Ernies Massive Irish 1930's to 2005 Photo Archive

[Mayner]

17 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

And look at the elderly GSWR third in the middle of the train! What on earth was that doing on the "Enterprise"?

Several GSWR coaches remained in main line service  into the early 70s including a pair of 1915 Dining Cars 2092 & 2093 which hand been retro-fitted with B4 bogies to run with Cravens on Kinsgbridge-Waterford and Limerick fast trains and  at least 13 side corridor 64 seat 3rds built between 1915 & 24 which would have been useful coaches from an operating perspective in terms of seating capacity, having toilets and corridor access for the checker!

Just wondering if its an Enterprise which at the time was mainly operated by BUT railcars (both CIE & NIR sets) possibly a special Rugby? on account of the loading and mix of coaches, coach coupled next to the heating van seems to be a Bredin Corridor 3rd, next two coaches appear to be Laminates, would have expected Craven's on a named express like the Enterprise by 67.

Going back GSR 800s reference to to "Mouldering Branchlines" p.w. maintenance on the Banteer-Newmarket branch does not look too bad by CIE standards during the 50s hopefully Ernie will put up some photos of the Tullow Branch rails just about visible through the grass and shrubbery.  Cork North (Kanturk & Macroom) must have been considered a marginal seat in the 54 general election to reinstate the branch goods service. The other G601s were alocated as Tralee and Clara Pilot locos and used to dieselise goods trains on the Castleisland and Banagher branch lines.

Edited September 7 by Mayner

[Irishswissernie]

Ardnacrusha Hydro Electric Station with a Special September 1962, 3 views.

 

[Irishswissernie]

 Locomotives were scrapped at Sutton in the 1950's I have some negatives on flickr of ex DN&G locos being there then so perhaps these locos stored in the old tram shed had been purchased by the Scrapman. 

CIE 1963-05-18 Hill of Howth,Sutton Tram shed 562 yj194 .

 

[minister_for_hardship]

On 6/9/2024 at 8:36 AM, Irishswissernie said:

I have acquired 3 lots of Irish slides and negatives in a recent Auction and am busy sorting them out. One Lot is of 41 poor quality un-identified negatives but the subjects are of some interest and include Tralee & Dingle, West Clare, CDRJC and Lought Swilly images (plus some Ffestiniog , Isle of Man and Welshpool and Llanfair!) and are all CA 1950. The other  2 Lots are Irish slides one Lot being all Originals. The other of approx 470 slides was said to contain 150 odd Coulourail Duplicates but actually has over 250 with some duplicates over-written as originals by John Edgington whereas a large number are actually by other photographers where I already have the original Kodachrome slides. Duplicates are useless in my case as I won't use them on the Internet not having possession of the Copyright.

Being  somewhat peed off at first I have dumped the duplicates in a box but actually the remainder contain some interesting images and there actually are some John Edgington original Kodachromes amongst them.

Here are 6 featuring a trip on the Banteer-Newmarket branch with G601 in May 1958. CIE had tried to close the branch by then only open for Goods but after representations by the local Communities agree to retain a daily goods  until February 1963. I think there were some attempts to preserve the line but these failed.

An interesting prototype, you can get kits for the loco but I would be in the queue for a ready to run model or 2!

 1.) CIE 1958-05-xx Banteer, Newmarket Trip wkg. G601 yj129.

2.)  & 3.) CIE 1958-05 Kanturk G601 yj130

Views 4 to 6 are at Newmarket.

 

I haven't heard of any attempts to preserve the Newmarket branch, my understanding was it hit the blocks a decade too early to attract would-be preservationists. Once traders and farmers had means of conveying goods and cattle by road its fate was pretty much sealed.

[Irishswissernie]

CDRJC 1959-08-03 Donegal Town ,Meenglas from Strabane yj047

CIE 1982-06-27 Littleisland 021 Amonia to Arklow yj160

CIE 1982-09-13 Connolly 111 yj172

 

[airfixfan]

Love the top photo will be in the station building in the Museum for 2 days this week!

[Irishswissernie]

I have now identified most of a recently acquired collection of rather crxppy negatives with no information attached. 9 appear to be of the Tralee and Dingle railway ca 1947-48 and I have added them to Flickr  forming a new Tralee & Dingle album together with images of the line formerly in the Irish Narrow Gauge Railways Album.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/albums/72177720320528647/

Here are 3 of the (slightly) better quality ones.

The first took a while to identify mainly because the location at the 'country' end of Tralee station is now totally built over. The only buildings still standing today are the  higher house behind the row of cottages (now demolished) and in the distance a single storey rendered  (then a shop) building next to the line.

Photo 2 is at Dingle with a solitary open wagon. yj038 T&D 1948-CA Dingle station with solitary wagon. yj038

Last one is Horse Box 1T in slightly better condition than other photos taken a few years later. yj017 T&D 1947-8 CA Tralee Horse Box 1T

 

Edited September 23 by Irishswissernie

[Mayner]

59 minutes ago, Irishswissernie said:

I have now identified most of a recently acquired collection of rather crxppy negatives with no information attached. 9 appear to be of the Tralee and Dingle railway ca 1947-48 and I have added them to Flickr  forming a new Tralee & Dingle album together with images of the line formerly in the Irish Narrow Gauge Railways Album.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/albums/72177720320528647/

Here are 3 of the (slightly) better quality ones.

The first took a while to identify mainly because the location at the 'country' end of Tralee station is now totally built over. The only buildings still standing today are the  higher house behind the row of cottages (now demolished) and in the distance a single storey rendered  (then a shop) building next to the line.

First photo I have seen of the 'country end" of Tralee station its hard to believe that the area between Rock Street and the narrow gauge station was not built up.

I remember looking for a 'gap between the houses" to figure out where the Dingle line crossed Rock Street when I first visited Tralee on a 'rover ticket' in 77 or 78. Although both Tralee Station and Basin Halt were ingood condition in residential use, I counln't trace the trackbed between the two stations. At the time I spent most of my time checking out the North Kerry Yard still in use and the recently closed Fenit Branch and North Kerry between Tralee and Abbeydorney on ahired bike!

[Paul 34F]

Hello,

Lovely image of Donegal Town, but May I point out, the train is arriving from Ballyshannon.  The signal is still ‘Off’ in the background.

There are eleven carriages in the train.  A lot of work ahead to get over the Barnesmore Gap.

Paul

[Niles]

On 19/9/2024 at 7:14 AM, Irishswissernie said:

Ardnacrusha Hydro Electric Station with a Special September 1962, 3 views.

 

Beautiful. Now there's a model idea...

[Irishswissernie]

1 hour ago, Paul 34F said:

Lovely image of Donegal Town, but May I point out, the train is arriving from Ballyshannon.

THanks, probably a special from Rossnowlagh, Title amended. The slide is annotated as from Strabane but the low sunshine from the west suggests its a returning excursion.

Edited September 23 by Irishswissernie

[airfixfan]

Looks more like a summer special from  Rossknowlaghl to Strabane about to run round

Edited September 23 by airfixfan

[Irishswissernie]

Some Park Royals on view here plus some clean 'bubbles' at Drogheda.

CIE 1956-04-23 Bray, 461 on 11.20 to Amiens Street yj143.

CIE 1956 xx Dublin North Wall D303 yj133

CIE 1982-xx Drogheda 191sa yj170

 

 

[Irishswissernie]

CIE 1982-xx Rosslare Harbour 027s yj229.

CDRJC 1957-CA Letterkenny shed KB yj051

CBSC 1953-08-03 Clonakilty Junction C7 37. KCorig  249006

 

[Galteemore]

Fabulous pic of No 37 showing how a monochrome loco weathers. Look at all those shades of grunge….

[airfixfan]

The shed seen at Letterkenny now a car park at the shopping centre in Letterkenny!

[Irishswissernie]

Back from the Ffestiniog Gala where amazingly the weather was dry (during the day) for most of the 3 days!

CB&SC 1958-05-xx Cork Albert Quay excursion to Courtmacsherry C232 yj125.

CIE 1964-06-06 Enniscorthy 186 +2641 Yj173.

CIE 1964-06-09 Limerick 2627 on curve to North Kerry line yj175.

 

[Irishswissernie]

A poor negative at Buncrana ca 1953. L&LSR 1953-CA  Buncrana yj021.

UTA 1956-07-xx  Antrim 84 Lissanoure Castle 249010, a hurried snapshot but I like the rust on the van.

J G Dewing showing how to take a photo! NCC 1959-05-13 Cookstown Junction 13 JGD590821a.

Lastly a video still from my trip last weekend to the Ffestiniog 'Bygones' weekend. Really good weather over the 3 days culminating in a return trip to Dinas on the 'Subscribers Special' hauled by K1 . Normally now resident at Statfold Barn K1 managed the journey albiet with a 'Blow Up' at Camp and Tryfan Junc plus some tinkering at Dinas shed. I nicked a seat next to the Guard and Paul Lewin (General Manager) so I could nick out to video when the Guard got out at Stations (most of the carriages had locked doors during journeys)

The Flickr Album is https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/albums/72177720321094300

 

2024-10-04a FR Porthmadog. Dawn Departure 

 

Edited October 12 by Irishswissernie

[airfixfan]

Good view of Buncrana signal cabin. Just look at the rake of vans on a railway with months left before it closed.

[Mike 84C]

Looks like you had a good weekend Ernie, not surprised your WHR journey took longer with K1 only two blow ups! I only drove it a couple of times and thought it a very poor tool. But its being asked to do much more than it was designed for. Best place for it is in a museum, Statfold will do! Nice to see the boiler tubes I donated to 30yrs ago used at last on 134.

[Irishswissernie]

It was a good weekend Mike but not so good since, as apparently on the Saturday I was bitten by something on the hill above Tank Curve. What I thought was a scratch had turned in to a 4cm red circle by the following week and a quick trip to Casualty (5 min walk) resulted in a course of Anti-Biotics plus last week I have had my Covid and Flu Jabs! 

On with the Show!

GNRI 1953-07-xx Portadown 85 ADH yj044.

C&L  1955-CA Ballinamore goods sdgs. yj048.

CIE 1961-06-08 Sligo B132 yj046

 

[Galteemore]

Hope you pick up Ernie. What a glorious photo of Portadown ! That’s a sentence I never thought I’d type….

[Broithe]

1 hour ago, Irishswissernie said:

  I was bitten by something on the hill above Tank Curve

Whilst I have no idea what area on the body that might be a euphemism for, I do hope you recover quickly.

Edited October 17 by Broithe

[LNERW1]

On 17/10/2024 at 10:02 AM, Irishswissernie said:

It was a good weekend Mike but not so good since, as apparently on the Saturday I was bitten by something on the hill above Tank Curve. What I thought was a scratch had turned in to a 4cm red circle by the following week and a quick trip to Casualty (5 min walk) resulted in a course of Anti-Biotics plus last week I have had my Covid and Flu Jabs! 

On with the Show!

GNRI 1953-07-xx Portadown 85 ADH yj044.

C&L  1955-CA Ballinamore goods sdgs. yj048.

CIE 1961-06-08 Sligo B132 yj046

 

Great as always, love the 121! I can't say I've seen too many colour pics of them in grey.

Edited October 18 by LNERW1
accidental punctuation (a good band name now i think of it)

[Mayner]

Posted Thursday at 22:56 (edited)

  On 17/10/2024 at 10:02 PM, Irishswissernie said:

  I was bitten by something on the hill above Tank Curve

Whilst I have no idea what area on the body that might be a euphemism for, I do hope you recover quickly.

Edited Thursday at 23:09 by Broithe

 

Think Ernie may have been referring to a famous photo location on the Festiniog rather than some part of his anatomy 

http://217.34.233.120:8086/view-item?i=49&WINID=1729316834959

Hopefully Ernie is recovering and will soon post more photos of his adventures on the Festiniog and Welsh Highland 

Quite an experience travelling on the Festiniog especially by Observation Car a main line in miniature quite unlike the usual bucolic narrow gauge experience.  Cannot comment on the current situation but at one stage through ticketing was available from the BR system onto the Festiniog with 1st Class travel on the narrow gauge. 

On one occasion I booked through from Port to Holyhead and another from Liverpool to Port and return.

 

[Irishswissernie]

Nowadays the FR is geared more to pre on-line booking of a specific out and return journey with no timetables displayed on stations  for tourists staying in the area looking for something to do. The service can therefore vary from day to day depending on how many pre-bookings there are although if you turn up 'on spec' at Porthmadog if there are seats available I am sure that they will oblige. Gala tickets are not available on the service trains which meant that the shorter 'Gala' trains were mostly fully loaded whilst the 2-4 pre- booked higher priced 'Service ' trains looked half empty. Apparently this system works and is more economical to run but I am personally not a fan, however if this system helps the Fffestiniog/WHR to survive then fair enough. This is 'Tank' curve near Campbells platform taken from the rocky cliff above with a down Service train passing the disused water tank.

 

[Irishswissernie]

Back to Ireland now!

CBSC 1954-09-04 Baltimore F2 , 432 K Cooper ref249011.

NCC 1967-05-12 Larne Harbour ,Dual gauge track yj089.

GMK047 GNRI 1955-xx Dublin Amiens St. B7

 

[LNERW1]

It says something about my total ignorance of 3ft gauge up north that I never knew there was narrow gauge in Larne. A fascinating view though, my head is swimming with modelling possibilities.

[leslie10646]

Don't know where to start, Ernie - the Compound entering Pordie-down is magic, especially with a uniform train of mahogany coaches.

The dual track at The Harbour was  very interesting.

The "Double Engine" at Campbell's is wonderful - you'd be accelerating hard down the hill past Dduallt Manor, then the Platform and the PW Inspector's House and hoping that he'd keep the brakes off long enough for you to record a "twenty" (mph) before slowing for the 15mph through the little tunnel.

I hope that the antibiotics work quickly!

36 minutes ago, LNERW1 said:

It says something about my total ignorance of 3ft gauge up north that I never knew there was narrow gauge in Larne. A fascinating view though, my head is swimming with modelling possibilities.

Well, @LNERW1 you should be ashamed at not knowing that, but you'll be able to replicate it - the Ballymena and Larne had 2-4-0Ts like the IOMR ones, which, I think you get buy in a RTR Box. Add your soon to be announced Class WTs from IRM and you can model the Harbour pretty well!

[Galteemore]

38 minutes ago, LNERW1 said:

It says something about my total ignorance of 3ft gauge up north that I never knew there was narrow gauge in Larne. A fascinating view though, my head is swimming with modelling possibilities.

Larne actually had 2 separate  3’ systems. One was ‘main line’, run by the NCC/UTA up till 1950, which originally ran to Doagh and Ballymena. There was also an industrial system run by British Aluminium up until 1960. I suspect it’s the latter one in this pic. 

[airfixfan]

Larne even had 3 stations with two Town stations both long demolished 

[Irishswissernie]

Signs from the times.

CDRJC 1958-08-16 Raphoe, Midland NCC Poster JGD580129.

MGW 1964-CA MGW Trespass sign yj227.

Tuam GS&W Trespass sign yj286

 

[airfixfan]

Love the Raphoe sign

[Irishswissernie]

This could be my personal wish list!

 CB&SC 1957-xxCA Clonakilty C210 yj124.

CIE 1961-06-05 Fenit 560 yj215.

GNRI 1965-09-11 Portadown shed 171

 

[Galteemore]

As @leslie10646will confirm, the 171 pic was on an historic day. This was a mammoth RPSI tour, which involved the only ever UG working to Portrush  - and the last steaming of 207. So a sad photo in many ways but very precious.