Military event at Stradbally.

[Broithe]

This looks quite interesting - I will make an effort to attend.

 

[hurricanemk1c]

It should indeed be a good day - all being well I should be there as well

[Broithe]

Intrigued by the mention of Italians, very rare at this sort of event....

[hurricanemk1c]

I'm afraid I know little of what's happening on that side of things (being handled by two others volunteers), but do know some of the operational side, which hsould be different!

[Broithe]

I'm planning a seaborne invasion on Thursday, striking inland, then re-grouping for some mopping-up operations on Sunday.

[Broithe]

Well, that was an interesting day.

 

Crowd control equipment was available, if things got out-of hand.

 

 

Not everybody had got the hang of camouflage theory....

 

 

 

Headquarters had been established.

 

 

 

Not having a valid ticket was looked on very badly.

 

 

 

Hostilities were not continuous.

 

[Broithe]

Guarding of supply routes was taken seriously.

 

 

 

Troop trains arrived regularly.

 

 

 

..and departed.

 

 

 

 

Multi-national instruction was provided by civilian staff.

 

[murrayec]

Hi Borithe

 

Excellent to see the photos

 

Though some chaps not in proper uniform- they should have been shot!

 

Was there many attendees?

 

Eoin

[Broithe]

A few men were on the charge sheet at the end of the day.....

 

I would suspect that there could have been 50 to 100 attendees.

 

Some more pictures.

 

Not an ideal item to have in the boot at a checkpoint in the Port Laoise area...

 

 

 

The weather held, though there was a fair breeze at times - a few brief showers did occur.

 

 

 

Reinforcements arrived.

 

[Broithe]

In the excitement of touring the interior of Stradbally Cathedral, I failed to take any pictures of it.

 

It will be a vast improvement on the existing facilities - and will be the second largest train servicing facility in Laois.

 

 

 

Steam traction was the order of the day.

 

 

 

 

 

[Broithe]

 

 

 

Diesels were in operation, also.

 

 

 

 

The peace conference begins...

 

[Broithe]

This year's event is next Saturday, the 16th.

 

[Broithe]

Well, having attempted to lure the recently released Heir Flick to this, it turned out that he was still under house arrest.

 

It was a nice day and the attendance was quite steady, with quite a bit of variety and activity to keep all ages interested.

 

The new water tower has appeared since my last visit.

 

 

 

And new signs.

 

 

 

And old ones.

 

 

 

Future projects lie on the store yard.

 

 

 

 

Current stock was on display.

 

 

 

[Broithe]

The main event, of course, was No. 2 in stem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Broithe]

Some details of No. 2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Office.

 

 

 

 

The view.

 

 

[Broithe]

The larger military hardware was interesting.

 

 

 

 

A French 75mm.

 

 

 

A 'pack' howitzer, dismantlable for mule trains.

 

 

 

A variety of small arms.

 

 

 

[Noel]

Thanks for posting those fab pics. For some reason at my end they seemed to take an age to display, but worth waiting for.

[Broithe]

The military personnel seemed to generally get along fine, although there were instances of over-zralous ticket inspections.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Broithe]

If you ask nicely and have brought along somebody to lift you up, you may be allowed to sound the whistle.

 

 

 

Beware of snipers.

 

 

 

The station canopy is made from 100% unseasoned wood.

 

 

 

A more manageable railway was also available.

 

 

 

The view from the guard's van.

 

 

 

[Broithe]

The brake van was attached specially for me, I'm sure, having been made a mile from my house.

 

 

 

It really does deserve the title "Woodland Railway".

 

 

 

 

 

[Broithe]

Stradbally has some fine parkland, ideal for the August Bank Holiday steam fair.

 

 

 

 

And some marvellous trees.

 

 

 

The gates have survived well, too.

 

 

 

[Broithe]

The return trip went via the Russian Church...

 

 

...and Timahoe.

 

 

 

Where I found this drawing, if anybody feels inclined to model it.

 

[murrayec]

Hi Broithe

 

Excellent photos, great to see the landscape and some of the details, also the loco details, it is a lovely place.

 

Sadly it looks like there was crowd problems....

 

 

Eoin

[Broithe]

Sadly it looks like there was crowd problems....

 

They were quickly dealt with - with a minimum of fuss.

 

 

 

Also, after the new water tower, I wonder if the coaling facilities may be on the list for improvement?

 

 

 

Perhaps a coaling tower for next year?

[Broithe]

No. 2 will be in action on the Sunday and Monday.

 

[minister_for_hardship]

Pretty dry now, if the dry spells continue she wouldn't want to be firing out any sparks in all that woodland!

[Dunluce Castle]

Hello Broithe,

Have you uploaded the photos somewhere else as well or only here? I'm asking because I can't seem to look at them, some take way too long and others cause my browser to crash haha.

[Broithe]

You may find this and last year here - http://imgur.com/a/W6hDD

[irishrail201]

 

And new signs.

 

 

 

Glad you approve I donated them to the Stradbally Woodland Railway.......Really makes the place look well

[Broithe]

Glad you approve I donated them to the Stradbally Woodland Railway.......Really makes the place look well

 

Definitely! Top work, there.

 

Even the 'modern-styled' site layout ones as you enter the platform area were in a complimentary form - very similar to what you see at stations today.