Irish Narrow Gauge Railway Memories with Michael Davies - Part 2 Dingle Bound

Part 2 Dingle Bound

Aged 16 Michael Davies had a fascination with the Irish Narrow Gauge Railways. He set off on a mission to cover as many narrow gauge railways as possible. In 1951 he made the voyage, on his own, from his home in Cheshire to Dublin and onwards.

Michael continues on his journey, this time setting aboard a monthly cattle special bound for Dingle over the long winding route through the mountains. The railway closed to passengers in 1939 and railway enthusiasts travelled in the brake van with specially issued indemnity tickets.

Our Heritage Council funded railway carriage restoration ran on this line, and is also typical of the construction of railway carriages as at Ballinamore from 1887 to the 1950's. Michael has brought to us what it was like to travel on the railway. We hope to recreate a taster of this when our carriage is fully restored after the final phase of restoration.

Acknowledgements:

Thanks to those who supported the production of this clip, thanks in particular to Nick Dobson of RailFilms for use of original Arthur Camwell footage taken on the Tralee and Dingle Railway and the same occasion of Michael's visit in 1951.

Other footage by Richard D. Kehm.

Thank you also to Michael Davies for sharing his memories.