Help preserve Ireland's last cement bubble!

[GSWR 90]

Thanks to a generous preservationist, Downpatrick and County Down Railway has been presented with the opportunity to preserve the last surviving CIÉ cement ‘bubble’ wagon, but we need your help.

As you can imagine, transporting a rail vehicle, even a small one, is not cheap, with £1700-1800 being the ballpark figure we need to raise for transport alone. Some of our volunteers have already pledged donations, but we need YOUR help to get us over the line and make this happen. These wagons are particularly popular with enthusiasts, in no small part thanks to the high-quality OO gauge models of them produced by IRM.

Apart from the major cost of moving the vehicle, we will also need to spend money prepping this wagon for display – when the time comes, heavy-duty cleaning supplies, paint, and decals will likely not be cheap.

This opportunity won’t present itself again, and any donation, small or large, will be very much appreciated. If successful, we would envisage that the wagon will go on display at Downpatrick, and, hopefully, will take part in demonstration freight trains for special events (our ballast hoppers have already proved quite popular at our diesel days).

This is the ONLY chance to ensure the preservation of this historically important, iconic wagon – if we miss it, it’s gone forever. Please support our appeal and help us ensure that this bubble doesn’t end up burst.

You can donate online at the following link, and make a note in the comments/notes section stating that you would like it to go towards the cement wagon:

https://www.downrail.co.uk/donate/

Many thanks for your support.

A bubble at Gorey, from the DCDR collection

Our very own 039 with a rake of bubbles, courtesy of Sean Devaney

Edited 6 hours ago by GSWR 90

[Galteemore]

I have zero interest in this - not my era, not my thing - but have made a donation. Why? Because 50 years ago we missed the chance to preserve the last Irish cattle wagon, a synecdoche of the classic Irish freight scene. Let’s not make that mistake again. We always say ‘they should have preserved X…’ now’s your chance! 

Edited 5 hours ago by Galteemore

[GSR 800]

13 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

I have zero interest in this - not my era, not my thing - but have a made a donation. Why? Because 50 years ago we missed the chance to preserve the last Irish cattle wagon, a synecdoche of the classic Irish freight scene. Let’s not make that mistake again. 

I've always quite liked the bubbles, even if they only squeak into my era of interest.

Quite shocked she's the last one left so likewise, donated!

[Westcorkrailway]

13 minutes ago, GSR 800 said:

Quite shocked she's the last one left so likewise, donated!

And the one that does exist, has only survived due to sheer willpower of one man, otherwise it would have been scrapped years ago.