Galteemore

The NIR thing is genuine. Loads of old multiple unit stock dumped in a County Antrim quarry underwater. Had been an alternative plan to relay part of old Goraghwood - Armagh line to enable sealing them up in Lissumon tunnel.https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2004-11-16.196086.h According to Hansard, some 18 items were disposed of this way. As for burying steam locos, they contain far too much in the way of recyclable ie resellable materials for that to happen! It has happened perhaps occasionally overseas when an engine cannot be recovered or a scrapped on site (there are a few NZ cases) but not here !https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/119847636/second-locomotive-buried-in-river-bed-may-be-recovered

I suppose, to the UTA, it was inconvenient for short workings being single ended. CIE’s pair, I think, were largely employed on the INW stump workings till 59 and then went the same way. Here’s one of the last workings : https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000304436 My dad has great memories of railcar A - above - on the Derry Road. Had a fine mahogany interior apparently

Don’t think the wheels turned round many times! Colm Flanagan says it was out of use at Adelaide for 2 years before 1961 scrapping. Glad we have this pic - as you say, great evidence of how stuff was identified in the GNRB/UT transition. Would have looked quite smart with the UT roundel, too…..

There was an end on junction between the two systems at Castlewellan, and trains from both could be seen in each other’s company between there and Newcastle.

Nice thought! Des Coakham’s view was that it was one of the most interesting engines on the line. He felt that the inspiration came from the GNRI RT tanks which visited Queens Quay. The external styling though is very SLNC-like ! In a nice little circle of history, of course, 2 SLNC 0-6-4Ts worked on the Belfast dock lines just after 29 was withdrawn- a real pity they were never seen together.

Looks brilliant. Although SLNC and BCDR cabs aren’t always that far apart check out no 29 here which has a very SLNC air, right down to the 0-6-4T arrangement and the jack beside the smokebox!

I’ll PM you as pics are problematic …

That’s very nice. A little reminiscent of the SLNC 4-4-0T ‘Erne’. Change the chimney, tweak the cab and it’s very reminiscent!

Just imagining a 7.25 line through the Barnesmore Gap…..interestingly, the Bure Valley line in England - 15” gauge - has a loco which was once of Donegal outline -see below - but had to be rebuilt, one reason being the cab was too cramped. The rebuild was done in Leek and Manifold style.

Jim McGeown of Connoisseur Kits also suggests ensuring the brass is warm and dry. I follow his guidance of sticking my brass models in the hot press for a while along with the can and it’s worked. Although as an Englishman he calls it an airing cupboard …..

Thanks Ernie. Always liked those GN railcars - something almost Michelin-like about them

That’s mighty work Eoin. Reminds me of a late night footplate trip I had once on 171 with the crew silhouetted like that against the fire….

Most interesting JHB. A socially awkward, oddly dressed, muttering type - you’d think someone like that would be conspicuous on an Irish enthusiast tour….. All the same, bet you’d give anything to be kipping on a dusty oul sate on a laminate out of Sligo behind a 141 again…

Definitely calling out for a track panel or two of 5’3. Could do what this bloke has done….in SLNC two tone green… I’d probably convert the signal cabin into a workshop upstairs - lots of light ! And use the locking room below as a layout room..,

Looks like the N gauge Society one they produced with Farish a few years ago. I had a blood and custard one. Lovely little model - here’s another variant.

This any use ? http://www.crecy.co.uk/railway-atlas-of-ireland-then-now

Nice to see this taking shape. No matter how much drawing you do, there’s nothing quite like seeing a plan in 3D to see where adjustments have to be made. Backscene sketch looks great.

As a member of the Gauge O Guild I get updates from their photo gallery. Just in is this Class K of the South Australian Railways. This is the loco from which all the SLNC 0-6-4T locos derived, the likeness to ‘Lissadell’ and her sisters is obvious. The last K class went in 1956, so they had a similar lifespan. The modeller has, nicely, built it to proper 5’3 gauge. They have also built an ‘L’ class, which is a nice ‘might have been’ for the SLNC…..again, the family likeness to the tanks is there to see. The L class were originally tanks and rebuilt.

Thanks Ernie. This was that brief window when the Belpaire Compounds had the Enterprise all to themselves before the VS arrived! That photo at Dunleer is pure GN glory. The tortoise may not have won the race in this instance but it certainly had a longer working life!

Good advice there ! Little tricks to help the finish are also : 1. warm the can in the hot press for a while before spraying 2. never stop or start spraying on the model - sweep over the model with the paint coming out and stop spraying when you’re off it - avoids paint runs and drips 3. Two light coats always better than one thick coat !

Patterson’s Swilly book shows a lighter green in the cover painting. But I think for later years the darker colour is more accurate - and shows off the brass work nicely !

It’s a beautifully done project - hard to tell where the old station and the extension join. Last time I was there, the goods shed did not look as if the same care had gone into its conversion. The next station along at Belcoo is similarly well looked after - by a lady who knows its significance and has done lovely work with it. Manorhamilton and Dromahair aren’t quite so charmingly presented! Intriguingly the owners of the latter and Florencecourt have both chosen to move the main door from the original left hand bay to the middle bay.

A very rich dark green with gold lining. Swilly engines were also spotlessly clean as a rule, so they looked quite majestic. @airfixfanmay have some quality pics - this is just a screen grab.

High Legh (yes, no letter ‘I’) miniature railway in Cheshire

That is truly magnificent