Two RPSI Carriage Sets and a Presidential Mark 2

[Csalem]

Hi all,

Have now uploaded some shots taken in Dublin Connolly yesterday which show the two RPSI active carriage sets. They show 226 with the Mark 2 set:

 

Included on the set was the Presidential/State Carriage Mark 2, no. 5408, which is going to Whitehead today:

 

Finally 206 is seen shunting the Craven set after its arrival back from the 'South Clare' tour:

 

Rest of the shots can be found here:

http://smu.gs/K9g86H

 

Enjoy!

[heirflick]

this is my favourite pic of the bunch csalem...it would make a great cover pic for a country and western album....

 

 

 

 

 

I WALK THE LINE by PUSSY CASH!

[Broithe]

this is my favourite pic of the bunch csalem

 

Anthony would still weather it...

[Csalem]

Some of those cats in NW are pretty well weathered as it is!

[Csalem]

A slight addendum to yesterday's shots. First up is a video of 226 hauling 5408 and the RPSI Mark 2 rake out of Platform 5 at Connolly yesterday afternoon:

 

And then a photo of NIR 8208 shunting the Presidential Mark 2 back into the carriage shed this morning:

[irishrail201]

In inchicore, I see a Mk2 D coach hidden in the undergrowth near the carriage shed is it not 5408?

[Blaine]

In inchicore, I see a Mk2 D coach hidden in the undergrowth near the carriage shed is it not 5408?

 

It is, red tape meant it never went to Whitehead

[DiveController]

It is, red tape meant it never went to Whitehead

Presidential red tape? Is it still sitting there unused and unpreserved?

[Railer]

It's in Whitehead a good while now, it got there in the end took a long time to sort out.

[Noel]

Is there an official presidential or vip coach in use anymore? I remember seeing Erskin Childers on board the Killarney train in 73 or 74. The old presidential coach back then looked like something from the 19th century, but a piece of historic art. Can't imagine anything as modern as a mk2 having much heritage value.

[Horsetan]

.... Can't imagine anything as modern as a mk2 having much heritage value.

 

With the vast majority of what would have been heritage stock having been scrapped ages ago, I don't think there's much of a choice...

[Warbonnet]

Is there an official presidential or vip coach in use anymore? I remember seeing Erskin Childers on board the Killarney train in 73 or 74. The old presidential coach back then looked like something from the 19th century' date=' but a piece of historic art. Can't imagine anything as modern as a mk2 having much heritage value.[/quote']

 

No not anymore. Having been in both coaches the old GSWR coach is stunning and has been wonderfully restored both inside and out. The Mark II is in good condition inside but it's very 70s; velour everywhere. There are some rubbish pics of both interiors on my Flickr page.

[jhb171achill]

The majority of the RPSI heritage coaches are still in existence, but no longer allowed on the main line.

[Noel]

The majority of the RPSI heritage coaches are still in existence, but no longer allowed on the main line.

 

Good to hear. Are most of them up north or are there any at Inchicore?

 

This is the coach I saw in Heuston (Kingsbridge) in the early 70s.

 

[jhb171achill]

The heritage stock is in both Whitehead and Inchicore - probably about half and half. There's info is he still in the shed at Mullingar (GSWR 813). The RPSI volunteers there used to use it as a "tarry". It was never restored, though the RPSI externally painted it in CIE green years ago.

[Noel]

The heritage stock is in both Whitehead and Inchicore - probably about half and half. There's info is he still in the shed at Mullingar (GSWR 813). The RPSI volunteers there used to use it as a "tarry". It was never restored, though the RPSI externally painted it in CIE green years ago.

 

Thanks. Is the coaching stock stored indoors or outdoors?

[jhb171achill]

Both, Noel. Unfortunately there isn't room for it all to be indoors. The most important vehicles are under cover in both places.

[Noel]

Both, Noel. Unfortunately there isn't room for it all to be indoors. The most important vehicles are under cover in both places.

 

Cheers JB. I assume the Mk2s can take the weather better than the Cravens which in turn can survive better out doors than the older vintage stock.

[GSR 800]

The heritage stock is in both Whitehead and Inchicore - probably about half and half. There's info is he still in the shed at Mullingar (GSWR 813). The RPSI volunteers there used to use it as a "tarry". It was never restored, though the RPSI externally painted it in CIE green years ago.

Jahsus, Mullingar? The shed is in pretty dire condition, they would really need to fix it up, and clean up the yard.

On that note, for an update on the greenway thing, buffers had been put in place just before the newbrook road bridge, and the line is cut off in several other places also

[Railer]

Cheers JB. I assume the Mk2s can take the weather better than the Cravens which in turn can survive better out doors than the older vintage stock.

 

The Cravens actually hold up better outdoors than the Mk2s. The Mk2Ds were in worse condition than the older Cravens when they were withdrawn. Some Mk2Ds were send to Scotland over the years for body rebuilds at the gangway ends because of corrosion problems.

[jhb171achill]

The Mk 2 design was inherently prone to rust, much more so than other "modern" coaches, though in our climate obviously none are exempt. When the RPSI acquired the ones they have, the condition varied but some were in absolutely dire condition due to internal rust and were as good as rebuilt at Whitehead.

 

These need to be kept inside as they are need for traffic. Cravens are a much better design, thus more hard wearing, but as any preservationist knows, you ignore TLC at your peril, so they - as Dublin area breadwinners - have to have pride of place in the care stakes too.

 

Mullingar shed is not really used much any more as it's falling to bits. Once the current coach in there leaves, it won't be used by the RPSI again.