Railcar 7 was the first purpose built diesel Railcar in the British Isles. Phoenix converted to a diesel after purchase by the CDR after the CVR closed in 1942. CVR railcar was built in 1932 and bought by CDR in 1942 and became CDR Railcar 10 and is preserved at Cultra wirh Phoenix.
Correction David it is a photo of an industrial called Donegal used to build the Strabane and Letterkenny Railway from 1906 and when opened in 1909 it was the last new NG line in Ireland.
Correct Railcar 7 of the CDR was the first purpose built passenger diesel Railcar in the British Isles. Without their pioneering development in the use of railcars the CDR would not have lasted as long as it did until 1960.
Just when you mentioned Finn Velley thought you were dealing with the FVR line from Strabane to Stranorlar
Finntown Railway were operational on some dates last year but wiill remain closed in 2020.
We are looking at a number of options at the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre. Would be great if as you say the track was still there in the Finn Valley but it was all lifted in 1960. Once work starts on Drumboe next month varies options will be examined in more depth. Funds permitting of course!
Each loco had a driver and fireman with regular crews allocated to each loco by 1967. From 1967 the Jeeps top and tailed with locos usually running bunker first for thr easier run with the empty train to Magheramorne. There were occasional exceptions to the rule for example in Irish Railways in Colour there is a photo at Whitehead in August 1967 of 2 Jeeps double headed on an empty spoil train.
Working on this very topic at the minute. The last photo I can find with a brake van at the back of a top and tailed spoil train is late February 1967.
There is a direct link on the home page of the website for the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre for all donations. The Centre is a registered charity and like all Heritage groups the Centre has suffered from the financial effects of the Covid crisis since March.
Drumboe will not be a cosmetic restoration as Phase 1 as announced will make it a running chassis. Phase 2 after it returns to Donegal Town would be the firebox/boiler and ironically of the 3 Class 5 tanks Drumboe is in the best condition of the 3 survivors. Talks are taking place with the Local Council over parts of the tracked under their control. All donations to bridge a small gap are most welcome.
Donegal Railway Heritage Centre have announced today that they have secured a major grant towards the completion of restoration work on Drumboe by the RPSI. Drumboe is one of the Class 5 tanks preserved and is currently stored at Whitehead. Drumboe will be returning to Donegal Town soon.All donations welcomed and contact info@donegalrailway.com
Interested in that article on Larne. Order that magazine direct from Kelsey publishing with free p&p in the UK. Good articles on the Cavan and Leitrim, County Donegal railcars and the West Clare. Many great archive colour photos by Geoff Lumb.
Great to see a photo of Alice which has just left Cullion station in the background. Photos of Cullion and Ballyheather are the rarest stations on the Derry NG branch. Cullion station still exists today.