O Donnell Posted May 8, 2022 Share Posted May 8, 2022 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! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSR 800 Posted May 8, 2022 Share Posted May 8, 2022 IRRS archives has some photos, Ernies has two i can see from a quick search OSmap 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Holman Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 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. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhb171achill Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayner Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 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 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
O Donnell Posted May 9, 2022 Author Share Posted May 9, 2022 Nice photos. Very different than the USA. Thanks for the tips. Now to find the diagrams of the stations. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
O Donnell Posted May 9, 2022 Author Share Posted May 9, 2022 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSR 800 Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 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. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Holman Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 Ordinance Survey - the organisation behind all map making in these islands. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
O Donnell Posted May 11, 2022 Author Share Posted May 11, 2022 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northroader Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 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/ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
O Donnell Posted May 11, 2022 Author Share Posted May 11, 2022 Thanks for the tip. I will take a look there too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
O Donnell Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 Hello again from sunny Maine (it’s behind the fog somewhere) … any luck with the old photos? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhb171achill Posted May 19, 2022 Share Posted May 19, 2022 Ah, yes! Apologies, forgot. I'll look for them over the weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
O Donnell Posted September 1, 2022 Author Share Posted September 1, 2022 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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