Railer

That's because with British locos the cooling group is generally at the no1 end and it's the opposite for American designs.

Yep same again, like the 141 layout, the steps are closer the no1 cab.

Here are the pictures. I find the one of 207 interesting because it looks like it does not yet have it's yellow face but to me that appears to be an Enterprise modified Mk3 EGV that it's hauling with the no2 end leading, it's also possibly the cleanest that loco has been in a very long time. But 207 had a full yellow face before the EGV modifications began so it must be something else or a trick of the light. It's not a Mk4 end coach as they are flat ends with more cable connections. Unless it's on an EGV stock transfer like when 221 hauled all 4 to Belfast from Inchicore.

Yes I believe that is correct.

Thank's for the info rebelred. I thought all the 201s were turned around the time the Enterprise stock was delivered in 1997 as I have never seen a 201 with cab 2 leading on the Enterprise. Same when the 201s worked Mk3 PPs on the Northern line in the late '90s they all seemed to be turned compared to when they first entered service. Suppose it is/was a much easier process to get a 201 assigned to the Enterprise turned at the GVS junction triangle.

I'll post up some shot later this evening when I get home. I don't know which end is which on the 141s or 071s. On the 201s, the no1 end is the silencer end. Or as some call is the "big" cab end as the drivers doors are further away from the side windows that the other end. An easy way to tell is the fuel tank is at the no2 end. I think the no2 end of the 071s is the fan end.

Just looking at the pictures printed on the boxes of the 201s tonight and 2 of them stood out. One was the picture of 222, it's captured in the IC livery leaving Connolly on a push pull Mk3 service, clearly on a rail tour or GAA special. What got me was that the loco is the wrong way round. All the push pull capable 201s were turned during the late '90s so that the no1 end faced North out of Connolly, same on the Heuston side of the network. By the time the IC livery was in use ist was very rare to see a loco reversed. The other is the picture of 207 on the box of 233. Looks like 207 is hauling an Enterprise Mk3 EGV but again the loco is the worng way around unless it was on an EGV transfer from Belfast to Dublin. It's hard to place it from the photo.

Not for every day operations sure, but it will soon be a reality with the Belmond service when it launches. Top and tail 201s with an EGV. Can't wait for it.

216 is going to look class when it's finished. Hope Belmond's second 201 is not too far behind, whatever it turns out to be.

You still need a genny vehicle. HEP on the 201s is now isolated as it's not required anymore. So even with a 201 top and tail you still need a genny to power the train just like Belmond is doing.

In theory the more you spent, the more you saved, that's how I'm justifying it anyway:dig:. I'm going to cry when I get my credit card bill, can safely say this will be the first in a long time when I won't be able to clear it this month.

The 201s were from 2 different orders not 3. Ten were ordered first 201-205 and 210-214, the rest were ordered later to a different spec and the numbers were changed so that 206-209 were in this order and spec. This was because the first 10 locos have different draw gear and buffer design meaning they can't be equipped with or use auto or knuckle couplers and they wanted loco numbers 206-209 to be allocated to Enterprise duties for historic reasons. With the EVN numbering system IE have now broken the class down into 3 sub classes. The 110s which are the 10 stored 201s, the 210s that are all the non NIR equipped push pull 201s and the 310s that are push pull capable and equipped for working the Enterprise.

Need to add in the delivery dates of the 8500, 8510 and 8520 class DARTs from 2000, 2001 and 2003 respectively.

I've found out that the modification is for catching the dirt like a gutter system that comes from the pantograph rubbing against the OHLE and helps keeping the units clean. The 8500s have them fitted as standard.

I love to see how much stock they shifted. Thanks to this sale I've more 071s than Irish Rail, have to cancel the summer holidays.

The 201s also got new LED marker lights around the same time. I think an even newer version of the LEDs have been installed on 8209 since it's overhaul.

The joys of Parcel Motel for those situations.

The Enterprise respray BREL Mk4 set is back up after failing to get a single bid last time and is back at the same price. They are consistent, I'll give them that.

When stock runs out maybe but right now they are crazy prices. If MM201 River Shannon went up there at €180 it would go very quickly I reckon. Same for any IR and IE 141/181s around the €130 mark.

These guys do everything number and logo wise. http://www.studio-scale-models.com/Transfers.shtml Up to date with the latest numbers so as new slate grey 117s roll out for real these guys can have the full EVN numbers ready to go, just drop them a mail.

I think just a cotton bud and some white spirits with a bit light dabbing does the job, I've never done it myself.

It was actually still in stock online and still is, they emailed me saying that sometimes during stock shifts between stores it can cause items to appear out of stock for a few hours and then they come back up on the system. Managed to order another one during the week myself. Hopefully this sale will move things along for the next models and not too much of a financial hit is moving up the chain.

Same as usual. The vacuum brake hose top middle. The red hose is the air brake pipe, the yellow the air brake main reservoir and the green is for air brake balancing when running in multiple with another loco or hauling a failed loco. UK locos just have one red and one yellow hose for some reason, don't know why they don't have the second yellow or green hoses.

Great post John. As you rightly pointed out (excuse the pun), very few points have concrete sleepers, only noticed my self over the last week or so when actually looking at real track. Cross overs are wooden due to the cost as most of these are custom made up for the location they are used in and not built to standard sizes in general. Have to say though after picking up two Peco concrete medium points, they look great and the difference to Hornby and Lima set track I've been using for year is unreal. C75 is so fine in comparison it gets rid of some of that narrow gauge look. Just forgot about some fishplates and the way the sleeter are installed right to the end leave no room for a fishplate which is a pain.

Something like that, same reason the 201s got the foot holes filled in with fillets on the cab faces, they kept their grab rails though.