Irishswissernie

Geof Poulter of Contikits. Trading for nearly 40 years, the web site only has a fraction of what he has. Lots of ready to run , new and secondhand. http://www.contikits.com/ ERnie P>S> looks like he has his stand at York Model Railway Show this (Easter) weekend. If anyone is going say hello to Geof and Allison from me (They might then give you a special discount but on reflection will more likely add something on!)

I notice Ian Hunter / Junction Box from Haltwhistle is attending the Show with his trade stand. I sold him a lot of built Irish Freight Models stock a couple of months ago, bagged cements, bogie flats, Tara's amongst others which he should have with him. ERnie

Todays video offering is Dundalk October 2002 PART 1 . 072 arrives from Belfast to collect further wagons before departing for Drogheda and North Wall. The video illustrates the way the train was made up with bogie wagons at the front and 4 wheelers at the rear with the MT bubbles right at the back to facilitate detaching them at Drogheda. Part 2 will probably be added tomorrow. (unless Mrs B has other ideas!) https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/32634624087/in/dateposted-public/ Ernie

I think you've cracked it! Here is a snip of an aerial shot in the Britain from the Air copyright collection . The Gas holders are in the right place as is the house and chimney and also the elevator tower. The photo is from the 1930's I think so a lot of the other buildings could have been demolished. Also a snip from a photo in Railways of West Cork "Reflections & Reminiscences" copyright I think David Lawrence Good work boys, thanks! ERnie

I don't think its Albert Quay or Rocksavage. THere was a Gas Works but on the carriage slide those are running lines well polished in front of the rake. Here's Albert Quay after closure to passengers, (probably also goods) the station itself has been converted to a Warehouse Ernie

East of Dublin Pearse has been suggested on Flickr and I am working on that theory but havn't come up with any other photographic evidence yet. There were Gas holders there of 2 different types similar to the ones in the photo ( One in the photo is empty but you can see the metal gantry supports). I think the slide dates from the 1950's before the massive re-development of the area. On the old 25" maps around about Grand Canal Dock there appears to be a long siding running through 3 separate buildings which were probably carriage sheds back in DSER days and the coaches could be standing on that siding. Ernie

A couple more Irish Videos; the first from October 2000 taken at Drogheda featuring 169/182 on Gypsum, 072 arrives from Belfast & Dundalk with a Liner and leaves 10 bubbles before continuing. After a 4 car 2709 headed Railcar set arrives and departs for Connolly, 165 picks up the bubbles and takes them back to Platin. Finally 080 departs on loaded Tara's. The second is again at Limerick Junction October 2002 featuring 229 exchanging a bulk cement wagon for a repaired one and 203 on a down Cork liner. https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/40591716703/in/album-72157706536575014/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/33651285588/in/album-72157706536575014/ Weather in Drogheda was terrible but at least the footbridge had (still has) a roof, I had previously video'd the Liner at Dundalk; 072 arrived from Belfast with 3 Container flats and 6 bubbles and after protracted shunting add 4 further container flats, 2 Guinness 4w wagons and 4 more bubbles. I plan to add the Dundalk footage in the future. regards ERnie

The facility for unloading at Mallow used the same system (Water canons) which is still used in Switzerland. I have uploaded a video of the unloading operation at Aarberg; one of 2 Swiss Beet processing facilities which are still in use today. https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/46824251314/in/dateposted-public/ The Swiss not being in the EEC and therefore not subject to their decisions ,didn't have to decimate their Sugar Beet industry some 14 years ago and the industry still produces around a million tons of beets the majority of which is railed to the plants for processing. In addition the waste material or Zaf is often railed back for fertiliser and the refined sugar forwarded by rail. Beet wagons are just the standard bogie EAOS open which outside the Beet season can be used for a multitude of different loads. Ernie Somewhat off TOPIC, apologies!

You are right for 143+186, I have located a view of 128 at the north end of the station which has the same white washed stone walls but the clincher is the row of concrete fence posts on the left which appear in both views. One slight problem with the horse theory is that the loco in the photo is a 0-6-0 whereas 171 is a 4-4-0. The date is the slide processing date and therefore only a rough guide. It could also be at possibly Tipperary or the same station as B159 although the horse view loading bank appears to have squared dressed stone. Thanks for your efforts! Ernie PS I think B159 is at Tipperary, the loading bank also has a mixture of stone dressing styles so will now try to tie in 'Dobbin' or was it Paddy! PPS Yes the horse is also at Tipperary, steam loco is 186, special from Limerick to Clonmel and return 28September1974. Green building on B159 and the corrugated one are still there on Google. The other slight clue is that the slides are consecutively numbered er doh!

I think B148 is at Ballina (4th one down) Just digging out some evidence! CONFIRMED. 1 down 7 to go Ernie

Well I've finished the scanning of approx 280 slides/negatives and in addition to the ones already on here there are another 6, location unknown. A couple of these will probably remain unknown (unless someone knew the horse on one!) There's nowt on the Telly so happy hunting! Thanks ERnie

In the recent acquisitions there are a number of 186 + 155 on a special IRRS/LCGB NEW ROSS TOUR, 3 shown below. Can anyone provide the date and also the locations of these 3 which I think are stations on the South Wexford line. Thanks again for your help and comments. regards Ernie

I think Mallow traffic was handled by being picked up or dropped off the 2/3 daily Dublin- Cork liners and probably the Dublin- Tralee liner. 160 in the video was probably a special working. Ernie

No! No freight south west of Portarlington these days. Ernie

Approx 10 minute video uploaded to Flickr . MALLOW May 2003 featuring 148 on Tralee train , A 201 on the Cork-Platin Bulk MT's but mainly 160 with a set of 8 container flats being loaded by the Crane with some interesting close-ups of the crane mechanisms. 160 then departs for Cork. Flickr is now coping with 10 minute video's but produces a black thumbnail for some of the uploads which is a bit annoying! https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/32555960187/in/dateposted-public/ Ernie

The unidentified photo of 186 is at Geashill on the Portarlington - Athlone line and the location ties in with other slides of the same date. Train is the RPSI 'St Ciaran Railtour 14/15 September 1968 Many thanks for the comments. Ernie

Spot on! Thanks. Ernie

Chugging through the slides! This one's got me stumped ; ideas anyone? B133 no date unfortunately but early 60's Ernie

First! Flickr videos are now playing again. Second , I am working through the latest acquisitions . Here are a few I am stuck on, they may be North Kerry judging by other views although there are also others identified on the Bandon, Loughrea, Ballaghadareen and Clara lines. 186 on the special is September 68 Thanks PS The first one I think is Patrickswell . The tanks on the back are from Foynes I think. PPS Pretty sure the 3rd one down is Ballinrobe. PPPS 4th one with 139 I think is on the Kenmare branch, it may even be at Kenmare. I have added a further view (5th one) which looks like the same train at Kenmare. ERnie

Looking at the black bit between the rails at the toe end of the catch point I think its where a loco can be stabled and the catch point would protect it. There used to be a kickback siding into the old loco shed back in 2000-2005 where a loco could be left. The loop points have also been moved back into the log loading area. Ernie

Here are a couple more B132 at Ballaghaderreen on the same day, 8 June 1961 but on different film stock. Note the subtle colour difference either at the time or on the film changing over the 58 years. Ernie

On saturday I acquired some 250 Irish original slides and there are a fair number of 121's from the early days, 4 samples below. I havn't done much research yet into the unknown locations as I also have several hours of 4K video from the Keighley & Worth Valley and Severn Valley Gala's to edit. I quite like B121 with the TPO "ancient and modern" for the era. All will be going on flickr in due course! B126 Athlone 7 jun61, B130 Ballaghaderreen 8Jun61 B134 I think is Sligo ERnie

White or green , the green may possibl;y have been loose covers over the white for added weather protection judging by the green bits hanging out of the bottom of the doors. Ernie

Should anyone be trying to watch the Video's on Flickr they won't play for a few days (although the thumbnail is visible) . Flickr are up-dating and altering the upload to 10 minutes over the next few days as part of the improved Pro version. Ernie

Checked Irish Freight Models, the Ammonia tank isn't listed anymore and the barrier wagon is marked as out of stock. Tom doesn't have a web site now, only on facebook. Ernie