Galteemore

As a rough heuristic, the more industrialised a country is, the more interest in railways there tends to be. Eg Germany has a more active preservation scene than France. Quite what the law (if law there be) of cause and effect is I cannot say. In terms of grants, that only really kicked in c1980s.

It’s not at all controversial. The biggest thing which will affect UK preservation is the demographic timebomb. I am 54 years old - at this age a lot of my parents generation had been able to retire and devote time to other things - such as preserved railways. My generation and those below, the economists tell us, will have to work for longer, depriving the preservation - and other - sectors of the supply of voluntary labour on which they have rested. Only the lines which can operate as commercially self-funding, or have significant private financial backing, will be able to thrive.

The RPSI operations sell out because they offer an experience within easy reach of the capital. You don’t spend half a day getting there, and the experience is long enough to offer substance without boring the kids. The relative scarcity of the trains ensures that they are filled. Having spent some thirty years of my life in very close contact to RPSI finances, I have a lot of sympathy with the branch line concept, but know how much it would soak up in resource.

Simple answer is ‘none’ I’m afraid. RPSI have found the model, by accident or design, to keep steam going: run a few trains out of Dublin every year filled to the gunwales with passengers. Far more commercially viable than keeping a branch line going 365 days. Not enough Dublin families would drag down to any of the old closed lines (Baltinglass, Shillelagh, Athboy etc) to keep them running. Downpatrick, which is a relatively small operation by UK standards, represents a truly extraordinary commitment of money and time by those involved. Not sure there is enough capacity in the Irish market to support another operation.

Quite right @GSR 800. I can recall the old Connolly pre-Dart. What a place it was compared to the basic tramway NIR was at that stage. Still recall seeing mailbags on the platform with a set of 121s ready to head off on the Sligo Mail.

Interesting shot at Clones - love the crew grabbing a quick fag before heading off! Hadn’t realised that bread vans made it south.

Looks like ex DSER K2 class. 461 probably as it has no ash chutes on smokebox

Yes, John, they have a very distinguished history with the UN - and a sad roll call of losses. This is a strategic step change towards war fighting - green vehicles being deployed and not white…..

Very very interesting. IDF deployed on continent in force…..changed days!! Extract from Defence Forces website.., Mobility A significant component of Ireland’s involvement in MilEx 2025 was the successful deployment of Defence Forces equipment and vehicles from Pfungstadt, Germany, to Pápa Airbase, Hungary, using European rail transport. This marked a key milestone in strategic military mobility for Ireland and demonstrated the Defence Forces’ ability to operate as part of a multinational logistical chain.

Lovely pic of Ballintogher Ernie, but I think it’s printed back to front….

Fascinating scene. Looks relatively modern until you see what the same photographer took a few yards away that day . I think those two engines could do with swapping tenders!

More like this. Struck me as a nice way for a veteran to wear their hard earned ribbons

did speak to one of the operators with an impressive medal bracelet !

Cheers @Mol_PMB. They’re by a bloke called Andy Stadden who normally does high end military figures, as indeed his father Charles did. Loco crews were not filthy in the main, and took pride in themselves as well as their steed. A bloke called Pete Armstrong did me a crew for the SG. My tank engine crews are fairly generic figures with indifferent paint finishes as it’s so dark you can only see outlines. Tender engines with open cabs need a bit more !

Too late for @David Holman’w last show, the PP crew appeared from the sculptor (they are a bespoke crew based on a pic of a crew at Enniskillen. I will need to experiment with placing - I think with the regulator open that far at least one should be looking ahead ! We also now have a goods guard

See, @jhb171achill, SLNC locos DID have red coupling rods!

Interesting- was sat behind you on the Sunday operating Northport Quay!

He’s kindly making his U class 7mm for me, with a few bits for a J class too

He is actively engaged (as of today) in new drawing work for me. So the lights are still on!

I’m not entirely sure about that one! I think that some modellers (and I include myself) prefer making to having , if that makes sense. Again, that’s not a better/worse thing. I just like the process of taking a flat sheet of metal and making it look like an engine. I’ll happily subcontract chimneys and domes to a supplier (and have some 3D stuff being designed) but the joy for me lies in the construction. Takes all sorts. I suspect that scratch builders like me will just have to learn basic CAD as another skill on top of soldering etc. I suspect too, that one of the reasons Ahern and Denny’s stuff has aged so well is that their layouts are consistent - the same set of hands and eyes produced everything from buildings to bufferbeams.

Can be a success story if done right eg Gauge O Guild and Dingham couplings

And GNRI U /UG

He is trading. I have had several emails from him today in connection with an order

That’s a great little publication which I always enjoy - recommended !

Fabulous. Great to see a 121 north of the border again