mgwr preserved railway Connemara Railway project.

[Mol_PMB]

I suppose it's ultimately down to what the promoters want and/or have committed to in their planning application, business plan etc.

Well done to all concerned for what has been achieved so far, not just a working narrow-gauge line but saving some interesting and unique standard-gauge stock too.

My gut feel is that now there's a (smallish) functioning railway with locos, carriages, track and signalling, it would be a good idea to focus resources on buildings and infrastructure. It can be a wild part of the country in bad weather, and being so isolated also means that security may be challenging.

After the storm damage, repairing/restoring the existing structures to a more robust standard would be a good priority, possibly extensions/alterations to the existing factory buildings to provide more secure covered storage and/or workshop facilities. If the 5'3" is the long-term goal then at least one shed large enough for a complete 5'3" gauge vehicle would be a necessity, and such a shed would have plenty of other uses in the meantime, even if the line were to remain 3' gauge. Sheds aren't actually that expensive compared to the cost of deterioration and damage to equipment left out in the open.

 

[Westcorkrailway]

I can’t speak on their behalf. Though Infairness. Standard gauge has to go in as that was the original plan and with all this rolling stock and motive power due in, I can see why they would be eager to put it down. Many of the volunteers there also have a fondness for the standard gauge stuff. 

[226 Abhann na Suire]

Saw pictures of bubble car 2751 being hauled up to Inchicore and have heard rumours of it being destined for Maam Cross… could it be true…??

[ttc0169]

56 minutes ago, 226 Abhann na Suire said:

Saw pictures of bubble car 2751 being hauled up to Inchicore and have heard rumours of it being destined for Maam Cross… could it be true…??

Yes. 

[airfixfan]

Open for business from.yesterday

[ttc0169]

A new arrival at Maam cross,thankfully in working order….2751. 
Thanks to PC for the use of his photo. 

[Horsetan]

Hopefully it won't end up like the exhibits in the Moyasta Graffiti Gallery...

[Mol_PMB]

Indeed. I hope the crew at Maam Cross can call on the expertise of people who know how to keep it going. Modern stock is much more challenging than 1960s locos, and if IE have given up on the 2700s that says something. 

[Mike Beckett]

On 29/8/2025 at 7:14 PM, Horsetan said:

Hopefully it won't end up like the exhibits in the Moyasta Graffiti Gallery...

You mean like this one?

[hurricanemk1c]

On 29/8/2025 at 7:25 PM, Mol_PMB said:

Indeed. I hope the crew at Maam Cross can call on the expertise of people who know how to keep it going. Modern stock is much more challenging than 1960s locos, and if IE have given up on the 2700s that says something. 

The 2700s were "given up" due to the arrival of 22047-22063 and an economic downturn focusing as much as possible on standardisation was the reasons. Had those extra ICR sets not arrived (and at the time don't forget some Mark 4 sets were stored too, and vehicles rotated through storage) it's more likely they would have stayed in traffic. Then when the economy picked up tenders went out to refurbish the sets, but the price wasn't far off new vehicles (again to an extent factors that were not the 2700 fleet fault).

[Horsetan]

1 hour ago, Mike Beckett said:

You mean like this one?

Yes, that was the "after extraction", no?

[Flying Snail]

6 hours ago, Mike Beckett said:

You mean like this one?

That is a great picture - a nice shot in its own right, but it also really captures what the ITG and Downpatrick volunteers have achieved.

[jhb171achill]

Downpatrick really is going from strength to strength. The partnership there with the ITG has paid off many times over.

[Mike Beckett]

Desperately sad to see the fire at Maam Cross today, I am sure we all join in sympathy for Jim and his team, this is dreadful.

[GSWR 90]

I saw these photos on the news/social media. Horrible to see the signal cabin go up in flames and sending best wishes to the great volunteers at Maam Cross. No doubt they will build back better, and a horrible day like today will be nothing more than a memory in the not-too-distant future.

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/breaking-horror-fire-engulfs-entire-36397136

You can donate on the Connemara Railway Project Gofundme page.

[airfixfan]

As someone involved in preservation another case of mindless vandalism by young people 

[Railtank]

Awful news from Maam Cross. After all the hard work.  Best wishes for the recovery 

[Horsetan]

24 minutes ago, airfixfan said:

As someone involved in preservation another case of mindless vandalism by young people 

We don't know whether it is, or if it might be the electrics going wrong.....

[Patrick Davey]

No evidence yet that it was deliberate folks.

Those photos are heartbreaking - when I saw the video clip I thought it was unkind AI, sadly I was mistaken.

[GSWR 90]

26 minutes ago, airfixfan said:

As someone involved in preservation another case of mindless vandalism by young people 

It wasn’t vandalism. It happened in the middle of the day, I think when they were running trains

[ttc0169]

1 hour ago, airfixfan said:

As someone involved in preservation another case of mindless vandalism by young people 

Not on this occasion. 

[airfixfan]

Still a dreadful and damaging event