leslie10646

Thanks, Ernie. My money is still on the 1909 van, built to Diagram No.43 (later 144?). My copy of the Wagon book, as scanned from the IRRS copy and in Richard McLachlan's series of drawing books, shows the doors in a very different combination, albeit in much the same positions. The GNR was very good at little changes, which DID get recorded in the wagon books, but not on this occasion it seems! A nice prototype for @Galteemore, even if it isn't at Enniskillen?

Quick reply to @Mayner. I agree that my price mark is low, also the point about the variants. However, my suggestion sought to cover the two obvious gaps - the basic luggage van, which was everywhere for a decade at least and the heating van which was also there for much the same period. Only trying to help you guys. At 80 I can't suggest that I have a personal interest, but if announced, my order would go in. So what about the other 1,757 of you out there?

Provoked by a comment on another thread by @jhb171achill, I am going to start a "Crowd demand" scheme for someone to take up. Virtually EVERY diesel produced by Saint Patrick and The Boys trailed four wheel vans around behind them at some point in their lives. And lots of local steam trains! I suggest that there is hardly a member of this forum who would not buy a ready to run Luggage Van, Heating Van double pack if someone would move themselves to produce it. Come on you entrepreneurs - a pack with a simple luggage van and the Heating van variant for say €100-ish would fly off the shelves. AND you have several liveries to offer - what more could a manufacturer ask. Members of the Forum - stand up and be counted - we won't get these important vehicles if we don't demand them!

Well done @Mol_PMB for getting the interesting Skibbereen photo. What a train? Most photos of that era on those branches show an old bogie coach as the passenger accommodation, so a string of six wheelers is quite a find.

Thanks for these, Ernie. No.56's train would be worth blowing up, to help identify the brake van behind one of "my" 10 ton vans. It looks a bit like a six wheel 1909 25 ton brake van with Guard's, Luggage and Drovers' compartments. No less than 28 feet long. Has anyone ever attempted a model? It obviously survived into my period.

Ah, @Darius43, all you need now is to get Modellu to cast you a model of the late Lance King (complete with two Rollifexes on a hand-held clamp) and set him on top of the tunnel taking memorable photographs of Spoil trains here ......

The simplest solution of all is to use COVERED vans. While I can't offer statistics, even in the steam era most goods trains seem to have been covered wagons - just look at the photographs which do exist. That said, Andy is quite right to suggest using tarpaulins - somewhere on this site there's a photo of quite a string of corrugateds at Kilkenny covered in tarpaulins. Of course, in the North, we could have a nice bit of variety with conflats and colourful bread containers!

Ernie Thanks for these. Isn't it extraordinary how many photographs were taken (mainly by Englishmen) of this little railway? Possibly even more per mile than even the Fontana Horse Tram! Oh that they had expended more photographs on main line trains of the big companies?

Bearing in mind the prototype, Kevin, I thought it was for @Patrick Davey's next Co Antrim layout ........ A very nice model, well done.

Your Broad Gauge - "first trip out" - a new layout!!!!??????

Folks An unmissable date for folk on this forum and an opportunity to hear two major members speak about their models. 1800hrs on Friday 16 January by Zoom only. The real railway will be covered in the first half and the modelling in the second (about 1915 on). @Galteemore and the Colonel are talking about the Sligo Leitrim and modelling it, illustrating it with their models. I'll post more details later when I have the Zoom info. There is no charge for Zoom attendance, but a donation is appreciated, please. Please put it on your diaries - I expect a sell-out for such a distinguished pair of contributors! Thanks Leslie

Southampton MREx was the first thing written into my 2026 diary. Even more compulsory attendance if it will have TWO Irish layouts! What are you bringing this time Andy?

It being the Season of Goodwill, I will say that the CIE version of the 800s looks very nice and is tempting. I am unsure of your reference to these ladies as "Goddesses", my understanding was that they were ladies from Irish history? I'm sure that our resident Gaelic-speaker @WRENNEIRE can give me the Chapter and Verse?

PM sent.

@DJ Dangerous, you're forgiven. People, Dave sent me a photo of him in action tending to his poorly cats - but (at the risk of being politically incorrect) I also saw his "beautiful assistant". I should have trained as a vet ........ @Galteemore - you're dead right, I wouldn't have dared comment about Drew's cat! Paul, those must be the best builds of my vans. Simply super.

I've made a note on my files .......

Happy Christmas Dave (and everyone else!). I can't believe that I sell wagons to a man who likes CATS!!!! Still, in the spirit of The Season - "it takes all sorts!". Leslie

Of course they will, Bob. I won't show the video until they do! Incidentally, it was great fun getting your lovely bogie coach onto the high level track. Thanks to @Galteemore I have a good "railer" and it slid on with ease - you certainly need them with the six wheelers! All part of Life's rich pattern!

Thanks to Ian Sinclair, I have got my facts right (it has been corrected in the original post). The layout was previously known as "Dargle Road" and "Little Ditching" and was built by Ken Vernon, a North Down MRC member. The River Dargle rises in the Wicklow Mountains and flows into the Irish Sea at Bray.

I agree with all of you - beautiful models - all credit to Mr Sankey's remarkable skills built up over a lifetime of such work. Thanks for the name suggestions - apart from the culinary suggestions from the officer in the Cookery Corps. I like Cabra (Midland), and Clonliffe from Our Man in the Achill Islands. Still open to ideas.

Yes, Jonathan, that's what I thought as a possibility. So what's the name of the Townland where Liffey Junction is situated? Or, as you say, en route to the docks, then I can pose Bob's cattle train on the upper line, en route to the Boat ......

Some time ago I mentioned that I had taken the opportunity of my Autumn trip to Ireland to pick up the layout previously known as "Dargle Road" and "Little Ditching". It was built by Ken Vernon, a North Down MRC member. (Thanks Ian Sinclair for illuminating me). The River Dargle rises in the Wicklow Mountains and flows into the Irish Sea at Bray. As I explained earlier, I wanted the layout to show off Bob Sankey's wonderful MGWR locomotives which he gave me three years ago. I still haven't dreamt up a name for the shed, as there is nowhere on the MGWR with a location like this, but I stand to be educated. I'm open to suggested names. Next a tour via a snip of iffy video. You can see the back garden in Caversham! IMG_4264.mp4 And a couple of close-ups. And finally, Bob's beautiful L Class "Mayo". I'll get the layout set up properly in 2026, God willing, and we'll have some motion. Thanks, @Northroader, for passing these lovely models on. A gift on the priceless level, if you like Mr Atock's creations, as I do!

Ah, so once you get yours, IRM will be marking things "Sold out"?

I get quite enough fun out of watching the Red Kites in our back garden in Caversham - four down to collect bits of fat within 15 seconds! We're very privileged to see these once rare birds - we see more than we do Blue Tits etc. It's great watching them scare off the seagulls ...... Kites.mov

Obviously lawyers don't earn as much as I thought ........