Cyril Frys Model Railway

[handyman]

Hullo All, I have just seen this in a TCS forum I subscribe to and thought it might be of interest here.

 

"Some sad news if you followed Cryil Frys model railway from the 1950's to

1980's which contained both broad and narrow gauge railway and trams.

Regards

Joe Keegan.

 

Dear All,

 

Most of you will not be aware that the Fry Model Railway, owned by Dublin

Tourism and housed in a purpose built building in Malahide Castle grounds

has been given notice by Fingal County Council., the owners of the premises.

 

The reason for the eviction is not clear.

 

Again, most of you will have visited the Fry Model Railway at some time, and

would be aware of the significance of this working layout, and associated

static displays. It is the only working layout on the island to represent

the history of our railways over the past 170 years or so, with the mainline

representing Belfast - Dublin - Cork, and including the narrow gauge and

such delights as the mail boat sailing from Dun Laoire, and the Guinness

barges on the River Liffey.

 

The layout, as far as we can ascertain, is to be put into storage, following

its dismantling. The deadline for this is the end of February. No further

details are available, and the future of both public and enthusiast viewing

is uncertain.

 

An alternative location should be found, if possible, and we are appealing

to ALL of you to come up with suggestions, north, south, east or west, in

order that this magnificent collection should be kept available for public

viewing.

 

One suggestion is that it be re-erected in the grounds of Collins Barracks

Museum in Dublin, which would have the advantage that it would be on a Luas

route, close to Hueston/Kingsbridge station and on numerous bus lines. This

is an area which should be explored further. It must be remembered though,

that the layout is effectively a living organism, and requires maintenance

on a regular basis, and the possibility of a continuous upgrading, as it has

had over the last 20 years or so. Money will be required on an ongoing basis

to maintain it; hence, it cannot be free entrance, wherever it may end up.

 

Timing is somewhat fortuitous, as the politicians in the South will now be

more amenable to pressure, with an upcoming election, so I appeal to all of

you to exercise whatever influence you have to ensure that the Fry Model

Railway has a future in the public eye.

 

There will be one more opportunity to see the layout in action before its

demise in its current form, and when we find out when that is to be we will

notify the community of modellers and railfans on the Island. We would be

keen to see a large turnout for that event to ensure that the authorities

see that there is a huge interest in this collection.

 

There is also a requirement for a more formal support group for the Fry

Model Railway, and a "Friends of the Fry Model Railway" is now in the

process of formation. You are invited to give it your support.

 

I also appeal to you to ensure the widest possible circulation of this

e-mail by whatever means possible among the model and prototype railway

community.

Best regards

John Hamill

 

Chairman Model Railway Society of Ireland

 

Interim Convenor, Friends of the Fry Model Railway

 

Jghamill55@gmail.com <mailto:Jghamill55%40gmail.com>"

 

Regards, Handyman

[plarailfan]

Sad to hear this news, hopefully it can be set up somewhere without the "no photography allowed" ban, as the small range of official postcards on sale at Malahide, don't do the layout justice.

This is an interesting layout, with some large routes and stations compressed into a fairly compact area in an imaginative way. I really hope it continues to be available for public viewing, without being stored unseen for a long period of time.

[sagaguy]

I reckon the photography ban was so that no other manufacturer tried to pinch any of his ideas ie.the smoking locos`.I believe that that when Triang asked him how he did it,he told them,give me £500 & i`ll take the body off!!!.Triang never coughed up so we still don`t know how he did it!!! .

 

 

Ray.