CDRJC No3

[16miller]

I've inherited this partially scratchbuilt Donegal No. 3.  I shall endeavour to finish it! 

[Mol_PMB]

Nice! One of the quirkier vehicles in the fleet. I travelled on it once:

 

[16miller]

28 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said:

Nice! One of the quirkier vehicles in the fleet. I travelled on it once:

 

I didn't know it had reached the FVR! 

[Mol_PMB]

Just now, 16miller said:

I didn't know it had reached the FVR! 

Is was loaned as a static exhibit and I gather they got into hot water for using it in service when railcar 12 failed. 

[16miller]

29 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said:

Is was loaned as a static exhibit and I gather they got into hot water for using it in service when railcar 12 failed. 

What was the ride like? I'm sure it wasn't smooth with that wheel arrangement? 

[Mol_PMB]

It was very slow behind that Simplex so there wasn’t much chance to experience a lively ride. It was also about 35 years ago and I can’t remember much except that I took the photo and we did have a ride on it. 

[16miller]

Well, it's very much news to me! It's a pity the FVR isn't running. 

[airfixfan]

FVR last ran in 2000. Use of former CDR railcar trailer No 4 was short lived but at a max of 10mph it did ride well!

[16miller]

23 minutes ago, airfixfan said:

FVR last ran in 2000. Use of former CDR railcar trailer No 4 was short lived but at a max of 10mph it did ride well!

26 years ago!!!???? 

[airfixfan]

Trailer 3 blame poor NIR track

[jhb171achill]

Was aware it had been there - I saw it there, but was not aware they had used it.

Edited February 25 by jhb171achill

[16miller]

1 hour ago, airfixfan said:

Trailer 3 blame poor NIR track

Blame who laid it, not where it came from! 

[Colonel]

Fairly sure the FVR has been in use after 2000, because my wife and I had a ride when I was building Fintonagh and that was only in the 'teens. Will check my holiday diaries and confirm later.

 What I certainly do remember is driving from our hotel in Bundoran only to find the site deserted, though a portacabin door was open and when I poked my head inside to ask if trains were running a very nice lady with a lovely Donegal accent replied - of course, I'll get the boys for you. Two lumbering giants who looked like they were filling in between duties for the All Ireland front row soon appeared and climbed into the diesel, while I happily sat in railcar 12's cab, taking photos to eventually build Clogher Valley No1/Donegal 10.

 A pleasant, if unexciting trip followed: lovely scenery along the Lough but at little more than walking pace, it took quite while & then the two drivers joined me in the railcar for the trip back. Turned out I probably knew more about the history of the railcar than they did and conversation turned to more everyday matters, including the fact what, while they were now in their thirties, they both intended to "take a wife soon"!

[Galteemore]

Think we are talking about two FVR - Foyle and Finn. The 1990s one was located at the museum in Derry and occasionally ran trains on the old GNRI trackbed out towards Carrigans. The other FVR at Fintown still runs at times. There was yet another CDR revival at the old Victoria Road station in Derry which ran the odd railcar up and down- I dimly recall a trip in the 70s. They had one of the tank locos there and one day lit a fire in her, but she could not hold steam so nothing amounted from that sadly !

 

 

 

Edited February 25 by Galteemore

[airfixfan]

Was involved in the Foyle Valley and we were closed down by Derry City Council in July 2000

 Nothing ran in public after that date and we moved Railcar 18 to Fintown in 2003. Railcar 12 was not moved as it belonged to Derry City Council.

Edited February 25 by airfixfan

[Horsetan]

19 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

Is was loaned as a static exhibit and I gather they got into hot water for using it in service when railcar 12 failed. 

They also reportedly got into trouble  for using one of the railcars without Council permission.

[16miller]

7 hours ago, Galteemore said:

Think we are talking about two FVR - Foyle and Finn. The 1990s one was located at the museum in Derry and occasionally ran trains on the old GNRI trackbed out towards Carrigans. The other FVR at Fintown still runs at times. There was yet another CDR revival at the old Victoria Road station in Derry which ran the odd railcar up and down- I dimly recall a trip in the 70s. They had one of the tank locos there and one day lit a fire in her, but she could not hold steam so nothing amounted from that sadly !

 

 

 

Please tell a steam loco wasn't fired up without a valid boiler certificate. 

[Galteemore]

3 hours ago, 16miller said:

Please tell a steam loco wasn't fired up without a valid boiler certificate. 

You ever been to Derry? Yes, I’ve seen a written account of it 

[16miller]

2 hours ago, Galteemore said:

You ever been to Derry? Yes, I’ve seen a written account of it 

 

What, if any, pressure did it get to? 

[Galteemore]

24 minutes ago, 16miller said:

What, if any, pressure did it get to? 

Don’t think it reached working pressure - too many leaks. But here she is in steam - of a kind - on that day in 1975

Edited February 25 by Galteemore

[airfixfan]

No 6 last used in service early 1960

8 hours ago, Horsetan said:

They also reportedly got into trouble  for using one of the railcars without Council permission.

Wrong Railcar 12 was never uded after closure in July 2000

[Horsetan]

3 minutes ago, airfixfan said:

No 6 last used in service early 1960

Wrong Railcar 12 was never uded after closure in July 2000

It was probably no.18 in that case. It was reported in the heritage news at the time. 

[jhb171achill]

1 hour ago, Galteemore said:

Don’t think it reached working pressure - too many leaks. But here she is in steam - of a kind - on that day in 1975

WOW! Never knew it had been lit up!

[16miller]

6 hours ago, Galteemore said:

Don’t think it reached working pressure - too many leaks. But here she is in steam - of a kind - on that day in 1975

Having seen the dangers that a gland blowing out at 25 PSI can do, I think that was an extremely foolish thing to do. 

 

There's a reason why boilers require a safety certificate. 

[Mayner]

On 25/2/2026 at 8:52 PM, airfixfan said:

Was involved in the Foyle Valley and we were closed down by Derry City Council in July 2000

 Nothing ran in public after that date and we moved Railcar 18 to Fintown in 2003. Railcar 12 was not moved as it belonged to Derry City Council.

Amazingly I travelled in what was probably Railcars 12 and 18 during an IRRS outing to Shane's Castle during the early 80s, at the time the Shane's Castle railway had a great air of permanence with neatly maintained stations the main line almost the atmosphere of a roadside tramway. From memory No12 had interior seating, No18 a gutted interior but great fun standing in the doorway between the articulated section and cab watching the driver operating the railcar. 

Edited February 26 by Mayner

[airfixfan]

13 hours ago, Horsetan said:

It was probably no.18 in that case. It was reported in the heritage news at the time. 

Yes but Railcar 18 not owned by the Council but property of thr railway society

[jhb171achill]

9 hours ago, 16miller said:

Having seen the dangers that a gland blowing out at 25 PSI can do, I think that was an extremely foolish thing to do. 

 

There's a reason why boilers require a safety certificate. 

1000000000%

[Andy Cundick]

No6 was out of use at closure with a broken axle which was replaced after the sale i wonder what else was done at the time.Looking at the photo the only steam viable is from the drain cocks so would imagine the issue would be leaky tubes.Andy

[Paul 34F]

13 hours ago, 16miller said:

Having seen the dangers that a gland blowing out at 25 PSI can do, I think that was an extremely foolish thing to do. 

 

There's a reason why boilers require a safety certificate. 

A similar incident happened here in Romania, last summer.  Several locomotives were on display at Brasov station for a Rail 150 event.  Some bright spark!  Decided to light a fire one of the locomotives.  The Fire Brigade had to deal with it.  The locomotive, which from memory was a 231 class pacific had been out of boiler ticket for several years!

Paul

p.s. I actually missed the event.  I only found out from the news after it happened!!!

Publicity outside of the immediate area is never considered to attract people to come and see what’s actually being celebrated.