NIR

That looks good, an interesting building too.

Happened once or twice that I noticed, including one setting back, but I doubt it's dangerous in itself, just inconvenient. Variable stopping patterns must be a real pain to drive.

5 plank, interesting... I thought they were 4 plank, or were they built (or rebuilt) as 4 plank? The Cambrian C58 kit comes very close with a 5 plank body 70mm long, 32mm wide and 14mm high on a wooden solebar/drawbar. The wheelbase is 36mm but looks extendable to 40mm as the solebar and W irons come on two different layers. The end stanchions can be trimmed to a taper with some cutters and 1mm x 1mm brass L section used to make the stanchions either side of the door. The two door springs can be formed from staples. With sides cut down to 2 plank the diagonal strapping stops just in the right place too.

No Warnincks Advocaat?

Appreciate the card, Merry Christmas everyone.

There were also Pandoro containers* from the P&O Irish Sea operation though I'm not sure they were ever rail-borne. (* or were they just trailers?)

Depends what you mean by commuter. Liverpool and Manchester doesn't sound very commuter, Stockton and Darlington even less so, but London and Greenwich or London and Blackwall do and they're later.

Just one question. The container protection device, was that fitted from new or was it a later addition? Wouldn't have been much use for the side opening CIE containers.

Got mine, just the one box, they're nice.

Funnily enough that's one of my bittersweet memories of the old 'new' station, on our way back to England being dropped there in a Free State taxi while the Apprentice Boys were marshalling up...

Seems that the old 'new station' has now been knocked down. I will miss it, strangely enough.

I traveled on something called 'Avanti West Coast' today, the Branson personality cult has been eradicated! Though back in the 90s they were a definite improvement on BR and were cheaper too for a good few years.

So Virgin have lost their franchise? If it means an end to all that tiresome 'jokey' stuff like those girly announcements in the toilets it will be worth it. I lose braincells every time I hear that nonsense.

The only relevant component I can find is the fan grille, so at least there's that

For anyone contemplating a 70 Class or 80 Class build, parts for the BR Class 205/207 underframe (on which these were based) seem no longer available. The closest I can find are various bits from Replica Railways, correct in size/shape but not in detail. (clockwise from top left) B5 bogie kit, Mk1 coach components, PCV chassis components, Class 419 (MLV) chassis components I even know the names of most of these things now - regulator box/cradle, vacuum cylinder, reserve vacuum cylinder... and maybe a compressor?