what happened to the west Clare

[Tractionman]

Yep it was great to be there today at the DCDR, the sights and sounds! Well done ITG 

 

[airfixfan]

Carry a big stick and speak softly TR

Edited August 24 by airfixfan

[Broithe]

25 minutes ago, airfixfan said:

Carry a big stick and speak softly TDR

Today, that may have mutated into 'Carry a soft stick and speak bigly'...

[Galteemore]

34 minutes ago, airfixfan said:

Carry a big stick and speak softly TDR

FDR - hope the DCDR and ITG team will take his advice tonight - earned it!

Edited August 23 by Galteemore

[Mol_PMB]

Last I saw they were ordering fish and chips, hopefully a pint or two to come after that! 

[DJ Dangerous]

8 hours ago, Galteemore said:

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

“A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man”…

[Mike Beckett]

13 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

Last I saw they were ordering fish and chips, hopefully a pint or two to come after that! 

It was a long, long, time since lunch!

[Bob229]

46 minutes ago, Mike Beckett said:

It was a long, long, time since lunch!

Hopefully a few well earned pints fantastic to see photos of 121 141 181 GM locos collection, well done all the team

Edited August 24 by Bob229

[GSWR 90]

Under wraps in Moyasta in May

 

First test run to Inch in July

Edited August 25 by GSWR 90

[Galteemore]

40 minutes ago, GSWR 90 said:

Under wraps in Moyasta in May

 

First test run to Inch in July

Saturday was arguably the most exciting day in Irish preservation since 131 first  steamed after her years of plinthing and purgatory. Talk about a resurrection…raging I had to work!!!

Edited August 25 by Galteemore

[Mike Beckett]

Of course, 124 did not just appear by magic. We had somehow managed to keep our restoration work and test runs under wraps, including sneaky moves like shunting it down the South Line on a public running day with 146 to avoid anyone working it out. If anyone asked, we were just checking platform clearances.

As my video of the highlights of our testing shows, we may have been keeping secrets...

 

[jhb171achill]

When can we discuss the new-build BCDR 4.6.4T or is that a secret?

[airfixfan]

Like the Swilly 4-8-0?

[Mol_PMB]

7 minutes ago, airfixfan said:

Like the Swilly 4-8-0?

Ridiculous! Next you'll be claiming that there's a new-build NCC Mogul...

 

(I did see Peter Scott beavering away at it on Friday. He's done a sterling job, but there's a long way to go and I fear he may not see it finished.)

[Galteemore]

27 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said:

Ridiculous! Next you'll be claiming that there's a new-build NCC Mogul...

 

(I did see Peter Scott beavering away at it on Friday. He's done a sterling job, but there's a long way to go and I fear he may not see it finished.)

Yep. I saw it on Tuesday (a 40-hr visit to NI doing some measuring). It will also be tricky to certify (no grandfather rights), and by the time it’s done the only running option may be Downpatrick. It will however look magnificent. 

Edited August 28 by Galteemore

[Horsetan]

17 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

Yep. I saw it on Tuesday (a 40-hr visit to NI doing some measuring). It will also be tricky to certify (no grandfather rights), ....

Does the new W not benefit from a spare set of WT wheels; wouldn't those have some sort of grandfather rights ?

[Galteemore]

1 minute ago, Horsetan said:

Does the new W not benefit from a spare set of WT wheels; wouldn't those have some sort of grandfather rights ?

Apparently not. I had wondered if the old ‘rebuild’ dodge a la Claughton would work. 

[Horsetan]

Just now, Galteemore said:

Apparently not. I had wondered if the old ‘rebuild’ dodge a la Claughton would work. 

That's a shame. If it wasn't for the WT wheels and spare bits of original motion, there might not be a new-build project in the first place....

[jhb171achill]

23 minutes ago, Horsetan said:

Does the new W not benefit from a spare set of WT wheels; wouldn't those have some sort of grandfather rights ?

Evidently not.

[Mol_PMB]

The approvals process for new and refurbished vehicles has moved on from the days of 'Grandfather Rights'. Old steam locos are in most cases well beyond their original design life and have many replacement parts so they are hybrids anyway.

Essentially the key aspects to demonstrate are:

• Acceptable design (applicable to both old and new locos, new-build parts to old designs can be justified as OK in many cases, but even old locos need design changes e.g. for signalling system compatibility)
• Conformance to design (for new locos/parts: materials and build quality; for old locos/parts: condition (corrosion/wear etc)
• Maintenance policies and practices (equally applicable to new and old locos, but in some cases more critical for old locos if parts are near end-of-life)
• Operational policies and practices (equally applicable to new and old locos, does their operation on the network have an acceptable level of risk, considering that the network has changed a lot since the locos were designed, and thinking of modern approaches to competence, safety and tolerable risk.)

There's no reason why a new-build loco based on an older design can't be approved - Tornado for example. These days, available materials and manufacturing methods are different from those 100 years ago, and technical standards and requirements have changed too. So nothing will be exactly to the original design, not even an overhauled old loco.

[Galteemore]

9 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

The approvals process for new and refurbished vehicles has moved on from the days of 'Grandfather Rights'. Old steam locos are in most cases well beyond their original design life and have many replacement parts so they are hybrids anyway.

Essentially the key aspects to demonstrate are:

• Acceptable design (applicable to both old and new locos, new-build parts to old designs can be justified as OK in many cases, but even old locos need design changes e.g. for signalling system compatibility)
• Conformance to design (for new locos/parts: materials and build quality; for old locos/parts: condition (corrosion/wear etc)
• Maintenance policies and practices (equally applicable to new and old locos, but in some cases more critical for old locos if parts are near end-of-life)
• Operational policies and practices (equally applicable to new and old locos, does their operation on the network have an acceptable level of risk, considering that the network has changed a lot since the locos were designed, and thinking of modern approaches to competence, safety and tolerable risk.)

There's no reason why a new-build loco based on an older design can't be approved - Tornado for example. These days, available materials and manufacturing methods are different from those 100 years ago, and technical standards and requirements have changed too. So nothing will be exactly to the original design, not even an overhauled old loco.

That’s quite right - anything’s possible. It’s interesting though, that at least two of the most recent new builds have decided not to pursue main line certification - the Saint and Patriot builds. Of course, in GB you have your pick of lengthy heritage lines to stretch out on as an alternative option. Ireland just doesn’t have that choice, although Maam Cross might offer an opportunity if plans come off…

Edited August 28 by Galteemore

[GSWR 90]

For those who missed 124 at the diesel gala, it will be running with the vintage carriages for European Heritage Open Weekend on the 13th and 14th of September 

https://www.downrail.co.uk/event/ehodni/

[derek]

Passed Moyasta on Sunday on my way home from (a very wet) Kilkee. Sad to see it looking so bare now. Still, as they say , the locos "are gone to a better place".

[jhb171achill]

On 23/8/2025 at 5:26 PM, Galteemore said:

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

I hope he was a DCDR & ITG member.

[airfixfan]

12 hours ago, derek said:

Passed Moyasta on Sunday on my way home from (a very wet) Kilkee. Sad to see it looking so bare now. Still, as they say , the locos "are gone to a better place".

Any photos?

[derek]

10 hours ago, airfixfan said:

Any photos?

Sorry @airfixfan, not this time. The rain was bouncing three feet off the road, it was falling so hard. Maybe next time...........

[airfixfan]

Thanks based in the North West so Clare is far away

[seagoebox]

Today's Irish Times....

[DJ Dangerous]

21 minutes ago, seagoebox said:

Today's Irish Times....

Sad to see.

@gm171 kk posted a video of 6105, 6402 and 7146 on their way to Limerick back in the day: