Fintown Railway

[airfixfan]

Went to see line today and was surprised to see Railcar 18 arrive in station on it's own. Shunter was noted in shed out of order with engine problems. Service operated with Railcar in reverse from non cab end first and then cab first on return towards Fintown. Line was quiet during our visit.

[jhb171achill]

Operating over a line that length in reverse is not likely to benefit the railcar!

[Wexford70]

Doubt the Commission for Railway Regulation would be too pleased either.

[jhb171achill]

6 minutes ago, Wexford70 said:

Doubt the Commission for Railway Regulation would be too pleased either.

This is true.

Small operators simply have to step up to this mark these days - as well as the RPSI and DCDR, I am aware that behind the scenes the Cavan & Leitrim have been doing a massive amount of work to deal with current legal and operational requirements. Finntown the same; if they do not, and I must stress that I am unaware of what dealings they may have had with the CRR, they will simply be shut down.

[airfixfan]

Photo of arrival from yesterday at Fintown

[airfixfan]

Photo of failed shunter inside shed yesterday at Fintown

Train ready to depart from station at Fintown going past the photographer in reverse for over 2 miles!

[jhb171achill]

I have to say I'd love a run in it. The only time I was ever on it was months after it first opened 25 or 30 years ago, and it only went a short way then. So two more track miles to cover.

I'd better do it quickly before the thing falls to bits. Now to try to find out what days it actually opens; this has always seemed a rare mystery......

[airfixfan]

Railcar 18 was not in great shape yesterday

49 minutes ago, jhb171achill said:

I have to say I'd love a run in it. The only time I was ever on it was months after it first opened 25 or 30 years ago, and it only went a short way then. So two more track miles to cover.

I'd better do it quickly before the thing falls to bits. Now to try to find out what days it actually opens; this has always seemed a rare mystery......

At present Tuesdays till Friday plus Sundays for the time being.

[Wexford70]

Does anyone know what happened to their plans to run steam?

I read they had an agreement with the SPRS and even paid for some restoration work on their 1899, Andrew Barclay, Sons & Co., Works No.840. Fair Maid of Foyers.

 "I believe it was supposed to go to Ireland but according the the SRPS website, Fintown don't yet have the infrastructure to operate a steam loco yet so its still at Bo'ness. The website also says she has undergone a major overhaul, been fitted with air brakes etc."

https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/fair-maid-of-foyers.299050/

Edited August 13, 2021 by Wexford70

[jhb171achill]

2 hours ago, Wexford70 said:

Does anyone know what happened to their plans to run steam?

I read they had an agreement with the SPRS and even paid for some restoration work on their 1899, Andrew Barclay, Sons & Co., Works No.840. Fair Maid of Foyers.

 "I believe it was supposed to go to Ireland but according the the SRPS website, Fintown don't yet have the infrastructure to operate a steam loco yet so its still at Bo'ness. The website also says she has undergone a major overhaul, been fitted with air brakes etc."

https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/fair-maid-of-foyers.299050/

That thing looks more 009 than 3ft gauge!

[airfixfan]

Know that the story of the Narrow Gauge koco at Boness well. The steam engine was restored and even passed a boiler test about 10 years ago. When it came to paying the Bill's and arranging transport costs and creating required facilities. The response was Oh Dear how much? We cannot afford that so the loco stayed in Scotland. That is what happened to the plans for steam at Fintown whose entire rolling stock is a failed shunter plus Railcar 18 as observed a few days ago in person.

[DERAILED]

Fintown is a pretty location but far, far too remote to ever be sustainable. I also had a run on it way back shortly after it opened - in the ex.Shane's Castle tramcars if I remember correctly - but never felt the urge to return.

[jhb171achill]

I, too, did the Belgian tram (in pouring rain) just after it opened, then the railcar a short time after it arrived. Haven't been back since, but that's due to the location as you suggest; I would, however, recommend a run just to get at least one go in a genuine Donegal railcar. 

Who knows how long it will continue to run, and the ones in Derry and the Isle of Man aren't going to be carrying passengers any time soon.

[airfixfan]

From photos seen on Facebook the shunter was back in use by the weekend. In that part of the world this Thursday so will double check what they are using. The former Belgian trams were sold off along with the coach bought from Shane's Castle. Nothing left at Fintown except Railcar 18 and the shunter!

[jhb171achill]

They sold one of the trams to the Southwold Railway in England, who plan to use it as a seating extension to their tea shop! They've done it up a bit - probably badly needed it.

Always thought they were gawd-ugly things, even at Shane's Castle!

[Galteemore]

Indeed they were ! Those rough oul toast racks were dreadful too. One thing the SCR did brilliantly was recall the Irish roadside tram. Schull or Clogher Valley stock would have been amazing. Here’s one of the Belgians @Southwold 

[airfixfan]

One of the trams was sold to a local pub a few miles outside Fintown. Noted last week that the former tram had vanished and was told it had been sold for scrap!

Edited August 17, 2021 by airfixfan

[Wexford70]

 

23 hours ago, airfixfan said:

From photos seen on Facebook the shunter was back in use by the weekend. In that part of the world this Thursday so will double check what they are using. The former Belgian trams were sold off along with the coach bought from Shane's Castle. Nothing left at Fintown except Railcar 18 and the shunter!

Coach went to Lullymore I believe 

Edited August 18, 2021 by Wexford70

[airfixfan]

Where and what is Lullymore?

[Wexford70]

It's a bog discovery site for tourists http://www.lullymoreheritagepark.com/

 

Edited August 18, 2021 by Wexford70

[jhb171achill]

18 hours ago, airfixfan said:

One of the trams was sold to a local pub a few miles outside Fintown. Noted last week that the former tram had vanished and was told it had been sold for scrap!

Best place for it!

1 hour ago, Wexford70 said:

 

Coach went to Lullymore I believe 

Was that coach at Finntown??

[Wexford70]

4 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

Was that coach at Finntown??

Believe so but much work done on it since.

[airfixfan]

Yes indeed that coach was at Fintown and only used once at its lunch event! Had been bought from Alan Keef for the Shane's Castle but never ran there to my knowledge. Similar to another Alan Keef coach built for and used at Dromod.

[jhb171achill]

1 hour ago, airfixfan said:

Yes indeed that coach was at Fintown and only used once at its lunch event! Had been bought from Alan Keef for the Shane's Castle but never ran there to my knowledge. Similar to another Alan Keef coach built for and used at Dromod.

Now, that I didn't know.

[the Bandon tank]

Yea, saw it in Lullymore about a month ago, was not running, in fact nothing was running,despite all track laid. 

[Galteemore]

This is one of their other coaches. Interesting photo angle. Shows how wide 3’ gauge actually is! 

[jhb171achill]

That BnM thing - how many of those were built? I always thought it was a one off, but I seem to to recall someone telling there were two?

[Wexford70]

52 minutes ago, jhb171achill said:

That BnM thing - how many of those were built? I always thought it was a one off, but I seem to to recall someone telling there were two?

I heard also that BnM has a directors carriage of same size in storage still. 

[DERAILED]

20 hours ago, airfixfan said:

Yes indeed that coach was at Fintown and only used once at its lunch event! Had been bought from Alan Keef for the Shane's Castle but never ran there to my knowledge. Similar to another Alan Keef coach built for and used at Dromod.

The Alan Keef carriage at Dromod was specially commissioned based on drawings by Nicky Wakeford and has little in common with the Lullymore carriage save its gauge.

[airfixfan]

The coach that ended up at Fintown for years was very similar to the coach built for Dromed

 Travelled in them.both.

[jhb171achill]

But my question was about the one that was once on the Clonmacnoise railway - the green and yellow yoke. Was there one of those, or were there more than one - and where is it / are they now?

This / these were not at all like either the Keef one above, or the Dromod one.

[Mayner]

 

2 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

But my question was about the one that was once on the Clonmacnoise railway - the green and yellow yoke. Was there one of those, or were there more than one - and where is it / are they now?

This / these were not at all like either the Keef one above, or the Dromod one.

There are/were two Clonmacnoise & West Offaly "trains" coaches.

The Blackwater Operation catered mainly for Coach Tours and added a second train (Coach) after several years successful operation.

The project and Blackwater Museum was set up on the initiative of redundant BNM staff in the late 80s and seems to have been financially successful. the Tourist Train Operation was shut down after the new Shannon Bridge Power Station came on line and BNM fuel peat rail operations became extremely busy.

I visited Blackwater in the early 90s both Tourist and Fuel Peat operations were busy with Milled Peat Trains queuing behind the 'passenger" line of sight operation. Interestingly Blackwater staff were proud of their operation and had visited several of the Welsh Narrow Gauge Lines while planning the West Offaly operation.

By contrast I was the only passenger when I visited the Bellacorick railway and staff not exactly enthusiastic. The rolling stock at Bellacorick was more interesting from an enthusiasts perspective, the passenger portion of an ex-West Clare diesel railcar and a unique BNM rebuild of a RH diesel, but less attractive to the casual visitor or Coach Tour participant.

[airfixfan]

Follow up visit to Fintown found that despite stating line was open today. Place deserted and all rolling stock still left now locked up. Staff appeared to be there but were pretending to be a famous H G Wells character!

[Galteemore]

42 minutes ago, airfixfan said:

. Staff appeared to be there but were pretending to be a famous H G Wells character! 

The Time Traveller or the Invisible Man? Could be either in Donegal ! 

[Garfield]

1 hour ago, airfixfan said:

Follow up visit to Fintown found that despite stating line was open today. Place deserted and all rolling stock still left now locked up. Staff appeared to be there but were pretending to be a famous H G Wells character!

Can I ask what the story is with the constant criticism of Fintown?