Thanks for that. Once there is a regular scheduled opening I will do a video on the logistics of getting to the station, where to stay if visiting etc. Would share the desire to see this progress.
I only visited Connemara once many years ago now and was absolutely blown away by its beauty. Having a narrow gauge railway running through it is a surefire winner.
Yes, this part of Connemara is quite spectacular. The views from the sections of road they have upgraded are much better than before but the views from the railway line are better again. It's like being in another part of the world.
The narrow gauge rail system donated by the State agency was used supply 'peat' not turf, to power station's. Those stations burned loose (semi-dried) machine harvested peat, not sod's of turf saved by hand.
Delighted to see this. Only looking at old slides from the mid 1960,s when I was a nipper. Up in Donegal among the old Donegal Railway rolling stock and stations. I believe they have a line open too. I used to cycle to BenLettery hostel in my youth hosteling days and see some of the old permanant way was still there, the odd bridge and think what if... Great to see trains there again. Out of little acorns.
Quite an interesting update. It looks as though the project will be a popular attraction when it is completed! The only thing I might suggest is that you put a map up at the beginning to show where it is located. Some background about the general surroundings would be helpful for those new to this railway. Thanks for uploading.
Thanks for that. Yeah, I included it in the last update video and I would tend to agree with you that a short 10-15 sec segment showing the location is warranted. You are always going to have people who view the latest video first before seeing the earlier ones. I'll bring this back in for next years update.
@@EuviRail I noticed there were CIE coaches in the video. Please could you make a video about the Irish models in your collection, entertaining the fantasy that enthusiasts have restored a line as shown in this video? Thanks
@@AllensTrains Yes, a run through my Irish collection is probably warranted as it is a significant collection at this point. Once I have footage for all the newer elements (which are actually from the older eras!) I'll do a session on that. Some great locos and rolling stock to be covered.
Right now, the current potential will be limited to a 5-6 km stretch that runs either side of the station. The route to Oughterard is recoverable but pushes the investment up a significant level. I'll do a detailed walk through of the line later in the year which will highlight the potential as well as those areas where the line is irrecoverable.
I like the BR Mark 3 sleeping car ! Once in service between London Euston and Inverness . Must have cost a pretty penny ? I assume it's for volunteers to sleep in . This one of last places you would expect to see one ! ( Although Irish Railways did use BR made carriages between Dublin and Belfast )
The livery of the narrow-gauge coaches is certainly in keeping with the CIE period which didn't come in until after 1945, by which time the Galway-Clifden line had been closed for the best part of a decade. However, the beauty of this type of thing is that you can eventually backdate to the Great Southern Railway era from 1925 up to the closure of the line.
Yes, they have also acquired a full size coach in that same CIE livery for restoration. I think a lot of people would love to see a fully representative reproduction of an original train, loco and all. Will definitely take a few years to get there but that would be something when achieved.
Smhorse, The CIE flying snail emblem was used also by the Great Southern Railways before becoming CIE in 1945. In fact very little changed between 1945 when the government amalgamated GSR with DUTC, and 1950 when CIE was nationalised. I have no idea what livery was worn by locomotives and rolling stock on the Clifden branch prior to closure in 1935, but as the branch was broad gauge and connected directly to the main line at Galway, it's reasonable to suppose that wagons ran through and coaches were rotated from Broadstone or Inchicore.
You have a lovely channel which i enjoy ...did you stay in a b nb with all those visits ...if so , could you reccommend one thats close to the railway station . Kind regards
Thanks for that. I live only just over an hour or so drive away. I held off on all the travel and accommodation stuff for this video but will cover it in more detail in a video once the the station is open on a more scheduled basis. There is an adjacent hotel but that is currently being used for migrant accommodation so not open to the public right at present. For now, my recommendation would be to stay in Oughterard which is 10 or so miles away, or in Galway and get a bus to Maam Cross www.buseireann.ie/routes-and-timetables/419.
I have seen updates for this project it looks like its coming along, is the ultimate plan to relay to irish standard gauge or will the narrow gauge be the main running line?
In the near term, the intent is to continue with the narrow gauge but there would be a desire for a full gauge offering as that is what the station was built for. I'll see if I can get Jim Deegan to do another interview for this year's update - there may be more than one update this year depending on what is going on.
So 3 questions. 1. When will the gauge be converted to Irish Gauge? 2. When will the Irish Traction Group and West Clare Railway (Irish Gauge) be invited to bring their stock here? 3. When will NIR No. 1 be acquired for the Railway? That is a Diesel at Beavor Power Ltd on Goat Mill Road, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil. They don't use it. But they are looking for a buyer.
Great questions but without a clear view on finances they are impossible to answer. Right now there is no major sponsor/benefactor. GoFundMe is it, coupled with rolling stock donations and sponsorship of transportation. The immediate focus is to get the attraction open on a regular basis for late spring/summer. Important from both a direct revenue perspective as well as attracting potential future grant aid and/or sponsorship. The migration to full gauge will be a big one including addressing the traction and rolling stock requirements. Right now, it's all about getting open for the summer and addressing the other immediate station work.
@@EuviRail Well, why not invite the ITG to bring their stuff to Connemara? Also, I have found a vintage Irish Diesel for the taking. All you need is to send someone to negotiate the rights to acquire it.
I never saw a railway in Connemara when I was there in 2015 !! And I stopped at Maams Cross briefly . Is it new ? I saw the remnants of one when I went to a small town west of Galway ! I forgets the name ! I think it might have been Clifden ? There were names and references to a railway once being there long ago ! Like the old station cafe or hotel and street names I think with a railway reference ? Station road ? And a few old railway buildings ? Was this the same railway ? I guess it must have been as I remember turning a Maam crossing on the way to Cong ! (I think ? )
It sounds like you were in Clifden where they have the Station House Hotel which has elements of the old station there. The work at Maam Cross station only kicked off in 2017/2018. There was no rail line and no rolling stock of any description back in 2015, just the derelict shell of the old station. You could have been turning off for Cong alright.
I have been a supporter of this for a very long time. A full steam train service from Galway to Clifden would be a dream but unfortunately it would be impractical...
Thanks for that. Unfortunately, sections of the original track bed are inaccessible now. I'll cover this in a detailed review of the path of the original line later in the year. This will also show what could potentially be recovered.
I'm sure the Connemara Railway will be a successful tourist attraction, but one of my concerns is when the Irish standard gauge is reconstructed, where will they get steam locomotives from?😐
Excellent question. The number of operational preserved steam locos on the island is very limited and it will be a number of years before that transition will be realisable. I'm not aware if any specific loco has been earmarked.
It's out and back to Maam Cross Station, and while the length of the line will grow over time, this will be it without some major investment. I'll cover the current scope of the line and the challenges to extend it further in some videos later in the year.
@@EuviRail Facinating. Lots of nice little lakes to drive past.....not far from where Roxy Music's Avalon album was inspired, along with the album cover shoot.
@@cloverfield911 It's an amazing landscape - peppered with small lakes and mountains - building a railway here was a real challenge. Such a shame the original was abandoned and torn up back in the 1930s.
Reopening of the railway line would cut down on Pollution, Car Accidents, Traffic Jams & Road Deaths. 24 hour trains in summertime & St Stephen's Day trains.
Thanks Martin. I will be doing some "walking the line" videos towards the summer which will consider the feasibility for different sections of the line and come to some conclusions. I'm with you in terms of the potential benefits. The West of Ireland was on it's knees when the line was closed but things are different now, apart from the scenery, which is as spectacular as ever.
Yes, there are lot of elements in terms of safefy and public convenience that need to be in place but the Santa's Train was an excellent trial run and the coming summer should see more regular opening hours as opposed to one off events.
This was fascinating and uplifting. Have to visit, would love to see it grow
Thanks for that. Once there is a regular scheduled opening I will do a video on the logistics of getting to the station, where to stay if visiting etc. Would share the desire to see this progress.
I only visited Connemara once many years ago now and was absolutely blown away by its beauty. Having a narrow gauge railway running through it is a surefire winner.
Yes, this part of Connemara is quite spectacular. The views from the sections of road they have upgraded are much better than before but the views from the railway line are better again. It's like being in another part of the world.
The narrow gauge rail system donated by the State agency was used supply 'peat' not turf, to power station's.
Those stations burned loose (semi-dried) machine harvested peat, not sod's of turf saved by hand.
The signal box is the highlight for me at the moment. Beautiful restoration.
Yes, some excellent work. Thanks for that.
Delighted to see this. Only looking at old slides from the mid 1960,s when I was a nipper. Up in Donegal among the old Donegal Railway rolling stock and stations. I believe they have a line open too.
I used to cycle to BenLettery hostel in my youth hosteling days and see some of the old permanant way was still there, the odd bridge and think what if... Great to see trains there again. Out of little acorns.
100%. Thanks for sharing.
Quite an interesting update. It looks as though the project will be a popular attraction when it is completed! The only thing I might suggest is that you put a map up at the beginning to show where it is located. Some background about the general surroundings would be helpful for those new to this railway. Thanks for uploading.
Thanks for that. Yeah, I included it in the last update video and I would tend to agree with you that a short 10-15 sec segment showing the location is warranted. You are always going to have people who view the latest video first before seeing the earlier ones. I'll bring this back in for next years update.
@@EuviRail I noticed there were CIE coaches in the video. Please could you make a video about the Irish models in your collection, entertaining the fantasy that enthusiasts have restored a line as shown in this video? Thanks
@@AllensTrains Yes, a run through my Irish collection is probably warranted as it is a significant collection at this point. Once I have footage for all the newer elements (which are actually from the older eras!) I'll do a session on that. Some great locos and rolling stock to be covered.
@@EuviRail I look forward to that! Please explain about Irish railway eras, and the models that have been produced. Thanks.
Wonderful to see such progress on this great project! 👏
Seeing narrow gauge and big broad sharing adjacent platforms nods a hint of the L & B at Barnstaple.
Truely incredible what you're achieving in Connemara.
I don't know how often I've passed Maam Cross on the way up to the Turks or Bens (or further afield). It's great to see the railway being used again!
100%. In 2017, the station was totally abandoned. Only the shell remained.
very lovely indeed, thanks for sharing - Posperous growth - Regards Elizabeth
Great update. Really atmospheric photography. M
Well done. Where will the train run from and to. Another great loss to tourism was the West Clare railway
Right now, the current potential will be limited to a 5-6 km stretch that runs either side of the station. The route to Oughterard is recoverable but pushes the investment up a significant level. I'll do a detailed walk through of the line later in the year which will highlight the potential as well as those areas where the line is irrecoverable.
I like the BR Mark 3 sleeping car ! Once in service between London Euston and Inverness . Must have cost a pretty penny ? I assume it's for volunteers to sleep in . This one of last places you would expect to see one ! ( Although Irish Railways did use BR made carriages between Dublin and Belfast )
I was as shocked as you when I saw it. Yes, it's used for volunteer accommodation. It had to be re-gauged as well to fit the Irish track.
@ It Didn't need to be regauged ! That's a lot of work !! It only needed a short stretch of Standard gauge track to be put down for it to sit on !
The livery of the narrow-gauge coaches is certainly in keeping with the CIE period which didn't come in until after 1945, by which time the Galway-Clifden line had been closed for the best part of a decade. However, the beauty of this type of thing is that you can eventually backdate to the Great Southern Railway era from 1925 up to the closure of the line.
Yes, they have also acquired a full size coach in that same CIE livery for restoration. I think a lot of people would love to see a fully representative reproduction of an original train, loco and all. Will definitely take a few years to get there but that would be something when achieved.
Smhorse,
The CIE flying snail emblem was used also by the Great Southern Railways before becoming CIE in 1945. In fact very little changed between 1945 when the government amalgamated GSR with DUTC, and 1950 when CIE was nationalised.
I have no idea what livery was worn by locomotives and rolling stock on the Clifden branch prior to closure in 1935, but as the branch was broad gauge and connected directly to the main line at Galway, it's reasonable to suppose that wagons ran through and coaches were rotated from Broadstone or Inchicore.
Very nice, like
You have a lovely channel which i enjoy ...did you stay in a b nb with all those visits ...if so , could you reccommend one thats close to the railway station . Kind regards
Thanks for that. I live only just over an hour or so drive away. I held off on all the travel and accommodation stuff for this video but will cover it in more detail in a video once the the station is open on a more scheduled basis. There is an adjacent hotel but that is currently being used for migrant accommodation so not open to the public right at present. For now, my recommendation would be to stay in Oughterard which is 10 or so miles away, or in Galway and get a bus to Maam Cross www.buseireann.ie/routes-and-timetables/419.
I have seen updates for this project it looks like its coming along, is the ultimate plan to relay to irish standard gauge or will the narrow gauge be the main running line?
In the near term, the intent is to continue with the narrow gauge but there would be a desire for a full gauge offering as that is what the station was built for. I'll see if I can get Jim Deegan to do another interview for this year's update - there may be more than one update this year depending on what is going on.
@EuviRail I will keep my eyes open for further updates. I need to return to Ireland and do some filming of the preserved lines at somepoint
Is that maker's plate on the water tank at 2:45?
So 3 questions.
1. When will the gauge be converted to Irish Gauge?
2. When will the Irish Traction Group and West Clare Railway (Irish Gauge) be invited to bring their stock here?
3. When will NIR No. 1 be acquired for the Railway? That is a Diesel at Beavor Power Ltd on Goat Mill Road, Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil. They don't use it. But they are looking for a buyer.
Great questions but without a clear view on finances they are impossible to answer. Right now there is no major sponsor/benefactor. GoFundMe is it, coupled with rolling stock donations and sponsorship of transportation. The immediate focus is to get the attraction open on a regular basis for late spring/summer. Important from both a direct revenue perspective as well as attracting potential future grant aid and/or sponsorship. The migration to full gauge will be a big one including addressing the traction and rolling stock requirements. Right now, it's all about getting open for the summer and addressing the other immediate station work.
@@EuviRail Well, why not invite the ITG to bring their stuff to Connemara? Also, I have found a vintage Irish Diesel for the taking. All you need is to send someone to negotiate the rights to acquire it.
Wonderful work
I never saw a railway in Connemara when I was there in 2015 !! And I stopped at Maams Cross briefly . Is it new ? I saw the remnants of one when I went to a small town west of Galway ! I forgets the name ! I think it might have been Clifden ? There were names and references to a railway once being there long ago ! Like the old station cafe or hotel and street names I think with a railway reference ? Station road ? And a few old railway buildings ? Was this the same railway ? I guess it must have been as I remember turning a Maam crossing on the way to Cong ! (I think ? )
It sounds like you were in Clifden where they have the Station House Hotel which has elements of the old station there. The work at Maam Cross station only kicked off in 2017/2018. There was no rail line and no rolling stock of any description back in 2015, just the derelict shell of the old station. You could have been turning off for Cong alright.
I have been a supporter of this for a very long time. A full steam train service from Galway to Clifden would be a dream but unfortunately it would be impractical...
Thanks for that. Unfortunately, sections of the original track bed are inaccessible now. I'll cover this in a detailed review of the path of the original line later in the year. This will also show what could potentially be recovered.
I'm sure the Connemara Railway will be a successful tourist attraction, but one of my concerns is when the Irish standard gauge is reconstructed, where will they get steam locomotives from?😐
Excellent question. The number of operational preserved steam locos on the island is very limited and it will be a number of years before that transition will be realisable. I'm not aware if any specific loco has been earmarked.
It would be great if they could get the old original T5 locomotive from the dilapidated Tralee to Blenerville line before she rots away altogether
100%
Where do the line run from --- to?
It's out and back to Maam Cross Station, and while the length of the line will grow over time, this will be it without some major investment. I'll cover the current scope of the line and the challenges to extend it further in some videos later in the year.
@@EuviRail Facinating. Lots of nice little lakes to drive past.....not far from where Roxy Music's Avalon album was inspired, along with the album cover shoot.
@@cloverfield911 It's an amazing landscape - peppered with small lakes and mountains - building a railway here was a real challenge. Such a shame the original was abandoned and torn up back in the 1930s.
@@EuviRail Looks fantastic. I love the old level-crossing gate.
Reopening of the railway line would cut down on Pollution, Car Accidents, Traffic Jams & Road Deaths. 24 hour trains in summertime & St Stephen's Day trains.
Thanks Martin. I will be doing some "walking the line" videos towards the summer which will consider the feasibility for different sections of the line and come to some conclusions. I'm with you in terms of the potential benefits. The West of Ireland was on it's knees when the line was closed but things are different now, apart from the scenery, which is as spectacular as ever.
Not far from opening now it seems.
Yes, there are lot of elements in terms of safefy and public convenience that need to be in place but the Santa's Train was an excellent trial run and the coming summer should see more regular opening hours as opposed to one off events.