Dart overhead lines test coach(?)

[dave182]

Looking for images as always! There was a bogie coach in yellow per way livery that spent much of its life parked up in the sidings at the back of Pearse Street Station. It was unique in that it had a pantograph on the roof and an unusual body profile. Any pictures or info appreciated. I assume it was used to test the overhead lines when the Dart was first brought in to use.

[dave182]

After some more searching (credit: eiretrains.com)

http://eiretrains.com/Photo_Gallery/Railway%20Stations%20P/Pearse/IrishRailwayStations.html#Pearse_20100820_002_CC_JA.jpg

[Warbonnet]

remember this coach well from numerous trips to Landsdowne road from Pearse for matches as a lad. Always liked it. Would make a cool model.

[Railer]

It was moved to Northwall and stored there. But during the works building Docklands station and lifting sidings one of the on site JCBs skewered the coach like a kebab with its forks. It was scrapped in place shortly after.

[Blaine]

Was an old Laminate Brake coach, modified with a flat roof to make it more suitable to work on top of. The Pantograph was raised to earth the overhead wires. Now scrapped as detailed above, all overhead line maintenance work done with road/rail trucks that can be seen behind Connolly Station

[dave182]

Thanks Railer and Blaine!

[Railer]

There is a picture of the coach at Northwall yard with the JCB damage very visible just prior to it being scrapped. I saw it online a few years ago and I'll try track it down, think it was on the old yuku message board.