COUNTY DONEGAL 2-6-4T GOES HOME - AND COULD RUN AGAIN
Newly formed society plans to revive three miles of mothballed 3ft gauge Foyle Valley Railway.
County Donegal Railway 2-6-4T No. 4 Meenglas or its sister No. 6 Columbkille could return to steam to work a revived line.
The new Foyle Valley Railway Preservation Society has been formed following the return of Meenglas from cosmetic restoration at Whitehead. The society aims to reopen a threemile section of line from the FVR Museum along the banks of the River Foyle. There are hopes that Meenglas or Columbkille might ultimately be returned to working order to operate the service.
Although it has a cracked frame, Columbkille is a more likely contender for restoration as it has been stored under cover since the CDR closed 60 years ago, on December 31 1959.
The locomotive is currently on display in the museum, while Meenglas has resumed its vigil on a plinth outside the building following its 14-month makeover by the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland at Whitehead (SR488). It returned by low-loader to Derry on January 28.
Destined, the social inclusion charity that now runs the museum and commissioned the work on Meenglas, held a ‘Welcome Home’ party for the engine on January 30.
Dermot O’Hara from Destined said Phase 2 of the project included the launch of the new society, which would “give direction” to the museum’s work.
Local enthusiast Tommy Shields said they had already surveyed the disused track and identified sleepers that need to be replaced.
The project will build on the work by the North West of Ireland Railway Society, which originally developed the museum, laid the track and operated a former CDR railbus.
Mr O’Hara outlined ambitious plans to resume the train service and also to start a river launch service from the railhead several miles upstream to Strabane.
The Heritage Lottery Fund provided a £39,000 grant for the Meenglas project, which included the production of a documentary and booklet about Derry’s railways.
Jim McGreevy, who represented the HLF at the ceremony, said the funder would be “receptive” to hearing ideas beyond Phase 1 from Destined, and would be keen to examine whether it could help bring such ambitions to fruition.