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 track is currently being reconfigured and as such is out of action for the foreseeable future. Once it is complete this page will be updated with its new total length and statistics. The old track used to be the longest in Ireland and the only ground-level line in the country that catered to 5" gauge rolling stock. The new line will not feature 5" gauge rails.

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 powered by either live steam, internal combustion or electric batteries. In a typical year some 6,000 children enjoy this experience.

In addition, there is also a Gauge 1 elevated line, around 30m long, suitable for running any models which use a 45 mm gauge (such as 16mm scale, Fn3 scale, SE scale, G scale, IIm scale, ½ inch scale and Gauge 1). 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 requires setup because it is not left out year-round.