Irishswissernie

No 50 has now arrived at Pettigo 8 June 1957. The next view of the train is at Irvinestown, No 50 now apparently has a cattle wagon in the consist, it may be that the date recorded in the index or the location is wrong . EDIT Location is correct. Finally a couple of views at Portrush, no date.

Back to the Bundoran branch, a last view at Ballyshannon of No 50, before we move on to Belleek 8 June 1957. The Driver patiently again awaiting the photographer re-boarding the train, whilst the rest of the train crew have a 'chat', possibly discussing job options with less than 4 months to closure on 1 October 1957.

Another view of Ballyshannon 8 June 1957 before we do a brief side trip to Courtmacsherry 29 August 1960. finishing with a view of Timoleague village same date. We shall return to Ballyshannon etc next time.

OK we will start on our journey from Bundoran to Bundoran Junction and points east/north. The following are by 3 different photographers, LG Marshall, WAC Smith and Nick Nicholson. Bundoran U class 200 July 1955 LGM. Ballyshannon, 74 10.30 am Bundoran - Enniskillen WACS 3 April 1956. Ballyshannon 50 NN 8 June 1957.

Yes, Ballyshannon to Bundoran Junction in the 'Green room'

County Donegal Railways today. Raphoe Railcar 14 12 May 1959. 2 views of Ballyshannon 8 June 1957.

SLNCR. Railcar B at Manorhamilton 8 June 1957. There is a fault on this neg but it doesn't detract too much from the overall 'atmosphere' West Clare, Diesel powered goods at Lahinch 24 March 1960.

Looking at the trees and leaves plus the Beet on the top view I would say that the top one is the 'Suir Thing' 9 Oct 2004 and the bottom one the 'Docklands Pioneer' 31 March 2007.

A couple of undated views but ca 2003-4 at Carrick on Suir.

Most of the work is now done on the house re-wiring and the builders are now busy on the kitchen and back living room so I have taken refuge in the 'den' to develop my idea for the new layout. The landing area isn't really practicable for the layout particularly as I want to utilise the Four Masters Bridge scene so I have worked out a new scheme which will fit in the den but at a rail height of 137cm above the existing TV, computer and new book shelves. The boards will be 14 inches deep so easily accessible and give a more realistic viewing angle rather than the traditional 'drones eye view' I have been influenced here in that the 009 scale layout presents an eye level view when I am sitting at the computer and looks far more realistic. Mullaghmore will once again be modelled from the platform 'terminal' end as per Glengarriff to avoid a sterile length of platform and to provide maximum goods yard siding space plus reception sidings for mineral traffic to the shipping point. (The shipping point will be just 2 bare sidings on a portable board on the landing which are not essential to normal operations. The Four Masters Bridge baseboard is safe and stored pending construction of the new bits. Glengarriff station boards haves gone to Geof at Contikits so it may re-surface in the Blyth & District MRS club rooms (probably running Southern Electric, BR Diesel or even German steam outline though) I have spent some time, plus felt tip pens and a sheet of paper drawing up the usual detailed construction drawings. I just need the radiator re-moved and the heating brought back into use and I can then 'crack on'

Sligo Leitrim & Northern Counties. Railbus 2A on the 6.20am to Enniskillen at Sligo dwarfed by a CIE Railcar, poor neg because of the light 3 April 1956. Glenfarne "Lough Melvin" 8 June 1957.

3 undated negatives from probably 2005-2009 no dates unfortunately . 233 at Docklands on an ITG Special . I have this date somewhere but the house is being re-built! Mallow 172 probably on a Tralee to Cork service. Dublin Connolly 081 on Sligo service.

They did get away with it! The loco was converted to an Ae8/8 in 1965 by removing the cab at one end and permanently coupling it to similarly converted sister 254 and then re-numbering the rebuild 274. The line it 'fell off' is now double tracked although most traffic now travels via a long new tunnel avoiding the steep gradients up to the original Lotschberg Tunnel. The recovery location is near Brig at the base of the climb with the SBB main line in the valley below next to the Oil Transfer sidings with the metre gauge BVZ route to Zermatt. All these lines are still in use today.

Some more Irishrail views Ballina 8 October 2005, 160. Ballina again with 084 on the branch set. ND. Bagnealstown, 152 + 190 on (I think) the ITG 'Docklands Pioneer Tour' 31 March 2007.

GNRI. Castleblaney 204 on Dundalk train ,14 Sept 1956. Ballyhaise, JT 91 on Belturbet branch train same date. Oldcastle 13 September 1956.

I picked up some 258 negatives in a Justaclickago auction last year. They are from 1995 to 2006 roughly but with no information. I have identified most locations but little else as I have been pre-occupied with more historic images. Its frightening to think that they depict an era now some 20 -30 odd years ago, but still fresh in many members minds. The first 3 are Limerick Junction probably about 2003-5. Or slightly earlier, there is a loaded fertiliser wagon in the middle view.

Cavan & Leitrim today. Ballyconnell , 10 July 1954. Belturbet 14 September 1956, 10L in the transhipment siding. Belturbet station platform and loop and goods siding to the left 5 June 1957.

Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway, Pennyburn Yard No 10 26 September 1953. Dublin 192 Climbs the bank to join the ex GNRI main line on mts for Platin February 1999. Ex GNRI , Belfast approaching Adelaide UG UTA 47 on Portadown goods 5 May 1959 JGD damaged but restored slide

You can mix them up with wooden bodied wagons as well. At Courtmacsherry in 1960 it appears that they would be taken in small rakes (4+ B/Van) to Ballinascarthy where they would be combined into longer sets of around 20 wagons and then went on behind a C Class to Cork and then Mallow. Numerous views in the CB&SC Album

Just showed Madame that I can keep a secret.

This image looks familiar today! Loughrea 22 May 1963

Courtmacsherry shed 29 August 1960. GNRI Belturbet Signal Box & JT 90 2 April 1956. Irish Sugar loco but where?

The house is still being re-wired but should be finished this week when I should then be able to access my PC. The good news is that I have finally received some 119 negatives taken by Nick Nicholson and WAC Smith in the early 1950's and I have scanned them in on my Lap Top. Almost all of them were taken in the area Strabane - Omagh -Clones Cavan Belturbet Enniskillen Glenfarne Manorhamilton Ballyshannon and Donegal Town. Cavan ex M&GWR C212 23 September 1957. SLNCR Enniskillen at Enniskillen with the train crew and staff 21 September 1957. 'Enniskillen & 'Lough Melvin crossing at Glenfarne 8 June 1957.

VS 207 on an IRRS Special at Cork, Glanmire Road 17 March 1962. A bit, well a lot poorer quality than JG Dewings slide above; 154 at Ennis 16 August 1994. These 2 need the locations idenified. Unknown F6 at unknown location er photographer unknown , probably ca 1961. EDIT Inchicore and F6 42. Similar lack of information on this ex GNRI 4-4-0 . I think it might possibly be Derry .

Limerick G3 291 July 1955. CB&SCR Cork Rocksavage EX GS&WR C4 31 ca 1927 County Donegal Railways, Strabane, River Mourne Bridge after closure but before track lifting 26 May 1960. Ballyshannon, Railcar 15 26 May 1957.