1951 GAA Special Trains

[jhb171achill]

In the wake of Mayo's truly historic win today, it got me wondering what specials were on the last time they won it 75 years ago..... probably Woolwiches and old MGWR and GSWR flat-roofed bogies - put me in mind of the 50 footer that Mol has been scratchbuilding! Probably some old stock taken out and the odd one still in faded GSR maroon....

If there was enough stock for even one Mayo special today, only an ICR, presumably.....

[Mayner]

Mayo's historic victory was even mentioned in the TVNZ news at 6 last night (Mon evening) including clip of Mayo supporters reaction. 

1951 loco/ train working would have been interesting to say the least.

While Woolwich locos could be turned at Claremorris (following 1941 replacement of turntable) ex-Midland "Catte Engines", As & Cs 4-4-0s may have been the largest engines that could be turned at Westport, Midland "Standard Goods & Ks 2-4-0s largest/heaviest engines allowed on Ballina branch. So potentially ex-Midland engines (possibly a large 4-4-0 double heading with a Cattle Engine) on Westport specials through to Amiens St/Westland Row and Standard Goods or 2-4-0 on Ballina specials.

I remember seeing a photo of a pair of ex-MGWR 2-4-0s double heading a Dublin bound "Pioneer" special (1947?) made up of 46 wheelers past Leixlip in one of the railway books.

What of Balinrobe & Burma Road (Kiltimagh, Swinford possibly Charlestown & Tubbercurry (turntable), did through trains operate or connections into the Mayo Line. Possibly a Sligo or Ballaghadareen special who knows?

I guess the greatest differences since the early 50s is that a higher proportion of the population own/prefer to use cars and the railways now operating a relatively frequent service on Sundays compared to the past (no scheduled Sunday trains on the Mayo line 70 odd years ago?) so no real demand for GAA specials. 

Back in the mid-late 60s our relatives from the West regularly drove to Dublin to attend matches at Croke Park or shows at the RDS and always visited their Dublin relatives on the way home, something you couldn't do travelling by train or bus.

[Flying Snail]

On 26/7/2026 at 11:21 PM, jhb171achill said:

In the wake of Mayo's truly historic win today, it got me wondering what specials were on the last time they won it 75 years ago..... probably Woolwiches and old MGWR and GSWR flat-roofed bogies - put me in mind of the 50 footer that Mol has been scratchbuilding! Probably some old stock taken out and the odd one still in faded GSR maroon....

If there was enough stock for even one Mayo special today, only an ICR, presumably.....

According to this there were a couple of specials out of Westport (one had a connection from Ballina), another special from Sligo, and .........<checks notes>.... Dundalk. 

https://www.dublinpublictransport.ie/blog/irish-rail-adds-extra-trains-for-all-ireland-football-final

 

[hurricanemk1c]

1 hour ago, Flying Snail said:

According to this there were a couple of specials out of Westport (one had a connection from Ballina), another special from Sligo, and .........<checks notes>.... Dundalk. 

https://www.dublinpublictransport.ie/blog/irish-rail-adds-extra-trains-for-all-ireland-football-final

 

You'd be surprised where demand comes from.

For the record, there were two Westport-Heuston-Westport specials plus a Ballina-Heuston-Ballina special, on top of the regular services. Many also chose to go via Galway, Sligo and the Maynooth line for train services (an estimated 8-10,000 on the Maynooth line alone)

[Broithe]

Smoke units under the track - who will be first to do this in 00?

 

[Horsetan]

1 hour ago, Broithe said:

Smoke units under the track - who will be first to do this in 00?

 

This was actually done over 20 years ago on a large OO layout that I saw at a show in Leatherhead. Quite effective at platforms for engines starting away with cylinder drain cocks opening, and at tunnel mouths.