mgwr preserved railway Connemara Railway project.

[Past-Avenue]

Great work to all evolved

[228RiverOwenboy]

Absolutely amazing work! Fair play to all involved; this is a big step in Irish railway preservation. 

[Colin R]

All I can say is 'Nurse the screens' what a fantasic sight and just so good, I would suggest one thing folks, you need to have two locos on site, so if one fails you have a second as a back up, you don't want to be open to the public for the one and only loco to have failed. 

But if you don't mind where the second one comes from I did hear that the Sri Lankan Railways had a couple of 5ft 6in gauge deisel locos for sale. 

[228RiverOwenboy]

30 minutes ago, Colin R said:

Sri Lankan Railways had a couple of 5ft 6in gauge deisel locos for sale. 

An NIR DH's possible return home...?

[Bob229]

Fantastic work, great progress well done to all involved 

[ttc0169]

Recent progress at Maam cross was the external painting and internal cleaning out of the water tank…preparations are being made for this to be lifted into position over the coming weeks. 
The site also received a lovely mention in the June issue of Trains magazine,Americas best selling railway magazine. 
 

[228RiverOwenboy]

Fantastic work so far, fair play to all involved! 

[Westcorkrailway]

1 hour ago, ttc0169 said:

Recent progress at Maam cross was the external painting and internal cleaning out of the water tank…preparations are being made for this to be lifted into position over the coming weeks. 
The site also received a lovely mention in the June issue of Trains magazine,Americas best selling railway magazine. 
 

Where did the water tank come from??? Origional?

[ttc0169]

21 hours ago, Westcorkrailway said:

Where did the water tank come from??? Origional?

South west of Ireland-not a railway original. 

[ttc0169]

Recent progress at Maam cross seen extension of the 5’3” track,

External painting of the signal cabin into authentic livery of green and cream and connecting the interlocking with point rodding 

 

 

[Gabhal Luimnigh]

Fabulous work 

[Gabhal Luimnigh]

If ye ever need any welding done then let me know, I'd be glad to help out.

[Colin R]

You guys are doing a fine job can't wait to hear when you start to run the railway. 

Out of interest just how long is the standard gauge track now?

Edited August 6, 2023 by Colin R

[Bob229]

Fantastic work,  the signal box has made huge progress a credit to all involved 

[Flying Snail]

The cream and green looks very well - a freshly painted station would have looked very smart indeed back in the day.

[ttc0169]

4 hours ago, Colin R said:

You guys are doing a fine job can't wait to hear when you start to run the railway. 

Out of interest just how long is the standard gauge track now?

Thanks Colin,

Currently there are only about 10 5’3” gauge track panels laid at the site. 

[Colin R]

22 hours ago, ttc0169 said:

Thanks Colin,

Currently there are only about 10 5’3” gauge track panels laid at the site. 

I guess the trouble is that a lot of it is taken up by what rolling stock you have on site

[ttc0169]

Ongoing work continues on the signal cabin at Maam cross 

 

[irishrailways52]

great work. it is so great to see proper track being laid instead of some lump of tarmacadam which some people call greenways. 

[LARNE CABIN]

Absolutely terrific work guys, love all the work on the cabin to date, a combination of pristine perfection and nostalgia.

[Gabhal Luimnigh]

Fabulous work, fair dues to everyone involved.

[Colin R]

Wow looking so good. Can't wait to see the trackbed in front of the signal cabin laid out as it should be, you are doing great work. 

[Bob229]

Fantastic work,  well done to all involved 

[Colin R]

Hi Guys No pressure but is there a track plan for the site from the good old days, I am trying to think what it was like back then.  

[jhb171achill]

1 hour ago, Colin R said:

Hi Guys No pressure but is there a track plan for the site from the good old days, I am trying to think what it was like back then.  

Yes, this plan exists. There wasn't much there - after all, it's in the middle of nowhere - there was just the passing loop, which wasn't used much in latter days, and a siding to the goods shed. The cabin was demolished after the line closed. The replacement has a somewhat wide base, for some reason. The main station building lasted intact into the 1960s but was levelled then, and an unsightly shed put in its place. Due to disabled access issues, unfortunately it won't be possible to replicate this exactly, but the goods shed survives in original, if very derelict condition. It would be possible to restore that.

At least the signal cabin is painted in a close colour to the latterly used GSR green and cream! (The MGWR had red and cream on stations, which must have looked nice with green locomotives and brown carriages....).

[ttc0169]

Work continues at the Maam Cross Connemara Railway Project,

Ballast plough van 24853 is in the early stages of its bodywork overhaul and repaint,
A base undercoat of grey was applied to one side of the bodywork and veranda today to assess what will be required from the forthcoming body makers visit,

Thank you goes to the Iarnrod Éireann paint spray facility at Inchicore for help and advice on this ongoing project. 

Also more work was completed on the fantastic signal cabin with interior and exterior work ongoing,

Finally our hard working Deutz locomotive received some maintenance and was used for several light engine movements up and down the line and all is well  

[Gabhal Luimnigh]

Outstanding work and dedication. Huge credit to you all.

[Noel]

Wonderful to see they have a few old B&T coaches as well. Great that ROI will finally have a proper 5ft3in operational heritage rail line in the future. Great results so far. It will be a time capsule back to the glory days of rural MGWR. Are they basing it on Jonathan's Dugort layout?

[popeye]

The signal cabin is beautiful and the plough van is coming on well. 

[Bob229]

Fantastic work the plough van is progressing well, the signal box is outstanding, well done all

[StevieB]

To anyone involved in the early of getting a heritage railway off the ground, these photos evoke powerful memories. Lovely to see.

Stephen

[irishrailways52]

superb work. just wondering if there are any days this year when it will be open for public running

[ttc0169]

An excellent video of Maam cross station by @declan64

 

[ttc0169]

On 30/8/2023 at 3:20 PM, irishrailways52 said:

superb work. just wondering if there are any days this year when it will be open for public running

PM me when you decide to visit and we will arrange a viewing and a spin…!!

[ttc0169]

Returning to Maam cross-the site was being made ready for its first customers,

Some gravel was distributed along the goods siding platform beside coach 2421-the office building will be the next project on the to do list. 

Another side on ballast plough van was painted with primer along with some other under frame details. 

Preparations were made to install the Maam cross station name board on the up Galway platform. 

Finally toilet facilities were reinstated in the Mk3 sleeper coach.