Irishswissernie

Mark 3 Push/Pull set for me! Ernie

All the parts 1-7 of my May 2003 Trip are now on flickr. I returned the following month (June 2003) as in May the lines west of Claremorris were closed for relaying work during the day. This was still the case in June but this time I had found a B&B in Claremorris which meant I could video the action between trains etc. Parts of this video were originally uploaded in 3 minute segments (Tara at North Wall and shunting at Claremorris) but the flickr up-grade recently means that I can re-vamp the coverage into 9+minute segments and a lot more can be shown. The mid-day Westport from Dublin eventually managed to leave Claremorris once the P/Way trains had returned, however the Ballina connection was still a bus. The Station Manageress seeing my disappointment arranged for the Ballina set to run from Claremorris somewhat late with myself and a couple of other passengers (the rest had gone on the previously arranged coaches) First part has been uploaded https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/33977228968/in/dateposted-public/ There are 10 parts in all with a running time of some 90 minutes. The numbers/letters in the video titles are so that eventually when all the video is done the combined album https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/albums/72157706536575014 should display all the videos in date order (provided I remember to edit it!) Ernie

I have started uploading video for my trip in May 2003, Limerick Junc-Portarlington- Tullamore - Claremorris - Limerick - Limerick Junc - Drogheda. Seven videos in all. This is Part 1 https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/40843525793/in/dateposted-public/ Parts 2 to 4 are uploaded; 5 to 7 which are all at Drogheda to follow. A fair number of slides are also uploaded from earlier times. Ernie

Parts 5 to 10 Waterford & Kildare video October 2003 are now uploaded. Part 7 starts at Waterford but then moves to Kildare https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/47702344582/in/album-72157628651873327/ with 8-11 following on (11 will be uploaded tomorrow) Ernie

I noticed last night that Tommy has finally released his rebuilt 'Dutch van' got my order in! https://store1493122.ecwid.com/#!/Irish-Rail-Iarnrod-Eireann-Dutch-EGV-Van/p/74126982/category=6789991 Ernie

Probably clutching at straws here but this coach on the 'Brian Boru' is numbered 47N. Would this have been an ex GNRI coach with an N added . Coaching stock is not my forte unfortunately. Ernie

I was ferreting through my files and came across these 2 taken by the late Ken Groundwater which must be the pony truck derailment at Limerick. I don't think we would get away with these days with the use of a loco (it would have to an 071 class!) as a grandstand. Photos copyright of the Armstrong Railway Photographic Trust. Ernie

It would be for the lot I think . Its probably a bit too far the line to be making private offers, the auctioneers will have an agreement in place and they will be wanting to make the most of their 'cut' Then again 'nothing ventured, nothing gained'. One redeeming factor if that is the right word is that the Casserley negatives have had a great deal of "public exposure" over the years so it could be just a case of searching old books, magazines etc for images. I have before me an album of 600 odd mainly Irish negatives which need identifying, mainly ex NCC and GNRI taken in 1964/5. There is an index but the handwriting is (incredibly!) worse than mine and I havn't yet got permission to use them on my Archive.Fingers crossed! Also today I have tacit agreement to use another collection once the Executor has passed them on. What I really want though are some more decent IR & IE freight 1990's to 2005 in colour. OH! and to win the Lottery. Ernie

I have heard that the Casserley negatives were offered to an 'organisation' for £20,000 which sum was somewhat beyond their means, but it will give some idea of their expected Auction value. ERnie

4 being re-railed at Cork April 1969 with a little help from B131 Limerick 4 + 171 April 1969 I have the late Tony Nokes slides etc from the Tour which according to his notes 4 was rescued by B167 as above but somewhere along the line B131 got in on the act. Ernie DOH! Off Topic again. Better get back on Try this Belfast Queens Quay GNRI Motor Trailer 214 4Aug59 img392

http://studio-scale-models.com/ email Des on dzsullivan@eircom.net I'm sure he's a member on IRM Ernie

In my usual shambolic way having uploaded Waterford 2004 to Flickr I am now uploading Waterford October 2003! Part 1 is https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/47670762602/in/dateposted-public/ Parts 2-4 now uploaded; 5 to 11 will follow. This was during the period where the Cahir viaduct accident meant that all beet/freight was being worked via Kildare. I made a short trip to Thomastown in an attempt to catch a beet service but after a 2 hour sojourn conversing with a herd of cows only an empty log train materialised. Noticing that the running line contained chairs dated GS&WR 1909 and parts of rail head spalling up to 3 feet long didn't fill me with confidence . Returning to Waterford I climbed the hill to the north of the goods yard and recorded the rest of the days action. 148 having worked the Cravens from Rosslare, parked them in the bay and zoomed off north and eventually re-appeared with 10 bubbles. It wasn't away long enough to get them from North Wall and I wonder if it had 'pinched' half of the Mungret-Athy train.Later NIR 8113 appeared on more cement. Various beet workings were video'd and some action was recorded at Newrath. On the 15th I set off back to Dublin with a break at Kildare where a fair number of freight workings were seen. The 11 parts total some 100 minutes of video. Ernie

Waterford October 2004 Video's Part 4 and Part 5 now uploaded: Part 4 https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/32759152637/in/dateposted-public/ Part 5 (It has a black screen on the Icon!) https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/47702654721/in/dateposted-public/ These 2 complete the 2004 October coverage. I am now working on my October 2003 trip which looks like having 10 parts. This was when Cahir viaduct was being re-built so the beet and cement was travelling via Kildare. ERnie

Waterford Part 3 video now on flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/47640912682/in/dateposted-public/ I also have a date for the various views of 155 + 186 on the New Ross Tour - 12 May 1979 Ernie

Yes I have used it on many buildings over the years. This photo is of a model of the Highland Goods shed at Tain built in the 1980's 4mm scale (The previous colour scan is of some 7mm scale slates I had lying around) The Slaters plastikard slates are technically over thick but your eyes play tricks and they look acceptable. A fairly heavy paper slate would probably be more to scale but I prefer the plastikard. Ernie

Yes, the plain part, is glued under the slate part; remember to offset the slates as per this photo. Start at the lower part of the roof and work your way up. Ernie

I work nowadays on the principle "Never go back" My last trip to Ireland was in 2006 a quick day trip with my 2 sons at the tail end of the freight era. Video's and photos of Irishrail since then depress me, I am not a fan of railcars, concrete and glass, over-scale footbridges and weirdly shaped buildings. Similarly after 25 trips to Switzerland and 200+ hours video and 13,000 photos between 1988 and 2009, a short trip in 2016 has put me off going there. When we moved to Haltwhistle in 1993 you sometimes got 14+ freight trains in a day; now we have the nuclear flasks and one coal train per week. Its probably an "age thing" but nowadays at least if there's nowt happening outside I have time to spend several hours each day on the internet and also wade through all the photographs, video's etc from the past. I had an email this morning that the Trust have just acquired another 500 odd Irish railway views so plenty to look forward to. Probably have to forego videoing that weekly coal train! Here's another one recently acquired: Near Timoleague C203 20Mar61; I am told it is an original but I'm not so sure. Off to walk the dogs!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Irish-Freight-Models-22-flat-wagons-x2-with-Bell-containers-Murphy-models-etc/264294074270?hash=item3d8927879e:g:zBoAAOSwvMhcvd6H&frcectupt=true He has 2 on E Bay at the moment. You can email Tommy at tommybrady@eircom.net If you want them ready-to-run it normally takes about 6 weeks for him to construct them Ernie

Part 2 now on Flickr at the third attempt! https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/47684583151/in/dateposted-public/ This features 152 on the Limerick shuttle; I think this was an emergency stand-in for a failed railcar and judging by the number of crew members a fairly rare happening. It probably only did one return journey as 2751+2753 were waiting on the direct curve as I departed for Waterford. 221 was on the down Cork CPU's. The video continues the next day (14 October 2004) with me ensconced up the hill overlooking the goods yard. 078 on beet mts 081 shunting cement and 083 on the stabling point. Part 3 tomorrow hopefully. Ernie

I have created a Flickr album devoted to the A Class to make it easier to locate specific locos/ liveries etc. The images are still in the original albums as well. https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/albums/72157704722775952 ERnie

Yeh I know but I left a bit of the handrail and bonnet of 121 on the left hand edge of the photo How about this one as an apology B135+B132 Longford ERnie

Back in October 2004 (12 to 15 October) I travelled from Haltwhistle to Ireland principally to catch the Beet campaign. I spent a night at Cherryville staying at the farm there then carried on to Newrath at Waterford via Limerick Junction for another 2 nights. I have now copied most of the video action at Limerick Junction and Waterford. Part 1 is at Limerick Junction and features 124+167 on bulk cements from Cork to Mungret plus 073 Loaded Beet. https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/47675712891/in/dateposted-public/ Apologies for the quality as usual. Part 2 will follow and is also mainly at Limerick Junction. Parts 3 to 5 will also be uploaded and are mainly at my favourite Waterford viewing point that I discovered the previous year. This was on top of the hill which overlooks the goods yard on the boundary of the golf course. I have never seen any other photos etc taken from this vantage point which probably was only accessible for a few years just after the road was diverted and dualled and the cliff face had been moved back with an iron fence built on its edge. I sat there for most of the day and never saw a soul! Ernie

Yes the number is 2954

I've managed to do a bit more work on Glengarriff with landscaping of the track bed and have also built the bridge to disguise the left hand exit to the fiddle yard. Ernie

Flickr up-date. The Dundalk video's were uploaded a few days ago and various slide scans have also been added. I have added most of the various Class 121 images into a new album - https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/albums/72157677789896957 The images are also still in the various original albums but by bunging them altogether it is easier to compare liveries etc. Finally seeing as Limerick Junction is finally being rebuilt with platforms on both the main running lines and therefore even less interesting I have added a video from 5 October 2000 when the South Cabin was switched out and the points etc locked during rebuilding/maintenance. This made for even more interesting train routeing with what looked like only the north end crossover and point to the platform 1 loop being hand worked to pass the trains through. Happy days! https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/47650631551/in/dateposted-public/ Ernie