6111 at Downpatrick

[Mol_PMB]

Later this year, probably November, I will be giving an IRRS talk on CIE's AEC railcars. Initially to my local Manchester branch (also on rather flaky zoom); if it's popular I might do another performance in Ireland. My talk in Manchester will nearly coincide with the 75th anniversary of the delivery of the first CIE AEC railcars to Dublin. Here's the bodyshell of 2600 outside the Park Royal factory in late 1951, photo from brindale.co.uk:

To top and tail the presentation I'd like to finish with a couple of slides on the last surviving vehicle - 6111 at Downpatrick. I was wondering if there are any long-term plans/hopes for this vehicle? If so it would be nice if I could give them some publicity. If not, I don't want to stir up enthusiasm for an impossible idea!

Also I was wondering if it is feasible for me to look at the vehicle, maybe take some photos? I fully appreciate that may be impractical if there are safety issues, I just thought I'd ask. I'm visiting for the diesel gala in August but could easily extend my visit by a few days and come at a quieter time. If it's not practical I will try to use photos already in the public domain. 

On that topic I plan to approach a few other forum members for permission to use other selected AEC railcar photos in my presentation. I'll make contact in due course once I've worked out which images I'm interested in.

Cheers,

Paul

 

[jhb171achill]

5 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

Later this year, probably November, I will be giving an IRRS talk on CIE's AEC railcars. Initially to my local Manchester branch (also on rather flaky zoom); if it's popular I might do another performance in Ireland. My talk in Manchester will nearly coincide with the 75th anniversary of the delivery of the first CIE AEC railcars to Dublin. Here's the bodyshell of 2600 outside the Park Royal factory in late 1951, photo from brindale.co.uk:

To top and tail the presentation I'd like to finish with a couple of slides on the last surviving vehicle - 6111 at Downpatrick. I was wondering if there are any long-term plans/hopes for this vehicle? If so it would be nice if I could give them some publicity. If not, I don't want to stir up enthusiasm for an impossible idea!

Also I was wondering if it is feasible for me to look at the vehicle, maybe take some photos? I fully appreciate that may be impractical if there are safety issues, I just thought I'd ask. I'm visiting for the diesel gala in August but could easily extend my visit by a few days and come at a quieter time. If it's not practical I will try to use photos already in the public domain. 

On that topic I plan to approach a few other forum members for permission to use other selected AEC railcar photos in my presentation. I'll make contact in due course once I've worked out which images I'm interested in.

Cheers,

Paul

There are several Downpatrickers online here, Mol. I am certain you find everyone there, be they ITG or DCDR, to be most helpful.

[GSWR 90]

Hi Paul. Yes, there are vague long-term plans to restore 6111 to as-built condition (without the engine of course) for use on passenger trains. It will hopefully be No. 2624 with composite passenger accommodation, and the cab would make a good guard’s van complete with windows for propelling and a nice view for passengers. That’s a long way away – they were withdrawn from service because they were literally falling apart in the 1980s (a passenger tried to open a door and it fell on top of him), and that was before it was left at Inchicore for 40 years!

This is very much on the long finger, as there are much more pressing restoration projects underway, including a couple of other very long-term carriage projects and other carriages which would be much easier to get running again. Of course, there’s also another railcar currently being restored in the Workshop as well. It’s a lot of work (60+ carriages) for a relatively small organisation with limited resources, but in the event that we don’t get around to restoring the AEC in our lifetimes, the main thing is that it is now safe and its future is secured for future generations.

I will send you a message re seeing it up-close.

Edited June 5 by GSWR 90