The Lartigue Monorailway

Listowel - Ballybunion Railway

History . Restoration . Present Operation . Running Regime .Future Plans .

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Present Operation:

The restoration at John B Keane Road has all the elements of the original Listowel-Ballybunion line and consequently all the switching which was carried out during the two hour return trip on the original can be experienced again today in about 40 minutes.

The train leaves Platform 1, travels via Switch No1 through Platform 2 and down the main line for about 500 metres then through Switch No3 to Platform 3 where the train stops and the passengers alight. The train travels at about 15 mph while on the main line, approximately the same speed as the original Lartigue trains.
When all the passengers are off the train, the locomotive is uncoupled from the carriages and driven to the Turntable No2 situated just beyond the station. The locomotive is turned through 180 degrees on the turntable and then switched onto the loop which bypasses the station on its right hand side. Switch No3 on the far side of the station is rotated to connect the bypass loop with the main line and the locomotive is driven down on to the main line, where it stops, facing in the direction of Platform 2. Switch No3 is now rotated back to its original position and the locomotive is reversed back to the carriages and re-coupled to them.
The passengers re-board the train and it now travels via Switch No3 and Swich No2 to Platform 2, where the passengers alight. The passengers leave Platform 2 and go on to the walkway from which they can watch the more complex switching operations which result in the locomotive being connected to the far end of the carriages and being reversed to Platform 1 ready for the next trip. The Loco is uncoupled and driven through Switch No1 to Turntable No1 where it is turned through 180 degrees. The Loco is then driven back through Switch No1 and is stopped just short of the carriages. Switch No1 is then returned to its previous position and the Loco is reversed acroos the switch and stopped just short of Platform 1. Switch No1 is then turned so the it connects the main line to the loop which bypasses Platform No2 on its right hand side; the Loco is then driven through Switch No1 and stoped some thirty yards beyond the switch. The wayman then proceeds to Switch No2 and turns this so that the loop is connected to the main line and the Loco is then driven through the Switch and stops some thirty yards down the main line. Switch No2 is then returned to its previous position and the Loco is reversed through the Switch and recoupled to the carriages at Platform 2. The Loco is then reversed through Sitch No1 to Platform 1 ready for the next trip.

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