Had a great conversation with John Davies, lifelong campaigner for the restoration of the tram route and its history who lives right in the heart of Bessbrook.
Have arranged to meet with him in the morning....his knowledge of the past and particularly his active role in the future of the Bessbrook to Newry Tramway Restoration Group is brillant.
This will help me so much with my project evaluation and conclusion. John is presently involved with a project of which Phase 1 (public pathway, from Millvale to Craigmore) has been completed, but is campaigning with great energy to have Phase 2 implemented.
John is a professional photographer and has many many one-off photographs which I can not wait to see tomorrow.
I feel this will bring my project full circle and will leave my conclusion to the project with an open page, the Tram story is not finished and after 63 years in operation and now 65 years since its closure in 1948, people still remember and value its contribution to the local industrial and social history of Bessbrook and Newry. A piece of our history well worth fighting for.
Wednesday, 1 May 2013
BLOGGER TO BLOGGER!
At college today and am pleased to announce that Tom was very happy with my first draft, a little bit of tweaking and I now have all my research photography downloaded to my computer and am starting to compile my Appendices.
Great to receive an email from a follower of my blog, also interested in my project. I would be delighted to share my research and if this can help promote or revamp interest in this 'little-known' piece of local history I would be very pleased.
Great to receive an email from a follower of my blog, also interested in my project. I would be delighted to share my research and if this can help promote or revamp interest in this 'little-known' piece of local history I would be very pleased.
Tuesday, 30 April 2013
THE FLANGELESS WHEEL - SIR HENRY BARCROFT
 Sir Henry Barcroft of the Glen Newry, inventor
of the flangeless wheel for the Bessbrook Tram
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WINDING UP RESEARCH!
Almost finished my project now...two more people to speak with. Newry & Mourne District Council Officer, responsible for all issues on Right of Way in local area and Warrenpoint based Council employee from the Tourism Section. I had found on Internet Local Council Minutes back in 2012, a motion concerning the provision of a museum to the Tram.... hope to find out if any progress on this or any other issues relating to protecting the memory of this little known railway.
Today I sent Tom my draft of project and await his response with anticipation. Need to finish it off now. Tonight my daughter is going to help me download from my new phone some research pictures I have taken so I can share with you.
Like Mary my colleague, I also found this piece of work really intriguing and I will post for you my favourite 2 photographs, one from the Belfast Heritage Library taken in late 1880s at the Boiler Hill, Bessbrook platform and one of myself standing at the same station where the platform used to be!
I just wish that I could have had one 'slow-moving' ride on the tram....to experience how it felt to get to Newry in this fashion. Life was so much slower then and unfortuately speed caught up with the tram and closed it in the end!
Today I sent Tom my draft of project and await his response with anticipation. Need to finish it off now. Tonight my daughter is going to help me download from my new phone some research pictures I have taken so I can share with you.
Like Mary my colleague, I also found this piece of work really intriguing and I will post for you my favourite 2 photographs, one from the Belfast Heritage Library taken in late 1880s at the Boiler Hill, Bessbrook platform and one of myself standing at the same station where the platform used to be!
I just wish that I could have had one 'slow-moving' ride on the tram....to experience how it felt to get to Newry in this fashion. Life was so much slower then and unfortuately speed caught up with the tram and closed it in the end!
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
NEWRY REPORTER 1948
Trip to Newry Reporter Office today with my daughter proved very fruitful .
With the help of my daughter Moya and the librarian we were able to locate by microfiche the article entitled 'The Last Run of the Bessbrook Tram' published on 15th January 1948.
Written in an editorial called 'The Rambler' it followed the track of the last tram and conversations with the last passengers. A very emotional and though provoking piece , a true piece of history!!
Very enjoyable visit, even my 15 year old daughter enjoyed!
With the help of my daughter Moya and the librarian we were able to locate by microfiche the article entitled 'The Last Run of the Bessbrook Tram' published on 15th January 1948.
Written in an editorial called 'The Rambler' it followed the track of the last tram and conversations with the last passengers. A very emotional and though provoking piece , a true piece of history!!
Very enjoyable visit, even my 15 year old daughter enjoyed!
QUIET DAY - LINEN HALL LIBRARY BELFAST
Linen Hall Library - Belfast-
On way back from airport last Friday 12th April, I returned to Linen Hall Library, Belfast, where I had made a brief visit on Thursday 11th for an quick enquiry. Young American member of staff, Kelsey... whom I believe my collegue, Steve Love had also found very helpful, gave me a tour of the Heritage Railway section of the 2nd Floor. On Friday however, I was introduced to Gerry,who is the railway expert in the library and he was able to sieve through the vast amount of literature Kelsey had directed me to. Gerry's information was greatly appreciated, although I have gathered most of it already. However, I did think it was interesting when he mentioned the fact, that on a social level, the tram was a symbol of escapism for the workers who resided in Bessbrook and involved in the mill industry, which had employed up on 3000 workers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The village of Bessbrook was designated by the Richardsons family, founders of the model village, as a 'dry' village, without a public house. Therefore the tram was a means of 'having a night out of the village' with a safe, reliable means of transport home after a few drinks. To this day Bessbrook has still no public house.
On way back from airport last Friday 12th April, I returned to Linen Hall Library, Belfast, where I had made a brief visit on Thursday 11th for an quick enquiry. Young American member of staff, Kelsey... whom I believe my collegue, Steve Love had also found very helpful, gave me a tour of the Heritage Railway section of the 2nd Floor. On Friday however, I was introduced to Gerry,who is the railway expert in the library and he was able to sieve through the vast amount of literature Kelsey had directed me to. Gerry's information was greatly appreciated, although I have gathered most of it already. However, I did think it was interesting when he mentioned the fact, that on a social level, the tram was a symbol of escapism for the workers who resided in Bessbrook and involved in the mill industry, which had employed up on 3000 workers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The village of Bessbrook was designated by the Richardsons family, founders of the model village, as a 'dry' village, without a public house. Therefore the tram was a means of 'having a night out of the village' with a safe, reliable means of transport home after a few drinks. To this day Bessbrook has still no public house.
Sunday, 14 April 2013
OLD SITES OF TRAMWAY HISTORY
Spent this afternoon with my husband, taking pictures of remants of one of Bessbrook-Newry Tram carriage now lying in a field on Sturgan Brae, used for cattle shelter.
Then on to Bessbrook where the platform and holding shed of the Tram remains, but in poor repair.
We walked the now tarmac path from The Millvale tram stop along the river where the tram ran underneath the Viaduct where the Dublin Belfast Train runs overhead. The tarmac path stops at Craigmore, another one of the tram stops.
Very interesting to follow the track of the tram and to view the journey to Newry from such a different viewpoint.....will upload my images onto my blog tomorrow, when my son teaches me to download the picture from my mobile phone!
Tuesday, 12 March 2013
BBC Video Footage
The title of the youtube video I have uploaded is The Golden Age of Trams and is an excellent insight to the social history of this wonderful invention.
PROFORMA TO TOM
I have sent my proforma to Tom and he appears to be happy with my progress to date. I feel that I need to start thinking about structuring my mindmap with reference to my project. As I delve deeper into this project I find there are many strands of research open to me.
On Saturday I had a chance meeting with a local Newry and Mourne District Councillor who has been involved with the work on the resurfacing of the original tramline between Bessbrook and Newry, which is (much to his dissappointment) only partially completed. This tarmac route takes the walker along the old route of the tram and makes for a very interesting walkway however it remains unfinished and is presently only a loop of half of the 3 mile track.
Hope to follow up on this work through a contact in the Newry and Mourne Council. He and I both agreed this would be an interesting add on to the tourist attractions of Newry. I know that many people of my generation and younger have never even known of the existence of this Tramway.
On Saturday I had a chance meeting with a local Newry and Mourne District Councillor who has been involved with the work on the resurfacing of the original tramline between Bessbrook and Newry, which is (much to his dissappointment) only partially completed. This tarmac route takes the walker along the old route of the tram and makes for a very interesting walkway however it remains unfinished and is presently only a loop of half of the 3 mile track.
Hope to follow up on this work through a contact in the Newry and Mourne Council. He and I both agreed this would be an interesting add on to the tourist attractions of Newry. I know that many people of my generation and younger have never even known of the existence of this Tramway.
This image is at the entrance to the tarmac walkway laid down by the Council
on the bed of the tramline track from the Millvale Pub above under the Viaduct and ends at
the Craigmore stop.
Wednesday, 6 March 2013
BLOGGERS CLASS FORUM
Today I emailed the class forum to gather blogger addresses to enable me to follow my classmates progress and to discuss research methods and techniques.
HISTORIAN DAY
Today hope to visit Sam Hanna, Historical Society in Bessbrook and to speak to John Davies regarding the rebuild the Bessbrook to Newry Tram Line.
Tuesday, 5 March 2013
BESSBROOK - NEWRY TRAM
Sorry about this confusing start to my blogging career. I had initially entitled my site Dromantine House as my intention was to study the 'Big House' Irish perspective on the now seminary Dromantine. However having emailed and talked to Armagh Irish History Library and following a visit to look at their research on Dromantine, I eventually decided that there was not sufficient evidence and research to establish a meaningful piece of work.
Having given it some thought I decided to take a local historical transport method, that of the Bessbrook to Newry Tram.
To date I have completed internet research, emailed four relevant libraries, Newry, Bessbrook, Belfast Central and the Ulster Transport Museum and have located local people to talk to with reference to their work on the Tram System.
Having given it some thought I decided to take a local historical transport method, that of the Bessbrook to Newry Tram.
To date I have completed internet research, emailed four relevant libraries, Newry, Bessbrook, Belfast Central and the Ulster Transport Museum and have located local people to talk to with reference to their work on the Tram System.
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