Tralee & Dingle Light Railway Third Class Carriages 7T and 10T:

There are several former Tralee and Dingle Railway carriages on site, dating from 1890 (7T) and 1891 (10T) by the Bristol Wagon and Carriage Works for the Tralee and Dingle Light Railway. The railway ran the 31 miles from Tralee to Dingle from 1891 and took a leisurely 2.5 hours to complete. In 1939 the section closed to passengers, the carriages were transferred to the West Clare section for further use.

7T is currently being restored to serviceable condition and is currently in Cumbria, with the bogies and chassis being attended to. Details on donating can be sought here.

When the West Clare section was dieselised in the 1950’s the carriages became redundant, they were then sold off as bodies and used as holiday homes and huts. Number 7 and 10 became huts for drainage contractor Gerry Walsh. Micheal Kennedy recovered the carriages quite by accident. He was giving a lift to a passer by and they mentioned their dad had carriages in the garden, Micheal went to inspect and he couldn’t believe what he had found. The carriages were acquired, 10T remains in its recovered condition complete with interior. Unfortunately 7T’s body suffered from rot and requires rebuilding. We have a member in the UK who will take the body on as a volunteer project, we require funding for the woodwork.

Updates on the project will be posted , please give what you can. This will be a unique project and will allow us to give visitors a true experience of the irish narrow gauge.

Historical Images:

  • 10T prior to going on the lorry, note the tram car in the background
  • Michael Kennedy seen recovering 10T from Callan Kilkenny, note the faded “3” on the door
  • 10T was placed on a lorry and sent to Caher, she is in stunning condition for such an old carriage but very intact
  • 10T was given some cosmetic restoration, the flying snail is based on the original and was picked out with paint, note the chassis of 8T is in the foreground with T&D bogies
  • The interior has recently been cleaned out, note the condition of the carriage it looks stunning. The interior retains the original livery as found.
  • An original TDLR plate originating from 10T
  • An original leather strap was recovered in the carriage
  • The last remains of the luggage rack inside 10T
  • the lighting housing still survives
  • A number of ventilators have been recovered from both 10T and 7T, these will be re-used on both restorations
  • A bogie found on the bogs will be re-used under 10T, note that it has its brake hangars intact and they do work perfectly
  • A door from 7T surviving

The big move:

An original T&D bogie was funded as part of The Heritage Council Community Grant Scheme 2020, the chassis restoration is also being funded by the Community Grant Scheme 2023.

Source: Cavan & Leitrim Railway