LONDONDE RRY’S MORIBUND MUSEUM ‘WILL RE-OPEN’
The charity hoping to take over the Foyle Valley Railway Museum in Londonderry has confirmed that it intends to re-open the museum as part of the deal. Destined, a support group for people with learning difficulties, is presently the preferred bidder for the premises, which closed at the end of last March. The North West of Ireland Railway Society, which claims ownership of some of the exhibits, had expressed fears for its future - but Destined manager Dermot O’Hara stressed that re-opening the museum, possibly as early as this summer, was a key part of its plan. He said: “We feel it would be a tourist amenity and provide training opportunities for some of the 150 people on our books.” Destined is negotiating with Derry City and Strabane District Council for a 50-year lease on the premises, and has already secured funding for a £1 million extension to the building. Mr O’Hara said he had been assured by the local authority that all the exhibits were either owned by the council or were its responsibility.
“We intend to set up a railway sub-group and would invite all interested parties to become involved. “There was a train ride operation at one stage and we would like the sub-group to recommend whether this should be reinstated or developed.” Among the museum collection of narrow gauge rolling stock and artefacts from North-West Irish railway systems are two 3ft gauge County Donegal Railway 2-6-4Ts, both built by Nasmyth Wilson in Patricroft in 1907. No. 6 Columbkille is inside the museum, while No. 4 Meenglas has been out in the open for years and is little more than a shell.