Irish museum scores a first for steam loco cab simulator
THE first steam locomotive cab simulator in Ireland is to be built at Donegal Railway Heritage Centre thanks to a E17,695 grant from The Heritage Council.
The cash will allow the heritage centre to build the cab which will incorporate digitally-operated controls visuals and authentic sounds and gauges, giving visitors the chance to see what is was really like to be in control of a Donegal railway steam locomotive.
Centre manager Niall McCaughan came up with the idea when he visited the Railway Tavern, Fahan, housed in the former Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway station on the Derry-Buncrana line, and saw the railway-themed restaurant’s firebox grill, designed to resemble the cab of a Swilly locomotive.
“I was there with director Jim McBride for a launch of our Lough Swilly book and saw the firebox,” he said.
“It got me thinking as to why we couldn’t have a replica cab, with all the controls, to allow visitors to experience actually driving a steam loco over the railways through hills of Donegal.
“It will allow us to offer that experience until the day comes we have our own, Drumboe, back in steam. We’re grateful to The Heritage Council for supporting us, and work is now underway on the design and build of the interactive cab, which will be the first of its kind in Ireland when it’s complete later this year.”