Galteemore

Brilliant @murrayec And at the very end of his life he made this…

Nor should we forget this — set in Ireland but filmed near Basingstoke. When we lived there I paid regular pilgrimage to the site.

The above is one of my favourites. All done using real locos and stock, and the depot was actually blown up - SNCF wanted rid of it so struck a deal with the movie crew. Several other locos are destroyed in the course of the movie. Other movies worth watching for trains if not plot: Von Ryan’s Express, The Cassandra Crossing, First Great Train Robbery (filmed in Ireland with a specially restored 184 and cameo from 186), Train of Events, The Ladykillers.

Biggest hole in preservation is probably a 4-4-0 from one of the Southern companies. The most gorgeous of all a WLWR Robinson in original livery ….other worthy nominees are an NCC 3’ gauge compound, a PP class or U, BCDR 2-4-0. In terms of what would be useful in modern steam ops round Dublin, a Bandon tank or Glover tank would earn their keep.

That’s quite right - anything’s possible. It’s interesting though, that at least two of the most recent new builds have decided not to pursue main line certification - the Saint and Patriot builds. Of course, in GB you have your pick of lengthy heritage lines to stretch out on as an alternative option. Ireland just doesn’t have that choice, although Maam Cross might offer an opportunity if plans come off…

Apparently not. I had wondered if the old ‘rebuild’ dodge a la Claughton would work.

Yep. I saw it on Tuesday (a 40-hr visit to NI doing some measuring). It will also be tricky to certify (no grandfather rights), and by the time it’s done the only running option may be Downpatrick. It will however look magnificent.

Absolutely. There just isn’t the same nostalgic pull for people as the GMs have. You’d have to be well over 60 to have any clear memory of them in use. Although the same applies to the G class, they have the advantage of being cute, a little less complicated to restore, and useful at Downpatrick. As and when the time comes for an 071…Downpatrick’s PW people might be looking anxious !

Class 24/25/26 seem to use same power plant

Sadly it’s a common tale in the hobby. I really feel for those who have lost money. I suspect that the guilty parties generally don’t set out to defraud but end up overcommitted by not having a clear business model. Turning a hobby into a business is fraught with risk and can easily turn into a Ponzi scheme by default.

Primer’s always sobering, but there’s a lot here that a few dabs of filler can sort. Well done - always encouraging to see some old school modelling under way.

As an 18th century traveller to our country observed, ‘nothing lasts long in Ireland except the miles’

Not wrong. You’re the Rembrandt of rust.

Now that’s a rough shunt

Darius has found a 1:1 MTK kit by looks of it….

Oh I do like this ! Subtle curvature will stop it looking like a cookie-cutter Setrack thing, and add some lovely photographic angles. Mulling this for 36.75….

Fab. Ken was a very gifted engineer/designer who did a lot of pioneering work in making 21mm stuff with modern tech. If you do a forum search for his postings you’ll see what an inspiration he was.

The late Ken McElhinney (with whom you would have had much in common and who sadly died just around the time you got involved here) did just that in 21mm - search for Port Breige on here. For some reason my phone won’t let me post hyperlinks.

Fab stuff. You can easily get away with 4w wagons on such a layout, whereas, as you’ve realised, long bogie coaches will overhang and look odd. On such a layout, less is more when it comes to scenery, but the tiny details such as lever frames or point rodding will make it come alive. Careful placement of the few buildings is also key to avoiding the overcrowding effect. I think this will be a brilliant layout - I’m also a micro fan for various reasons. Too many large layouts end up on the boulevard of broken dreams and I suspect I’d be on it before long! As Louis MacNeice remarked ‘And because one feels that here at least one can, Do local work which is not at the world's mercy And that on this tiny stage with luck a man Might see the end of one particular action.’ He was talking about politics but it applies to micros!

I think it was a bit of a generic style among early diesel shunters. Maunsell’s 0-6-0 diesels for the Southern look very similar

Excellent work. Always good to see someone having a go at making something !

Not a great deal. Large scale military mechanisation in WW1 coupled to the Ford system of mass production suggested to most governments that the future lay in roads. The US interstate system, for instance, was planned by, among others, a young Dwight D Eisenhower post WW1. My own research in the public works files of the NI Govt suggests a similar road focus into the 30s and beyond. Some projects were rail focused, esp the improvements to the NCC main line, and doubling of the Whitehead line. One NCC scheme which sadly didn’t make it to reality was the proposed diversion of the Portrush branch to take in Portstewart after the tramway closed in ‘26.

Saturday was arguably the most exciting day in Irish preservation since 131 first steamed after her years of plinthing and purgatory. Talk about a resurrection…raging I had to work!!!