Auction is just the ticket for collectors of railway memorabilia

Bidders make tracks to browse the collection of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland's former president 

An unusually largescale model of a steam traction engine at Mullen's (€2,000-€3,000).

The enduring fascination of railways in days gone by never leaves. The single-owner collection of Lord O'Neill of Shane's Castle, Co Antrim, former President of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (and a stepson of Bond creator Ian Fleming), at Mullen's of Laurel Park in Bray next Monday (November 10) is of huge interest to railwayana collectors.

There are train nameplates, headboards, railway hotel items, original enamel advertisements, paintings commissioned by Lord O'Neill of locomotives and travel posters, including highly collectible ones designed by Paul Henry, banknotes and coins. An unusually largescale model of a steam traction engine, the Maid of Erin, is of great specialist interest, along with a good selection of model trains and transport items.

The Shamrock, a train headboard, at Mullen's Railwayana auction (€2,000-€3,000).

His railway and transport library features rare and unusual books, maps and pamphlets. Among them is Richard Griffiths' c1855 map of Ireland made to accompany the report of the Railway Commissioners with hand coloured plates. 

The live auction with online bidding gets underway next Monday at 11am. The catalogue is online and the sale is on view at Mullen's this weekend.