depart on the 11:40…

In the last few years of the Dugort Harbour line, A23R arrives one dull autumn morning with the midday connection off the Tralee mail. It’s September 1973…..

Probably up to a dozen, yes, at the absolute most, though I was once told 4 or 5. Under no circumstances were there 100, or even a quarter of it.

No. This has actually been extensively investigated. For anything like that to succeed sustainably in Ireland, a combination of available manpower - long term - and money; potential nearby market and so on, and suitable stuff to operate on it, with key competencies held by a sufficient number of people - is a very big ask indeed. While one can never say never, and HYPOTHETICALLY every single closed line in the country could be reopened as a tourist line, the actual reality is that there's not a snowball's chance in hell. This isn't England 9where they have ten times the population, and a much greater culture of appreciation of industrial heritage). We are just not a big enough country, or an interested enough country. And that, sadly, is the reality.

It would. The idea of 131 or 171 - or even the tank engine in Cultra - or a non-GNR J15 trundling over that viaduct with wooden coaches a la Downpatrick is enough to make one drool. But, unfortunately, the economics and practicalities of operating a heritage railway on this island are an exceptionally steep hill to climb; add to that the lack of cultural interest, thus few volunteers and fewer donations. I think Downpatrick will remain the only preserved 5'3" railway on this island. As one of those involved in a very extensive survey of all of the island some fifteen years ago, with a view to identifying a site with a market, we looked at some 18 sites. Something like 12 were eliminated point blank at first hurdle, and Navan to Kingscourt was one of them. Navan to Drogheda would be little better. No need to go into all of it here, but these are ones NEAR a big population centre, as is the DCDR - those out in the sticks haven't a hope of long-term survival.

Exactly; and this is what as always seems to be lacking.

They won't allow heritage trains over it, as it's not passed for passenger use. In reality, the best option is for the former MGWR line to be extended north from M3 Parkway with services going into Docklands - there's scarely any more capacity at Connolly, which is where they'd go to from Drogheda. A "wee birdy" who ought to have the right info has told me the mine trains will not be back. Of course, even if that is 100% the current plan, that could change (and hopefully will).

Outstanding stuff, Mol!

It would have to be Londondana..... Dunmanway Maguire! I think Robert Emmet had some connections in and arojn d the Harcourt St area =if so, Dublin "Emmett"?

Looking forward to seeing this. Michael's photography is superb, as was his eye for the unusual.

Even by Kerry standards that’s a strong accent!

On more than one occasion I’ve had American tourists ask me if people we deal with around the Ring of Kerry or Dingle peninsula are speaking in Irish!

“OK, now, LISTEN to me before yer man comes back. You telephone Burke - Gerard Burke, not Gerry - GerARD - on Tuesday morning in Tralee Goods an’ tell him what I said. OK? He’ll sort ye out. Tell him what I told you, ok? Don’t listen to Dennis. Serious, don’t even listen!”

.

“Ya serious? In America? Yer wan that was livin’ with his ma up beyond Pat Maggie’s in Cloonagh? Mad eejit, even at school… Jayysus. Me cousin went to school with him. What’s a congress man anyway, is it like, a TD?”

“All very well for him, but it’s too high to lift these things. We’d be better waitin’ till it’s at the platform!” ”Ye goin’ to the game tomorrow?” ”Yeah, I suppose, but Carrick will beat us by ten points, I tell ya”. ”What about the dance - what’s that showband called again…?”

“See the state of PJ when Christy told him about the two wagons off the road up at the mill siding! Wouldn’t like to be in Paddy Connor’s shoes now!” ”PJ had his own moments as a shunter, though - that’s why he’s behind a desk now! Just ask him some time if he remembers the Macroom fair special in 1940!” . “Is John away to Canada yet? Haven’t seen him about…” ”NO!! He only put that story about! Sure ye know he ran off with some young wan from Cork half his age. They’re away up to Dublin!” “Talkin’ of young wans, see what’s after gettin’ into the other carriage?”

“Ah c’mon lads, I told ye already - get down, sure yiz could hardly walk straight out of O’Donoghues….. if ye don’t get down NOW and go home, I’ll ring the guards. Big McNulty will soon shift ye… . ”Sixty pounds, and it’s less than a year old, 1961 model. Does forty miles an hour! Sure a new one now’s over a hundred, I couldn’t afford that on my wages! How’s Agnes, by the way?”

In preparation for the annual Dugort Parish Knock Pilgrimage on Sunday, the excursion set rests overnight at the harbour station. At Tralee it will join another six, and the ten-coach train, two heating vans and a diner will trundle their way to Claremorris, via the North Kerry, Ennis and Tuam. Looks like a pair of 141s will end up on this. In 1966, there’s still the odd green coach to be seen.

Popeye, your Hunslet is a lesson in livery and weathering artistry of realism!

W O W ! ! ! ! ! ! !

On the Lough Swill line?

I heard that some stuff at least will go for scrap. In truth, it’s high time it did. If anyone wanted to preserve it they’d have done so long ago. As always, those who shout “Shame!” and “Pity!” loudest are the very folks who either can’t or won’t lift a finger themselves, let alone open their wallets!