Irishswissernie

Ballyshannon S&DJR hasn't featured much mainly because its part of the loft layout and whilst there is a proper flight of stairs the heat this year has put me off somewhat. I have also been building the 009 layout in the 'den' which being next to the computer and also 1 flight of stairs less to negotiate is much more convenient to work on. However the Autumn/Winter is now on the horizon so hopefully I can get motivated!. I did start work on the overall roof which covers the exit to the fiddle yard, Four Masters Bridge and Glengarriff. The station board is only 3'-6" x approx 13 " but you can get away with running fairly large locomotives as it could represent the end of a fairly important station (Killarney springs to mind for one) but you don't need an expensive long rake of coaches; only the first one is visible and you could use the sidings as parcels and mail docks with possibly a station pilot.

SLNCR 'Lough Melvin' at Enniskillen 25 September 1954. L&LSR Pennyburn Yard 15, 16 June 1952. Sligo shed G2 664 14 July 1954.

Sunny afternoon at Glengarriff as 162 dozes in the siding with the Mullaghmore Local.

GNRI today, Enniskillen Railcar C3 25 Sept 1953. Connolly I think its T2 52 ca 1959. Dundalk Works sidings ca 1959-60.

Tramore station, 20.15 to Waterford Manor , J26 560 5 July 1954. Cavan & Leitrim Railway, Drumshanbo 8 June 1953. & Ballyconnell , 12 L 12.20 Dromod - Belturbet 24 Sept 1953.

Skibbereen, F6, 34. 20.50 from Baltimore, terminated there probably just to get loco back to shed. Wexford Quays , Afternoon goods from Rosslare, J15 144. 21 Sept 1953. Athenry , 15.55 Tyam -Galway D17 59 23 Sept 1953

Yesterday I set off on the 6.29 Railcar from Haltwhistle on a 3 Hour journey to Saltburn and then a 45 minute walk to Warsett Hill overlooking the North sea around which the Boulby Mine Branch has to detour to avoid a lengthy tunnel on its way from Saltburn West Junction. This line is England's answer to the Tara Mines service in that it exists to mainly serve the Boulby Potash mine. The eastern end of the line had to be relaid to serve it and includes a tunnel plus a complicated new road viaduct had to be built as the original bridge had been demolished to straighten out some dangerous bends. There is further traffic to Skinningrove Works which produces special steels usually a daily train of some 1500 tons. From Tees Dock to Saltburn (roughly half way) the line has easy gradients but the trains share the rails with half hourly Northern Rail railcars and there is also a service of some 14 Trans Pennine trains to and from York and Manchester Airport. I can't see many Saltburn residents travelling to Manchester Airport or the town attracting international tourists but its probably simpler turning the trains around there rather than Middlesbrough. From Saltburn the line twists and turns as it climbs to Hunt Cliff and then descends to Skinningrove before climbing again through Grinkle tunnel and then down to the mine. Like Tara (when its working) there appear to be about 3 loaded trains to Tees Dock and there are also occasional salt trains to Middlesbrough. The scenery is however somewhat spectacular in parts and the gradients ensure the usual Class 66 have to work hard. Here is a link to 66533 digging in with the sea in the background. OK OK I hear you I'm putting some Irish views on the Forum next.

Just for you Jim; I am up early tomorrow chasing and hopefully actually videoing Potash trains at Hunts Cliff near Saltburn, a second attempt after a fruitless trip last friday . CDRJC Victoria Road , Derry , Drumboe 12 July 1954. You can see the differences in length of the ex NCC first coach and the second CDRJC one. Same location but Alice on the 10am to Strabane 26 Sept 1953. Lastly GNRI Ballyhaise, AL 141 on 17.15 to Clones 10 July 1954.

Yes, several Donegal, Swilly, West Clare and Cavan & Leitrim, unfortunately the photographer preferred to take Loco portraits so 'nowt flash like' although I would keep 'tuned in'

4 of the new acquisitions today. Inchicore 4 July 1954. Ennis d17, 16 12.45 Limerick - Galway 9 July 1954 Athlone 375 Galway - Dublin 23 Sept 1953. Broadstone 20 Sept 1953.

Cork J15 195 taking water, July 1955. GNRI 43, location is Portadown , thanks for confirming everyone EDITED Inchicore 360 passing on quite a long train 14 May 1953

Recently arrived J15 162 crosses the Drowes River at Four Masters Bridge with a short goods. Way back from when I was a lad!

Tralee & Dingle, Dingle station, 8T on the LRTL Special 11 June 1953. GNRI Class V 86 near Dundalk 19 May 1949 JG Dewing. Adelaide shed U Class reno 68 ca 1960

Well its down the pipeline and out the other end! Rebecca at 00Works emailed me yesterday to say that she had one 162 (original boiler) ready to go so it will be in the post tomorrow before they go on holiday until the 13th August. On top of this is a Collection of 260 Irish negatives from 1952, 1953 & 1954 are arriving today for evaluation. August is going to be an expensive month, luckily I have restricted my Summer Holiday to a day trip to Saltburn by the Sea for a trip on the Cliff Lift at £1-50 and the Saltburn Miniature Railway £2-50 return ( might be less I think there is a reduction for OAP's)

Just been on the Web site and realised that the additional batch is for the original small boiler version. The 4 numbers listed 109, 195, 162 and 131 according to Clements & McMahon never carried the Z Class Boiler. I missed out first time round so that's another 295 quid in the pipeline!

6 wheel van 3154 probably at Inchicore given that 3153 is the next van and it looks to be newly re-painted and possibly rebuilt?. 2 more views of Phoenix at Strabane 1959 the colour view is by JG Dewing and the black & white definitely isn't! but the weather probably more typical.

I have checked my Ernie's Archive and can't find one which probably means a couple will turn up in the next year or two!

Yes go ahead. Is the first part of its number an E or an 8?

20 Ton Brakevan 23596 ca 1964 possibly earlier. Ex GNRI Vacum Cleaning van E or 8 439 , looks like a 6 wheel coach conversion job. again 1964 or earlier. Wexford 2601.

Ooops! I knew that, why the hell did I type 'Melvin' Also amended the era to late 1950's in view of 'Galteemore's' comments.

Ex SLNCR 'Lough Erne' as 27 in UTA days at Belfast Docks. I'm wondering if the crew had nicked one of the Tarpaulins from the containers to cover a leaky roof Later 1950's An unidentified B2 4-6-0 on a mail & passenger train probably on the Dublin - Cork Main line ca 1955. The shelter on the platform may give a clue to the location. Cork, J15 195 on probably a Youghal excursion and also probably from July 1955.

Clonakilty Junction 17 March 1961 JG Dewing. 2 JG Dewing views at Stranorlar May 1959 Railcars 14 & 10

Well I'm a bit gobsmacked over this one! I took this photo of a slate train on my Conwy Falls layout yesterday and added it to one of my flickr albums. Flickr has this unofficial Group called "In Explore" which 'show cases' photos added to Flickr . The 1.6 million selected invariably feature Scenery, People , Animals, Birds, Buildings , structures etc and quite often real railways. I have over the years had quite a few prototype railway views picked by the Group but this is a first for me and I have never seen other model trains etc selected. The layout is nowhere near being finished and features the Bachmann Scenecraft Ffestiniog Porthmadog Bog block which will in due course have a makeover with several additions/alterations planned . I didn't realise I was such an artist - might have to spell my name Braque rather than Brack

I have been working on stone walls made from Das and they are now fixed and had basic painting done. Also ran a 24 wagon train today. Link to video below.

Waterford B104 ca 1960. 'Pat' at Cork shed ca 1960 West Clare , the LRTL Special at Lahinch 10 June 1953. 5C and Tourist saloon 33C.