BnM Preservation

LNERW1 · April 28

Alright, I’ve just posted in another topic about this, but here we are.

There are two locomotives, both i believe 4wDM Ruston machines, at the former Bord na Móna plant, I believe now in the hands of SISK, south of Portlaoise, Co. Laois. I have already contacted Bord na Móna and the Stradbally Woodland Railway about the locomotives, and will today be visiting the plant, and will post photos and details, such as fleet numbers, types (though I do believe they are Hunslet Wagonmasters). As part of Western Europe’s largest industrial railway system, I really think at least a few of these locomotives should be preserved. As it is, no Irish preserved railways really have a locomotive shortage, but it’s probably wise to grab a couple for storage while we still can. Please express interest here and rate the topic 5 stars, so more people will see this. Thanks, LNERW1.

LNERW1 · April 28

Alright, the engines are numbered: LM437, LM335 and LM387. Photos to follow.

airfixfan · April 28

Know of one group in talks to buy some stock from Bord Na Mona

Edited April 28 by airfixfan

Niles · April 28

The Cavan & Leitrim Railway have an appeal going for just that...

https://www.cavanandleitrimrailway.com/bordnamona

Edited April 28 by Niles

Gabhal Luimnigh · April 28

42 minutes ago, Niles said:

The Cavan & Leitrim Railway have an appeal going for just that...

https://www.cavanandleitrimrailway.com/bordnamona

I was there today and I saw lots of bord na mona stock waiting to be restored, the place is full to the rafters with future projects that will never be done without millions of donations.

LNERW1 · April 28

Any forum members in the Laois area- anyone interested in visiting the site? It’s fairly accessible, although down a *slightly* bumpy road. A level crossing is accessible a couple hundred metres from the Coillte Togher Wood carpark.

Here’s the location of the level crossing:

53°00'13"N 7°19'38"W

(Copy and paste into Google Maps)

Metrovik · April 28

11 minutes ago, LNERW1 said:

Any forum members in the Laois area- anyone interested in visiting the site? It’s fairly accessible, although down a *slightly* bumpy road. A level crossing is accessible a couple hundred metres from the Coillte Togher Wood carpark.

Here’s the location of the level crossing:

53°00'13"N 7°19'38"W

(Copy and paste into Google Maps)

Would this be like a BnM Preservation society inaugural meeting? ( That's actually got a nice ring to it....)

Westcorkrailway · April 28

If I had enough money I’d buy one and paint it up like a Silver G class along with a maybe 50 meters of straight track….or is that sacreligous

Mayner · April 28

It might be worth checking out if the ex-BNM staff that were involved in setting up the Clonmacnoise and West Offaly railway, Visitor Centre and turf harvesting Machinery Museum at Boora on the Blackwater system are still about and the machinery collection still exists.

The attraction was established by redundant BNM staff in the early 1990s and appeared to be successful commercially focusing on the Coach Tour trade than casual visitors and enthusiasts. Coaches were purpose built airconditioned modern coaches as opposed to "heritage' style vehicles, system closed during the late 2000s the BNM Blackwater system became to busy serving the recently opened West Offaly Power station.

https://www.familyfun.ie/clonmacnoise-and-west-offaly-railway/

https://www.offalyindependent.ie/2008/10/25/anger-at-proposed-closure-of-offaly-bog-rail-tourism-attraction/

irishrailways52 · April 29

21 hours ago, Metrovik said:

Would this be like a BnM Preservation society inaugural meeting? ( That's actually got a nice ring to it....)

count me in if it is indeed a BnM preservation society inaugral meeting

Niles · April 29

22 hours ago, Westcorkrailway said:

If I had enough money I’d buy one and paint it up like a Silver G class along with a maybe 50 meters of straight track….or is that sacreligous

Yes, but what is life without sin.

Mayner · April 29

On 29/4/2024 at 9:52 AM, Westcorkrailway said:

If I had enough money I’d buy one and paint it up like a Silver G class along with a maybe 50 meters of straight track….or is that sacreligous

Follows in a long tradition an acquaintance in the UK was asked to choose between his private preserved railway and his wife and chose the railway but remained on good terms with his kids.

He set up 1/2 mile or so of 2' narrow gauge along an abandoned BR line that adjoined his home and filled it with rare industrial narrow gauge locos and stock, the whole lot became derelict and overgrown as he did not have the time of resources to restore his "collection'.

Nearer to home in its early days of preservation preserved railways used freelance liveries as they were not allowed use current BR, CIE logos or livery styles. E428 originally carried BR arrows before Westrail developed its own distinct logo and red livery, the loco and stock were re-painted in CIE livery (E428 1960s Black with white, coaches 50s flying snail green livery) after CIE was split into 3 operating companies that no longer used CIE branding.

Edited May 1 by Mayner
Computer threw a wobbler and locked up while saving that post

LNERW1 · April 30

22 hours ago, Mayner said:

Follows in a long tradition an acquaintance in the UK was asked to choose between his private preserved railway and his wife and chose the railway but remained on good terms with his kids.

He set up 1/2 mile or so of 2' narrow gauge along an abandoned BR line that adjoined his home and filled it with rare industrial narrow gauge locos and stock, the whole lot became derelict and overgrown as he did not have the time of resources to restore his "collection'.

Nearer to home in its early days of preservation preserved railways used freelance liveries as they were not allowed use current BR, CIE logos or livery styles. E428 originally carried BR arrows before Westrail developed its own distinct logo and red livery, the loco and stock were re-painted in CIE livery (E428 1960s Black with white, coaches 50s flying snail green livery) after CIE was split into 3 operating companies that no longer used CIE branding.

@Mayner is there supposed to be so much space below the text? Every time I visit this topic I have to scroll for about a minute to reach the bottom!

On 28/4/2024 at 10:20 PM, Metrovik said:

Would this be like a BnM Preservation society inaugural meeting? ( That's actually got a nice ring to it....)

On 29/4/2024 at 7:24 PM, irishrailways52 said:

count me in if it is indeed a BnM preservation society inaugral meeting

Well, I suppose if you want to call it that, I won't stop you.

Also,

BnM have replied to my query advising me to make an expression of interest in LM335, 387 and 437.

Anyone want to help, that would be great, as my Revolut account currently has 72c in it. Ah the joys of being a teenager and having everyone do everything for you.

LNERW1 · May 1

BnM have confirmed LM335 is being preserved. 437 and 387 are still on offer. Any opinions?

LNERW1 · May 1

On 29/4/2024 at 9:43 PM, Mayner said:

Follows in a long tradition an acquaintance in the UK was asked to choose between his private preserved railway and his wife and chose the railway but remained on good terms with his kids.

He set up 1/2 mile or so of 2' narrow gauge along an abandoned BR line that adjoined his home and filled it with rare industrial narrow gauge locos and stock, the whole lot became derelict and overgrown as he did not have the time of resources to restore his "collection'.

Nearer to home in its early days of preservation preserved railways used freelance liveries as they were not allowed use current BR, CIE logos or livery styles. E428 originally carried BR arrows before Westrail developed its own distinct logo and red livery, the loco and stock were re-painted in CIE livery (E428 1960s Black with white, coaches 50s flying snail green livery) after CIE was split into 3 operating companies that no longer used CIE branding.

@Mayner please adress the large amount of space below the text here. It is getting quite irritating to scroll for a solid minute to reach the bottom of the page. I'm not sure why it's happening? It seems like there were supposed to be photos or something there.

Mayner · May 1

1 hour ago, LNERW1 said:

@Mayner please adress the large amount of space below the text here. It is getting quite irritating to scroll for a solid minute to reach the bottom of the page. I'm not sure why it's happening? It seems like there were supposed to be photos or something there.

Computer threw a wobbler while sending that post.

Brack · May 1

On 28/4/2024 at 10:52 PM, Westcorkrailway said:

If I had enough money I’d buy one and paint it up like a Silver G class along with a maybe 50 meters of straight track….or is that sacreligous

From what I've seen I'm not sure Bord na Mona have 50m of straight and level track to sell you, and I'd worry that the loco would never have been tested on such a thing!

DoctorPan · May 2

If members in the Laois/Offaly area are talking about BnM preservation, I would suggest making contact with the Stradbally Woodland Railway as they have a collection of ex BnM rolling stock and it would be better to pool resources then attempting a solo run. Séan Cain is involved there and is quite the expert on BnM.

LNERW1 · May 3

On 2/5/2024 at 9:06 AM, DoctorPan said:

If members in the Laois/Offaly area are talking about BnM preservation, I would suggest making contact with the Stradbally Woodland Railway as they have a collection of ex BnM rolling stock and it would be better to pool resources then attempting a solo run. Séan Cain is involved there and is quite the expert on BnM.

I have already communicated with the SWR about this, as I live locally and the SWR is 20mins away, and Coolnamona 10. I'll be visiting Stradbally this weekend (If anyone else is, let me know), and I'll be chatting to the lads about that there.

On 1/5/2024 at 9:27 PM, Mayner said:

Computer threw a wobbler while sending that post.

Guessed as much. Mine's done so too. Thanks for fixing.

LNERW1 · May 6

On 2/5/2024 at 9:06 AM, DoctorPan said:

If members in the Laois/Offaly area are talking about BnM preservation, I would suggest making contact with the Stradbally Woodland Railway as they have a collection of ex BnM rolling stock and it would be better to pool resources then attempting a solo run. Séan Cain is involved there and is quite the expert on BnM.

They already have their hands full with a couple old BnM locos just rusting behind their works building. These would best be restored rather than just taking on more burdens, plus the SWR has enough locos as it is really, considering the line is relatively short and has a sort of “one engine in steam” policy.

hurricanemk1c · May 7

11 hours ago, LNERW1 said:

They already have their hands full with a couple old BnM locos just rusting behind their works building. These would best be restored rather than just taking on more burdens, plus the SWR has enough locos as it is really, considering the line is relatively short and has a sort of “one engine in steam” policy.

But you can talk to them about the issues and how to solve some of them, considering members have helped other railways gain certification and also work professionally in the railway industry. Buying the loco is the very easy bit...

Edited May 7 by hurricanemk1c

LNERW1 · May 12

Alright, anyone interested in the Laois area- planning a trip to Coolnamona plant via Portlaoise PW depot (I want to see some 071s), then the short spur of the Kilkenny line, down to the crossing (have already posted google maps coordinates). Please express your interest here, any time in June works, more or less.

Sleeper · May 17

Was out in coolnamona yesterday the maintenance shed is now being used to make modular homes......

Here's a few pictures from last January

airfixfan · May 31

Any deadlines set yet by BNM for purchase of surplus rolling stock?

WaYSidE · June 6

On 12/5/2024 at 9:10 PM, LNERW1 said:

Alright, anyone interested in the Laois area- planning a trip to Coolnamona plant via Portlaoise PW depot (I want to see some 071s), then the short spur of the Kilkenny line, down to the crossing (have already posted google maps coordinates). Please express your interest here, any time in June works, more or less.

count me in, were sowing peatlands for BnM, Boora and else where, the bogs gone very quite with out the rattling hum..

every 'green way' in d country should get 10 miles of free BnM track and an engine. , better still a railway line.!!!!. why didnt someone think of that! Lookit' i have the ballast . it kept Marks Models busy posting it all out in little plastic packets.

LNERW1 · June 7

On 31/5/2024 at 8:39 AM, airfixfan said:

Any deadlines set yet by BNM for purchase of surplus rolling stock?

Probably “a while ago”. It’s all going fast now, if we’re going to do anything we need to hurry.

skinner75 · June 7

Mona mona Coolnamona!

WaYSidE · June 7

LNERw1, i thought you had something in mind.

We could erect a Greenway sign. Another greenway sign, Seems all old railways end up as 'greenways'. were suppose to be protecting nature and all greenways do is disrupt the wildlife corridor on the disused.

anyways i agree with your quote, and as per tread, i too hear much of everything BnM peat division is sold off.

On 28/4/2024 at 9:58 AM, LNERW1 said:

I really think at least a few of these locomotives should be preserved. As it is, no Irish preserved railways really have a locomotive shortage, but it’s probably wise to grab a couple for storage while we still can.

What weight range would those BnM locos be in? 4-6 tons?.

LNERW1 · June 8

i could check, but I'd say you're close enough.

irishrailways52 · June 8

any ideas on what a good streach of track for preservation would be.

LNERW1 · June 8

Well I would propose Coolnamona, as it’s fairly easily accessible, has about 6km of track still in place, runs under the M7 and Dublin-Cork line which is an interesting focal point, has interesting infrastructure still in place that could act as part of some kind of museum, has 3 potential station sites, and has track running into large buildings that can be used as sheds/workshops. It’s also less than 1km from the nearest motorway exit and less than 15 minutes from Portlaoise station.

irishrailways52 · June 8

indeed that would be a good spot. i wonder if theres any hope of buying/renting the line of BNM

Metrovik · June 8

38 minutes ago, irishrailways52 said:

indeed that would be a good spot. i wonder if theres any hope of buying/renting the line of BNM

I was always thinking of something like that, but id say it would require a vast amount of funds.

LNERW1 · June 8

Again, any members in or near Laois, the Coolnamona trip is still going ahead of there’s enough people, please do express interest here. Even if you don’t live near Laois, could schedule it for the afternoon to allow people to travel. There’s also a good few motorway hotels only around 1km from the site, so if staying overnight is more convenient for most the trip can happen earlier.

Metrovik · June 8

3 hours ago, LNERW1 said:

Again, any members in or near Laois, the Coolnamona trip is still going ahead of there’s enough people, please do express interest here. Even if you don’t live near Laois, could schedule it for the afternoon to allow people to travel. There’s also a good few motorway hotels only around 1km from the site, so if staying overnight is more convenient for most the trip can happen earlier.

I for one, would be very interested in this, We should see if bord na mona are willing to fire up an engine for us. ( I realize that's very unlikely.) Should be a good trip if numbers are high enough.

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