what happened to the west Clare

[Mike Beckett]

[Bob229]

12 hours ago, Mike Beckett said:

Well done to all involved

[Niles]

More deets here:

 

https://www.irishtractiongroup.com/2025/itg-locos-on-the-move

[Mike Beckett]

And 190 started today, after a bit of debugging.

[Mol_PMB]

1 minute ago, Mike Beckett said:

And 190 started today, after a bit of debugging.

Wow, that's impressive evidence of quite how robust the GMs are!

Well done for all the hard work and I look forward to my visit to Downpatrick in August.

[Mol_PMB]

For what it's worth, I've put some money in the pot and (re-)joined the ITG. Would encourage others to do the same.

[west_clare_wanderer]

15 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

For what it's worth, I've put some money in the pot and (re-)joined the ITG. Would encourage others to do the same.

Likewise. I would wholeheartedly agree. If you are in a position to be able to share a few Euro, then it will be going to a good cause. 

[Mike Beckett]

Wooo.

 

[Mol_PMB]

At this rate the Diesel Day will need to be a whole weekend! 

More seriously, you’ve done very well indeed and I appreciate there’s a lot more to it than getting the engine started, before the loco is fit to run in service. A lot of paperwork no doubt, as well as the engineering. 

[jhb171achill]

Downpatrick is really playing a blinder here.

….and this from a dyed-in-the-wool steam-head! (Though I’ve a soft spot for “C”s and 121s, but don’t tell anyone…)

Very well done; the DCDR and ITG will be the (only) flag-bearers for 5’3” gauge into the future - as such, they deserve all the support we can all give.

[west_clare_wanderer]

6 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

Very well done; the DCDR and ITG will be the (only) flag-bearers for 5’3” gauge into the future - as such, they deserve all the support we can all give.

Agreed. Quality over quantity will hopefully leave the situation in a stronger place. 

[Mike Beckett]

Thanks all. Be aware that while getting the engine running is "easy", there's a fair bit of other work to do, so these may not be hauling trains in August! But they will hopefully be running and maybe even able to move themselves if we are lucky.

[Westcorkrailway]

12 minutes ago, Mike Beckett said:

Thanks all. Be aware that while getting the engine running is "easy", there's a fair bit of other work to do, so these may not be hauling trains in August! But they will hopefully be running and maybe even able to move themselves if we are lucky.

I’ll take that any day of the week

[Niles]

Another update on 124: 

 

https://www.irishtractiongroup.com/2025/tests-continue-on-loco-124

[Mike Beckett]

We’ve been having fun again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl979Un5fqs

 

[MD220]

[Niles]

A wee update on the latest loco to arrive at Downpatrick https://www.downrail.co.uk/rollingstock/a3r/

[Niles]

Full story here: 

https://www.irishtractiongroup.com/2025/moyexit-the-final-chapter

 

 

 

[skinner75]

Great to see them all reunited & away from the salty Atlantic air!

[Colin R]

I wonder what will happen to the rest of the stock at West Clare?

[airfixfan]

Colin that is a very important question. Hearing worrying stories about the Narrow Gauge line and rolling stock

[Blaine]

The MK3 buffet 6402 (ex BR HST 40513) has been sold back to the UK.

227 is scrap, think ITG want the bogies/axles as strategic spares, probably the only useable parts. Its been in scrap condition for over 2 decades now. A lost cause

015, could be cosmetically restored, its been left outside for a while now, and it was the spares box for 003/039 for years. Where would you put it never mind run it

6105 and the push pull intermediate coach (6305(??)) would be saveable if you are brave and have money to burn. 6105 has significance as the last coach to be built in Inchicore.

Again, preservation (especially in Ireland) is about realism. I'm sure Santie had good intentions, but alas too many obstacles. Buying stuff is the easy bit

Edited August 18 by Blaine

[jhb171achill]

On 16/6/2025 at 10:35 AM, Mike Beckett said:

Thanks all. Be aware that while getting the engine running is "easy", there's a fair bit of other work to do, so these may not be hauling trains in August! But they will hopefully be running and maybe even able to move themselves if we are lucky.

As long as you’ve the furry dice correctly adjusted and aligned!

2 hours ago, Blaine said:

…..preservation (especially in Ireland) is about realism. 

That’s it, in a nutshell.

Far too few in Ireland north and south realise that, even among otherwise well enough informed enthusiasts.

[Killian Keane]

Extraordinary to see movement after so many years 

Is the plan for A3 to eventually have it running? If so it would probably be the first time two As had been seen running together this century

[minister_for_hardship]

Some amount of money was spent on the rotten hulk that was 227.

[GSWR 90]

On 27/7/2025 at 7:11 PM, MD220 said:

Source or it didn’t happen 

 

Edited Tuesday at 18:21 by GSWR 90

[MD220]

1 minute ago, GSWR 90 said:

Source?

Photo taken personally. I think we are known to each other!

[minister_for_hardship]

On 17/8/2025 at 7:30 AM, airfixfan said:

Colin that is a very important question. Hearing worrying stories about the Narrow Gauge line and rolling stock

I see at least some of their NG items made their way to Dromod recently, at least there isn't a disinterested county council sitting on it as at Blennerville so there's hope yet.

[Blaine]

On 18/8/2025 at 6:37 PM, minister_for_hardship said:

Some amount of money was spent on the rotten hulk that was 227.

Mostly transportation costs as it migrated around the place slowly dissolving....

[Mike Beckett]

On 19/8/2025 at 7:19 PM, GSWR 90 said:

Source or it didn’t happen 

 

It looks fake to me.

[Mol_PMB]

3 hours ago, Mike Beckett said:

It looks fake to me.

You mean it’s not hauling the 1645 departure from Downpatrick tomorrow afternoon? What a swiz! 

[Mol_PMB]

It does appear to be on the rails this time.

[Mol_PMB]

Very well done to the ITG, DCDR and anyone else who made this happen!

[Mol_PMB]

124 worked both freight and passenger.

A39, 146, G617, the Wickham inspection car and thumper 458 were also in action. A busy day, and all went very well. 

[Galteemore]

Kudos to Downpatrick and ITG. As Theodore Roosevelt said….

Edited 18 hours ago by Galteemore