The Downpatrick and County Down Railway has added a remarkable piece of Irish railway history to its museum collection, with the rescue of what was believed to be a completely extinct type of Irish railway wagon, an iconic CIE “bubble wagon”.
The newly arrived wagon, No. 25199, built in 1972 at Inchicore Works in Dublin, is the very last of its class of 150 vehicles. For over 30 years, the distinctive “bubbles” were a familiar sight across Ireland, north and south, hauling cement until the traffic ended in 2009 and every known example was scrapped. Enthusiasts believed the entire class was lost forever, until now.
Chairman of the Downpatrick and County Down Railway, Robert Gardiner, said, “One look at it and you can see how these wagons got their nickname. Ours was the last of 150 built at Inchicore Works in 1972, and for more than 30 years the bubbles were a familiar sight on cement trains across Ireland, regulars in NIR’s depot in Adelaide. When the cement traffic ended in 2009, every last one was withdrawn and scrapped, or so everyone thought.”
Unbeknownst to just about everybody, one bubble was spared the cutter’s torch thanks to the efforts of one dedicated enthusiast and moved to a secret remote collection. For 16 years, it remained undisturbed and undiscovered. Anybody who knew what cement bubbles were simply assumed they were all gone, another piece of Irish industrial heritage lost to time.
Mr Gardiner adds, “The sole survivor had been secretly preserved by dedicated enthusiast Mike Murphy, who kept its existence a closely guarded secret. Thanks to his generosity, the last “bubble” has now been donated to the Downpatrick and County Down Railway, ensuring its long-term survival.”
“It’s like finding a dodo in your back garden,” added Mr Gardiner. “Whilst we might not have much need to carry cement on our network, it’s safe to say that most enthusiasts and members of the public who remember them have a soft spot for these iconic wagons.”
He continued, “The humble goods wagon often gets overlooked in railway preservation, but freight was every bit as important to the story of Ireland’s railways as the glamourous passenger trains. These were the workhorses that kept industry moving in the days before the HGV, and we’re delighted to make sure that part of the story is represented here in Downpatrick.”
A public fundraising appeal quickly followed to cover the cost of transporting the wagon, attracting strong support and sponsorship from model manufacturer Accurascale UK / Irish Railway Models.
On Saturday 4 October, the wagon completed its long journey from its secret location near Killbarragh to Downpatrick, arriving around 9am. Within 45 minutes, it was safely craned onto the heritage line’s metals thanks to expert handling by haulier David Baker.
Now resting in the DCDR’s yard, the wagon is visible to visitors from the station platform. It will soon undergo cleaning and a mechanical inspection, with hopes of operating on future demonstration freight trains.
“We are hugely grateful to everyone who donated to the Bubble Appeal,” said Mr Gardiner. “Their support helped us save a piece of Irish railway history that was presumed gone forever. This discovery proves that our industrial heritage can still surprise us, and that it is always worth preserving.”
For the further info on their website, click here Home - Downpatrick and County Down Railway
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