Galteemore

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.

Chary of admitting or aspiring to ‘greater knowledge’ but Johnson’s book states that shed allocation ended under the UTA. This implies that it existed before. I am not aware of any published lists, of the kind that exist for the GSR in the 30s: IRRS may have GN loco dept records - and the Mallon collection in Louth CC archives may be a mine of information. I suspect that, otherwise, allocations may simply have to be inferred from the photographic archive - how frequently a particular loco appears at a particular shed. Thus AL class no 59 was, I think, an Enniskillen engine, and has been identified (in Johnson again) as the resident pilot loco. Enniskillen engines could always be identified anyway as the cleanest on the system !

Looks like you’re right on both Ernie. Looks like Derry city in backdrop of pic 1. Classic 1930s boarding house background in pic 2 suggests Portrush. The table here was a fair way out near Metropole Corner and I think may still slumber under the weeds.

Turf, clearly!

On that note, never approach a Chinook helicopter from the front….the blade can sail alarmingly….vaguely on topic, one of my earliest CIE memories is lying in a hotel in Mullingar c1980 and hearing GMs running all night in the ice-bound station.

Sorry to hear that Michael. Will have a think about it and see if I can come up with something.

This is entirely possible, as I have the jigs to do it. But you could make it up yourself in half an hour. Happy to correspond with you and talk you through it.

Is such a thing even possible ?

And at Navan Junction.