leslie10646

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 .........

LIVE + ZOOM : 18.00 - 21.45 : Friday 10 October 2025 Gordon is an active member of the RPSI and the Ulster Model Railway Club. His special interest in Donaghadee stems from childhood and he has now built a highly acclaimed, award-winning model of Donaghadee station and its environs. In the context of a brief history of the BCDR, he will focus on the Donaghadee branch, the life and demise of the station, and the rail-connected harbour including its novel form of construction. And he will recall the highs and lows of building his superb model during the difficult Covid years. At The Gallery at Alan Baxter, 100m from Farringdon station, now the most accessible location in central London. Door opens at 17.30. The Gallery is a smart and spacious community space, ideal for our talks, and with stepfree access available. We hope as many as possible will be able to come along, see the speaker live, contribute directly to the discussion, meet the Committee and other members, and enjoy refreshment in a nearby pub afterwards. LIVE MEETINGS are at The Gallery at Alan Baxter, 77 Cowcross Street, Farringdon LONDON EC1M 6EL.

Well, I'm just off to Deutschland to celebrate the centenary of the German Class "01" Pacifics on a six day tour. As I leave kits are arriving to top up my stock ready for the Show, so it's a good time to speak up if there's any of my wagons which you need. I'll also be selling some of a huge collection of Irish Railway books given to the IRRS, London. I have almost everything published on the subject and in astonishingly almost mint condition. If there's a hard top fill gap in your library, just PM me and I'll have a look. Keep up the modelling while I'm playing with big trains - I want to have something to look at when I get back.

My hatred of the narrow gauge is renowned (too slow), but I salute you @Georgeconna for this Master Class in layout-building. In particular your patience and skill with the "knitting" which looks a job and a half. You say you've barely visited the place, but I recommend it. I usually spend ten days in the Tirol each year - like Switzerland it has mountains - but at half the price! I stay in the same hotel in Jenbach every year, but most years barely glance at either the Achenseebahn or the Zillertal. I probably do the steam train on the Zillertal about every other year - happily the Big railway still has lots of good stuff if you look hard enough. Keep it up, I'm sure that we are all learning from this thread.