Castlegregory and Junction

[O Donnell]

Hi all,

Retirement allows me to think about a couple of micro layouts. I was poking about “narrow gauge” and came across some mentions of vanished Irish lines. I seem to recall seeing something in Clifden about a narrow gauge on a side trip from Roundstone (grandfather’s home place … no room for a railway there). Anyway, I read something about a 6 mile line from Castlegregory Junction to Castlegregory and was wondering if anyone has track diagrams for the two spots, to see how adaptable to a micro they might be. Photos might be nice too.

They might not have been hubs of commerce, but they are more exotic to someone in the States than Colorado or Maine! 

 

[GSR 800]

IRRS archives has some photos, Ernies has two i can see from a quick search

 

OSmap 

 

 

[David Holman]

The line at Clifden was a two foot gauge, isolated affair, serving the Marconi radio transmitter station. Not much to it, though a couple of well known photos exist showing Alcock and Brown after their historic flight across the Atlantic, having crash landed nearby. They were transported down to Clifden in a rail mounted motor car, which could make a nice diorama.

 Clifden was also the intended terminus of the Ulster and Connaught Railway - a three foot gauge line starting at Newry, taking in some of the Cavan and Leitrim, then wandering across to the West coast. No exactly micro layout though, but the possibilities are endless.

[jhb171achill]

I’ve a couple of photos of Castlegregory somewhere - will delve over next few days. Senior went there in 1939, two weeks before it closed.

It is an excellent model for a mini-terminus. 

[Mayner]

In its final years the Tralee and Dingle was described as the 'last piece of adventurous Railroading East of the Rockies"

There are maps and photos of the railway including Castlegregory Junction and Castlegregory Station.

https://transportsofdelight.smugmug.com/RAILWAYS/IRISH-RAILWAYS/THE-TRALEE-DINGLE-LIGHT-RAILWAY/i-vxV4Mgq/A

If you want to go deeper "The Dingle Train" Plateway press 1996 is a good read. covers the history of the line operation and folklore. 

https://www.abebooks.com/9781871980271/Dingle-Train-David-Rowlands-Walter-1871980275/plp

 

 

[O Donnell]

Nice photos. Very different than the USA. Thanks for the tips. Now to find the diagrams of the stations. 

[O Donnell]

The Castlegregory terminal certainly looks like a hobbyist laid it out … I can’t quite make out the junction though. What is “OSmaps?” Something online? You’re dealing here with a furriner who’s not up on the terms.

[GSR 800]

49 minutes ago, O Donnell said:

The Castlegregory terminal certainly looks like a hobbyist laid it out … I can’t quite make out the junction though. What is “OSmaps?” Something online? You’re dealing here with a furriner who’s not up on the terms.

https://geohive.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9def898f708b47f19a8d8b7088a100c4

Very useful resource

Historic 25" is the go to.

[David Holman]

Ordinance Survey - the organisation behind all map making in these islands.

[O Donnell]

Finally got the hang of the OSI website. Very nice. Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions. I guess I will have to order the book this summer.

If I built the two “ends” of the branch I would certainly fictionalize operations, I suspect, and compromise with HO or OO on 9mm track.

I traced along the route and the line was not graced with many sidings between Tralee & Dingle! It’s interesting that some evidence still shows on Google Maps.

[Northroader]

Going back to your opening post, for a microlayout in Irish narrow gauge, could I suggest Moyasta Junction as it currently exists operated by a preservation society, which is as basic as it gets. Here’s a sketch of the layout, and I’d suggest that the engine shed and siding which was added by the new folks, is replaced to opposite the signal cabin, making a handier operating situation.

heres a link to Roger Farnworths article on the West Clare with good pictures past and present.

https://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/05/09/the-west-clare-railway-part-6-moyasta-to-kilkee/

 

[O Donnell]

Thanks for the tip. I will take a look there too.

[O Donnell]

Hello again from sunny Maine (it’s behind the fog somewhere) … any luck with the old photos?

 

[jhb171achill]

Ah, yes! Apologies, forgot. I'll look for them over the weekend.

 

[O Donnell]

On 11/5/2022 at 5:46 AM, Northroader said:

Going back to your opening post, for a microlayout in Irish narrow gauge, could I suggest Moyasta Junction as it currently exists operated by a preservation society, which is as basic as it gets. Here’s a sketch of the layout, and I’d suggest that the engine shed and siding which was added by the new folks, is replaced to opposite the signal cabin, making a handier operating situation.

heres a link to Roger Farnworths article on the West Clare with good pictures past and present.

https://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/05/09/the-west-clare-railway-part-6-moyasta-to-kilkee/

 

Thanks again. I really enjoyed reading all that.