Galteemore

Yes I was a willing volunteer myself in my late teens early twenties, when my personal costs were manageable. I had hoped to return to it in my late 50s but it now looks as if I will have to spend that time earning a living. Preservation will always have a supply of eager young volunteers - what will be more difficult to get in future are the middle aged and elderly.

Key seems to be - as with many things - planning as much as resource. Really looking forward to seeing the Patriot turn a wheel. I do think on balance though that we will probably see some pruning of the heritage network in coming years. This generation growing up is the first in a long time to be actually less well off than their parents, which will probably result in longer working lives and less spare time - the opposite of what 1950s sci-fi told us !

I think Mullingar and Sligo also still have tables in place although long disconnected. Portrush still has one too I think - deeply covered in foliage now and invisible from google earth

Rosslare I think. Was talk of Tralee being recommissioned. In NI, tables at Whitehead and Coleraine. The latter was refurbished in 2016. It’s had quite a history, being used at Ballymena and Great Victoria St before being salvaged and installed in a brand new pit at Coleraine in 1986, for RPSI use.

Excellent. And is so encouraging to see food retailers taking an interest

Fab work Harry. And a large cab for Bob to dry off in if required. On one infamous occasion a CIE crew picked him up soaked to the skin. He proceeded to strip to the skin and dried himself off at the firebox as the loco bowled along through the midlands……

Marklin are a separate system working off 3-rail, so their products are generally incompatible with other marques. Historically, German manufactured model trains were significantly better than their UK counterparts- and correspondingly expensive! As a one time collector I always felt Fleischmann and Trix were a little bit above Roco and Liliput in quality, but that’s probably changed !

It’s not so far fetched to say that it may indeed originally have been red. This was the default colour in Ireland, not because it warded off evil spirits, but because (owing to its oxide base) it was relatively cheap.

As you say, needn’t have been this way. At Sheringham in Norfolk even a simple bus shelter had a simple but appropriate mural applied….

Still available the odd place but to be honest that’s a great little project for a scratch build

That’s looking really good. What it’s all about is making the eye see what it thinks should be there. And that last tree certainly does that

That bloke on RMWeb has a penchant for the unusual. He has made a rather nice one of the horse tramway at Berkhamsted, which we used to live near, and which was also in HC and RM Casserley’s patch. Indeed, until I had some dealings with Richard’s artist daughter, I had no idea that for many years I lived within a few miles of an SLNCR nameplate in deepest Buckinghamshire! Sample of Mary’s art below. Lady of taste, obviously. I love the speed blur he’s done to suggest a WCML Express. Might be an idea for his B and N diorama - blurred teak high on the viaduct! It was always a highlight of the train journey to Dublin, looking over as we passed to spot the trackbed, which is still extant there I think even if long vanished within the confines of Newry town. In many ways it was ahead of its time with its carbon-neutral, multi-modal operation.

Thanks Mike - was just ensuring old Triang got included. Their old 3Fs make very good Irish base locos !

Second hand is probably the way ahead for cheap conversions, especially if you are content with code 100 track. Some of the older Hornby stuff will go on for ever if serviced well

Excellent Alan. Know what you mean about spring. I had to fiddle around with an industrial sized spring, trimming it to length to ensure the loco was getting the right balance of forces. If only I’d kept on at physics after O levels….