leslie10646

Absolutely ten out of ten - even though it's a diesel. Even the late "Mac" Arnold stated that for the price paid (£4,000), its 436,000 miles in service show that it was far from being useless - an accolade from that source! PS the layout is even better than 10/10. Congrats.

Thanks, Mr Gm for that dose of nostalgia. I actually did a runabout ticket up to Christmas 1964 to get some extra Derry Road steam mileage - I seem to have ignored the fact that the line survived until February - must look up my 1965 diary! Has anyone got a good photo of those white CIE containers seen being shunted at Strabane?

a) John M - are you trying to put me out of business? b) Jon B - As I have said many times, I have two AEC sets and don't need any more ...... It won't be b) anyway, as they're doing these Rotten (did I spell that right?) things .....

Ian Sinclair presented a remarkable story of a UTA project to develop either the Queens Bridge station, or build a new station alongside Great Victoria Street as a possible terminus for the remaining BCDR trains (Bangor and possibly Comber lines). The services were planned to be run by the then new MED diesel units. It was the GNR's staggering volume goods traffic (in early 1950s) over the Belfast Central Railway which largely killed the project, as the passenger movements left no room for the thousands of cattle and large traffic in sand, oil, coal etc. Ian concluded by showing the work going on today to build Belfast's "Grand Central Station" (due to open in the next couple of years) on virtually the site planned in the early 1950s! A brilliant piece of research and my heartiest congratulation to Ian..

No, but I've travelled in more Chinese provinces than any Chinese person I've ever met. Something to do with having travelled behind over 80 QJ Class 2-10-2s. I still carry my Hong Kong ID Card!

I like that word SOON! If you are Chinese that could mean in the next century or two. "May you live in interesting times" .............

I bought BRM to get the account of Andy's "Castlederg" (TEN pages of delightful nostalgia - it even has the RUC station where my Dad served!!!) and it had a review of the Lad's Class 92. Congrats to them - BRM were lost for words of praise to use! However, it's the Mark Fives that blew me away - amazing detail. Very, very well done. As the Frogs say "Chapeau"!!!

Hi Dun The GNR certainly did have horseboxes. May I ask if you OWN the negative of the Casserley NCC photo? Thanks.

John is still the Parish Priest of Chipping Camden and he still delights in his models. I called to see him for ten minutes on New Year's Day 2020 and was there over an hour later. Always excellent company. It appears that the True Church doesn't let you retire!

I met Tony M a few times. Once, of all places, at Chippenham where the local society decided to have an Irish-themed exhibition. The Syndicate was there raising funds for the RPSI, but to enter into the spirit of the thing, we had an exhibit of Father John Brennan's O Gauge Irish locos. Adavoyle was right next door to us, so when we weren't selling books, we watched trains and Tony regaled us with endless hilarious tales of railways and the Navy. The immortal Drew was a great friend both as a modeller and when we were both trying to fill RPSI tours in the troubled years of the 1970s. Galteemore's estimable Dad was doing his magic (and a lot of very hard work) to keep the Society financially afloat. About twenty-odd years ago, I had the effrontery to give a talk to the London Area of the IRRS on Irish railway modelling. Who should turn up but Richard Chown who completely eclipsed anything I was showing with what he produced from his case! A remarkable man. No, they were ALL remarkable men!

Apologies, it is at AUGHNACLOY. I've corrected the original post. I catalogued so many of these Casserleys over the last three days that I'm getting cross-eyed going from scan to his notebooks and back identifying the scans! Henry took about two dozen photos on the CVR on this visit. He'd come from the SL&NCR (a call at Enniskillen only) where he took less than a dozen shots. Congratulations Mr Galteemore on the lovely model of these (not so little?) engines!). They are giants beside the Fest locos!

Of course, those of us "in weeping exile" can see Andy's CDR delights for under a tenner, if we live in the right part of the Big Island. See Bruckless thread. Have you built one of these yet, Andy? Pretty little loco? Aughnacloy 25/6/37 Casserley 14204, Copyright The Syndicate

Ah, Ned O'Hara! Gave me a footplate ride on "207" from "The Wood" to "Pordydown" one Sunday evening in 1964. Never to be forgotten. As will Noel be.

No, but if there is, it's probably abroad (ie Big Island and beyond). Let's see how quickly the Festiniog locos and stock sell out. I was very tempted to buy one of each for my sons who spent endless holidays going up and down the Fest. They're lovely models, but they're SO small. The 15mm guy above showed how to do it.

I know why you say that! One ran on the SLNCR?

You could be right, Andy. I've already got the coaches from Hattons! Yes, please. I've got two S Class already with another on the way. A "Q" would be great. But it won't be that, only one (?) livery, but The Boys could do every member of the Class ........

I thought that you were playing fast and loose with reality / history until I read the first post in the Thread. Consider the "Like" to be twice over. Nice building work, just as Mullingar was going. Sorry that that has been postponed! By the way, nothing fictional about an 800 at Amiens Street - plenty of photographic evidence

a) Push off, Beaumont, that was MY joke. b) A six wheel sleeping car would be brilliant for use in Fairs Specials made up of a certain kitmaker's fine cattle wagons ........

Well, well, well. This guy's undercutting me!!!!! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354551874525?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11021.m43.l1120&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=c800325a2c0849658e445313d0db3d74&bu=43025934942&ut=RU&exe=0&ext=0&osub=-1~1&crd=20230131043418&segname=11021

Can yous'nes not READ. He said in the next month, meaning 29th February .......

Thanks for that reminder, Mr Larne. We were living at 294 Merville Garden Village, Whitehouse at the time and our neighbours (the Skingles, yes Bob Skingle of RPSI Whitehead) were about to move to Holywood (on the other side of Belfast Lough) and were visiting their new house there. Mrs Skingle reported ambulances rushing along the road towards Bangor that day (the ship foundered off the Copelands). Next day, I remember my mother lamenting "Just 44 (?) saved". ------------------------------------------------------- I have a 1200th scale model of her behind me here in the display cabinet, in interloper (she was built by Denny at Dumbarton) among models of Belfast-built ships like the unlucky sisters, Titanic, Britannic and the Olympic. ----------------------------------------------------- On a happier note, the same storm saw the "Clan Macquarrie", on an empty voyage run aground on the island of Lewis. The 66 crew were rescued in what was the largest ever rescue by Breeches Buoy in history.

"Tears to your eyes GOOD", Robert, but then I would say that? Just brilliant execution of complex kit. I've now sold more of them than ever existed in real life! Still available, of course. That load only needs a single tank, Darius - but could be run with my GNR 20 ton brake, as they did in the early days of the contract. Keep up the great work Robert.

Obviously, David, you're another man like Comrade Cundick - "No TV" ?????? Just splendid stuff!

Now, in the best traditions of the Time, a bit of Tape Cine and DiaDirect (with apologies to the Late Drew Donaldson) IMG_4395.MOV If Andy doesn't put up more himself ........ I WILL !!!!! Well worth the train ride to Southampton! of the Goods .......