Galteemore

Have more or less finished Florencecourt’s building. Thankfully the original still stands - if a little changed since 57, which helps check that it looks right. I had the huge privilege of walking round the site earlier this year, and filling in some gaps in my knowledge with help from the owner. Here’s some pics of the model, the original, and a painting by David Briggs. A bit more weathering will be done when I get the layout advanced and install the building. The wash house chimney will be stuck down in due course - it’s a bit wonky here. And yes, the original station notice boards were LMS ones, as study of other photos has revealed! The GNRI one does look very low, but again, that is just how it was. All boxed up now in a plastic container to keep the dust off till I build the layout …

Excellent. And you can always purchase one of these if you wish to try it at home…..

Dark lined green. Later black with red/white/red lining. Vermilion to be precise in terms of the red! Some schools of thought suggest that the lining was simply red. Holding back the years ? This 2-4-0 model is believed to be a good likeness of the green. David Holman, Paul Greene, and others have modelled the black livery. Paul also has a J15 in green.

I think they actually recall the GSW extended cab sheets quite nicely ….

That’s very nice. I always liked the GSR 4-4-0s with outside axleboxes, but I think the top one keeps more of the grace of an original early Irish 4-4-0.

If that’s what an IRM box has to go through, how tough must the staff be? Only Army Ranger Wing vets need apply…..

Very nice. Also interesting to see a table linked directly to a running line, thus requiring a catch point.

Associated delay to production of scale 5’3 track range as fireproof sleepers are sourced.

Lovely photos. That Ballinamore one shows just how substantial the Irish NG could be - looks like a main line! And the Harcourt St shot shows two of the big gaps in Irish preservation - those GSW 4-4-0s were quite something, and a MGW 2-4-0 would really suit the RPSI’s current operating pattern, certainly for the short haul trains in NI.

I think you are right. I also think consistency is the key. Those early layouts basically all came from the same pair of hands making everything. On Continental layouts, almost everything also comes out of a box or high quality kits. Recent British layouts can easily be a pastiche of high quality models with fairly basic structures and scenery. What the weathering does in this instance is blur the edges of this juxtaposition so it doesn’t jar.

Must be something about the RAF and railway modelling. Mike Sharman was an ex RAF engineer (on Hercules C130s). David Jenkinson, the carriage guru, was an RAF admin officer, and Geoff Holt (another loco expert with numerous Wild Swan books out) was also RAF. John Charman, seminal figure in post war OO modelling, was an RAF pilot. To get vaguely back on your thread, J-Mo, I suspect that all were inspired by engineering excellence and innovation, so I think they’d be intrigued by what you are up to!!

Excellent. A lot going for this era, too - short trains and huge variety. Also scope for lots of interesting research….

Recommended. Sound product.

4T had been a bit of a disaster in Kerry as she had very poor brakes - something of a critical issue on the T and D. She was more popular in Ballinamore!

Most impressive work.

Wonderful view of Broadstone. Hard to believe, looking at that almost timeless image, that steam on CIE would be extinct in 4 years.

Very nice detailed corner, full of visual interest already. Good place to put a cameo scene, such as couple of mill workers on a fag break!

Norman Johnston’s book has an outline sketch on page 100. Also worth checking if the GN loco drawings published by the IRRS include them….https://irrs.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Digital-Drawings-List-22-UK.pdf

Very nice - bet @KMCEwill love it!

In certain regiments of the British Army @jhb171achillbeans are regarded as ‘not being an officer’s vegetable’. Here you are then….

Trolley service is ok and will indeed be missed by some, but this is what real on train catering means ….I hope it does come back on IE.

One of the lesser known episodes of the Afghan campaign was the relocation to a Kabul museum of several old locos by the German army. A location even more edgy than Strabane. Possibly.

Sorry to hear that David. Do you think some kind of fix is possible, please, either at this stage, or as part of the initial build. I have bought one which is awaiting building

Yes, Slaters are pretty much a 7mm concern - although I only really use them for wheels…..they do 5’3” axles, mercifully! Very nice work on yours Jb.

I built one years ago for a UK outline layout and it does have a vaguely Irish vibe - especially at the ends.