Tragreany /Trá na Gréine

[Niles]

Very, very much a work in progress between other things. Idea is a small branch terminus, the mainstay of which will be Bo-Bos and short carriage rakes when in Irish mode: Tragreany /Trá na Gréine. (And yes the ballast is to be refined )

When in English mode the nominal name is Sonstrand. The bay platform running at an angle to the 'main' is very much a Tralee-inspired feature.

Idea is a runaround passenger terminus with bay, and a few sidings for freight/loco stabling.

Edited August 16, 2024 by Niles

[Niles]

Bit of progress installing the inspection pits after work this evening. The messy black is just a base coat over which dirt and grime will be layered so excuse the roughness.

[Niles]

Some magnesite wagons recently arrived for storage 

[Niles]

A bit under weather this weekend so stayed in, used the opportunity to experiment with a polystyrene platform base. To be continued...

[DJ Dangerous]

Cracking set-up, @Niles! Under the weather? Hungover or vitamin D deficiency?

[Niles]

25 minutes ago, DJ Dangerous said:

Cracking set-up, @Niles! Under the weather? Hungover or vitamin D deficiency?

Trust me if I was hungover I wouldn't be cutting polystyrene on a Sunday morning 

Edited September 15, 2024 by Niles

[Westcorkrailway]

I always thought that 3d printing technology would be the job for making custom size platforms. 

[Niles]

In this universe (Earth 1541)* a Woolwich survived into preservation,  seen here with 186 on railtour duties in the 2000s.

 

*Yes I'm a DC fan
 

[Niles]

After a few months of inactivity, work has recommenced on Tragreany's platforms.

Edited December 28, 2024 by Niles

[Niles]

A bit of scenic work started just to get a feel for it and how the area will look.

[DJ Dangerous]

What’s the platform construction, @Niles?

Slab of polystyrene packaging?

[Niles]

1 hour ago, DJ Dangerous said:

What’s the platform construction, @Niles?

Slab of polystyrene packaging?

more or less, cut into ramp like shapes were needed, then coated over with brick sheet. We'll see how it lasts, but a guy's allowed to experiment...

[DJ Dangerous]

Just now, Niles said:

more or less, cut into ramp like shapes were needed, then coated over with brick sheet. We'll see how it lasts, but a guy's allowed to experiment...

How'd you manage to cut it so neatly?

I hate that stuff.

[Niles]

13 hours ago, DJ Dangerous said:

How'd you manage to cut it so neatly?

I hate that stuff.

Hacksaw, but your definition of neat is more generous than mine... 

[leslie10646]

Niles

There's more ballast and scenery on your line than the whole of Portadown Jct in ten years!

I'm trying to correct that at present!

[DJ Dangerous]

On 7/1/2025 at 9:12 AM, Niles said:

Hacksaw, but your definition of neat is more generous than mine... 

Change the title from Trá na Gréine to Trolololololol...

[Niles]

Shunting at Tragreany or a future runpast at Downpatrick?

[Niles]

Freshly outshopped from Provincial Wagons, this cement van arrived on the Tragreany goods this evening.

The Civil Engineer won't be happy to find out a Woolwich has encroached on the branch though...

 

Edited October 26, 2025 by Niles

[Westcorkrailway]

On 26/10/2025 at 9:08 PM, Niles said:

Freshly outshopped from Provincial Wagons, this cement van arrived on the Tragreany goods this evening.

The Civil Engineer won't be happy to find out a Woolwich has encroached on the branch though...

 

Wait until he sees 802 tailte on the 10:45 mixed train Ex Trá na Gréine… 

 

Was tempted by one of these, after all plenty of Great Northern stock got to the West Cork lines before closure. But a GSWR 10 tone brakevan will suffice, many thanks to Provincial wagons. best of luck with your retirement @leslie10646 !
 

 

[Niles]

2 hours ago, Westcorkrailway said:

Wait until he sees 802 tailte on the 10:45 mixed train Ex Trá na Gréine… 
 

 

Well one of them got onto to the Croom line... just.

[DJ Dangerous]

On 26/10/2025 at 9:08 PM, Niles said:

Freshly outshopped from Provincial Wagons, this cement van arrived on the Tragreany goods this evening.

The Civil Engineer won't be happy to find out a Woolwich has encroached on the branch though...

 

@leslie10646‘s wagon looks right at home, there!

[Niles]

Sonstrand is the layout's English mode, a heritage line. At lunch time today, 66190 arrived on a clearance trial prior to a potential special visiting the line. Certainly the biggest, and heaviest, loco to have visited. The railway's Chief Civil Engineer was quite nervous! Smooth as a glove though.

[Niles]

Throwback to 1964, when the Grand Steam Tour of Ireland visited Tragreany.  186 worked the tour up the branch.

 

*Yes, yes, I know 186 wasn't carrying GSR numberplates at the time. The Hattons Genesis is a close match for the 6 wheeler used on it though. 

[jhb171achill]

On 23/9/2025 at 6:35 PM, Niles said:

Shunting at Tragreany or a future runpast at Downpatrick?

Yes to both! ...... that pic looks distinctly Loughrea-ish....

On 21/1/2026 at 2:16 PM, Niles said:

Sonstrand is the layout's English mode, a heritage line. At lunch time today, 66190 arrived on a clearance trial prior to a potential special visiting the line. Certainly the biggest, and heaviest, loco to have visited. The railway's Chief Civil Engineer was quite nervous! Smooth as a glove though.

"DB" - given the south-easterly location, is this the Dublin & Bunclody Railway?

[Niles]

On 7/2/2026 at 2:45 AM, jhb171achill said:

Yes to both! ...... that pic looks distinctly Loughrea-ish....

"DB" - given the south-easterly location, is this the Dublin & Bunclody Railway?

That's the one.

[Niles]

On 21/1/2026 at 2:16 PM, Niles said:

Sonstrand is the layout's English mode, a heritage line. At lunch time today, 66190 arrived on a clearance trial prior to a potential special visiting the line. Certainly the biggest, and heaviest, loco to have visited. The railway's Chief Civil Engineer was quite nervous! Smooth as a glove though.

In advance of a diesel gala, 37403 has arrived at Sonstrand from the SRPS.

[Mol_PMB]

Ah - a doggy diesel! Very nice indeed. I gather that model is highly sought after.

[Niles]

Preserved Park Royal 1383 in the consist of a steam special at Tragreany in the mid-late 2000s. The Craven is correctly marshalled at the end of the train.

On a real world note, I've been holding off finishing the platforms pending the arrival of the Park Royals to check clearances. Now I can restart. 

Edited Friday at 19:36 by Niles

[DJ Dangerous]

@Niles is still alive. Excellent. And the beach looks fab with those big UK diesels trundling around.

[Niles]

On a Friday evening circa 1989/1990, 174 arrives at Tragreany with the late running branch train. It is being routed directly into the bay platform because the Friday Only direct is hot on its tail and there won't be time to shunt out of the main platform without further delays.