ERNIE's Irish Railway Archive, photos , Working Timetables etc from ca 1900 to the 2000's

[jhb171achill]

14 hours ago, Colonel said:

Lovely stuff, as always. Photos of Kenmare always seem to focus on the platform area, with the attractive background of the town itself, but presumably the must have been a goods yard and loco facility? Are there any pictures of these?

Yes, there was. In those pics taken from the buffer stop end, the goods area (2 sidings, cattle bank and small goods shed) would be to the left hand side, out of sight behind the passenger building. Beyond that were the loco shed and turntable. The water tower remains the solitary evidence of this station in existence today (and for many years). Next to the station site, (behind the photographer) was the station master's house, now derelict-looking the last time I saw it, though looking inhabited in recent years.

11 hours ago, leslie10646 said:

David

I've had a look at photographs from Henry Casserley (a 1934 photo of "Palms" - obviously on a family-oriented holiday!), David Soggee and Lance King.

There was a turntable, as seen in Ernie's photo, I have even one of No.156 being turned on it (there was obviously  one at Headford as well as the the loco was always chimney-first. My CIE WTTs are at my other residence, but those show TURNTABLES, but not about other facilities.

Kenmare had a sheaf of sidings, a loading bank is visible in one photo, but neither goods shed or loco shed appears.  The same applies to photographs I have seen of Headford as well. When I get my hands on a WTT, I'll be able to check if the day's work began at Headford or Kenmare (which would point to some kind of shed?). 

We need a track diagram and I am unaware of a publication with such. Time for one of you younger guys to do that as book - a good research project and would sell well, I think.

I'm now trying to think of books which might offer a view of the place which we haven't seen!

More if I find them!

 

The "day's work" began in Kenmare, throughout the life of the line; the loco was Kenmare-based and did two (at one time three) return trips per day to the junction. From 1953 or so to the end, nothing but J15s. An old 4.4.0 had been there in the early 50s for a while. When it first opened, several types of GSWR tank engines were used, including the 33 class.

[jhb171achill]

11 hours ago, leslie10646 said:

We need a track diagram and I am unaware of a publication with such. Time for one of you younger guys to do that as book - a good research project and would sell well, I think.

I'm now trying to think of books which might offer a view of the place which we haven't seen!

I'm not one of the younger guys, but I have a book on this line about 3/4 finished; I'm actually working on it tonight.... Several interesting things happened on the line - a train overturned in the valley soon after it opened due to an embankment subsiding after an exceptionally wet few weeks, plus the more famous Headford ambush. Loo Bridge station and stationmasters house were burned to the ground during the troubles and rebuilt.... and, many see the line as always all-steam; but in the last three years, AEC railcar sets appeared on specials (mostly GAA)....

[jhb171achill]

Meant to add, Kenmare would make a great subject for a terminus layout, and one which authenticity would require but a single class of locomotive - J15s!

Plenty of rolling stock available. Two or three Genesis six-wheelers, plus any amount of Provincial / CK Prints / IRM wagons.

Or apply Rule 1, and once available, put a 3-ICR on it!