leslie10646

I'm coming to Ireland at the end of this week, as the RPSI is celebrating 60 years next Saturday. So, I'm packing already. This may be my last visit as a Trader (I'm getting a bit old for this - 78) and I've let stocks run down. So, if you want anything, now's the time to speak up! I have SOME of each of the kits here: https://provincialwagons.com/kits-available/ If you want to fill a gap in your collection, please contact me (e-mail preferred) and I'll hold the kit (s). No payment required up front, just what and when you're coming. Thanks I look forward to meeting many of you again at The Show. Leslie

Come on guys, just two weeks until the big announcement - no "suggestions" for three days! I've been trying to out-think the lads in The Tower. ASSUMING that it's steam: a) It'll be from a loco class which the RPSI has one of, offering many numbers / liveries - then people will have seen ONE of the type and want a model. b) It won't be a J15 (but within 5/6 years?) as neither of ours are running or are likely to run again any time soon. c) So it's a Compound (yes please), a Q Class (yes please); a S Class - good choice, just coming back into service (but I've got two already!); or a Class WT Tank: popular loco with UK possibilities for the chassis / general design - ditto - I've got twp already! d) Which opens a can of worms as to what to stick behind it? There are NO RTR GNR coaches, except from Silver Fox and certainly no NCC coaches. Park Royals would have been VERY occasionally hauled by them. Now, I can't see IRM making GN coaches - so what? e) The answer MAY be that: there have been sets of RPSI coaches around in the past, both Cravens and Mark 2s; IRM more or less have the Mark 2s available at the moment, so another run of them to provide coaches for the preserved loco would be easy-ish. You could go on forever? My money is probably on the Tank - there were EIGHTEEN of them, NCC, UTA, NIR liveries to choose from, then some of them had extended bunkers (so about fifty variants possible) ....... For those of those of us with long memories, ModelU could be commissioned to make models of the each of the drivers and firemen who worked on the Stone Trains - (Saint Thomas) Tommy Crymble, Billy Steenson, Harry Ramsay, Alan Robinson, "Batman" Simpson, Big Dan McAtamany, Willie Graham, Gerry Phelan, Barney McCrory ........ Men whose exploits when they got out on passenger trains made sure that in 1969 I didn't throw away my stopwatch, but went in search of more steam trains to "time" - 25/26 countries!

Are these not better still? https://www.themodelcentre.com/r4800pre You could just stick NCC on them and off you go - at £30 a go, they're a snip. OR: I think this was the coach which which supposed to be like a "Larne Steel". Certainly they are also similar to the coaches JB's Dad took in a moment of dereliction? Hornby R4657A. This one cost me £25 at a Warley event, but they seem to be much dearer now, even if you can find them! I must put this one into service!

Look forward to seeing your "800" @GSR 800. There isn't an earthly that it will be that - so we all want to see yours!!!

Very clever. Almost cryptic! I'll swallow the top one (preferred) or the bottom one (got three). I guarantee it won't be the middle one and i don't want a second hand US Army vehicle!

Hi Bob, Thank you for your kind words. To help you catch up, I can recommend the Society's website which covers the history very well indeed. Leslie

Tonight's the Night! I hope that some of the members of this forum will tune in and find out what I spent 60 of my 78 years supporting. Sign-in details above! I hope to "see" some of you there! Leslie

Thanks, Jim You should have received an "All IRRS" Newsletter this morning which does state the the date and time correctly. If people tune in at 6pm, I'll be having my tea! It's 1930, this Friday, 4 October. Yes, Jim, the Cork tour of 1969 was one to remember - I will be showing shots involving ALL THREE DERAILMENTS!!!!!

Cavan were playing Armagh and the City's sidings were full, so the coaches of one of the specials was worked to Portadown by its train engine for berthing in a siding there. IMG_0237 2.MOV They should have felt at home as a sister coach was already to be found in the "full brake" siding in the yard .... Mine were left on the doorstep, but I got home before the Camberley Mafia could pounce. So, out of boxes to give them a look around - count wheels etc. Then upstairs to see if they would move, so here's the result. One of my thirds derails with alacrity and I upended it to check the wheels - the issue is with the middle axle which isn't moving side to side easily. One for another day - it's late and I have my talk to finish!

Bring it on! The Marxists (don't make me laugh) may have taken away my Winter Fuel Allowance, but if I sell a few more wagons at Clontarf, I may be able to afford whatever IRM come up with! I came back from doing the shopping as The Boss is awaiting a NHS op (apparently the Marxists are fixing that too!) to find a parcel dumped on the doorstep - could be from Sheffield? Photos later!

Dear IRRS Member or IRM Friend Here's the Zoom details. Sign up for a night of nostalgia! Not many railway societies have got to sixty and NONE has run as many mainline tours - I can promise you a night of super photos taken by good camermen as they "chased" the RPSI all around Ireland over the last six decades. For younger friends, an opportunity to see what the Society got up to before you were born and in the days before Health and Safety and when, God Bless Them, the Railway Companies and their staff made the impossible, possible - they still do! I hope to see dozens of you. There is no compulsory charge, but donations will help with the RPSI's work, as my fundraising group will match donations made on the day. “RPSI AT 60” by Leslie McAllister We are pleased to present a special meeting to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland on 30th September 1964. Leslie McAllister was one of the attendees at that inaugural meeting addressed by Lord O’Neill, and from 1972 to 1990 was the Society’s London Agent, with a responsibility for encouraging British enthusiasts to cross the Irish Sea to enjoy the delights of main line steam travel in Ireland. This is very much an Exile’s view, but Leslie travelled on many of the early tours and especially the “Two Day” tours which made the Society famous. The talk will cover some of those early tours in great detail and then offer a history of the Society through the lives of its steam Locomotives and vintage coaches; right up to today when it has an extensive, well-equipped Workshop and Museum at Whitehead. Photographs from Charles Friel (acknowledged by all as the Society’s “Official Photographer”), the late Lance King, Joe Cassells and a few from the speaker. Log in tonight and share memories of a remarkable six decades of mainline steam and successes the Founders couldn’t even have dreamt of!" Register to join this meeting by clicking REGISTER and fill in your details to be sent a personalised link.

Not to be missed (I'm smiling) three of my earliest GNR(I) wagons: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/205015333639?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11021.m43.l1120&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=898e1ab47f144e9abd6d692a64ca38fa&bu=43025934942&ut=RU&osub=-1~1&crd=20240928045607&segname=11021 It seems as if the seller has been taking a cue from The Boys and is trying to sell my wagons IN THREES! Try him for about £60?

I waited for Mr McLachlan to arrive - he's staying overnight before Scaleforum tomorrow. We both think that the roofs are a bit angular, the Clerestories especially so. That said, as Richard E-H has said above the GNR ones look close-ish. The GNR(I) had 48ft coaches "fairly like" these and the Irish ones had the low eliptical roof, so a relative win? I'll probably go for a set of these. The Midland railway clerestories have the beautiful MR Crimson Lake - BUT - a VERY BIG BUT, AWFUL ROOFS. Anyway, the NCC didn't have anything like them! The LNWR ones have a high arc roof - COMPLETELY UNLIKE the fairly flat LNWR ones. So, good for we GN types with poor eyesight!

Not sold yet? An absolute bargain at that price. They are a great source of information around the End of Steam. Wake up you guys!

Not listed in the MRSI site is the fact that Richard McLachlan will have a stand beside mine where he will be able to give you chapter and verse about the railway drawings (locomotives, rolling stock and buildings) which he has scanned for the IRRS; and he will share his considerable experience of brass coach building.

Me too. Six green things en route. I did order one BnT van - are they doing those - I hope that they haven't forgotten them. I wanted it for my parcel /newspaper train (first train from Dublin through Portadown Jct each day! Must check my origiinal order! Ah, wrong, I ordered two GREEN full brakes (No.18), but they've only included one - so I've asked for it!

Folks As well as my wagons, I will have a selection of recently published Irish Railway books. I know that many are not easily available in Ireland, another "benefit" of Brexit, so I usually bring some with me. In particular the Tralee and Dingle Railway book which retails here at £60 sterling - I'll do pre-orders at 60 Euros - but please let me know. Profit goes to RPSI. Any other books - just ask. Thanks Leslie

Next door was an even wider gauge - Mr Brunel's 7ft 0¼in - as it was in mixed gauge days with interleaved 4ft 8½in. It is a model of Ealing Broadway - "but not as we know it". A really remarkable though station with sector plate at each end. The layout includes a works with traverser, a loco shed and a very fine station building over the tracks - enjoy - I certainly did!

And now, a surprise visitor from Bandon! Apologies, this is as light as I could get - it was a rainy day in Valencia!

On Saturday last, I made my way to Swindon to see Valencia Harbour again. I was rewarded by seeing my CIE Cattle wagon kit,built by Simon de Souza being shunted by Andy's No.133. Behind is Andy's fine GSWR brake which I mercilessly plagurised for my kit of the same vehicle!

I think that most pf you know that I was involved in the RPSI from the inaugural meeting. When an English society asked me to give them I talk the RPSI, I also offered the IRRS London the same talk, as they have had to postpone our October meeting. So, an extra IRRS London meeting - by ZOOM only. I will publicise the Zoom codes nearer the day. It's a great story and I have great illustrations from Charles Friel and Lance King to back me up. All are welcome to join in. "RPSI at 60 Tonight we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the RPSI (on 30 September 1964). Leslie McAllister was one of the attendees at that inaugural meeting addressed by Lord O’Neill, and from 1972 to 1990 was the Society’s London Agent, with a responsibility for encouraging British enthusiasts to cross the Irish Sea to enjoy the delights of main line steam travel in Ireland. This is very much an Exile’s view, but Leslie travelled on many of the early tours and especially the “Two Day” tours which made the Society famous. The talk will cover some of those early tours in great detail and then offer a history of the Society through the lives of its steam Locomotives and vintage coaches; right up to today when it has an extensive, well-equipped Workshop and Museum at Whitehead. Photographs from Charles Friel (acknowledged by all as the Society’s “Official Photographer”), the late Lance King, Joe Cassells and a few from the speaker. Log in tonight and share memories of a remarkable six decades of mainline steam and successes the Founders couldn’t even have dreamt of!"

Good news, Dave. A masterpiece of a layout!

And, while we are winding each other up ........ IRM will have their new locomotives on sale!!!!!!! You heard it first here .......

And only three traders - the usual suspects. Well, MRSI, I've told you that I'll be there with my latest vans (see Bangor Exhibition thread) and kits.

I quite like the 60s as well - if only because they give a break from the monotony of endless 66s at Goring - they are used on oil trains from Theale near Reading to South Wales. Livery looks good - almost GSR Steam Grey!