Here you can find the latest news from railway centre. Feel free to browse, and if you have any questions please contact us we’ll be happy to help.

6th July 2011

Model Railway Exhibitions

There will be model railway exhibitions in Kee's Hotel, Stranorlar on the 19th and 20th of August and also on the 9th and 10th of September. They are arranged by Donegal Railway Heritage Centre and will include the following

          -Scale models of Donegal and Letterkenny stations

          -Large layout of 1930-1960 Hornby O gauge clockwork & electric

          -Original Tri-and TT layout

          -Hornby ModelShop Display layout

          -LGB 45mm gauge 45mm gauge with scale Donegal models and live steam

          -Thomas with tank and cars layout

          -Meccano display with working models

          -Dinky toys display of cars and lorries from 1950's

          -Matchbox toys display from 1950's and 1960's

          -Bayko building kit display from 1950's

          -Toys and memorabilia sales stands

 

4th July 2011

Special offer on memberships

We have a special offer for the month of July, new members and renewal of memberships is only 16.50 euro. Just select the special offer when making your choice on the Join Us page.

 

26th April 2011

Our AGM

Notice is given to our subscribing members that the County Donegal Railway Restoration Ltd AGM will take place at 2.30pm on Saturday 4^th June in the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre.  This date was chosen specifically to favour local attendance during the Irish Bank Holiday weekend as in the current economic circumstances the Company is seeking more local support and directorships to share the burden of administration and development of the Company, and, indeed, work towards succession plans for older directors.

By the time of the AGM, it will have been just over a year since the formation of the Derry-Donegal Railway Heritage Group, and members of their Steering Committee are being invited to our AGM to report on their achievements over the year.

2011 Events

Model Railway Exhibitions are planned at Kee’s Hotel in Stranorlar this year on Fri/Sat 19/20 August and Fri/Sat 9/10 September.  In between these, there will be Open Days at the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre on Sat/Sun/Mon 27/28/29 August.  These Open Days coincide with Heritage Week in Donegal Town.  We also plan to run railway talks/slide & film shows on 23^rd & 30^th July at Kee’s Hotel in Stranorlar.

Later on in the year, we hope to have a Donegal Room with several 4mm scale CDR layouts at South Dublin model railway exhibition on 22-24^th October this year.  Please ring us to confirm any of these dates if you plan to go to the events.

Other News

Models

A new model of Killybegs Station has been constructed by our modelmaker John Darch to go on the 1969 5.5 mm scale layout of Killybegs Station which has its home in the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre.  This is a much more detailed and faithful model of the station building than the original 1969 model.  John will go on to complete the improvements on our Killybegs layout later on as he has now embarked upon the project to construct a series of 4mm scale Backwoods Miniatures models under an agreement which has earned the Company  €2,000.  Various wagons are receiving the finishing touches and models of Class 5 Drumboe and Railcar no 4 have been completed.  John will shortly be asked to turn his attention to checking the 4mm scale Letterkenny and Donegal station layouts we have so these can be used to run the models at forthcoming exhibitions.

Rolling Stock

Coach 28 has now received its door vents after awaiting these since its earlier restoration work in 1994.  During the fitment of these vents over each of the eight doors, we found lot of softwood had been used in the restoration of the coach and there are a number of sections that will need replacing soon. We will need to allow for some repairs to the woodwork of Coach 28 during the next year or two.

The body of Red Van 12, on show outside the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre has received a new coat of res paint.  Similarly, the restored van 87 is due for a repaint in its correct gray shade before being moved into position on rails behind Coach 28 on site.  The interior of van 87 will be fitted out with a diorama showing a goods office with items being put on show for which up to now we have had no space.  The van’s planned position alongside the ramp up to Coach 28 will allow visitors a good view of the interior display.

Museum Interior

The wallboards which have successfully told the story of the railways in Donegal to all our visitors for some 16 years now are due for some renewal and additions which will begin this summer.  We hope to increase the amount of “viewing space” for visitors by adding further free-standing information boards and there will be some new exhibits depicting original plans and maps of the railway.

Planning Permission

We have applied for planning permission to create a ground  floor wheelchair accessible toilet facility on site at the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre and plan to put the L&LSR signal box to use for this – of course without prejudice to its structure.  We have also applied for permission to complete the restoration of Cashelnagore Station and the laying of 100 metres of track there.