DSMEE's Tracks

We have three separate miniature railway lines in the grounds of Marley Park. One of the lines is at ground level and the other two are run on elevated tracks.

The ground level line has a total length of 900 meters, all of which is made of steel rail and caters for 7¼" gauge. 309 meters of the 7¼" line was out of action for many years but work was recently completed to bring the entire line back into service. This makes our 7¼" ground line the longest in the Republic and the second longest on the island of Ireland.

591 meters of the ground line is dual gauge, which caters for both 7¼" and 5" gauge locomotives and rolling stock.  The 5" gauge line is, we believe, the only ground level line of this gauge currently in operation in Ireland.

The raised level line is 280 meters long, made of aluminium rail and caters for 3½" inch, 5" and 7¼" gauge locomotives and rolling stock, and is currently the longest 3½" gauge line now in operation in Ireland. During the summer, the Society provides free train rides for children on Saturday afternoons, from 2:00pm to 4:30pm, on the raised line, weather permitting. These trains are hauled by locomotives using either live steam, internal combustion or electric batteries as a power source. In a typical year some 6,000 children enjoy this experience.

In addition, there is also a Gauge 1 (45mm gauge) elevated line, some 30m long, suitable for running Gauge 1  and 45 mm narrow gauge model trains. Made of PECO trackwork, the line is oval-shaped and is located behind our workshop building. It sees intermittent use due to to a lack of locos and rolling stock, and the fact that it is not out in the elements all year round.