Galteemore

Modesty forbids and all that, JHB, but here you are…. .

Sorry for the mistake, George - but the sentiment still stands !

Very nice Ernie. Noticed van on end of railcar set which was interesting-presumably a fitted one.

You’ve been looking at Port Lairge Wharf, haven’t you ?! Sounds intriguing…. These fine fellows are in Belfasthttps://maritimebelfast.com/our-heritage/steam-cranes/ , and ran on a quayside rail system

Nice layout too! More details please ?

It was delightful exhibiting Enniskillen on Belmullet this weekend but I also anticipated that I might have some work to do afterwards, and so it proved. When I compared the shots of the two ‘Large Tanks’ together, something wasn’t quite right. Mr Holman’s - on the left - had a subtly different smokebox profile to mine. Or to put it another way, mine’s slightly off! Drawing this had taken an immense amount of care and effort - the Irish ogee smokebox is a deceptively complex shape and the bane of many a railway artist - but I’d clearly messed it up a bit. There just seemed to be too much meat on the lower half of mine. On closer examination, I had left too much metal outside the rivet line. The circled pic clearly shows a huge flange of metal where there should be air! So out with the the files tonight (it wasn’t easy starting to file at what had taken much patient painting and finishing work….) and some trimming was done. The shape now conforms more closely to that carefully measured riveted line on the smokebox front, so hopefully looks a bit better, and more like the background photo of the real Enniskillen. I’ll be pressing the Archer’s rivets into service, I think, to patch up all the ones on the smokebox side I’ve filed off!

You dealt with it all very graciously David / more than I would have ! As the only 7mm Irish standard gauge layout out and about these days, I do hope we see more of it - especially if you have a year in your workshop to produce a few more gems…..I do think that the time switch adds a real extra dimension to the layout but appreciate the point re allocating one period to each day. And having 2 lots of rolling stock in 7mm is a hefty transport issue! Here’s a harmless piece of nonsense that I dreamt up when I got home…. not sure how this squares with the @jhb171achillview of alternative history - but here’s Enniskillen and coach no 4 departing Rosses Point and arriving at Belmullet on the Saturdays only train…..

Well done the young lad. Sorry you’ll miss the show George but if ever there was a good reason….

C and 141 classes certainly made it to Larne; https://www.geograph.ie/photo/277203 https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3036630

You’re safe here, Jb. We understand

He was very patient, JB, and somehow was always looking the other way when the most egregious operational errors occurred…..

Well, what a fantastic day that was. As a guest - and very incompetent - operator, it was such a privilege to see this layout at work. An amazing parade of locos and stock: the early stuff (which I’ve only seen in photos till now) is truly stunning. Lots of images follow…. It was great to bring some stock to air on Belmullet - even my crude little ‘Titania’ had an airing. A particular highlight for me, though, was what I think must be the first time since Oct 1957 that two ‘large tanks’ have been together! The last occasion was when Enniskillen- the final SLNC loco to be in steam - hauled a wagon clearance train past Sir Henry slumbering in Manorhamilton shed. David very kindly let me plank my ‘lockdown loco’ on the track to meet her long lost sister. Interesting to compare their chimneys - Sir Henry sports his original Beyer one, whilst Enniskillen has the post 1950 GN tapered one. It was also enthralling to see Sir Henry’s inside motion twirling about.As some of you know, the SLNC is practically in my DNA….so it was delightful to see so much of it today. My loco’s overwide footsteps precluded her from the offered passenger duties but at close of play Enniskillen did try her hand at a cattle train. Do forgive my self-indulgence if she keeps photobombing these images….after a year’s work in the building, was lovely to see her on such a stage and in such company on Belmullet’s fiddle yard…. Thanks David - a wonderful day. If I get a second chance I’ll hopefully manage fewer gaffes - and shave Enniskillen’s footsteps to a more prototypical depth!!

That looks amazing Ken. A long vanished scene brought to life.

Looking forward to it David. ‘Enniskillen’, of course, has developed a significant fault tonight which I have spent much time fettling. She will need a new driving wheel in due course but a bodged repair has been done. She’s been cleaned and lubed and currently purring away up on blocks….hopefully she’ll behave !

Hey, get in the queue Jim, he’s sorting the SLNC ones first !

Lovely stuff Ernie. Classic west of Ireland scenes. Don’t forget to take a break from running trains to keep posting prototype photos!

My dad has one on the way which he’s promised to pass on. IRRS photo archive is outstanding. A J Powell images recently uploaded include a wonderful shot at Drumshanbo depicting the lady of the house chatting to the loco crew whilst the loco injector is being used to fill a bath tub for her children!

An unusual prototype and excellent deduction Ken. Nice model - like the varied position of the drop lights !

Ok Jb - my attempt at dissing the one horse town of Fintona has clearly backfired (and even the horse left in 57!). However, you are quite right - it’s a good prototype. The options are really to make it as a small station goods yard or as a factory setting. I suspect the former would allow more variety.

I was referring to Fintona post 57!

And today’s entry in ‘sentences I never thought I’d hear’…..

And closer to home…https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-8-10-12-14-16-Lazy-Susan-Round-Swivel-Rotating-Bearing-Turntable-Desk-Plate-/163240644955?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

Yes - there were intense spoil workings then for construction purposes https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3505762

And looks right at home. Like the front cover of an IRRS journal - great!

I think 3 latterly. Second class had largely gone by the board by more recent times