leslie10646

That seems the most likely situation. Everything looks new and tidy. The directors would have been admiring "their own" handiwork, as the GSWR built the railway themselves, not a contractor. Great set of thought provoking photos, so thanks for sharing them. The Lawrence Collection has ever been a go-to source for early Irish railway photos.

Only one thing for it @Mol_PMB, attend the auction! I agree with others that the descriptions are woeful and His Lordship is being badly served as he won't get the sort of bids I expect he's hoping for. Add to that the massive auctioneer's fees which they're going to charge a buyer and Lord O'Neill. I've wasted my life in IT, I should have been in auctioneering which seems to a branch of King Midas's Ltd Co.

The starting price for the bound set of Journals is ludicrously low. Assuming that it is a full set and in decent condition (the covers look ok!) then I would have thought several hundred Euros? Otherwise my set has deteriorated in value faster than driving a new car off the forecourt! (I've NEVER done that).

My goodness @LNERW1 a youngster who calls diesels "Bullets"! That's exactly what we Northerners called the diesels after we saw the silver A Class. Little did we think that sixty years later we'd be pleading for Crossley sounds from our silver models!

The morning after the night before? Just twelve hours after closing at the SDMRC Exhibition, a very tired Richard drew his car up to the front door in Reading after a heroic drive in xxxxing rain from the Holyhead boat. So, how much can you get into a modestly sized Merc? The Duty Free (Feckin' Good Gin from Co. Down), my rucksack has the money box in it, you can see the two paintings which I bought from the DARS stand on the right, while under the wire book stand is the painting of the Turf Burner (formerly owned by David Parks) which had been collected from the auctioneer in Belfast on the way out and the box of RTR vans which I didn't sell! Finally, under the Turf Burner painting is the 0 Gauge layout known variously as "Dargle Crescent" and later as "Little Dribbling MPD" - bought from NDMRC to show off Bob Sankey's lovely MGWR locos. But NOT six boxes of books (sold on behalf of the IRRS) which I sold out of! The layout is safely in the Railway Room here and I'll post photos of Bob's beauties arranged around it soon! Thanks, SDMRC for a great exhibition and to all who called by and bought things. Great craic for three days. Leslie and Richard

Thanks for the advice, Ivan. I'd considered a Garratt, having travelled on them in South Africa!

The late Drew Donaldson used solder and a lot of words which I had never heard before when building his wonderful Ranks Grain wagon. How he would curse to see the ease of production and excellence of @Mayner/ Enda's super 3D printed one!

Thanks for the Heads Up Dave, but the link gave me an advert for Google Mail! The link below should take the millionaires among us to the "goodies". https://www.mullenslaurelpark.com/catalogue/9d22e715a6e7d7c91bc03c1c1c1a3535/8d18a33c49d230f6f512e23c3c7b4265/the-lord-oneill-collection-of-railwayana-live-online-auct/ With the greatest respect to His Lordship, I think that the "starting prices" will cause much amusement. Some are very optimistic, while others show a lack of knowledge of the rarity of some items. The auctioneers have not done much work for their outlandish fees, as the photos of paintings are very poor and reflect everything else in the room where the painting was hung. Nonetheless, there are some gems for the art lovers. I am sure that the late Vic Jaycock will be impressed by the prices his paintings are going for! The Sean Bolan works are worth a look, as he was a true Master. Happy viewing

Any reason why the Grey/Blue set does not include a driving trailer? I don't see one on the website.

Good to meet you and your son also, Phil. Save journey back to the Fatherland!

As well as my residual kits, this may be my last "Dublin" as a trader: I shall be selling some pretty rare Irish books and booklets on behalf of the IRRS - at sensible prices. Also recent UK published Irish railway books including some Lightmoor Press books not normally seen here. I'm just inside the door of "Platform 5". At least call by and say hallo!

A master class, as ever, David., thanks. I need something similar for Rosses Point and the layout I hope that I'm bringing back from Ireland - especially to show off Bob Sankey's lovely Midland locos!

Just brilliant, Darius. Others have puzzled over how you did it so quickly - you might remind them that you are a KING and simply get your people to get on and do your bidding ....... Perhaps I'll change my name to Xerxes, or Rameses ........

Perhaps someone could take their family on a short holiday - each one with an empty suitcase?

Oooooohhhh..... Nice wagons. I wonder where you got those from ....... As others have said, a brilliant layout coming together at breakneck speed!

Not an open wagon, but the same size .... Lance King collection, Copyright IRRS Guess what? I supply an equally tiny Snail with my kit of this wagon (on sale at Blackrock, of course!).

TONIGHT - IN CASE ANY OF YOU LIVE IN THE AREA!!!!

Yes, Patrick, I have it here for you. Also a wagon from @Galteemore for your new, Top Secret, new layout.

Well, I'm attending, so time to get your pre-orders in! If I may be so bold, remind me of anything I owe you and it will be put to one side for you to collect. Looking forward to it! Always a great show.

Yes, great to see the little known-about through carriage off the Express at NPQ - a Summers only arrangement in Leap Years, as I expect you all know. Bravo to David for having one of the most active layouts there today. Great to see The Two Davids, who will be starring for one night only on Zoom at IRRS London on Friday, 16 January 2026. Put it in your diaries and make sure that you tune in!!!!

Rhubarb! I'd sack the local shed master for turning out locomotives in such a filthy state. The crews obviously didn't view their locos as the Spoil Train men did in the late 1960s, when they often cleaned another bit of the engine between turns ..... Admonition over, @jhb171achill it shows it the way it (unhappily) was!

Well done @Signal Post for tuning in! For those who didn't - you missed one of the best "Railway / Modelling railways" talks which I have ever heard. Gordon gave a brilliant, well-researched account of how the town and harbour grew, the coming of the railway and then the remarkable lengths which he went to to get things just right on what is an almost brick-for-brick model of the station, harbour and surrounds. Gordon's attention to detail has no equal, in my experience. You won't be able to get near it at Blackrock, as people just stand and stare as they pick out the endless detail. Thanks, Gordon, for coming and entertaining us. I'm sorry that you weren't rewarded by a bigger in person audience - unhappily a feature of society meetings everywhere after Covid. If you don't attend your local railway society meetings, then think about doing so, otherwise it won't be there. The talks are a good listen and the craic afterwards is priceless.

DON'T FORGET TO TUNE IN ..... OR BETTER STILL TURN UP IN PERSON IF YOU'RE IN SE ENGLAND TO NIGHT AT 6PM. AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR ONE OF OUR OWN, GORDON HUNT DESCRIBE THE LINE TO DONAGHADEE AND HIS AMAZING MODEL OF IT. ATTENDING BY ZOOM To obtain a Zoom link for the meeting, please register by clicking https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0Is1DZSjQIqrpjAkogyj7Q Should you turn up, come by the book sales table and say "Hi"

Leslie McAllister pays a tribute to his late friend Lance King, with a selection of Lance’s colour photography taken in the North of Ireland in the last years of steam traction. Leslie witnessed much of what is included, as a schoolboy! The 1960s saw a halving of the Province’s railway mileage, but not before Lance faithfully recorded train working on the former Great Northern Railway lines. Both the main line from Dublin, the much-lamented route to Derry (which closed in 1965) and several branches will be covered. Steam hauled both passenger and goods trains and saw extensive use at holiday periods - all faithfully recorded. Even a glimpse of the Sligo Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway and the County Donegal narrow gauge lines. Lance did not ignore modern traction, which appears from time to time during the presentation. A heady mixture of nostalgia at a time of change! ----------------------------------------- WHERE? The talk is being given at Marlow & District Railway Society which holds its meetings in Eghams Hall at Bourne End Community Centre, Wakeman Road, Bourne End SL6 5SX, commencing at 7.30 pm. and finishing around 9.45 pm.

That scene looks very familiar .........