Foyle Valley Railway - the abyss beckons!

Hi all

Over on an Irish model railway forum, the subject of the Foyle Valley Railway came up, and some folk want to get the message out to the larger heritage world about a possible closure of this site in Londonderry.

I am not a member, nor am I involved with the FVR, but I said I would start a thread for those involved to find on here.

 

The actual railway hasn't run for years, although the museum remains open. Maybe it's the future of the museum that's in jeopardy; it wouldn't be the first time.

 

Derry, not londonderry

 

Run by a charity called Destined which was appointed by the council since the volunteers were kicked out and the building extended to deliberately block rail access at one end.
Track abandoned and the NWIRS denied access to retrieve the only surviving L&LSR carriage which is their property.
Meenglas given a cosmetic spruce up and then returned to outside 'display', I believe the loco is also owned by NWIRS.
Could have been so much more (restoration of the route to Carrigans was planned at one time) until the politicians got involved.

Not sure where the rumours are coming from, and it doesn't surprise me, but I would think that the exhibits are relatively safe.

NWIRS don't do themselves any favours either - no online presence, and I believe others have tried to make contact without any success.

 

Do we need to get into that particular vexed debate? There are arguments for and against both.

 

Hi Keith.

I have found trying to contact the NWIRS in the past almost impossible; the only part of the Donegal railway that is open to help are the guys at the Donegal heritage station itself.

I think I read somewhere that the NWIRS were linked to the operation on the Glenties branch, and a couple of years ago, they were asking for someone to come and take it over, as the people operating it had had enough. Again, trying to find out what the current situation is has resulted in not getting any response to my email.

It is a shame since the Donegal and Swilly lines could be a major tourist attraction and employer for that part of Ireland.

I do realise that they simply don't have the number of volunteers in Ireland as we do over here in the UK, but there must be a long-term solution to all of this.