Tralee and Dingle

Not in the UK, so I hope you'll excuse me posting here...Mods, please move if desired

We are trying to re-open the "defunct" Tralee to Blennerville steam line in Co Kerry Republic of Ireland. Any support very welcome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/traleeanddinglesteamrailway/?fref=ts

 

What was the story with this operation? I know it got up and running in the 1980s and has clearly closed since - what happened?

Thanks.

Steven

 

The line closed down some years back when boiler problems with 5T became apparent. Our aim is to get the line running again with diesel power and eventually to repair 5Ts boiler . It's early days yet but the track and platforms are there requiring minimal attention so it isn't as big a project as some have been. We need volunters more than anything if we can get permission to take over the project (owned by Kerry County Council)

 

Recent photos....crying out to be resurrected. The line is around a mile and a hlf long and runs from Blennerville Windmill to Tralee Aquadome, both major attractions in the area via a Wetlands project with a Halt platform

 

Having travelled on "D Tingle" several times when in it's tourist reincarnation it was apparent that the new track was laid on track bed constructed to standards that were considered to be of a very high level circa 1900. Rock and roll was the best description of the very short journey on offer. No wonder the locomotive ended up being shaken to pieces and getting it's boiler thrashed.
As a tourist attraction the short distance was also for myself very disappointing though it did indeed ,as promised , represent "Irish Railways in the Rare Old Times".
At the very least another two miles or so of track would have made the return journey seem value for money rather than just another money grabbing venture.
I wish the new group seeking to run the line every success in their endeavours and hope they make a better job of things than the previous set of Buggleskelly style operators.

 

More stuff here: http://www.tdlr.info/ (mostly historic stuff)

The group behind the initiative to re-open this short stretch are led by a most imaginative and level-headed person who has long fought to get trains running again. And now with the support of local business people and a horde of supporters, the owners Kerry County Council are increasingly interested in what the group could offer. It is very early days but at least something is happening, at last.

Steve

 

In fairness the original set up was a commercial venture by non-enthusiasts. We think we can do better.shortage of volunteers, cash and a track bed means the current length will be with us for a good while regretably.

 

It is indeed (and it isn't me).

 

I shall watch these developments with great interest........

 

If you drive up the Dingle peninsular you don't have to go far before you reach a former station site which is next to the main road and right opposite a pub/cafe. If the line could reach there it would give a slightly more interesting run and being by the roadside might draw in some more visitors (not that it ever seemed short of visitors on the couple of occasions I visited when it was running, even with diesel). After that, there wouldn't be much point stopping until you got to Dingle (which is a busy tourist attraction in its own right, but possibly a bit too far unless you could "do a Welsh Highland", which would seem unlikely, sadly). Although wasn't there also a branch which essentially went to the beach?

Good luck folks. My wife's family have a holiday cottage not a million miles away, so we'll be along for a ride at some point.

 

The branch left from the station you describe (Annascaul), Whereas in an ideal world an extension would be great, practically, we've a mountain to climb to re-open the existing bit and the track bed west is pretty much all underneath the road now. The bit from Annascaul to Dingle would make the West Highland seem tame if ever it was re-built.

I think its was Whitehouse, or maybe Nock who described it as the "last bit of adventurous railway in Western Europe". Fascinating story, if you get the chance I recommend reading up about it

 

Oo- I know, Senator Palpatine??

 

It must have been a fantastic trip I can't see much of a westward extension, if any, nowadays. The old line crossed the old road several times at an angle at ungated crossings - I can't see that being allowed or even advisable with today's road traffic. BTW the junction was at Lower Camp, rather than Annascaul.

Once you start with the T&D, you'll be hooked

Steve

 

They do have some thoughts about "Heritage" stock ............. which is just one of the reasons why I'm interested

 

I wish you all the best with this, assuming those are recent pictures it almost looks ready to go...

Must say though you are taking on something quite big because money is scarce in Ireland right now. We holiday near the fintown railway each year and they struggle to keep going, though he did mention they have a steam engine due one of these days. I think many folk are struggling to so not sure what spare time they will have for this..

 

I don't think it's a matter of "money being short", it's more that the heritage railways in Ireland have a relatively small population within day-trip range. I think it's true to say that visitors to lines in England are mainly day-trippers which gives a huge advantage to (for example) SVR, ELR, NYMR, KWVR, Bluebell. One of the attractions of western Ireland is the lack of mass tourism, but that doesn't help you run a heritage railway there.

 

you are spot on, nickt, we have a mountain to climb, but at least the track is there already and station platforms and an engine shed. Many lines in the UK started with far less.

Tralee is a touristy place with great potential so we are hopeful. The line runs from a restored windmill to The Aquadome via a Wetlands project (with brand new never used halt platform in place) with the Brandon Mountains in the background and a restored ship canal paralel, and world famous Dingle and it's peninsula down the road (and only accessible by passing the Railway). There aren't huge numbers of people, so we'll have to go out and drag them in! Volunteers will be scarce for the same reasons.

 

If you could find a means of providing some sort of accommodation, perhaps you could try to attract volunteers from Great Britain, or even further afield, in the same way that many of the Welsh lines attract volunteers from England? I know the Irish Sea is a bit of a barrier, but could be worth a try.

Anyway, very best of luck with the project. I know we'd all love to see a longer run and more authentic rolling stock, but as you say, you have enough of a mountain to climb just to re-instate what was there. Plant the acorn now, and hopefully an oak will one day grow from it.

(Although having said that, I'm very concious that there are two ex-T&D coaches currently stored in a museum in New Jersey. Now if you could only persuade every British railway enthusiast who has ever angrily demanded that "the Americans should give us back OUR A4s!" that these would be a far more worthwhile repatriation project, you could probably have them back in Ireland by lunchtime tomorrow... )

 

Update: this is the new facebook page replacing the old one
https://www.facebook.com/traleeanddinglerailway?ref=ts&fref=ts

As I understand it negotiations are progressing very well with a view to getting access to the Railway and substantial funding. It is hoped to start a diesel service next season with the prospect of T&D loco no 5 (aka CIE 5T) being tackled in a few years time with a view to a return to service.

The Railway is receiving massive support from the people of Kerry, with well over 700 likes to the new fb page in a very short period of time.

Meanwhile the Society is being constituted and will open for membership very shortly.

Access to the loco shed was granted recently...see photos.

The Society is looking for an additional diesel loco If you can help, please contact them via the fb page