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However,
he never lost sight of his dream and visualised that
one day it would be realsied. At closing time when most
young married men would be going home, Sean began to
enact his dream. Like a ghost in the night he would
jump on the mail train and go down as far as Claremorris,
in county Mayo, immersing himself deeper into something
that had now really taken hold of him.
The
great moment came. In 1994, Sean purchased a 1955 A55
diesel locomotive when the 'A' class diesel engine, which
had replaced its steam predecessor, was being withdrawn
from service. The locomotive cost £100,000 when
it was first purchased (now £2million) but Sean,
who was the only individual ever to approach CIE, got
it at scrap value for £1600. It is 51 foot long,
14 foot high and weighs 62 ton. On 7th July 1998 it made
its final journey from from Dublin to Castlerea.
A Railway Museum, the first of its kind this side of the
border, was built to house the A55 and railway memorabilia.
After a considerable amount of time and energy the museum
was opened to the public. It is opened seven days a week
and a Railway Preservation Society has now been formed
in County Roscommon.
Sean Browne's boyhood dream has finally been realised.
His idea now is to encourage and enthuse others to share
this unique experience and travel with him back in time
along the railway network and perhaps become entralled
with the vision of a historical era.
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