Irish Narrow Gauge Railway Memories with Michael Davies - Part 3 The Passenger Days

Part 3 The Passenger Days

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 memories, following on from the last clip travelling on the Tralee and Dingle Railway, he later went on to meet railway enthusiasts who travelled on the line during passenger days. The railway closing for passengers in 1939. Michael became friends with G. Aston who travelled on the very last day of passenger trains between Dingle and Tralee.

Our very own Heritage Council funded carriage restoration most likely was used on this day of last trains. We are grateful for the funding awarded to restore the chassis as the second phase of restoration for the carriage project. The chassis construction 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, LMS London to Manchester Express (Random Railways), Holyhead Ferry (Alan Snowdon Archive)

Thank you also to Michael Davies for sharing his memories.