Rent Irish Railways: From Steam to Diesel (2007)
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1h 0min
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- Synopsis:
The 1960's was a major changes on Ireland's railways. On the down side there were significant line closures both north and south of the border and these years also saw the virtual elimination of steam traction. But it was also a period which offered a fascinating mixture of the old and the new and provided much of an interest to those observing the railway scene in the country. The changing face of the railways of Ireland in the 1960's was faithfully recorded on cine film by Geoff Lumb, a Yorkshireman, who visited Ireland regularly throughout these years. A selection from his extensive archive of Irish railway is published for the first time in this DVD. Following on chronologically from the fifth volume in the series which dealt with the 1940s and 50s, the programme begins with some of the last steam workings on the CIE network in the Irish Republic. These are contrasted with the diesels which were gaining supremacy. Several of the diesel types featured, like the A and C classes and the diminutive Deutz diesel hydraulics are now themselves but a memory. Among the CIE lines visited for the first time in the course of this series are those to Foynes, Ballaghaderreen, Fenit, Birr and Youghal. Moving north the railways of Ulster which were preferred to locomotives, are seen sharing the tracks with the steam locomotives they were replacing. A variety of former Great Northern and LMS/NCC steam engines are seen in action on lines throughout the province. Perhaps the highlight of the part of the programme is the sight of one of the then new CIE General Motors diesels working on the former Great Northern line to Derry in the last year of its existence. - Directors:
- Wilf Watters
- Studio:
- Demand DVD
- Genres:
- Documentary, Special Interest
