minister_for_hardship

I think there's a greater affinity in England because they did pretty much invent them so there's that. Here, railways may have been considered to be a little bit "foreign" in what was up to recently a largely agrarian society; they were promoted and controlled by Big House Anglo-Irish, they could speed troops to unruly areas, they were staffed by uniformed men with their own sub culture and slang, and surrounded by high walls and fences. Stations were often scenes of emigration, people dislike being reminded about the bad old days. As someone mentioned somewhere else, a working steam railway can be (and has been) funded and put into operation. That's the relatively easy part, the trick is to keep it going. Contrast that with the greenway, once it's built, it's up to "someone else", council usually, to maintain. It's a crowd pleaser, the public get a leisure facility for free* just turn up with your bike or running gear. * yes I know it's not really free. It comes out of taxation. I think people would love a Severn Valley type operation here, I see a lot of "wouldn't it be lovely if we had X here, it would be great for tourists" commentary. Full of good intentions but good intentions of course won't butter any parsnips.

You answered your own question; the insurance thing can be overcome, but lack of interest and linked to that lack of volunteers are where these things founder again and again. People can find loads of spare time and energy to volunteer for all sorts from tidy towns, charities to GAA because those things interest them. Granted there are things on an operating railway that will need special training but most anyone can wield a paintbrush. Culturally, Irish people are not as connected to railways as their counterparts in the UK, and specifically England.

Their naivety is delightful.

A combined road rail and canal museum, but small town politics fecked it up.

Youghal branch as a preserved line was proposed on multiple occasions from the 80s to 00s. I vaguely recall a letter to the Examiner from a "colourful local character" in legal circles threatening to clear the line himself.

"Economic stagnation grey"

He's treating the office of president as if it was a reality tv show, every day it's a "what the actual *expletive* has he done now?" The "ratings" are through the roof and that and money is all he cares about.

Any landing you can walk away from is a good landing.

A (sort of) airport rail service. http://www.lucannewsletter.ie/history/frailway.html

The Mary McAleese bridge is the only thing to my knowledge named recently after a non deceased person here. It's probably prudent to allow a number of years to pass after a person dies before naming things after them, if say it was discovered subsequently the person did unsavoury things.

The '66 namings were of their time, the choice of dead leaders everyone could get behind, papering over the cracks of the Civil War. I doubt we'll see further Rising/WOI namings on a large scale. Interesting to note the names that stuck in regular use (Kent, Heuston, Colbert) with the rarely used (O'Hanrahan, Casement, MacBride) Trends these days are naming things after people in the usual sports, literary and arts fields. But also formerly ignored Irish people in ww2 (helping Allied side obvs!), social issues, peace process, and much more of an emphasis on women.

In the grounds of a B and B, H van like, but perhaps older.

I'm totally stealing Mango Mussolini.

IE had those up to the 1990s aka The Bra.

Better not be anything made in China in there.

Don't forget, different batches of what are supposed to be the same shade of painted product will appear dissimilar when placed side by side. Learnt that in a previous life in the construction industry! It is the case in real life and models.

Lisbon's fairly hilly with old narrow streets and trams aren't fazed by it.

Is "Commuter" the navy/white/snot green livery?

Surprisingly decent prices for locos since overtaken by IRM's offerings.

Depending on where placed, the vinyl bleaches in sunlight. The Killarney one has lost its gloss and faded a little, it was only up for a couple of years before being replaced by the current green striped ones.

He's probably still scratching himself on account of it.

Ah the lesser spotted Wuhan, Detroit and Limerick Rly notice.

I'd say they were never installed, if they were repro we would see the same number popping up again and again like the knock off wagonplate below. The weathering is usual filth from stores, where they were likely "acquired"

By ropy you mean stolen? At least they're genuine. Anyone check if the Moyasta coaches still got their doors?

It's a beast of a wagon next to the 4 wheel yokes.