leslie10646

You can watch it on Zoom.

John Martin (Richard is just doing the preamble) is giving a talk to the IRRS London tonight at 6pm. Not to be missed! LIVE + ZOOM : 18.00 – 20.45 FRIDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2023 “The Dundalk Newry and Greenore Railway celebrates 150 years” by Richard McLachlan and John Martin Further to previous information, we are delighted to welcome John Martin in person. He has rearranged his schedule to join us and will share the presentation with Richard. John is from Dundalk and is a leading authority on the DN&GR. He possesses huge knowledge of the railway and photos from his collection form the basis of tonight’s presentation. Opening in 1873, the purpose was to connect the Irish railway network to a deep water harbour at Greenore for onward travel by LNWR ship to Holyhead and beyond. The promoters promised that there would be no cost to the LNWR but after failures to pay by the Irish North Western Railway, it became a wholly owned subsidiary of the LNWR. Richard and John examine how this ill-fated project came to fruition and its sad history, at least in financial terms. Initial hopes were never fulfilled although it carried a lot of cattle for export until after WW2. But it was a delightful and distinctive railway in many other ways, as the photos will show. It is perhaps best remembered for the splendid hotel at Greenore and the genuine LNWR livery on its coaches up until closure in 1952. ZOOM LINK – any time after 17.30 Click here to join the Meeting or open the Zoom app on your device and enter : Meeting ID: 881 7090 9183 Passcode: 486787 The Chat facility will be available throughout the meeting for comment and (if necessary) communication with the IRRS (London Area). If Zoom fails, watch your Inbox in case we update you on the situation by email

Little wonder that the driver was on the lookout, I expect that most of the LCGB party was standing with the photographer - in other words most of the passengers on his train! Remember the money on those trains was often what was carried in the vans! Great stuff this, Ernie. I only have Lance's colour - Richard Mclachlan has his Black and White - so I'm seeing more the bits of that journey thanks to you.

Wonderful, Ernie, thanks. Mr Smith's shot of Ballyshannon is particularly good as it shows the lie of the land as well.

Likewise, unprintable comments, Church fete where I'm supposed to be selling books. Very annoying clashes recently, my grandson was singing at St George's Chapel Windsor the night I was doing a talk at Surbiton - mind you I had an audience of 47!

Great stuff, Ernie. Your photographer was obviously one of the LCGB group led by Lance King, for his colour slides for those dates are very similar. You can see members of the group boarding Railcar B at Manorhamilton, which they had reached behind Lough Melvin on the goods. At Ballyshannon, Lance took colour of the trailer seen in one of the shots, but your photographer's shots show a lot more of the layout of the station. Do we get shots on the Bundoran branch next?

Hi Dave VERY unrealistic scene - those wagons NEVER saw a clear blue sky! Nice pic though. Glad they've arrived. Between great sales at Blackrock (thanks everyone), and "spoken for" still to be sent, I'm, down to SIX "Snails" only.

Yes, another kit maybe going ....... These we wagons seem to have been used a lot like the illustration shows.

I think I've already told the story of the late and revered Drew Donaldson, waiting for a train at Pettigo, while other enthusiasts contemplated what might be on the next train said - "Gawd, I'd love a P" Well, JB, I'd love a SG3 (GNR heavy goods locos, for you youngsters).

Thanks, Denis, seeing this, that's all three parcels safely arrived - posted in Blackrock Post Office last Friday just at closing time. So lay off the nasty comments about An Post for a while!

Don't rush, Bosk. I like selling double beet kits! And they're not hard to build - ask a few guys on this forum.

My goodness, you're right, Garfield. Even more interesting in that lot of photos is the one with two ex GNR bulk cement vans on the Barrow Bridge! Thanks for the heads up.

Come on JB, don't let your predictive typer let you get the Blessed Oliver's surname wrong! I wonder if ANYONE can produce a photo of one of the corrugateds with a Snail logo, however small? One reason why I sold the kit with NO transfers at all as I was sure you'd never have seen logos, numbers or anything on the chassis after a day or two? That said, I do like the little builder's plates on the iRM samples.

I thank Leyney for his concern, but anyone who has tried to buy one of the Blessed Oliver’s corrugated opens from Provincial Wagons over the last year has been told “I don’t do that kit any more”! It was the most obvious wagon for IRM to do, as they were truly ubiquitous, and are an appropriate wagon to hang behind an A, B, or C Class. IRM broke the news to me gently a while ago and I’ve kept quiet. After 371 sales of the Open, we’ve worn out a brave few moulds! After the UTA Spoil Wagon, I’d suggest that it was Michael Rayner’s masterpiece – those corrugations took a bit of patience to master. For those of you who haven’t built one, the brake gear (IRM’s protype looks good in this department) is spindly and the kit includes half a dozen STAPLES to fashion it! So, good luck to IRM, my order for some is going in now!

Talking of the Accurascale "Manor", when Richard McLachlan and I noted that the lads had done "ANTHONY Manor", we knew just had to buy one for Oisin, the Great Man's (ANTHONY McDonald, RIP) son. So we presented the appropriately named engine to the young man on Sunday at Blackrock. Thanks, IRM / Accurascale for producing the perfect memorial to a simply super guy, who we all miss.

And, last but not least, handing the NCC Sentinel and its train to a delighted team from the North Down Society. I look forward to seeing it running on "Antrim".

Handover N0.2. With the MRSI guys on "ARDMORE" admiring Bob's 2-4-2T and a cattle train. Later, after exhibiting it on my sales stand, I brought them the McDonnell 0-4-4T with its mixed goods set. Bob, I can tell you that they were delighted.

Just to say a big "Thank you" to Paul and his willing team who put on a terrific show over the weekend. It was great to meet a load of guys from this forum who not only made themselves known, but also emptied my Bagged Cement Van boxes. I'm happy to report that the Ulysses delivered Richard and I safely to a rainy Holyhead and that Richard single-handed drove us to Reading - dreadful weather throughout - so wet that we couldn't have exchanged seats without getting drowned. Record early arrival - 6am and straight to bed until midday! Richard has just reported in that he's safely home to Ipswich after much detouring due to roadworks etc. As usual, we are both whacked, but happy that we made the trip. Thanks again, SDMRC, and all who bought my wagons.

Sean, thanks for posting the piccie. I agree with "DJ" the layout looks great and the vans look at home!

Yep, Patrick (Good to see you yesterday) the wagons look at home there. WCR, glad you liked the wee van. The Broken Wheel sold out early yesterday. When Paddy M came, I had to dip into the reserve (Family / people I'd forgotten .....) - but who wouldn't oblige a gentleman who has MADE the Irish hobby? Down to last half dozen snails. If there's the demand (Speak up!), another Wheel with a different number will follow. I like the two colour Broken Wheel (which Claire in The Studio at Dapol got so nicely), so I won't need too much persuading. Also an a Bauxite body / roof version when I dig out the photos.

Thanks, Niles. I've emptied a boxful of each to date at The Show (close on a hundred wagons). Paul Daly (great exhibition Paul, thanks) came by and removed the empty cartons. He'd earlier bought a couple of the wagons himself. Down to about twenty "Broken Wheels". Thanks to all who dropped by and said "Hi" and have made a little investment. Leslie

Handover Day. A little photo for Bob, so that he can see KMCE and Yours Truly transacting the Deed. I displayed Bob's J15 (157) and train on my stand at Blackrock until Ken turned up today - so this is the Handover. Bob, your GSWR 2-4-2T and Cattle Train took No.157's place. We'll get a photo of that train on "Ardmore" tomorrow. Needless to say, the passing folk greatly admired the train and one little man explained the relevant parts of the steam loco to his Dad. An enthusiast in the making. It was a privilege to display them.

You'll find Richard and I in Room C - we're Stand 14. Over half of the run of Cement vans have gone, I'm delighted to say. Quite a few already in the post to new owners, including a certain gent in the Canaries....... Richard has done transfers of the Crests of several large Irish railway companies - GNR, DNGR, GSR etc. On sale on my stand mini sheets at €5 and maxi sheets at €10. Come and say hallo and let me know WHO you are - it's nice to put a face to a name (or pseudo name!). Leslie

I’m happy to report that I have another supply of the RCH standard open wagons, as built by the GNR – both four plank and six plank. The bodies are 3D printed by Marc Dobson of Pre Grouping Railways, and they are on a Smallbrook chassis. A specially-made minisheet of lettering with correct numbers is included. The samples below built for me in full GNR "Bling" by Galteemoreof this Parish. A SIMILAR wagon ran on the Southern lines of GSR and MGWR, at least, but were a little different in the height of floor and of course axleboxes. But, if you want to accept the “Two Foot” rule, I’ll chuck in a few Snails! JB will remind me that VERY few would have survived the onset of the corrugated Bulleid wagons from the late fifties onwards. £32 or €35 each Off to church on this God-given day.

Hi Colin The GNR built them 1954 (to 1956, I believe). On dissolution of GN, they all went to CIE as they were intended for Drogheda Cement traffic. CIE would have run them with Snail logo as per 2211N - see above - until late sixties when the Broken Wheel would have replaced the Snail.