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Wow, that’s some split, 10/90 DC/DCC. That also explains why the DC models tend to sell out before the DCC models in most cases. Makes sense that the likes of the Class 89 and the revised Class 92 are not sold as pure DC, specially with that split. Glad that there will still be some DC models for the moment, too. Maybe I’ll go full DCC one day, but not for the foreseeable future.

A friend of mine was awarded a third level qualification in Airline Studies. It was a BA.

Just to revisit the topic of the large open wagon. I've been flicking through Ernie Shepherd's book 'Waterford, Limerick & Western Railway' tonight and I've come across this in the section on Private owner wagons (see p121) where Ernie is discussing the Fenit Harbour Commissioners' wagons, which were leased from a number of manufacturers - " ... the Commissioners leased two tubular 33ft 10in bogie open wagons, built by the Lancaster RCW in 1900, which later became Nos 4050 and 4051 on the GS&WR. No 4050 was altered to a covered fish van in 1903."

I was wondering if you could use some DeLorean flux capacitor technology to get your 80 Class to travel back in time. But first you would have to get the 80 Class up to the critical speed of 88mph and I don’t think there’s a railway in Ireland long enough for the sloth-like acceleration of an 80 to reach that speed before it ran out of rails.

There is 99 on the East Lancs Railway too, so a prototype for everything.

For complex models like the 92 with pantographs and that needs to body off to access a decoder then yes, we won’t be selling any future models without a decoder on. board. Having shipped a very large volume of locos now our own data tells us that ‘actual’ DC models is around the 10% mark and of that percentage you have to include models that will remain on a shelf or in a box. For the prototypes we are doing it makes less sense to have to design bespoke DC blanking chips with a dozen manual switches and all the ensuing support work from trying to support third party decoders etc. For easy to access decoder sockets and less complex locos we don’t plan on changing any time soon but it’s something we review constantly.

Arrived today Cheers Darius

Take it Easy(jet)

Jet 2, Brute ?

Taxi(way) for Alan!

My normal practice is to make my own baseboards, but I thought I would try a kit this time. I placed an order a few weeks ago, and this afternoon the postie delivered this from Grainge & Hodder. Another thing to add to my list of jobs! These boards are intended for the Quartertown Mill plan I came up with last month. The IRCH goods vans are in their final stages now so I’ll get them finished before opening the woodwork.

Lovely!!! Are the Polo’s something to do with the Channel Tunnel?

I class DC modellers combined with those who wish to go their own DCC route as “DC buyers”, so probably a sizeable group.

Good question for those of us that stick with DC, of which I suspect there are quite a few.

A perfect analogy! I think they were Midland (of Englsnd) rather than LNWR - all the ones at Whitehead were, anyway. Your spreadsheet is a great deal more than most of us could manage, so very great comntratulations - a highly useful historical resource. Park Royals were steel. As far as i know, only the UTA extensively used aluminium to re-panel some old wooden stock in the late 1950s. As for the early 60s coaches, as far as I am aware, and I am relying here on memory rather than documentary evidence. The last two dining cars they built were timber framed and the rest were laminate. Can't remember my source for that info, could have ben Marcus Bailie-Gage (former Dundalk Works Manager), or Bob Clements, though its 25 years or more since I last spoke to him!

Actually it’s a flight of fancy

It’s tiny. Having built the chassis for it in 7mm (awaiting body etches) it is simply dwarfed by a PP (not a giant itself)

Following our reveal of the Accurascale Exclusive DB Red Class 92029 as an additional fundraiser for Martin House, we are now delighted to unveil our main range Dysons — offering something for everyone! Like the real locomotives, our tooling for the Class 92s has spent a period in storage. We are thrilled to bring it back out at our equivalent of Crewe IEMD, carry out some enhancements to this already impressive model, and make it better than ever. Before we get into the improvements, let’s look at the main range and take a brief look at the history of each locomotive. Prototype History 92002 H.G. Wells – Railfreight Grey Completed by Brush Traction in December 1993 and named after the prolific English writer H.G. Wells, No. 92002 spent its early years undergoing testing: first at the Railway Technical Centre, Derby, then at the Velim test track near Prague, and finally at the Arsenal complex near Vienna, Austria. Repatriated to the UK in time for the Crewe Basford Hall Open Day in August 1995, it was officially taken into stock in October 1996 at Crewe International Electric Maintenance Depot — some two years after the Channel Tunnel’s opening. Initially, it worked trains between Dollands Moor and North London via the ‘classic’ third-rail route (once cleared by Railtrack). After English Welsh & Scottish Railway (EWS) took over Railfreight Distribution in November 1997, 92002 soon began working the full length of the West Coast Main Line between Mossend and Wembley, with East Coast Main Line services following a couple of years later. By the end of the decade, now defaced with an EWS “big beasties” sticker, 92002 was stored in December 2008. It was later reinstated after the sale to DB Schenker in November 2012, spending time hired to Direct Rail Services in 2014 before being sidelined again in November that year. Exported to Romania in April 2015 (renumbered 91 53 0472 003-9 and named Lucian Blaga), the locomotive later moved to Transagent Rail in Croatia in 2018. After several years of service, it is now stored at Dunakeszi Works in Budapest, Hungary. 92028 – GBRf (Modified Europorte) One of nine Class 92s allocated to SNCF, 92028 was named Saint Saëns on delivery in June 1995. Operated as a “common user” locomotive alongside EWS’ fleet, it was stored at Crewe IEMD in April 2006 when SNCF planned to run its own UK services. That ambition ended in June 2008, and 92028 (along with three others) was handed to Europorte 2, a Eurotunnel subsidiary. A year later, Europorte acquired GB Railfreight, and by 2011 had absorbed all 16 non-RfD Class 92s under the GBRf banner. In April 2015, 92028 was moved to Brush Traction, Loughborough, after reliability issues while leading newly-won Caledonian Sleeper workings. Emerging in May 2017 with a modified GBRf livery, it later returned for Dellner coupler upgrades in 2018. Since then, it has been a strong performer on Anglo-Scottish sleeper services across both the WCML and ECML. 92030 Ashford – RfD European Of the 30 Class 92s allocated to Railfreight Distribution, just three wore the large “billboard” RfD lettering: 92009, 92022, and 92030. Delivered new to Crewe IEMD in September 1995, 92030 was renamed Ashford in November 1996, replacing its original De Falla transfers. The name had previously been carried by Class 33/0 No. 33052. Much of its EWS career was spent on domestic freight, punctuated by storage periods. It later carried the EWS “big beasties” logo, and in 2013/14 was hired to DRS for use on the “Tesco Express.” Exported to Bulgaria in 2015, it received DB logos and the 12-digit number 91 70 0092 030-1 (later 91 52 1688 030-1), while regaining its Ashford name in sticker form. It remains in service today. 92031 The Institute of Logistics and Transport – EWS One of only two locomotives repainted into EWS maroon and gold, 92031 was unveiled at the Institute’s annual conference at the Metropole Hotel, Birmingham, in June 2001. Incredibly, the locomotive was moved by road for the naming ceremony — having originally been allocated the unused name Schiller. It settled into freight and occasional railtour work, even operating to unfamiliar destinations such as London Euston and Harwich Town. In 2010, it was used in trials proving Class 92s could take over Anglo-Scottish sleeper services — a role GBRf would later adopt in 2015. Repainted into DB Schenker red in November 2011, 92031 was stored in June 2015 and remains at Crewe, stripped for parts. 92033 Railway Heritage Trust – Caledonian Sleeper Originally named Berlioz under SNCF, 92033 spent its early years on Dollands Moor, Wembley, and Daventry services before storage in 2006. Transferred to Europorte 2 in 2011, it returned to the UK in 2014 for reliability upgrades at Brush. Released in 2015 in plain teal with Caledonian Sleeper branding, it was central to Serco’s launch of the new contract. In 2018, it returned for Dellner coupler fitment to work with CAF Mk.5 coaches. In May 2022, it was dedicated to the Railway Heritage Trust at a ceremony at London Euston, though only temporary vinyl nameplates were applied. The Model The Class 92 was our second-ever Accurascale locomotive, arriving in late 2022. Development was a major challenge, but our Dysons proved a huge success. Since then, we’ve taken on board customer feedback and implemented subtle but important improvements for this second batch: Grille detailing – The visible PCB behind the etched grilles has been replaced with added depth, creating a 3D effect and hiding electronics. Etched “Polo Mints” – These iconic embellishments are now properly etched, supplied with printed templates to aid fitting. Bogies – Additional refinements have been added for extra realism. Sound – A brand-new in-house sound project is being developed, replacing the original file kindly provided by Legomanbiffo which was developed for our friends at Revolution Trains. Priced at £229.95 DC/DCC Silent Fitted and £299.95 DCC sound fitted. Our DC/DCC Silent Fitted will have a programmed ESU Lokpilot decoder fitted as standard to operate the raising and lowering pantographs as well as the other lighting functions offered on our Class 92 from the factory. It will also operate seamlessly on DC for traditional power users. Delivery is slated for Q4 2026 and pre-orders can now be placed via your local stockist, or direct via the link below, where you can avail of flexible payment options at no extra cost, and indeed avail of your accurascale points off future direct purchases. Pre-order today! Pre-Order Your Class 92 Here! View the full article

Mainly due to an extreme shortage of funds or help from Belfast and Dublin from about 1947/8 in particular

The GNRI bought about 15 3rds from the LMS during WW2 ( all ex LNWR)

I think it is quite apparent that Irish design philosophy was somewhat different, with a wider loading gauge to play with. In musical comedy terms, it's like comparing The Rutles with The Beatles: the two bands sound similar but, when you examine the music closely, they turn out to be actually very different.

I do rather like the look of Black Lion, which is very diminutive for a 4-4-0. It's almost dwarfed by the open wagon behind it. This image on the Transports of Delight website has a human for scale.

Sure it'll give us a lift.

I'm not sure when the SL&NC started to fall into arrears of maintenance in relation to condition of the rails, but most of the photos I've seen suggest they were running on some quite ropey metals...