Westrail: Tuam - Athenry -Summer 1989 (2) скачать в хорошем качестве

Westrail: Tuam - Athenry -Summer 1989 (2)

Please do subscribe. Final footage (second trip of the day) taken on 26th August 1989 featuring the final day of the Westrail ‘Quiet Man Specials’ which operated in July and August 1989 between Tuam and Athenry serving Ballyglunin. On the day, the loco Driver was Paddy Burke, Galway, Guard Padraig Mahon, Claremorris and Tuam signalman Peter Roche. The overall operation was supervised by Morgan D’Arcy, Traffic Inspector, Galway along side Frank Killeen, Loco Inspector, Athlone. Background: The inaugural Quiet Man Special operated on Saturday 1st July 1989. In advance of the summer services, Tuam and Ballyglunin stations were refurbished by Westrail and painted green & cream and styled on CIE 1950s vintage. For the next 9 Saturdays, Westrail operated 2 daily trips to and from Tuam forming a direct connection off the Dublin - Galway passenger services at Athenry. Each Saturday the services departed Tuam at 1230 and again at 1740 returning at 1430 and 1940. Americans, Australian, Canadians, English and Irish tourists were carried by the end of of first day. The final day welcomed two Chinese tourists from Shanghai. Throughout the summer German visitors from Straubing, a city in Bavaria, Germany twinned with Tuam visited. The twinning was an initiative by local historian and Westrail director Dr. Tony Claffey in the 1980s. to foster cultural, educational, and sporting exchanges between the two communities. For the younger passengers the service was their first experience of train travel and for many locals it was their first trip by train from their home town since passenger services ceased in 1976. Many Tuam locals used the service making connections at Athenry for day trips to Galway in unique style and even a few taking the train to Dublin. Long distance travellers from Dublin were a common sight availing of the return fare from Dublin Heuston to Tuam for £15. The train had a fully licensed bar car, converted from the baggage compartment of the branke standard carriage No.1923. The train was first in Ireland to serve draught Gunniess - a unique Irish rail experience at the time. Along with E428 supporting exCIE black & tan livery, the train had just the right feel of a branch line train comprising generator steam van 3205 (with side corridor passenger compartments), open standard no.1468 and bar car 1923. The coaching stock were painstakingly restored internally and externally in green livery along the lines of those of the 1950s. ….and for Tourists and Americans in particular the service provided an authentic link with the 1952 Hollywood movie classic ‘The Quiet Man’. The service called at Ballyglunin where the ‘Castletown’ train scenes in the film were captured featuring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. The loco driver on the first trip was Tuam native Martin O’Mara, guard Peter Roche and Tuam signalman Joe Lyons. The overall operation throughout the summer was supervised by Morgan D’Arcy, Galway. The introduction of the service brought mixed emotions for Westrail director Joe Burke who along with Tuam community members Brian Campbell and Harold McNamara went on hunger strike in 1970s as a protest to the closure of rail services on the line. These specials were the first scheduled passenger service from Tuam sense those men went on strike over a decade earlier. Further footage from summer 1989    • Westrail: Tuam - Athenry - Summer 1989 (1)      • Westrail: Tuam Signal Cabin - Signalman Jo...