Irishswissernie

Having spent the last few weeks identifying and annotating 2000 negs, not much progress to report on Four Masters although I have completed the basic plaster work and work has commenced this week on the Drowes River Grain Company Warehouse which will disguise the right hand exit to the fiddle yard etc. This is a fairly complicated plastikard structure which is situated at an angle next to the backdrop but at least the windows will all be just wooden boards so no sashes etc to be made. There will be a sack hoist to the 3 floors to be added next.

A couple of interesting Cavan & Leitrim views uploaded to Flickr today. Mohill station 20 March 1959. A GNRI notice board displaying the CIE C&L Timetable and some interesting details of 4T taking water. Note the 'Tilley' Lamp and also the ladder to assist getting onto the loco.

Had an email yesterday concerning the forthcoming Dapol SE&CR Class D. This version struck me particularly the grey livery. Would the model suit some modification to fit in with an Irish prototype? https://railsofsheffield.com/products/39194/dapol-4s-027-005-oo-gauge-wainwright-d-class-secr-grey-scraped-beading-4-4-0-steam-locomotive-no-726

Being in Haltwhistle (Centre of Britain) I am in the fortunate position of not being able to receive the series on TV although it appears they fit in well with most of the other crap that is inflicted upon us. I can also take satisfaction that at least the fees received paid for Sligo & Donegal Junction aka CBSC No 5.

Self propelled.

He is still listing 4 on E Bay 2 each of grey 472 & 475 but I would contact 00 Works direct to try and avoid Vat duplication etc or have them deliver to a UK address.

Described in this post from Feb. The prototype was damaged in a flood a few years ago and Donegal County Council advertised on the net for tenders to re-construct it. They also posted scale drawings showing the work to be done which were roughly followed so the dimensions are fairly accurate although if the prototype had been re-built to the same standard as my handiwork thenthe Council Building Inspectors wouldn't have been very happy!

Some more progress on the bridges board. After I had built the original baseboards I decided to push the bridges board back a few inches so that the radius of the curve from Five Bridges station could be increased. This has introduced a 'kink' in the back drop, now filled in, which will be hidden by trees in due course.

I usually upload 2 or 3 new Irish images to ERNIE's Railway Archive on Flickr every day unless Madame has other ideas as to what I should be doing. At present there are another 1078 scanned and awaiting upload so enough to see out 2021. Everything is in albums but you can catch the daily new material by checking out the Photostream. Images I put on here are not always added to Flickr at the same time though. These 2 were added today Limerick 1960 https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/

Yes, I have an Album on Flickr. This is Waterford Manor exterior. Below a Link to the Album https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/albums/72157711590538817/with/48994179313/

I am awaiting a Special Delivery today of 2000 negatives to identify and label up. The bad news for Irish enthusiasts is that they are all UK. The good news (for me) is that in return I can keep any I fancy. There may be some more Irish, the sender of the last batch also included Swansea & Mumbles negs so hopefully some Irish have also been miss- sorted . In the meantime 3 more Irish from the first lot. Cavan & Leitrim / CB&P coupling height differences. Ballinamore's high tec point & signal Control Centre & Waterford & Tramore's answer to luxury bus travel.

Dundalk at the engine shed siding throat with the long low building of the wagon repair shop at the rear and the roof of the Boiler/erecting shops just visible at right.

I think 17 is more likely the 1920's as its in that era's livery and the view of No 6 I put on earlier is definitiely 1920's when it was the regular Ballynahinch branch loco and is in original un-rebuilt condition. Another negative is of GNRI QL 114 pre 1932 when it was withdrawn. Now is this at Amiens St, can anyone confirm. LATER. I've identified it as being at Dundalk at the Loco shed sidings with the wagon repair shop behind.

Thanks, the film also looks like post WW2 stock as well. Although these Cavan & Leitrim images are from 20 March 1959 the interior is still 1890's. First 2 photos Coach 5L , 2nd class in foreground, First Class the upholstered armchair. to the rear. In the background, looks like livestock judging by the evidence on the floor. 3rd photo 1L rebuilt with upholstered 2nd class!

I have finished scanning and identifying another 140 odd Irish negatives mainly from 1959 but these 2 are I think from the 1920's. Belfast & County Down Railway 4-4-2T's at Belfast Queens Quay Does anyone know when the Coaling Plant was built, quite a modern piece of kit for an Irish Railway . It possibly dates from the extensive re-building of Queens Quay in the 1910's.

I have been checking out the W Moguls and now realise that the earlier ones were delivered with smaller Fowler tenders so the tender behind the loco in the photo could have been for it. I can't find much out about livery changes but the only photos I have found so far with the lining on the buffer beam as in the photo are of the first 4 built in 1933. Also in the batch of negs I am now processing is this view of a rake or possibly train of cars at Cork Docks behind E414 on 26 June 1959. I think someone earlier on the Forum asked the question whether car trains ran on Irish railways. This is the closest I have found!

I have views of coach 353 on flickr This view at Cork on flickr if you click on it in the Flickr album, there is some good information posted by Dive Controller of this parish! 12 april 1955 on the Boat train at Waterford HC Casserley At Cork 13 sept 1960

In the latest neg arrivals is a large glass plate said to be at Inchicore. I don't think so! My thoughts are Derby Works with an NCC Class W under construction which would explain why its is being built on a Well Wagon because of the difference in gauges. The wagon behind is nothing to do with the loco as it appears to be standing on the track. That could be the frame for a tender on blocks next to the loco. The cab is behind the gentleman on the right. It is possible that the loco is being partly dismantled prior to being shipped to Northern Ireland. The Cab and top boiler fittings would need removal to fit the LMS loading gauge on its way to a west coast port - Heysham maybe. Thoughts anyone!

Yes its Albert Quay, identified by the building on the left and the top of the gas holder just showing on the right hand side.

Another 300 negatives have arrived this week and I am busy scanning them while the plaster sets on Four Masters Bridge. They are of varying quality and interest but the following 3 are definitely on the 'retained' list. The narrow gauge loco is Cork & Muskerry No 1K on 15 June 1934, a rather poor neg but very interesting and I think a very handsome loco. The other 2 are Belfast & County Down Railway almost certainly pre WW11 . 2-4-0 No 6 a glass neg , location unknown. and 4-4-2t No 17 at Queens Quay sheds. The majority of the others are from 1959 , varying quality but a fair number of CDRJC and C&L views.

This view of Inspection Car No 2 in 1961 at Kildare I uploaded a couple of days ago has gone down well on Flickr. Its been picked up by the International Group 'In Explore' and now has over 6000 hits and 112 favourites. I particularly like the leather plush seats and what appears to be a starting handle on the front! I wonder what happened to it. Might have to persuade Alan to build me one.

Done

Getting plastered at the Drowes River

I reckon you are right , it should be Ashtown Halt. All my negs of Ashtown were taken by Gerald T Robinson and he only made one visit to Ireland and recorded the name in his log as Ashdown. Thanks for pointing this out.