This DVD features a further look back at the history of Northern Ireland Railways. Those interested in NIR may have already seen the other Markle DVD productions - NIR Archive Volume 1 and NIR Then and Now. This video follows on to show the railway operation in more detail. It shows not just the trains, but also the infrastructure too. Some of the oldest film is not of modern quality, but it provides an unparalleled recording of life at the time on NIR.
Chapter 1. Inherited Units - The final days of the BUTs, AECs, MEDs, and MPDs are shown, including the final journey of a former BUT power car from Crumlin station to the quarry at Crosshill where it was dumped under water.
Chapter 2. Diesel Electric Units - NIR’s first DEs, later to become the 70 class, were the final part of the order started by the UTA in 1966, so these are also inherited units, but they set the pattern for the future. We then see the 80 class followed by the 450s class as the old formula was re-invented over the years and is still running in 2007.
Chapter 3. Passenger Locomotives and their Rolling Stock - This chapter looks at the Hunslet (lDL) class locos and Mark 2 coaches, followed by the GM (later 111 class) locos before finally dealing with the modern 201 class and deDietrich coaches. Pairs of locos from all three classes are seen operating in multiple. GMs are seen arriving by sea at Dublin and a Mark 2 coach is recorded travelling along the road from Larne to Belfast on a road trailer.
Chapter 4. Other Locomotives - NIR’s DH class are seen as are their replacements, the “MV” class, a second hand class of engines which were older than the DHs they were supposed to replace.
Chapter 5. Infrastructure - This chapter looks at many of the other aspects of NIR which have not been recorded elsewhere. Over the 40 years since it was created, NIR has been steadily upgrading and modernising, as we see many of the old systems in operation, including mechanical signalling, level crossing gates, and ticket machines.
Locations covered include; Adelaide, Antrim, Ballymoney, Bangor, Belfast Central, Belfast York Road, Botanic, Carrickfergus, Coleraine, Dublin North Wall, Downhill, Dunmurry, Eden, Eglinton, Hilden, Jordanstown, Lambeg, Larne, Lisburn, Londonderry, Lurgan, Magheramorne, Maze, Mossley, Mount, Portadown, Whitehead, Yorkgate.
Produced by - Markle Associates
Running time - 75 Minutes (approx)
DVD only
