Ernies Massive Irish 1930's to 2005 Photo Archive

[Irishswissernie]

2 hours ago, leslie10646 said:

Not sure about the caravan

Same here I've never stayed in a caravan before so I'm not looking forward to it however before Covid I used to go by myself to the FR and WHR Galas as well as travelling on the 'Subscribers' Special every October. My favourites were roaming the hills above Dduallt and Rhydd Dhu but I am past doing that and this pastime has been banned by the family!

[Horsetan]

2 hours ago, Irishswissernie said:

Same here I've never stayed in a caravan before so I'm not looking forward to it ...

Just imagine it's the caravan that Father Ted, Father Jack and Father Dougal stayed in when they went on holiday!

[airfixfan]

Graham Norton was in that episode as well

[Horsetan]

1 hour ago, airfixfan said:

Graham Norton was in that episode as well

"St. Luke's Youth Group!"

[Irishswissernie]

Three more JG Dewing today, 2 CIE and one ex GNRI.

CIE 1961-03-15 Limerick Railcar 26xx JGD610228

CIE 1961-03-14 Loughrea Branch JGD610111

GNRI 1960-05-20 Strabane 68 JGD600436

 

[bufferstop]

The clarity of those photos are incredible. Look at the PerWay on the Loughrea branch. Amazing. And you could have cycled in the cess, all the way to Attymon. That was the way things were, into the mid 70's, even on the main lines.

[Galteemore]

7 hours ago, bufferstop said:

The clarity of those photos are incredible. Look at the PerWay on the Loughrea branch. Amazing. And you could have cycled in the cess, all the way to Attymon. That was the way things were, into the mid 70's, even on the main lines.

It’s delightful I agree. But did nothing to make such lines viable given the traffic density. I remember reading a quote in a book about Col Stephens and his railways, describing how horrified he would be about such high standards on a tertiary route! One of the reasons the SLNC limped on as long as it did is that its PW was just good enough to work. That said, I do recall with nostalgia the GN main up to the 80s when the mileposts between  Dundalk and Drogheda had manicured grass surrounds…

Edited April 16 by Galteemore

[Horsetan]

8 hours ago, Galteemore said:

...One of the reasons the SLNC limped on as long as it did is that its PW was just good enough to work.…

In some of the SLNC photos, you can actually see the way the rail head undulates on each length due to long-term wear.

[Irishswissernie]

GNRI today .

GNRI 1957-09-23 Clones 79 2.30pm to Dundalk WACS2121

GNRI 1957-06-08 Enniskillen shed 199 and railbus 2 LN1104

GNRI 1957-06-07 Strabane 71 goods LN1074

GNRI 1957-06-05 Belturbet station Yard LN1000 Just noticed the tip of the ex C& L siding  on the right.

 

[Newtoncork]

That Clones photo is class, with the roundhouse in the background.

[airfixfan]

Love the Strabane photo

[Irishswissernie]

Off to Wales tomorrow so this is the last offering until next weekend.

John G Dewing must have been taken with this as this is his third slide of 'Enniskillen' at Manorhamilton  SLNCR 1957-05-27 'Enniskillen' at Manorhamilton JGD570123

GNRI 1957-05-31 Drogheda 208 JGD570235

A well documented IRRS Special on the Cork City Railway, this is JG Dewing's contribution. CBSC 1961-03-17 Cork City Rly IRRS SPL JGD610313

C&L 1958-05-13 Drumshanbo 3T JGD580117. I had problems restoring this one as JGD had somehow spilt blue ink all over it. In the end I resorted to a quick wash under the cold tap which diluted it enough to make it less obvious. Not to be reccomended though!.

C&L 1958-05-13 Mohill JGD580116

I have also uploaded a few views of diesels at Limerick Junction ca 2000-2005 to flickr

 

 

[Galteemore]

Wonderful Ernie - have a great trip! As you say, JGD took several images at Manorhamilton in quick succession - there’s another similar one showing the driver oiling round. There’s a good head of steam for the climb to Glenfarne! 

Edited April 21 by Galteemore

[airfixfan]

Enjoy Wales waiting in Dublin in the sun for 131 to Rosslare today

[Irishswissernie]

The trip to Wales was remarkable in that we had no rain (well just the odd drizzle between stops)l for the 5 days. In Tywyn I examined the Tralee & Dingle book and purchased it as we didn't have time for a trip.

CDRJC 1957-06-08 Donegal Town 19 +20 LN1085.

CDRJC 1958-05-11 Donegal  .I think this is 'Erne' not 'Drumboe' as recorded by JGD  JGD580131.

GNRI 1962-05-17 Narrow Water UTA 43 JGD620535

 

[Andy Cundick]

Definitely Erne tanks are the immediate giveaway Andy   

[airfixfan]

Erne as Drumboe had a few more dents by this stage

[Paul 34F]

This is the first time I’ve seen a photo of a Goods train at Narrowater Castle.  
Passenger trains must have been more popular with Photographers?

Paul

[Galteemore]

51 minutes ago, Paul 34F said:

This is the first time I’ve seen a photo of a Goods train at Narrowater Castle.  
Passenger trains must have been more popular with Photographers?

Paul

My thoughts too Paul! I suspect most photographers visited the Point when the excursion traffic was on, which brought more locos in. As you say, the standard image of the castle is a dirty engine with green coaches behind….

[Irishswissernie]

4 JG Dewing colour slides from 1960 today, 3 feature 184 in the green livery it sported at the time.

 

CIE 1960-05-27 Islandbridge Jc JGD600632.

CIE 1960-07-09 Ballylinnan IRRS Spl JGD600806.

CIE 1960-07-09 Enniscorthy 184 IRRS Spl. JGD 600829.

CIE 1960-07-09 Enniscorthy Officers Saloon 352 on IRRS SPL JGD600826

 

[leslie10646]

I thought I recognised these - I used two in Steaming in Three Centuries. The Islandbridge one was considered as a Frontispiece, but is in the colour section, along with the Athy shot.

I've still got a few copies!

And, no, Ernie, I am not going to pay you retrospective royalties!

[Paul 34F]

Looking at the third picture in the latest post, my eyes fell on the second carriage.  It appears to be a GNRI vehicle.  Does anyone have details of the carriages in the train?  It makes me think it is the B5 Dining Car, but I need to check.

Paul

[BSGSV]

18 hours ago, Paul 34F said:

Looking at the third picture in the latest post, my eyes fell on the second carriage.  It appears to be a GNRI vehicle.  Does anyone have details of the carriages in the train?  It makes me think it is the B5 Dining Car, but I need to check.

Paul

From Irish Railfans' News:

Ballylinan & Palace East: On Saturday July 9 loco 184 (in GS&WR livery) headed the first IRRS dining car special ever out of Amiens Street. The train consisted of HV 3122, second 1469, ex GNR dining car C144N, brake second 1905 and the 1912 GS&WR Officers’ Saloon 352. The special travelled first to Athy and then diverged to traverse the 4½ mile Ballylinan branch - the first occasion of a dining car working on this line! The train returned to Athy and continued to Muine Bheag to travel over another semi-closed branch to Palace East - the subject of “Station Survey” in this issue. The return trip to Amiens Street was made via Macmine Junction and Enniscorthy.

[Paul 34F]

4 hours ago, BSGSV said:

From Irish Railfans' News:

Ballylinan & Palace East: On Saturday July 9 loco 184 (in GS&WR livery) headed the first IRRS dining car special ever out of Amiens Street. The train consisted of HV 3122, second 1469, ex GNR dining car C144N, brake second 1905 and the 1912 GS&WR Officers’ Saloon 352. The special travelled first to Athy and then diverged to traverse the 4½ mile Ballylinan branch - the first occasion of a dining car working on this line! The train returned to Athy and continued to Muine Bheag to travel over another semi-closed branch to Palace East - the subject of “Station Survey” in this issue. The return trip to Amiens Street was made via Macmine Junction and Enniscorthy.

Thank you for the details.  This confirms the presence of the B5 Dining Car in the train.

Paul

[Irishswissernie]

A couple from the Archives which probably havn't featured on this topic before as they were uploaded many years ago.

I was looking for CIE stock in the North so this one at Newry appears to feature H Vans the first one being fitted although whether the livery is actually brown which hasn't weathered well over the original grey or its just rusty. I think this is ca1964.

Second view is Strabane 13 feb 1965 with a tin van on the left hand line.

In the pipeline arriving this week are approx 100 negs ca 1951 -1961, content as yet unknown!

 

 

Edited May 6 by Irishswissernie

[airfixfan]

First time I have seen a tin van at Strabane. Keep me posted on the new slides!

[Galteemore]

Interesting view, too, of the new planks on the GN van at Newry.

[Irishswissernie]

3 WAC Smith negatives today.

GNRI 1956-04-02 Clones, 204 4.30pm Dundalk - Enniskillen & 127, 6.30pm to Belfast WACS2122.

GNRI 1956-04-02 Belturbet JT 90 5.20 to Ballyhaise WACS916.

GNRI 1956-04-03 Strabane, 191 2.10pm Belfast-Derry. CDRJC 12 on 4.45pm to Stranorlar on right. WACS2252

 

[Galteemore]

What gems Ernie, thanks. I do like the QLs, 127 and her sisters tend to get overshadowed by the other GN 4–4-0 classes. Although capable - and gorgeous - engines when built, I think their steaming capacity was not enhanced by later rebuilding. And a nice Comber whiskey poster too….

Edited May 7 by Galteemore

[airfixfan]

Rare angle at Strabane 

[leslie10646]

I agree with the others about the Strabane shot, but it was the Clones one which is a real gem. Thanks, again, for letting us see them.

[Horsetan]

1 hour ago, leslie10646 said:

I agree with the others about the Strabane shot, but it was the Clones one which is a real gem. ...

Comparison with today's satellite view of Clones, and - engine roundhouse aside - it's hard to believe a railway ever passed through there or that a once-extensive station existed.

[jhb171achill]

On 6/5/2024 at 9:21 AM, airfixfan said:

First time I have seen a tin van at Strabane. Keep me posted on the new slides!

Carrying newspapers, i believe. I think they were known to appear in Derry too, though probably not often.

On 6/5/2024 at 8:14 AM, Irishswissernie said:

A couple from the Archives which probably havn't featured on this topic before as they were uploaded many years ago.

I was looking for CIE stock in the North so this one at Newry appears to feature H Vans the first one being fitted although whether the livery is actually brown which hasn't weathered well over the original grey or its just rusty. I think this is ca1964.

 

 

 

 

The wagon is grey - but as you suggest, weathered with brake dust. The brown livery didn't appear until 1970, and thus woul;dn't have carried a "snail" in any event, as that was replaced seven years earlier. Interesting that the next two H vans are in the earlier darker grey, whereas the one beyond them is in the slightly lighter shade which appears to date from about 1962-ish.

[Irishswissernie]

GNRI 1957-06-08 Enniskillen 40 + railbus 2 LN1106.

GNRI 1957-06-08 Enniskillen 205 LN1109.

GNRI 1957-06-08 Bundoran Junction 202 LN1103.

 

[Irishswissernie]

The latest batch of acquisitions are the work of GMK, former editor of the Model Railway Constructor and he also wrote several books on BR coaches. There are some Irish views mainly from 1955 and 1961 with approx 30 coach negatives among the 90 odd negatives.

GMK040 CIE 1961-04-xx Inchicore ex GNRI JT 91 L25.

GMK058 CIE 1961-04-29 Westland Row A52 TI548.

GMK051 CIE1955-xx  Cork 385 A1, trackbed of the former line to Summerhill terminus above the tunnel.

GMK081 CIE 1955-xx Cork, 6whl tri compo 159m . 253.