Found this railway property for sale on Daft.ie – €130k for a burnt out shell of a former stationmaster’s house on a railway line with no services. It is an offer I can happily refuse.
Categories
Author: ewan.duffy
Categories
The shit train
TalkRadio have a segment about a niche idea for a train powered by shit. (technically it is the methane from the shit but why miss the opportunity for a headline!).
I could see the usefulness of such small trains for lightly used services out of Limerick – the question would have to be does Limerick generate enough shit to keep a railway network running?
The Donegal News reports on a meeting held between representatives of a campaign group calling itself “Into the West” and Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for Transport, to advocate for a restoration of railway lines into Donegal.
Much as I support the encouragement of rail travel and the development of existing/new routes to do so, methinks that this group is on a hiding to nothing on this one. The only railways in Donegal for the forseeable future will be that at Fintown and Sir Gerry Robinson’s private line.
Categories
Iveagh Markets – a new twist
The Iveagh Markets in Dublin 8 have been an on/off story over the last few years, due to proposals to re-develop the site by a publican/property developer.
Due to the failure of same to actually carry out the proposals, Dublin City Council re-took possession of the Iveagh Markets and legal action ensued.
There has now been a new twist in the saga – when the Iveagh Markets were transferred to Dublin Corporation (as it was then) shortly after its completion, a reverter clause was included which required the building to be used as a market for locals in the area.
Lord Iveagh activated the reverter clause earlier this week and has re-taken possession of the building and had new locks applied.
I came upon an entry in the NIAH database for 10 Euston Street, Greenore, which included the following statement:
” Built for the workers of the Great Northern Railway, which was completed in 1873″.
As the site includes an option to email suggested amendments, I did so, pointing out that the houses were built for the Dundalk Newry and Greenore Railway. I received the following response:
” Our records suggest that the workers’ houses on the east side of Euston Street were completed in 1872, which, strictly speaking, means that they were built by the Dundalk and Greenore Railway (D&GR) Company. The company was renamed a year later to include Newry in the title. “
Point taken and in fairness to the NIAH, they have advised that they will be amending the record in due course to remove reference to the Great Northern Railway.
Categories
Mullingar signal cabin
RTE randomly provided this archive clip of the closure of Mullingar signal cabin in 2005 on their site today.
Categories
South Kerry Greenway approved
RTE reports that An Bord Pleanála has approved the plans for the greenway along the bulk of the trackbed of the former Farranfore to Valentia Harbour railway in Kerry and associated compulsory purchase orders.
One wonders what the point of a greenway in a lockdown State is.
Meath Archaeological and Historical Society are hosting an online (Zoom) talk on the above topic. The speaker, Siobhan Osgood, has researched the architecture of the GNR(I) extensively.
Registration for the talk is required – see the MAHS website for details.
Categories
Bloody Sunday Bridge
RTE reports that the bridge over the Royal Canal at Russell Street/Jones’ Road in Dublin is to be renamed Bloody Sunday Bridge, in commemoration of the events of Bloody Sunday (21 November 1920) when the Black and Tans fired on attendees at a match in Croke Park.
Categories
Saved by a whale
I’m sure when the relevant authorities commissioned and installed an art work in Spijkenisse in The Netherlands, the sculpture (of a whale) playing a part in railway safety wasn’t part of the consideration.