Fintown Railway

[airfixfan]

Wasted a few hours travelling to Fintown yesterday to find the place open but staffed by the Invisible Man. Phoned last week to check so I could bring visitors to visit this line for the first time. This is not the first time that the line/place is closed on arrival  when meant to be open. In May 2018 acting as Tour Guide brought a coach load of English enthusiasts for a booked visit. We arrived and guess what was closed and nobody answering phone etc! Photo from yesterday 

 

Edited September 1, 2021 by airfixfan

[murphaph]

Terrible way to run a business. Word gets around and it's not exactly convenient for most people so you're much less likely to just chance it if you know they are unreliable.

[Garfield]

5 hours ago, airfixfan said:

Wasted a few hours travelling to Fintown yesterday to find the place open but staffed by the Invisible Man. Phoned last week to check so I could bring visitors to visit this line for the first time. This is not the first time that the line/place is closed on arrival  when meant to be open. In May 2018 acting as Tour Guide brought a coach load of English enthusiasts for a booked visit. We arrived and guess what was closed and nobody answering phone etc! Photo from yesterday 

 

Can you please respond to my question? I get the feeling there's 'skin in the game' here that isn't being declared. 

 

5 hours ago, murphaph said:

Terrible way to run a business. Word gets around and it's not exactly convenient for most people so you're much less likely to just chance it if you know they are unreliable.

My understanding is that it is run by volunteers?

 

[airfixfan]

Just reporting the facts went to the railway early August after it had re-opened 2 weeks before that date. Was back again yesterday and that is the relevant detail

[DJ Dangerous]

I haven't visited personally as it's a few thousand km too far, but the TripAdvisor reviews don't seem all that bad:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g315868-d2534086-Reviews-or5-Fintown_Railway-Dungloe_County_Donegal.html#REVIEWS

Maybe there is a problem with reachining the minimum number of volunteers to operate on some days?

Some sort of Facebook or Twitter announcement would help in that case, I must admit.

Expecting a website update would not be fair - updating social networking sites is far quicker and easier than updating a website.

[Garfield]

3 hours ago, airfixfan said:

Just reporting the facts went to the railway early August after it had re-opened 2 weeks before that date. Was back again yesterday and that is the relevant detail

Have you taken this up with them directly?

I can't imagine it's easy to maintain regular operations with a small group of volunteers at this time.

[airfixfan]

Made contact with them today after being sent more photos by a concerned friend who found it running a few weeks ago. My friend noted that Railcar 18 was still  running solo again so  he passed on some photos to myself today

 Matter is now in process. Their remote location has always been both an asset and a problem. Whilst we were there yesterday morning other visitors arrived asking the same question

 Are trains running today.? Send a PM if you want to chat in more detail

[Colin R]

If I recall correctly they used to be government funded at one point, may be this has now finished and relying on volunteers in that part of the world may make things difficult.

It might be wise in that case to revert to weekend only working.

 

Colin Rainsbury

 

[jhb171achill]

They are run by a community group rather than a local authority (like the ill-fated Tralee project) or a railway enthusiast group.

As Airfixfan says, the location can be an asset in one sense and not in others. It is still open just one weekend day and Tuesdays, somewhat bizarrely. Unless I am unaware of some local issue about Tuesdays, one would have thought that both weekend days might have attracted a better audience, given the remoteness - and it IS remote; as others say, too many thousands of km away.

While only my guess, I suspect that the number of people operating it is limited, and maybe maintenance knowledge is also thin on the ground. Sound commercial knowledge might also be sparse; however, one way or another, it is the only preserved operation on this entire island apart from Dromod which has its own original station, and it scores top of the league for having an operation "train" which is actually original, plus a spectacularly scenic location.

The sensible way ahead is for the trustees and owners of the railcar to come to a sensible and practical operational agreement with them as to the operation of the railcar, in line with its own best interests and proper CRR and Safety Case oversight and compliance. With government funding for any sort of scheme like that now thinner on the ground than ever before, a one-off engagement with a professional fund raiser or "grant finder" might be productive; properly run - if in such a location this is possible - will result in a very unique and valuable asset to the area, and to railway heritage in Ireland overall.

Long term they cannot expect to rely on one railcar, irrespective of how hard-wearing and easy to maintain a Gardner engine is. They would do well to get a couple of cheap Hunslet Wagonmasters while they're available, paint them red and cream, and get a Dromod-style modern coach to give the railcar a rest from time to time.

I wonder (I don't know) to what extent a long-term view such as this is to be found among those who run the thing.

I had dealings with one man up there years ago in terms of a joint grant which I was involved in applying for. This was from the "Peace Money" and related to "cross-border" schemes, so I invited the Cavan & Leitrim and Finntown to join in with the DCDR to apply as an "umbrella group" called "Ulster & Connaught Heritage Railways" for a grant, on the basis that this "UCLR" was a cross-border thing; we gopt the money and divided it amongst the above-mentioned. My understanding is that the share that Finntown got was put into extending their line to its present extent. The guys at Finntown were most co-operative, though I only met them face-to-face once.

At THAT stage, at any rate, they were a community group funded, I think, by FÁS or some such agency.

The owners / trustees of the railcar have every right to keep tabs on the care of their railcar; it's unique. Should circumstances ever arise when it is not possible for this thing to be given the care and attention it needs, then it makes sense for Finntown to find something else to run.

[Colin R]

The other alternative which is not going to happen any time soon is to find a lottery winner who is willing to move to the area and co-operate with the guys there to bring the whole thing up to a higher standard, I did read in one of the UK railway mags sometime ago they had plans to take the line to the outside of Genties and build a new station in that area.

I am just not sure how realistic such a plan could be, but given the current lack of man power they have, I can't see an extension happening there any time soon, the sad fact is if and when those that run it start to give up the situation is only going to get worse.

What it needs is a commercial manager with the understanding of how the internet works, I do find that it is hard to find anything about it on the web or if I do it is out of date.

If they had a decent online shop, cafe and toilets, it might bring in a few bob to help keep the place open.

Edited September 1, 2021 by Colin R

[jhb171achill]

1 hour ago, Colin R said:

The other alternative which is not going to happen any time soon is to find a lottery winner who is willing to move to the area and co-operate with the guys there to bring the whole thing up to a higher standard, I did read in one of the UK railway mags sometime ago they had plans to take the line to the outside of Genties and build a new station in that area.

I am just not sure how realistic such a plan could be, but given the current lack of man power they have, I can't see an extension happening there any time soon, the sad fact is if and when those that run it start to give up the situation is only going to get worse.

What it needs is a commercial manager with the understanding of how the internet works, I do find that it is hard to find anything about it on the web or if I do it is out of date.

If they had a decent online shop, cafe and toilets, it might bring in a few bob to help keep the place open.

I guess that's behind much of the suggested issues.

No matter what we all aspire to in preservation, and no matter how "purist" we would all like to be, at the end of the day it always ALL comes down to plain old hard cash.

As a former 25-year treasurer of the RPSI and DCDR, I have always been aware of the conflict between those who have a vision, and those who pay the bills. Every society has its members - including centrally-involved working ones, who have zero notion of budgetary issues, and others who sit in AGMs and say "why" to what they see as a sell-out of the organisation's principles to naked commercialism. I'm not setting out the arguments for or against any of these things I mention - that's for another day - but the harsh, cold reality is that for any heritage organisation to succeed, it's ALL about the money. €€€€€€€€€€€.

So you're absolutely right about a rich donor! Britain has them aplenty, but we've none on this island.

[airfixfan]

Some good points JJB and Colin and personally as John points it would be great if Fintown could join forces with the other railway projects in Donegal Town and Derry for the mutual benefit of all involved in the North West of Ireland. Fintown staff employed and operated through Gaeltacht funding each year with limited volunteer input. 80 year old Donegal Railway in poor external condition not designed to operate trains in reverse for over 2 miles! As JHB points out the Tralee scheme  had a similar set up and look what happened to that scheme

 Attended an event in 2006 in Fintown where a planned extension to a terminus/park areas announced

 Rails left just past end of running line and area to be used untouched since then

 Photo below of this area from a few days ago.

[Colin R]

Just as an overnight though and again subject to having the money and at JHB's suggestion, if they could buy a couple of old wagon masters and then convert them to Donegal style looking railcars they could be on a win win situation, may be the guys at Donegal might consider this an option as well.

They would be smaller than most of the old railcars, but they look like they have good gearboxes which can go in either direction at a reasonable speed as well which is something the old Donegal Railcars had a problem with, even I would consider swapping out the gearbox on the railcar at Fintown, so it does not get completely knacked with an ex Wagonmaster one.

 https://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/22/Wagonmaster.htm

Edited September 2, 2021 by Colin R

[airfixfan]

According to a response by email and now on social media Fintown closed until further notice due to Covid impact! Some good ideas Colin and made similar suggestions about 2007

 Give everyone a chance just concerned about an 80 year old railcar

[Galteemore]

Yes I get that. I suspect something like a 3’ Parry People Mover is what’s required. Good for the eco credentials too…..https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parry_People_Movers

[Garfield]

1 hour ago, airfixfan said:

According to a response by email and now on social media Fintown closed until further notice due to Covid impact! Some good ideas Colin and made similar suggestions about 2007

 Give everyone a chance just concerned about an 80 year old railcar

Pleased to hear that they have responded promptly when contacted directly. It's becoming clear you have a vested interest in this, so I would politely suggest that the proper way to resolve any issues is to continue to communicate directly rather than sniping at the other side from here as neither party is going to benefit from that.

[DERAILED]

I'm still amazed that they've lasted this long. Great location, no dosh and no enthusiast involvement does not bode well for the future.

[Colin R]

We do have a few railways in the UK which are not volunteer lead, such as the Launceston Steam Railway  http://launcestonsr.co.uk/

I am not sure just how many people are involved with the Fintown Railway project, does anyone know any more about it?

Colin

Edited September 2, 2021 by Colin R

[Mayner]

Something like a Parry People mover or contemporary or Hybrid version of the Drumm Battery Train with similar styling to the Dublin & Blessington Drewry railcar would provide a level of self sufficiency in terms of rolling stock, simple to maintain and operate, good for the eco credentials and attractive to families with young children who want a short train ride the railways bread and butter traffic.

They might be able to obtain funding through some form of Gaeltacht Business Grant for a Parry People Mover or a new railcar, the primary purpose of the railway is to provide employment and promote tourism in the Gaeltacht and a railcar would support both objectives.

[David Holman]

Went there eight years ago, aiming for the 11am train and arrived slightly late to find nobody around, but the railcar in the platform. The door to the portakabin office was open and so went to ask if trains were running. The lady inside responded in a lovely soft Donegal accent 'Oh yes, I'll get the boys for you'.

 Two giant young chaps, who could easily have graced the all Ireland rugby front row, ambled out of the shed and took my wife and I up the line and back - we were the only passengers...

  The setting is fabulous, the railcar simply iconic. If the operation is to survive though, then services need to be reliable. It is a long way from anywhere and while the trip to Fintown is stunning, I sympathise with anyone making the effort only to find it shut.

 Running a preserved railway is challenging enough, doing so with just a single railcar and diesel tractor seems a bit 'wing and a prayer'; likewise minimal staff. Add in the remote location and however attractive that is, you have to wonder. I wish them well, but without proper funding, suspect the line will always struggle.