Mike258747

Thank you for the very interesting information about the proposed Belcoo project. I am very familiar with that part of the world but had never heard of the project. It would have been a great asset to the area but sadly not to be. I have often passed the signal at the old station but never knew the story behind it.

Great photos and thanks for posting the link. I am not very familiar with Tralee but is that the terminus of the T&D on the extreme right of the picture?

Nor for me.

You are indeed correct about 141s making it to Omagh but what is not so well known is that the A class also made it on at least one occasion still with its Crossley engine. I vividly remember the sight, sound and smell of a silver A class lifting a heavy train up the gradient out of Omagh station in the Belfast direction.

Your modelling skills are second to none. Your 'Can you guess what it is yet?' was always a challenge!!

Another great photo of Omagh Tony and thanks for posting it. The striking thing is how well the track is maintained, not a weed in sight. I suppose the mixture of creosote, hot oil, steam and hot ash helped keep the weeds at bay. Probably not very environmentally friendly but seems to have done the trick!

Although Mayners photo may look antiquated to our eyes now, only a few years earlier the feed was transported from the station to Scotts mill in sacks using teams of horses drawing four wheeled carts. Made Omagh look (and smell) like a Wild West town!!

Another way to distinguish the 600 railcars from the newer 900 series is the position of the headlight. The 600s had the lights just above the drivers windows whereas the 900s had the lights set into the roof. The photos above clearly show the two types.

I don't think that the wagons were there permanently but shunted in as required. This area is now the site of the Fold Housing complex. Access to the area was down quite a steep hill and is now the entrance drive to the Fold.

As a VERY young child I was on the original Giants Causeway tram. I have no recollection of it but there was a photo, now sadly mislaid, to confirm the event. I must also include many trips from Omagh to Bundoran on Sunday excursions. The highlight of my travels must be a Sunday excursion from Omagh to Strabane on the GNR, changing to the CDR for a fantastic run via Donegal Town to Ballyshannon. There we were transferred by bus to the GNR station for the afternoon train to Bundoran for high tea at the Great Northern Hotel. The return to Omagh was on the GNR evening train via Bundoran Junction. A long and tiring day which sparked an interest in railways which has lasted to this day. I also used the Derry Road on a weekly basis for three years to attend college in Derry and Belfast.

Another great photo Tony. Omagh gasworks was just out of shot on the left side. Do you know if there was a siding into the gasworks at any stage? The single story building on the right still exists and was used for a while by Dunnes stores.

Great photo Tony and thanks for posting it. For those not familiar with the layout at Omagh station the wagons in the top left of the photo (above the houses) are on the remains of the Enniskillen line. A spur of about 200 yds was used to store wagons when not required for traffic.

Welcome to the forum Tony. I knew Omagh Station very well, living on the Tamlaght Road and spending a lot of time around Railway Terrace and the Dromore Road. Our playground included the closed but still intact Enniskillen line. I always admired your model of Omagh Station.

I assume that the view from the observation coach for a lot of the time will be the rear cab of a loco.

I have been in Heuston Station many times but I never realised just how beautiful a building it is until I saw your model. It is amazing.

I think it is due to start around 4 o'clock but it should be over before teatime.

Thanks for the replies. Looking closely at the photo the cable can be seen running between the tracks.

Can anyone tell me what the purpose of the mule actually was?

A wonderful idea and a fantastic result! Hard to believe that it is a 40 year old loco. They must rank as one of the best looking locos in Ireland, steam or diesel.

Painstaking work but the result is just amazing. Well done and thanks for posting.

It was privately owned by the site operator at that stage. It was ex-CDR so there was not much space although the entire coach was rented out as a single unit. It has long since been removed from the site.

In the early 1970s I had the "privilege" of spending a week in an ex-CDR coach in Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal. Its railway heritage was obvious and the facilities basic to say the least. It had a solid fuel stove fitted, a very welcome addition for summer holidays in that part of the world.

Thanks jhb. Unfortunately I missed all the fun that day as I was a young lad at school back then. I do, however, remember seeing the tram in operation at the Junction on our way to Bundoran on summer excursions. I also remember seeing the little petrol engined luggage trolley in use at Bundoran Junction. Happy days indeed.

The van in the picture is indeed a mobile telephone exchange. A number of these were based in N. Ireland and were used when the permanent exchange was out of service due to fire, flooding or when, in some cases, was blown up during the Troubles. I think I am right in saying that Castlewellan was the last time one was used due to an explosion.