Galteemore

Telegraphic codes. GWR was a big user eg Mink, Hydra etc. https://www.svrwiki.com/Telegraph_codes First brass kit I made was an O gauge ‘Loriot’

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-golden-age-of-steam-tickets-136434508287 Hot on the heels of his BackTrack article, AirfixFan of this parish is doing an online talk for PRONI next month 18 Feb at 1400. Lots of images not used in the article, with expert commentary. So consider yourself invited!!

https://www.downrail.co.uk/rolling-stock/steam-crane-3084/

This is more your man here...https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274423615940 not far off Sligo Quay (from Eiretrains site).

Is a face beginning to emerge?

Unless you were a 4 wheeled wagon and got winched across the Craigavon bridge !

As I suspected, JHB, this was simply a premature screen grab, having looked at it online. The map appeared gradually on screen and all the lines appear in the end - even the SLNC!

The graphic is odd as it shows lines which closed in 1933 but not those still open in 57! Is it a screen grab of a graphic that was still ‘growing’ ? Re closures - there was certainly debate at Stormont re opening up at least part of the old BCDR main line in the early 50s. In one of his final speeches the late J M Andrews ( Prime Minister 1940-3 and former BCDR director whose mill had a private siding ) took the Govt to task over it.

Volume 2 of Irish Railways in Colour had a pic on p131

https://www.geograph.ie/photo/2438869 Basic story at the link above. and also here : https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=1991-07-10a.1022.0

This is most interesting David. Do keep us apprised as to how it goes - one of your invaluable tutorials beckons I think! Enjoy exploring the new tool. D L O Smith (the engineering academic who made me my 5’3” gauges!) has a guide here which may help too...

You’re not alone JB....

Thank goodness for that. I know it’s a great book but if the price of owning it is a trip to IKEA ....

Is it that heavy ?!

Simple palette of dull paints worked for me when I made 5’3” PCB track last year - this is the semi-abandoned quay siding so deliberately shabby and decidedly decrepit ....

Seven or possibly eight in total, I believe: http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/13/bord_na_mona.htm This 1966 list notes a pair of Rustons at each location: Mallow, Tuam, Carlow and Thurles. Not clear from list if all are 88DS - one of the Tuam Rustons may have been the 165.

Mine was posted yesterday (to deepest Buckinghamshire). Will advise on receipt!

Yes, they look close enough to me and create the right impression. Certainly a better paint job than I could manage......just thought I’d pass it on for those who take a particular interest in such matters !

Interesting comments on these on RM Web. One of the leading 4mm LNW gurus has given his verdict and it’s not a ringing endorsement...

And here it is on Flickr...courtesy Alan Monk. Interesting to compare with the 88.

And Ruston 88DS locos - as used by Irish Sugar and preserved at Whitehead - sorry Dr Pan - didn’t see your post !

Weshty at SSM will make some up for you. Happy with mine.

It’s all O gauge Paul, with plastic sleepers. Here is a shot on my old O gauge layout under construction, showing the bare track on a sector plate next to scenically treated stuff.

I think the ballasting is the difference / the background tracks are fully ballasted as befits a main line. The foreground track looks more like a siding.

Interesting stuff, John, especially this quote: The majority of people who work in 21mm gauge tend to be modellers who enjoy the technical challenges of building (possibly offbeat)models as opposed to running trains (operating) or collecting models. I don’t actually do much operating myself, as I have discovered that I get far more satisfaction out of the research and problem solving which building to 5’3” calls for. Tony Miles and Richard Chown had extensive 5’3” layouts ( a basement empire in the latter case), but also a fair amount of crew to call upon. I suspect for most of us, the choice is between a modestly sized scale gauge layout, and a large operating layout. I tried the latter in Japanese and didn’t actually enjoy it that much. Whereas a few hours with some sheet metal or plasticard and a scale drawing....