NIR Railbus RB3 Leaves Ireland for Wales

[GSWR 90]

NIR Railbus RB3 has been removed from Downpatrick to the Gwendraeth Valley Railway in Wales for eventual restoration. It travelled on the back load of the lorry that carried 152 to Downpatrick last Sunday.

DCDR has a restoration list as long as your arm, including Ireland’s largest collection of vintage carriages, a heap of diesel locos, a handful of railcars, and two steam locos. It has long been evident that the railbus is at the back of the queue, mainly because there are much more important things for the society to spend its time and money on from a historical or operational perspective – particularly in the context of a relatively small pool of volunteers and ongoing flood recovery. Attempts were made to offer it to other railway groups in Ireland, but there were no takers.

The vehicle is perfect for Gwendraeth as it fits into their small loading gauge – they were the line that used 08 locos with cut-down cabs. In 1981, it worked in the Bristol area for BR, not a million miles away from Gwendraeth. After the railbus is re-gauged in England, it will no doubt see a future in Wales which is much brighter than deteriorating at the back of a siding in Ireland.

 

Edited yesterday at 13:45 by GSWR 90