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 September 15 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 September 15 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. 

[Mol_PMB]

I've put some money in the pot too - these wagons are central to my memories of Irish railways. 

Just out of interest, which wagon number is it?

[Westcorkrailway]

48 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said:

 

Just out of interest, which wagon number is it?

Looking at the photos I have, the number plates have been whipped but no doubt the owner has it jotted down somewhere 

[Flying Snail]

27 minutes ago, Westcorkrailway said:

Looking at the photos I have, the number plates have been whipped but no doubt the owner has it jotted down somewhere 

Well if all else fails, given the analysis Mol_PMB did investigating all the variations of the bubbles I'd say he could identify its number on sight ... from 100 yards ... on a dark night with no moon. No seriously, the man knows his bubbles - check out his thread: 

(Good cause - I through a few Euro into the pot too)

[Westcorkrailway]

Well that was helpful…as the tank plate still exists. 
 

it appears to have tank 199, which would make this 25199, which would make it the last one ever produced???

[Mol_PMB]

48 minutes ago, Westcorkrailway said:

Well that was helpful…as the tank plate still exists. 
 

it appears to have tank 199, which would make this 25199, which would make it the last one ever produced???

[Mol_PMB]

The latest IRRS Flickr upload includes some images of the later bubbles under construction at Inchicore. Here are the tanks, you can just see that there are stencilled and chalked markings on them:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54778606819

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54778614773

Not so obvious, but I think there is a row of tankless bubble underframes to the left of the D class here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54777521647

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54777524317

From an earlier IRRS upload and the penultimate batch of bubbles, here's 25129 with the tank and underframe assembled, but not yet fully painted:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53570447106

 

Note the shipping instructions including 'Dublin' stencilled on the side of the tank, and 'Sanguity' chalked on. She was in the Everard fleet:

[Niles]

The good news is we have already raised enough to transport the bubble to Downpatrick, thank you to everyone who has donated so far (including a substantial sum pledged from the good folk at IRM/Accurascale, once again demonstrating their commitment to supporting the preservation movement).

That being said, if anyone would still like to contribute it won't go to waste as we'll still need to spend a bit of money in readying the vehicle for display (let's be honest, there isn't a vehicle in preservation that doesn't need money ).

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

 

Edited September 16 by Niles

[Bob229]

Great news hard to believe it is the only one left thankfully it's been kept from the scrapyard and now will be preserved donation made

[Niles]

A possibility for a future DCDR gala (we have a H-Van too, it even has a name).

Thanks to everyone who donated, the below will now be possible in 1:1 scale.

[GSWR 90]

1 hour ago, Niles said:

A possibility for a future DCDR gala (we have a H-Van too, it even has a name).

Thanks to everyone who donated, the below will now be possible in 1:1 scale.

You’ll now need to invest in a set of ballast hoppers and a plough van. Plus two 141s, two As, a 181, a Park Royal…

[Westcorkrailway]

[Niles]

Cement Bubble 25199 safely touched down on DCDR rails this morning, and has already been reunited with 124.

A big thank you to everyone who donated to make it happen.

Full report will follow on the DCDR website in due course.

 

Edited Saturday at 19:07 by Niles

[Bob229]

Great to see the Cement bubble at its new home, well done to all involved 

[jhb171achill]

Absolutely BRILLIANT news - very well done to all.

[Mike Beckett]

[Patrick Davey]

Mighty!!

Would love to see one of our weathering gurus replicate in miniature the weathering as seen on 124 above!!

Along with, of course, a miniature Mike Beckett.

[Mike Beckett]

I come pre-weathered. 

[jhb171achill]

22 hours ago, Mike Beckett said:

I come pre-weathered. 

But you're in the wrong livery, wrong gauge, and the wrong scale, and you've no DCC.

22 hours ago, Patrick Davey said:

Mighty!!

Would love to see one of our weathering gurus replicate in miniature the weathering as seen on 124 above!!

Calling Mr. Dempsey, of this parish!

Edited 21 hours ago by jhb171achill

[Niles]

The DCDR website has been updated with the news of the bubble's arrival, including some photos showing a rather interesting shunting formation, should any of you be looking for 'prototype for everything' inspo.   

 

https://www.downrail.co.uk/2025/10/dcdr-welcomes-cement-bubble-wagon/