Connemara Railway Update for August 2023, visit to Maam Cross Station & interview with Jim Deegan

For today, we're going to take a quick look at what has changed since our update video last September and we're also going to talk to Jim Deegan on the progress that's being made here and his immediate plans for the future. We'll finish up with some up-to-date images from both the station and the latest rolling stock to arrive here on-site over the last twelve months.
00:00 - Introduction
01:02 - What's new since out last visit
03:33 - Interview with Jim Deegan
06:18 - Some views of Maam Cross Station today
Link to Connemara Railway Update for September 2022 video:
• Connemara Railway Upda...
Link to original "Connemara's Lost Railway" video:
• Connemara's Lost Railw...
Link to information on the Connemara Railway revival project:
www.connemararailway.ie/app/u...
Link to the Connemara Railway website:
www.connemararailway.ie/
Go Fund Me link:
gofund.me/68d57ef5
Links to short videos taken running on the temporary narrow gauge line in 2021:
• 28 June 2021
• Maam cross railway. 22...
Link to the Connemara Greenway website:
connemaragreenway.ie/
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[@bradleyhurt4500]

It looks like the volunteers of the Connemara Railway Project have done a great job in restoring Maam Cross. I hope they really succeed in reinstating a 5-mile long section of the Galway to Clifden Railway line and one day bringing steam trains back to Connemara. I also look forward to visiting the railway one day. 😊

[@EuviRail]

I'll echo that.

[@davidbosher8377]

Great video, congratulations to everyone involved in restoring this old Irish railway. I went to Connemara in 2017 when a friend (who lives in Tralee) and I stayed in Galway but not, alas, to Maam Cross but if I ever go back (and I do hope so), it will be my first calling point. Kind regards, David, Crouch End, London N8.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks David. Yeah, there will be lots for you to see when you return. They hope to have the narrow gauge running for the summer and I'll cover that in a video later in the year.

[@davidchambers7508]

This railway is a credit to all concerned.

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for that. Look forward to catching up with Jim and the team there in next couple of months.

[@Mapplewell_Park]

What an absolutely Amazing location!!

[@EuviRail]

100%. The Galway - Clifden line traversed some amazing landscape.

[@Mapplewell_Park]

@@EuviRail I’m lucky enough to own a campervan. The West coast is up there on my list of places to visit with the family 👍

[@086DEN]

Great achievement and mighty work done, I can't wait to see it.

[@EuviRail]

Yes, Looking forward to it.

[@petertate8366]

Great video Eugene, nice to see the progress.Beautiful setting,good luck to all the volunteers. ❤

[@EuviRail]

Thanks Peter. I'll echo that.

[@joshuaW5621]

Good luck with restoring the railway. If you ever need more locomotives, wether standard or narrow gauge, I would be happy to help you guys build a new steam locomotive to help with running the railway.

[@bradwhite5884]

I remembered stopping here last year and the year before, glad you guys are doing this, hope you all do the same to the other railway stations, but I do love to have this railway up and running tbh, so yeah

[@EuviRail]

Thanks for that.

[@RampGuyEIDW]

Great progress, fantastic tourism attraction

[@EuviRail]

Thanks Joe, yeah, looking forward to when they open up.

[@paddylee8434]

Looks great. I will have to go over to see it the next time I get home.

[@EuviRail]

Hopefully some of it will be open when you get over.

[@29brendus]

Great work, very encouraging, and I hope to visit some day. I hope a substantial part of the original standard gauge line can be restored in both directions.

[@EuviRail]

I think we're all hoping for the same. A line from Oughterard station and extending 3-4 miles beyond Maam Cross is probably the outer limits of reasonable cost. Any Billionaire benefactors out there?

[@grah84mck]

Great video. Glad to see the old cally sleeper mk3 getting a new lease of life

[@EuviRail]

Thanks. Yeah, great to see it find a new life.

[@markolysynchuk5264]

I think that the railway should be restored as a 1,600mm railway rather than 913mm one, as it was originally. This would also make it the first broad gauge heritahe railway in Ireland.

[@euviga]

100% agree and I believe this is the long term plan.

[@johnlevey9935]

I loved this area when I visited. Bit more difficult now I live in the north of Scotland. Good memories of visiting the station pub at Clifden

[@EuviRail]

Thanks John. Hopefully there will be a decent reason to visit again.

[@russellfitzpatrick503]

Remember camping out at Maam Cross in the 80s with my (then) girl friend - lovely place but quite desolate then. Be very interested at how much more there is to be developed at the site

[@diamondjoltva]

Would love to see efforts like this done to some of the railways here in Donegal

[@EuviRail]

If Maam Cross can become a viable attraction, would hope it can serve as a template and encouragement for others.

[@alfonzosbreakfast914]

Great job lads ,pity there's no rooms in the hotel. can't wait to visit

[@EuviRail]

Thanks. May have to take a cabin in the Mk3 sleeper!

[@AllensTrains]

Still an awful lot of work to do! I am sure they'll have it up and running one day!

[@dwaynejohnson4892]

Bit like the p2 project

[@EuviRail]

For sure, but there is some momentum now and the wind has changed in terms of supporting projects like this.

[@Living_Life_RN]

So is the plan to reopen the line in 5ft3in gauge or 3ft gauge?

[@EuviRail]

They're running with 3ft for now in order to run some trains and get things going while building up the full gauge stock and moving to that in the medium to longer term.

[@johnlevey9935]

Are there any plans for the old turntable at Galway?

[@EuviRail]

No idea John but I don't believe it's been used in years. With the ICRs there is no need for it.

[@trebuh]

How did they get all that rolling stock there?

[@EuviRail]

They were brought via articulated truck - usually at off-peak hours to avoid traffic. You'll see this on some photos on the website.