colmflanagan Posted January 3, 2013 Posted January 3, 2013 While on the subject of old pictures. This old copy of the long departed "Model Railway Constructor" came to me back in the 1960s. It shows an early version of the layout when it was situated in Cyril Fry's home in Churchtown, south Dublin. Sadly there is no article about it with more photos in the magazine though it may well have featured at some point. The caption reads: "A scene at Churchtown junction on the Irish International Railway and Tramway System. The first train in Ireland of the Dublin & Kingstown Railway, 1834, makes an interesting comparison aginst one of CIE's latest trains. There's one photo on the editorial page: Caption: The photograph at the head of this page shows another IIRTS model, Dublin & Drogheda 2-2-2 side and saddle tank No 8 with a coach of 1850. Quote
Guest hidden-agenda Posted January 3, 2013 Posted January 3, 2013 Lovely pics Colm even if old certainly rattles the taste buds. Quote
Tarabuses Posted January 3, 2013 Posted January 3, 2013 A story in today's Independent says that the Fry Model Railway will be operational in Casino House this summer. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/saviour-of-europes-largest-model-railway-leaves-17m-in-will-3341581.html Quote
BosKonay Posted January 3, 2013 Posted January 3, 2013 Interesting! Is it really the 'largest collection in Europe'? Quote
heirflick Posted January 3, 2013 Author Posted January 3, 2013 'A WEALTHY pensioner who saved Europe's largest model railway collection for the people of north Dublin has left more than €17m in his will. Patrick Michael Gaffney, a farmer who died aged 95 in January last year, left estate valued at €17.3m, it emerged yesterday. Mr Gaffney is credited with keeping the Fry Model Railway in Malahide after he bequeathed €1.5m towards a project to re-house it in a 17th century building in the heart of the village. The railway was bought by Dublin Tourism in 1976 from the late railway engineer Cyril Fry's widow and opened to the public in Malahide Castle in 1988. However, following the redevelopment of the castle, it was planned to relocate the railway to Busaras in Dublin city. Mr Gaffney donated €1.5m to help restore the 200-year-old abandoned Casino House in Malahide, which will house the collection. The Fry Model Railway is a 232sqm working miniature rail display, initially built in the 1920s and developed and modernised to become the largest model railway collection in Europe. The railway includes models of stations, landmarks, locations and Irish landscapes from throughout the 20th century. It was overhauled in the 1980s and a new layout built at Inchicore Works by retired CIE craftsman, Tommy Tighe. The model railway was closed in 2010 due to a lack of funding and the redevelopment project at Malahide, but will re-open to the public this summer at Casino House, which is located close to Malahide DART station. The new centre will include children's and educational displays, and allow for the Fry models to be maintained and upgraded. Mr Gaffney donated the money to restore Casino House on condition it housed the model railway.' thats great news! thanks tony for spotting it...now we know at last about its future. couldnt see it been open this summer though... Quote
Garfield Posted January 3, 2013 Posted January 3, 2013 (edited) Interesting! Is it really the 'largest collection in Europe'? It may have been at one point, but I doubt it is now. Good to see that it'll be open to the public again, but I still have reservations about it being stuck all the way out in Malahide. Edited January 3, 2013 by Garfield Quote
heirflick Posted January 3, 2013 Author Posted January 3, 2013 as for fry being the largest , there is a german one in hamburg that is 1300m sq..... Quote
Garfield Posted January 3, 2013 Posted January 3, 2013 as for fry being the largest , there is a german one in hamburg that is 1300m sq..... Have a look at the video in my earlier post, Seamus... an extended look at the layout (pity there's no English subtitles for it...). Quote
BabyGM Posted January 3, 2013 Posted January 3, 2013 I dought it will be operational by this summer, I cycle pass the casino every day and the only progress I can report is that it is lit with a couple of lamps Quote
EPBrophy Posted January 3, 2013 Posted January 3, 2013 Have a look at the video in my earlier post, Seamus... an extended look at the layout (pity there's no English subtitles for it...). That looks incredible. Have to visit that someday. Also, great news about the Fry Collection. That's what got me into trains in the first place. That and Thomas! Quote
RedRich Posted January 3, 2013 Posted January 3, 2013 Welcome aboard, it's very nice to have you here. That's some positive news about the collection. Rich, Quote
BosKonay Posted January 25, 2013 Posted January 25, 2013 Posted earlier to facebook: Friends It is now nearly two years since the dismantling of the Fry Model Railway and the placing in storage of the Fry Collection, a collection that has been recognised officially as part of our National Heritage. Some of you will have seen the fine premises owned by Avoca that took its place in Malahide. But what many of you will not know is that Fingal Council, responsible once again for the Fry Collection and model railway, are no longer in a position to do anything about returning them to public view. It appears that Malahide Castle requires a great deal of renovation – requiring money that Fingal no longer has. So if there is not enough for the Castle, there is certainly not enough to bring the model railway back to life, as promised, this summer. In effect, and it has been admitted, the Council, which evicted the railway two years ago, has not idea of what to do next. They have neither the finance not the expertise in place. Nor have they a plan. But, of course, there was a plan, agreed to and accepted following a public tender competition, that Bus Eireann would relocate the model, and build a new improved exhibition, in the basement of Busarus. This decision was overturned by the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar TD, following a local campaign, during which he was pressurised by North Dublin local representatives. In our view he very improperly intervened to overturn a decision that was made in accordance with the rules, to award the display to a group which had not even entered the tender process, and which has ejected the exhibition from its purpose built area in the grounds of Malahide Castle. The good news is that the space in Busarus is still available, and has not been used for anything else by Bus Eireann. The decision to bring the exhibition and model back to Malahide is not now a viable proposition, if it ever was, with the bequest being swallowed up by the renewal of the Casino building, leaving insufficient to renovate the models or rebuild the layout. Now is the time to reverse the original decision, and bring the layout and Fry Collection to Busarus, where it will be easily accessed by the many thousands of visitors who crowd Dublin City Centre throughout the year. I need hardly go into any detail as regards the location – central to the tourist part of the city with links by bus, rail and Luas. It has direct buses to the airport and the ferry port, and is an ideal location for any such display. So let’s put the pressure on again, so that the Fry Collection and the associated model railway can be enjoyed by enthusiast and general public alike. Over to you. Regards John Hamill Quote
Warbonnet Posted January 25, 2013 Posted January 25, 2013 City Centre would be a much better location for it accessibility wise and probably space wise too. Quote
Dave Posted January 25, 2013 Posted January 25, 2013 City Centre would be a much better location for it accessibility wise and probably space wise too. I agree Quote
Broithe Posted January 25, 2013 Posted January 25, 2013 City Centre would be a much better location for it accessibility wise and probably space wise too. That has been the case since it was first suggested. Quote
Weshty Posted January 25, 2013 Posted January 25, 2013 In fairness, if you were to pick a location that is both suitable geographically, culturally and with accessibility, Busaras is a 180. I'd probably visit everytime I'd get to Dublin! What I am saddened at is the Bequest, was this specifically for the FRY, and has it effectively been wasted? Quote
minister_for_hardship Posted January 25, 2013 Posted January 25, 2013 Let's hope it doesn't fall between two stools again. Quote
Broithe Posted January 25, 2013 Posted January 25, 2013 Well, I've just hassled Leo - let's see what happens...... Quote
murrayec Posted January 25, 2013 Posted January 25, 2013 Hi David Great to see these photos I was told by somone at a recent show that the Fry collection had a model of the Hibernia? Would you have any photographs of it?, if it does exists. Eoin Quote
Tarabuses Posted January 25, 2013 Posted January 25, 2013 In fairness, if you were to pick a location that is both suitable geographically, culturally and with accessibility, Busaras is a 180. I'd probably visit everytime I'd get to Dublin! What I am saddened at is the Bequest, was this specifically for the FRY, and has it effectively been wasted? The newspaper article said that Mr Gaffney donated the money to restore Casino House on condition it housed the model railway. Either the reporter got it wrong or Mr Gaffney's wishes have not been fulfilled in which case I would think the bequest has to be returned to his estate. Quote
Weshty Posted January 25, 2013 Posted January 25, 2013 in which case I would think the bequest has to be returned to his estate. By God I would hope so! Litigation city otherwise... Quote
heirflick Posted January 25, 2013 Author Posted January 25, 2013 great pics david, thanks for posting:tumbsup: Quote
murrayec Posted January 25, 2013 Posted January 25, 2013 While on the subject of old pictures. This old copy of the long departed "Model Railway Constructor" came to me back in the 1960s. It shows an early version of the layout when it was situated in Cyril Fry's home in Churchtown, south Dublin. Sadly there is no article about it with more photos in the magazine though it may well have featured at some point. [ATTACH=CONFIG]5029[/ATTACH] The caption reads: "A scene at Churchtown junction on the Irish International Railway and Tramway System. The first train in Ireland of the Dublin & Kingstown Railway, 1834, makes an interesting comparison aginst one of CIE's latest trains. There's one photo on the editorial page: [ATTACH=CONFIG]5030[/ATTACH] Caption: The photograph at the head of this page shows another IIRTS model, Dublin & Drogheda 2-2-2 side and saddle tank No 8 with a coach of 1850. Hi colmflanagan Would it possible to post a close up scan of the Hibernia in the mag cover above? I'd love to see some of the detail if it possible. Its a model I have been setting up drawings of to build. Thanks Eoin Quote
murrayec Posted January 31, 2013 Posted January 31, 2013 I have had some discussions with people interested in the Fry Model Collection, they asked me to email the minister for transport on the matter of public viewing. If anyone is interested please email the minister expressing your views; minister@transport.ie minister@dttas.ie Eoin Quote
murrayec Posted January 31, 2013 Posted January 31, 2013 I have had some discussions with people interested in the Fry Model Collection, they asked me to email the minister for transport on the matter of public viewing. If anyone is interested please email the minister expressing your views; minister@transport.ie minister@dttas.ie Eoin Quote
Broithe Posted January 31, 2013 Posted January 31, 2013 I did - some days ago. No response so far, but he's probably getting his ears severely bent about lots of other things, too.... Quote
murrayec Posted January 31, 2013 Posted January 31, 2013 I have had some discussions with people interested in the Fry Model Collection, they asked me to email the minister for transport on the matter of public viewing- when and where is this going to be? If anyone is interested please email the minister expressing your views; minister@transport.ie minister@dttas.ie Eoin Quote
Garfield Posted January 31, 2013 Posted January 31, 2013 Mod note: I've merged three separate threads on the Fry Model Railway into this one so that nobody misses anything. Please post all updates, etc. here. Quote
Tarabuses Posted February 5, 2013 Posted February 5, 2013 This message has been posted on Boards.ie by a person called Sheldrake: Friends We have commissioned a feasibility study from an expert in the world of finance on the future prospects of the Malahide project. It makes for interesting reading, and is accompanied by actual projected revenue and expense streams. I won't post those for obvious reasons, but they are available to serious players if required. The executive summary is hereunder: 1. During 22 years at Malahide Castle, the museum was not viable as a stand-alone operation. Direct income exceeded direct expenses but a notional net loss was incurred after absorbing cost of administrative support from Dublin Tourism and 7/24 security provided by Fingal Council. 2. Casino site is not fit for purpose. Existing building is entirely unsuitable. A minimum 10,000 sq ft new building will be needed to house static museum and working railway, and to satisfy health & safety. Grounds are too small to provide adequate car and coach parking, plus complementary landscaping. Access problems from busy main road. Existing traffic congestion in nearby Malahide village. 3. Facility will constitute a radical change of use for location, implying community resistance. Planning/ NIMBY-type objections may result in costly delays during pre-commissioning phase. 4. Assuming project commences first quarter 2013 and there is no undue delay, commissioning would be unlikely before 2016. Capital cost estimated at € 2.3 million. Delay beyond 2016 will result in escalating holding costs. 5. Gaffney bequest to fund Casino project is €1.5 million. Opening by end 2016 will incur a minimum capital shortfall of €800,000. 6. For income projections, a target figure of 75,000 visitors pa has been projected. Note this is believed to be 3/ 4 times average annual numbers in years 1988-2010. Projections include a discount factor to recognise customer resistance at higher ticket price levels. 7. Projected operating budget shows annual trading losses of € 330,000 to 400,000. Note that this result may be impervious to additional promotional support ie increased advertising cost would offset increased revenue implying market saturation. Circulate at will. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056164770&page=8 #154 Quote
heirflick Posted February 5, 2013 Author Posted February 5, 2013 thanks tony..it makes interesting reading. but the fact of the matter is that the area around the casino is not large enough for any size of a carpark so for that reason, i cant see it going ahead. dont get me wrong i would love to see it up and running but space seems to be a major drawback. is there anything done with the building so far? Quote
murrayec Posted April 30, 2014 Posted April 30, 2014 Hi All I have heard back from the 'Friends of the Fry Model Railway' and they have nothing to report. They did meet with the co council some time back but have heard nothing. Another source mentioned that the building contracts on the Casino are out but has no further information. http://www.virtualvisittours.com/fry-model-railway/ murrayec Quote
murrayec Posted April 30, 2014 Posted April 30, 2014 (edited) ......Also I have just taken a look at the co co's on-line planning search page and there is no current planning application in for the Casino. Permission was granted back in 2007 for a restaurant, so if anyone was doing a exhibition hall which would include car parking for visitors there should be an application in! and there's not! Though a proper search can only be done in the co co's planning office murrayec Edited April 30, 2014 by murrayec Quote
BosKonay Posted April 30, 2014 Posted April 30, 2014 Is there anyone actually 'running' the project? Quote
minister_for_hardship Posted April 30, 2014 Posted April 30, 2014 Smells of fudge. Quelle surprise. Quote
murrayec Posted April 30, 2014 Posted April 30, 2014 Hi BosKonay I was given the name of the fingal co co Commercial Manager- Stephen Peppard, whom is supposed to be the guy to contact about the Fry Model Railway. I wrote to him back at the time but did not receive a reply. The minister's office arranged for this guy;- Robert Nicholson Curator, Dublin Writers Museum | Fáilte Ireland | | 18 Parnell Square North | Dublin 1| T: +353 (0)1 8722077 W: http://www.writersmuseum.com to allow me to view some of the models in storage, my interest was to get a look at the Fry 'Hibernia' but after a number of emails and telephone conversations I did not gain access. People should send emails to the minister's office to show our interest and request strongly that the exhibit should be back in public view. murrayec Quote
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