Galteemore

And the livery is spot on for May 1956. Even the headlamp code is correct for class B train.

Very nice. That front 3/4 at Manorhamilton was a photographer’s favourite I think. Looks like 2pm goods from Enniskillen

He’s busy elsewhere. He’s so angry about Gt Victoria St being replaced they even named the project after him.

That’s one thing we don’t lack. Values are everywhere - everyone has them. But it’s an economic term: values have no hard or fast standing and can change. And we all value things differently…. What we increasingly lack are virtues, I think.

I was intrigued - https://www.thedrive.com/news/37188/michelin-built-this-freakish-10-wheeled-citroen-to-test-truck-tires-at-110-mph

Much as I hate the place, with its deterministic aisles to force shoppers on a certain route, it is an ideal place for acquiring cheap baseboards - my ‘Abohill’ diorama being one. Whole RM web threads are devoted to its products .and my own modest Irish layout rests firmly on IKEA foundations..

LoveIy. Passenger eye view works esp well

Totally agree Brendan. It’s 7mm scale for me so pretty much all scratch but that 5’3” look is worth it and nowhere as hard as you might think.

Well, my drawing purchase has just landed. For obvious commercial reasons I won’t post the images here! Suffice to say they are top notch and incredibly well done. Even if you aren’t a scratch builder they would be a nice bit of wall art. No connection other than satisfied customer.

Yep. Any romantic ideas you have about 50s Ireland killed stone dead! Grimly real.

The reference to the dance hall is a nice bit of colour and I can just see the evening workings from Drogheda… although of course Ireland’s premier and legendary ‘Ballroom of Romance’ was located on Ireland’s premier and legendary railway, within walking distance of Glenfarne station on the SLNC…..the movie it inspired in 1982 is still wonderful….

Could be a through working from Navan and the Meath Road…..

https://www.irish-showbands.com/images/halls/aishling-clogherhead-ggx.htm

Yes, although the original Thomas books long precede Ivor. Awdry himself may well have drawn inspiration from a 1930s Hamilton Ellis cartoon…. There’s also a long forgotten series - which had an accompanying layout that regularly visited shows in the 50s-60s - called Sammy the Shunter.

If you’re in the N Wales area…Hattons - the final act: https://bala-lake-railway.co.uk/hattons-model-railways-closing-down-sale/

That’s some LED lighting rig you have, DJ…

For a scratch built 4mm effort, that’s pretty good going. Some nice finishing of newel posts etc.

Interesting - a professional model maker on the Big Island has discovered Irish railways. His output is top notch - will be interesting to follow: https://paxton-road.blogspot.com/2024/03/irish-vans.html?m=1

Pictures would help…..

Good luck. Have a good look around and see if there is any special oil with it. Normal stuff won’t cut it - you need steam oil. I used to ensure the cylinders and regulator especially were thoroughly lubed. Should be able to get Wilesco Z83 in the Euro zone -not much point me telling you what we can pick up in GB.

Well known UK steam brand still on the go. Having had one, the locos were difficult to fire and control as they used solid fuel tablets and a very crude regulator valve. A gas burner mod improved things a bit, but there was a cottage industry of ‘taming Mamods’ and you could make them relatively serviceable machines. https://www.mamod.co.uk/

Well, I thought I knew a reasonable amount of SLNC lore. But the survival of Railbus 2As body in Mohill in the early 60s? Wow!! You have to be paid up IRRS for this link to work https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53467659222/in/photolist-2psKJiu-2pBT6Vn-2pwr5PS-2pwxy2Y-2pwC7KV-2pwCQx5-2pBQQE2-2pBQDEM-2pBSTmQ-2pwC7KQ-2pwCYrv-2pwxzwB-2pwC8TS-2pwCQHL-2pwCQSo-2pwDqgi-2pvxd9R-2pwp7Bt-2pwxJAJ-2pwD1By-2pwr5PG-2pwwCPW-2pwwExf-2pwBh5o-2pwDsGa-2pwC4Pg-2pwDqgo-2pBStdU-2pBSSPc-2pBSic1-2pBSTh1-2pwpyuQ-2pwqFZJ-2pwwC9s-2pwwEUn-2pwC6QA-2pwCSUz-2pwCTcD-2pwDpZf-2pwDt92-2pBSTj5-2pwoK1F-2pwBhyz-2pwCV3h-2pwCV7W-2pwDuZw-2pvv3WY-2pvxdfY-2pvxq6S-2pwp7Hv

Thanks Alan. I’ll let that percolate and see what results I can brew up. I’ve got some real wood sleepers to paint and your techniques look fab. Hopefully your wisdom will filter through to my brushes! I’m also a huge fan of 27004 for all kinds of uses.

Well that’s certainly bean worth it, and stirred up the daily grind. Fabulous weathering. The iron work looks just spot on against the faded wood. How was the magic done, please?