MD220

45 minutes ago, jhb171achill said:

I checked with my sources for any further details of NIR Mk 2s and their travels beyond Dublin.

Seems there weren't any, beyond extremely rare forays to Dún Laoghaire, so that's that; when NIR wanted to send a train deep into IE / CIE territory, it seems that they always used 80 class sets.

So no rare visits of Mk 2s to Tuam, Mullingar, Limerick Junction, Kerry or Waterford!

The ITG Western Enterprise tour in 1990 consisting of 111 hauling an NIR mk 2 set visited Tuam!

That looks stunning lads. Top marks. Getting excited now! 

Is there any news on the progress of restoration of the real 134? Some up to date photos would be good to see! 

Done

Yes I believe that all of the CSE Rustons were 88DS apart from the one in Tuam which was a much larger 165DM (I think!). A great little loco, sadly it's no longer with us following an arson attack at the former Westrail shed in Tuam.

I contacted Hattons earlier this week about delivery times for the ST 121s and they replied that they had no confirmed date for when they would receive them. I ordered my IR 121 from IRM and dithered that much about getting a second (supertrain) version that they'd sold out of them by the time I'd manned up! Ordered from Hattons instead. I'll know better next time. My next concern is that being in Co Down will there be extra hassle getting it back into the North if its delivered after Jan 1st?

11 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

Mogul, should you wish to use pics from either of those books on here, and for the purposes of illustrating a point you're making like the above, you are very welcome indeed to do so. (I'm one of the two named on the cover!)

 

 

It's still in print but running low.

If you want a copy please PM me - I still have a few new ones. Alternately, contact the publisher direct - Colourpoint, Newtownards, Co. Down. Malcolm or Wesley Johnston are the people to speak to.

Thanks Jonathan  I nabbed the last one on Amazon last night!

Thanks for the info Mogul. I have Rails through the West already, I must look out for North Kerry!

Would anyone have any close up photos of the open topped containers used on the Asahi coal trains?

Were they purpose built or just standard 20ft jobs with the roof cut off? Were they side door or end door, were the doors welded up and they were tipped to unload?

Sorry for so many questions at once but I've no doubt someone out there knows their history!

Many thanks  

Des

Downpatrick also has Laminate buffet 2419 and Generator/brake/open 3223.

I did wonder! Thanks Jonathan. 

Hi, I saw this old cast metal sign in a recent online auction (in Ireland). At first glance I thought it was Belfast & County Down but obviously the ampersand is in the wrong place. Does anyone know what railway it belongs to?

Cheers! 

Damn, you got my hopes up with that title. I thought the models had left China!

Yes, absolutely

5 minutes ago, Angus said:

 

Hi MD220,

I'm intrigued,  If the train was propelled past the signal box then, from the track plan posted there is only one crossover so the train can't run round.

I can see that working on the modern rationalised layout as the line reduces to single track.

https://photos.signalling.org/picture?/19486/category/1974-2000_may

I don't know when the line was singled, prior to that was there another crossover not shown on the OS plan?

Hi Angus, I'm not sure of the exact track layout in those days but I'm pretty sure that was the procedure. One of Gerry Conmy's videos on YouTube ( Trains at speed, Ireland part 3 or 4 perhaps) shows 2 141's backing out of Sligo and then reversing in to the other platform, and I witnessed it myself back in the day!

Its difficult to make out, this was a scan of an old print!

6 minutes ago, jhb171achill said:

Steam days also had the unnumbered one-offs that were the shunters in Kingsbridge and Waterford: Sambo* and Jumbo**, and of course the oddball "Pat" on the coal gantry in Cork. 

One wonders what the PC and Easily-Offended-Brigade would make of such names today! 

* = racist, and

** = oooohhhh, "body shaming"! 

Times change, folks, don't they, as Tempus tends to Fugit itself away........

In the 1950s and 60s, York Road and eventually Grosvenor Road in Belfast had the unique BCDR bogie diesel and several one-off NCC diesel shunters; this family an interesting subject in their own right. I think I've already posted a pic of the BCDR one somewhere.... that in itself is surprising, as Senior rarely took pictures of anything without a firebox and boiler tubes!

I have a (rubbish) photo I took on an MRSI trip to Inchicore in, I think, 1989 of withdrawn Maybach E425 and it has the name 'Sambo' chalked on one of it's engine compartment doors. A reference to a previous pilot engine perhaps?

As already mentioned, trains arrived in Sligo at the left hand platform, furthest from the station building. The train locos would then propel the coaches back out of the station well beyond the signal cabin where they would run round the train and then propel back to the right hand/near platform. This was certainly the procedure in the late 80's/ early 90's. 

Fantastic looking model lads, fair play. I've one on order and I'm tempted to go for  a 2nd. Any idea of an approximate delivery date? No pressure, I know it'll be worth waiting for!

An E (preferably a 421) floats my boat and would get my vote, hence my moniker

Thanks Edo, much appreciated. 

Thanks Noel, that's a good start!

Hi.

Does anyone know of a readily available source of Irish station track plans? I'm particularly interested in Claremorris and Sligo as they were in the 70s & 80s, not their current streamlined form! I've looked online but haven't turned up much.

Thanks. 

That's great guys, thanks! Wasn't expecting a complete list.

Hi everyone,  I'm newly signed up to the forum, though I've been watching from afar for a while!

In anticipation of IRM's amazing A Class project it got me thinking on the subject of names. Back in the early 90s I was lucky enough to blag a cab ride on 013 with a coal and oil train from Tuam to Claremorris, and remember the name 'Vera Lynn' painted in the cab above the windows. A fellow enthusiast once told me that many, if not all, of the class were named like this, and I wonder does anyone else know the names of other locos, particularly those on the IRM production line (I've ordered 056!), or any info on who named them etc?

Cheers!