Dugort Harbour

[jhb171achill]

Many rural places like this could find a little yellow biscuit tin on wheels reposing at the end of an uncared-for siding.

So Dugort Harbour ought to have one. Hence my first ever attempt at a brass kit this morning. 

Edited January 21 by jhb171achill

[Tullygrainey]

Excellent! Another recruit to the burnt fingers club. Looking good JB

[jhb171achill]

3 minutes ago, Tullygrainey said:

Excellent! Another recruit to the burnt fingers club. Looking good JB

Was doing it with expert guidance; more next week!

[Galteemore]

Great stuff. You’ll be making 6 wheel coaches next. 

[jhb171achill]

1 hour ago, Galteemore said:

Great stuff. You’ll be making 6 wheel coaches next. 

If the plan goes well, I've one or two in mind!

[LNERW1]

On 21/1/2025 at 7:46 PM, Galteemore said:

Great stuff. You’ll be making 6 wheel coaches next. 

JHB: frantically checks model room for bugging devices

Edited January 23 by LNERW1

[Patrick Davey]

Excellent!!!  I will never be brave enough for this!

[jhb171achill]

26 minutes ago, Patrick Davey said:

Excellent!!!  I will never be brave enough for this!

I'm not either, but I was persuaded to try by a friend and colleague!

[jhb171achill]

The up 11:40 to "town" departs on a bleak January day in 1948....

.

On the same day, the afternoon mixed heads off in the same direction....

[jhb171achill]

 

 

In these winter evenings, early sunset (you DO know what “sun” is? If not, see me after class), means the last trains leaving Castletown and Dugort as the last light fades.

Here, A12 leaves Dugort Harbour for the short run up to Castletown West with the last passenger train on 20th January 1963…..

 

 

Edited January 24 by jhb171achill

[jhb171achill]

The connection for Tralee awaits at Castletown…

[jhb171achill]

As it’s January 1963, the last six-wheelers are being withdrawn for good. The branch set has been changed - a 1924-built GSWR bogie composite has arrived, with a new tin van. The old set sits in the yard at Dugort. Tomorrow, it will be attached to the up Cork goods, and the three carriages will be scrapped in Glanmire goods yard along with many others.

Tonight, the sun sets on them for the last time. A pity the Downpatrick preservation scheme is several decades away!

Bottom: The “new” branch set in service last night with A12….

Edited January 24 by jhb171achill

[jhb171achill]

Fast forward to another sunset winter evening in 1965. Here, the late afternoon local from Dugort has just arrived at Castletown.

 

 

All the above “sunset” stuff; think power cuts & candles!

Edited January 24 by jhb171achill

[jhb171achill]

Until the 1970s, pigeon societies used to transport racing pigeons by rail to furthest-away points, to see which got home first. Latterly, they could be seen being loaded into “tin vans”.

Here, in summer 1964, the Dugort local is augmented by two extra vans which were sent from Omagh by the Newtownstewart & District Homing Pigeon Society for release there on this morning.

The vans, with empty pigeon baskets, are leaving here. The baskets will travel back to Amiens St., from where they’ll be attached to tomorrow’s newspaper train as far as Portadown. Here, they’ll be put in a goods van attached to the down Foyle Road goods, while the vans will go back to Dublin with mailbags in them.

 

[Mol_PMB]

22 minutes ago, jhb171achill said:

Until the 1970s, pigeon societies used to transport racing pigeons by rail to furthest-away points, to see which got home first. Latterly, they could be seen being loaded into “tin vans”.

Here, in summer 1964, the Dugort local is augmented by two extra vans which were sent from Omagh by the Newtownstewart & District Homing Pigeon Society for release there on this morning.

The vans, with empty pigeon baskets, are leaving here. The baskets will travel back to Amiens St., from where they’ll be attached to tomorrow’s newspaper train as far as Portadown. Here, they’ll be put in a goods van attached to the down Foyle Road goods, while the vans will go back to Dublin with mailbags in them.

And They're Off! Tralee-Dublin pigeon race, 1966:

https://www.kennellyarchive.com/-/archive/years/1966/page/167#media_70915795-034f-485f-9890-08ff73166d6c

[jhb171achill]

17 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said:

And They're Off! Tralee-Dublin pigeon race, 1966:

https://www.kennellyarchive.com/-/archive/years/1966/page/167#media_70915795-034f-485f-9890-08ff73166d6c

Can only find hundreds of gaa function pics here?

[Mol_PMB]

1 minute ago, jhb171achill said:

Can only find hundreds of gaa function pics here?

Strange, the link worked for me. I blame cookies! I’ll try to post a more specific link. 

[leslie10646]

On 24/1/2025 at 6:50 PM, jhb171achill said:

Fast forward to another sunset winter evening in 1965. Here, the late afternoon local from Dugort has just arrived at Castletown.

 

 

All the above “sunset” stuff; think power cuts & candles!

You might at least have switched on the loco lights!!!

[Mol_PMB]

https://www.kennellyarchive.com/m?search=Tralee+1966+pigeon+

[jhb171achill]

Got it!

I do remember, as a small citizen, seeing pigeon boxes in Lisburn, Great Vic St & Amiens St at the very least.

[jhb171achill]

Summer 1964….

“That’s one of Aggie Molloy’s beasts. Anyone gone to get Michael?”

[Mol_PMB]

I love the little story with each photo, the different times of day and season, just enough to set the imagination off to complete the picture. Very inspiring! 

[jhb171achill]

A23R is caught shunting in the fuel road, Dugort Harbour, summer 1974. On the same day, empty wagons are seen in the cattle loop awaiting departure tomorrow morning on the back of the Tralee goods.

 

[jhb171achill]

On fair day, whatever elderly stock Cork and Tralee can dig up, will end up on the extra trains for cattle drovers and dealers. In addition, trains between Dugort and “town” are very busy that day. 

Here, in 1956, the last DSER six-wheeler in traffic, still in GSR maroon, has made what will probably be its last appearance ever. It is joined by a GSWR equivalent - note the different designs. The 1888-built GSWR brake third was the regular passenger brake on the branch then, and could be companion to a six-wheeler of similar vintage - or a two-month-old silver “Park Royal”…

 

Shunting at Dugort Harbour, 1959, with the then regular branch engine, the last of its kind.

The brand-new supposedly “silver” tin van is filthy; the ancient van behind it, dating from 1902, somewhat better looking!

Edited February 9 by jhb171achill

[jhb171achill]

July 1957, the day before the sheep fair. All is quiet this afternoon, as the 2 o’clock local drifts into Dugort Harbour.

Tomorrow, of course, will be chaos. More to follow….

[Gabhal Luimnigh]

Lovely as always Jonathan 

[jhb171achill]

On Thursdays there’s a connection off the morning Tralee to Castletown West train, operating locally as a mixed. Here, it approaches Dugort Harbour in summer 1967……

[jhb171achill]

Old colour slides from 1956…. and black white prints from 1944…..….

Dugort Harbour didn’t have a Sunday service, so the place latterly was deserted on Sundays - unless there was a GAA special. But not this day in summer 1956.

Smell the turf smoke and sea air?

——

The following Saturday, a light engine breaks the silence with its Crossley growl, as it heads down to the harbour station to collect a solitary fish van.

Edited Sunday at 20:56 by jhb171achill

[jhb171achill]

——

 

Back in 1944, the branch engine is 472, recently transferred in from Albert Quay.

Here, on a similar duty, it is seen leaving Castletown West for the harbour.

—-

Finally, in 1958, the very same “A” as previously seen heads light towards Dugort to collect empty wagons…

[Tullygrainey]

1 hour ago, jhb171achill said:

Old colour slides from 1956…. and black white prints from 1944…..….

Dugort Harbour didn’t have a Sunday service, so the place latterly was deserted on Sundays - unless there was a GAA special. But not this day in summer 1956.

Smell the turf smoke and sea air?

——

The following Saturday, a light engine breaks the silence with its Crossley growl, as it heads down to the harbour station to collect a solitary fish van.

That landscaping is a delight JB. Just perfect!

[jhb171achill]

1 hour ago, Tullygrainey said:

That landscaping is a delight JB. Just perfect!

The work of the master of this trade, Kevan McIntosh!

[jhb171achill]

Up to now, for a number of reasons, Dugort terminus, originally designed just as a shunting layout, has been separate from the main line layout (Castletown West). 

Now, they will finally be properly connected. Yesterday, thanks to the good offices of Peter, Steve and Mark, we got the original but raised to the correct height, and preparations made to join them. 

This will give an idea - more to follow.

[jhb171achill]

Looking at the bottom picture, Dugort is on the left. When designed, quite a few years ago now, the track was to go straight to a fiddle yard. Now, the gap in the middle is about to be bridged, and trains will continue to the right, and along the bogland section, still to have scenery added. 

The middle picture shows (where my hand is) the place where the connection will be made.

 

 

 

[leslie10646]

12 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

——

 

Back in 1944, the branch engine is 472, recently transferred in from Albert Quay.

Here, on a similar duty, it is seen leaving Castletown West for the harbour.

—-

Finally, in 1958, the very same “A” as previously seen heads light towards Dugort to collect empty wagons…

Time that you employed a local lad as a cleaner!

Coming on well, Jonathan.

[jhb171achill]

9 hours ago, leslie10646 said:

Time that you employed a local lad as a cleaner!

Coming on well, Jonathan.

There was a young fella in Castletown West, but he didn’t get on with Yer Man in the loco shed, and he went off to England, where he was last seen as a passed fireman on 9Fs in 1961…..