Irish Railway Record Society

SOCIETY MATTERS

No. 14

June 2010

Journal 172

Issue No. 172 contains a major study of the early history of the 141/181 class locomotives, now coming towards the end of nearly 50 years of service on the Irish railway network. The author, our member Brian Solomon, is a well-known and prolific writer on the railroad scene in North America, and is the author of many books on the subject. Brian’s paper makes extensive use of archival material to reveal the background to the 141/181 story.

Earlier periods are revisited in Henry Beaumont’s account of his journey to Burtonport in 1940, and John O’Meara’s paper on an accident at Collooney in 1943 – this giving a vivid picture of the difficulties of railway working during the wartime years.

The Cork-Cobh re-signalling is reported on by Oliver Doyle. The current scene receives the usual comprehensive treatment, along with separate treatment of recent accident reports, and a note on the demolition of the Carlisle Pier (Dún Laoghaire) station structure, and its aftermath.

Volume 24

Members are reminded that Journal 172 is the second issue of Volume 24, representing pages 81-144. This volume commenced with the 8-page Journal 171 of February 2010.

Attribution of Photographs

The photographer for the front cover picture on the current Journal is not known. The original slide is in the Society’s collection, with brief details written on it location and year, but no further information. If any member can suggest the possible photographer, or better still, provide definitive information, such input would be very welcome.

The same applies to any photograph, in any issue of the Journal, where the same arises, or where the attribution is incorrect.

Programme of Events

Details of the remaining Summer events and outings accompany the Journal, along with the Winter programme to the end of 2010. Members should note in particular the Annual Dinner, to take place on Monday 29 November 2010. Please also refer to the Society’s website for up to date information.

Western Rail Corridor Outing – 24 April 2010

We have received a letter from David Ellis of the Railway Children Chari to say “thank you so much for not only everything you did for the tour itself, but also everything you’ve been doing since to help generate such a fantastic total figure for us – the final total of €14,000 is incredible.

“As I said to both yourself and Gregg, it really was an absolute pleasure to meet you, and the day across the Western Corridor was one of my most memorable since I’ve been with Railway Children, made so much more so by the people I met such as yourself.“

Our thanks to all who not enjoyed a very special day out, but also contributed so generously to this very worthwhile cause.

Aiden Carolan, Drimnagh Road

We regret to record the decease of our member Aiden Carolan, who passed away at the end of February, 2010. Aiden was for many years a regular participant at Society events. We extend the sympathy of the Society and its members to Aiden’s relatives and friends, in particular Bernard H Allan, who notified us of Aiden’s death.

Biographical Dictionary of Railway Engineers

Gerald Beesley is in the final stages of compiling a biographical dictionary of Ireland's Railway Engineers, which it is hoped to have ready for publication by the end of 2010. In addition to biographical information on engineers who worked on Irish railways, Irish engineers who worked on overseas railways will be included. The period covered will be from the appointment of Vignoles in 1831 as Engineer of the Dublin & Kingstown Railway up to the end of 1975, when departmental re-organisation took place in both CIÉ and NIR. Over 700 candidates have been identified for inclusion, but there are still some persons for whom it has not been possible to find much information. The compiler who be pleased to hear from anyone having information on the careers of any of the following engineers:

Irish Heritage Railway Group

For some time, an informal group of enthusiasts has been investigating the possibility of identifying a suitable site for a preserved 5ft 3in gauge railway within roughly an hour's drive from central Dublin. "Identifying a site" is emphasised here: NOT "trying to set up a railway". The group gave itself no remit other than research, in order to be able to provide research background for any group that might in future be inclined to set out serious proposals for a scheme of this nature.

Almost twenty theoretically possible sites were investigated in detail over the last year and a half. A good third of them were found to be worthy of immediate dismissal for a variety of reasons, while many more failed even basic tests. In more recent times, a small number of potentially suitable sites have been found to warrant further investigation, down to the level of discussions with landowners.

The group has formalised itself as a new organisation, the Irish Heritage Railway Group, and appointed a committee whose members include RPSI, IRRS, ITG and DCDR members, as well as professional railwaymen. Membership is currently not yet generally open, but will be made so IF and WHEN any conclusions reached clearly point the way towards the feasibility, rather than the impossibility, of establishing another preserved railway in Ireland.

Further information about this venture will be available on the internet. All in the Group are very well aware that there is every possibility that nothing may come of this - or that the research may indicate that a DCDR style operation near Dublin is just not realistic. But the research at least is worth doing.

MICHAEL J. WALSH,

For Journal Editorial and Production Team

Copyright © 2010 by Irish Railway Record Society Ltd.
Revised: August 13, 2010 .