leslie10646

Best of all at Bangor was meeting Ivor Hughes (aka @33lima), who in the late 1990s built me a lot of rolling stock on the recommendation of our late friend Steve Rafferty (aka "Lambegman"). We had never met - now he's a customer of mine! I've almost recovered now - the boxes of wagons are back in the loft (still a few left, although orders are coming in ....). Great to meet a lot of friends over a busy weekend, especially William Redpath (and his wife) who have firmly put me to shame with their wonderful model of Portadown. Just brilliant!

Safely home from the above event and almost got my equilibrium back - we arrived back at 7am on Tuesday, then had to take a friend to see "Madame Butterfly" at Cinema (don't bother) that night, some recovery then Good Friday given over to The Messiah by the Royal Choral Society at the Albert Hall. At last got the sums done - I might have made a few bob after the not insubstantial costs of just being there when you live in Surrey! Thanks, first, to Richard who took me in his Merc and did ALL the driving; to NDMRC who put the event on. But most especially to the 70 or so folk who came by and spent money! Second Hand books raised £200 for the "171 Appeal", which might pay for some minor part, but it all helps to move the project forward - so a special thanks to those who added to their libraries (and reduced the load on the return journey). Richard enjoyed taking me to Ballycastle for Fish and Chips at Morton's on the front, Fair Head looked amazing in the Winter sun and the waves last Thursday ...... Thanks all. Leslie

How dare you make my lovely vans so filthy!!!

Hi folk I managed to post an unwanted grey bagged Cement van to a customer in Toureen, Ballysimon, Co Limerick. This one, to be precise: If you're after one and are in the vicinity, you can pick it up from the customer (full info will be given to potential customer) - it's yours for €20. Thanks Leslie

It would have been unusual if the T2 was on the Irish North - I suspect it had come up through Armagh on the Ulster Railway. They were used on trains through Richhill in the late fifties - I remember travelling behind one out of Portadown with my grandmother (mind you just to the said Centre of the Universe!). No.58 is on the Thursday All-in tour to Dublin for tourists staying at UTA hotels in the North - the Laharnara in Larne especially if my memory serves. Note the diner! Finally, a personal thanks for confirmation that I have been hauled by B147, which pulled the RPSI tour into Wicklow (Murrough) in 1972 or so.

Thanks, Ernie. Wonderful to see a younger Mr Dewing in the flesh - he'd have been about forty at the time, but happily lived into his early 90s - still attending IRRS meetings ON HIS BIKE! Note to modern enthusiasts - note the shirt, jacket and tie for steam holidays! A wonderful man with an amused glint in his eye, always!

Have I misread this - IRM AREN"T going to be there? So no announcement this weekend .......

If it's those, don't bother. I'll sell up and start modelling the Irish Air Force

To quote that great British Patriot, Captain Mainwaring, - "Stupid Boy"!!!!!

Hooray!

These are BUSES! Where's the Irish RAILWAY ANNOUNCEMENT. I'm getting older by the minute!

Yes, I'm looking forward to seeing this fabled layout as well - especially as it has lots of Provincial Wagons on it! (All on sale at my stand!). Liked the glimpse of one of my "Brown Vans" in a siding! Great stuff, Patrick.

Sounds like my Garden railway which lives in boxes and wasn't out at all last year! Laois is a long way from the Oxfordshire / Berkshire border, so we'll forget the running session!

I'd wait until a certain Dublin-based makers of quality rolling stock announce theirs? Neither of these is terribly like the CIE one, as John says.

Ever wondered what an "800" looked like passing you flat out? Well, a Royal Scot is much the same size. Here she is passing South Stoke near Goring this morning on a God-given sunny day. Sorry about the wind noise! ENJOY! Unfortunately, you can't see the blaze of daffodils (planted by local school children), which I was standing amidst MAQ03942.MP4

Right, now that I've almost finished packing stuff for Bangor, apart from a few boxes of books - I have time to make mischief. I've just looked at the IRM website. With a week to go to the Bangor Exhibition, I see no sign of a "Count down" to the steam loco announcement. Put us out of our misery - even if it's two years away!

While agreeing with Ivan, I have to admit that our house is full of the stuff. The Boss and I once drove round the M25, calling at each IKEA on the outskirts of London, getting some of what we wanted in each. Miraculously, we got everything we needed for whatever part of the house we were up (down?)-grading at the time. On another occasion, we happened to be visiting my sister in Bristol and I was about to furnish my study with glass fronted cabinets (now full of 1200 scale ships, 4mm scale trains etc). We found EVERYTHING we wanted in that one store (an unheard of experience), so filled my Granada literally to the roof with the bits and drove, gingerly, back to Surrey. I hate to say it, but their stuff has worn very well. But it is a nightmare place to visit. And as for their recent adverts on TV ..............

Unhappily, John, They've ceased trading - see your link!

Look what arrived from New Zealand. IMG_7921 copy.mp4 I got well and truly walloped for VAT, but I plan to offer some of these (I want the Snail wagons) at Bangor at pretty well cost price. All being well, if I have time, I'll have a small number of John's kits - I'm very impressed by the 3D printing from China. Enjoy. Leslie

I'm having a happy time packing ready for Bangor - I leave tomorrow week! At the risk of being presumptious, it would be useful to have an idea of the level of interest in a few of my "Southern" kits - really to save carrying a big stock better left to the MRSI Show in the Autumn (although, if you buy them now, they'll be "runners" by then! I don't want to fill Richard's car to the roof! The kits which jump to mind are CIE Cattle Double Beets GSWR 10 ton Brake van I only ever have half a dozen or so of the "Northern" (meaning GNR / SLNCR) kits with me and I give polite warning that the UTA Spoil Wagons which I have to hand are the last of them, except you want them without transfers (not worth £40 or so for a rerun of those). Fear not, plenty of the new CIE vans - the first sales went in the Post today. All that said, if you want to put your name on any item, just PM or e-mail me. No payment and no scowls if you change your mind - it all helps this aged 77 year old. For Narrow Gauge enthusiasts, I have a few copies of the notable "Tralee and Dingle Railway" book, at 10% off; plus a few of our late friend "Lambeg Man's" books, priced to sell. A PM reserves. Thanks in advance Leslie

Trying to get into the 21st Century here at PW. I spent an amusing time trying to get my "Sumup" toy to work - I managed to take a quid off myself, so hopefully, I can accept cards at Bangor!

Well done. I'm happy to say that I bought examples two of your Winners and very nice they are.

Anyone after one of my long out of production CIE Gunpowder vans? At a reasonable price, too. See: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235452052346?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11021.m43.l1120&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=d6d5c7faeb0c407389f9161f154a74fc&bu=43025934942&ut=RU&osub=-1~1&crd=20240311043050&segname=11021 By the way, it's not me selling, the seller seems to live in my home town!

Now you're tempting me.I'll put up a photo of a DB Class 50 coming through Richhill and then the Enterprise with an 01 Pacific! I have a Class 23 somewhere as well!

Thanks for sharing this, Patrick. Remarkable progress on what looks like a potentially remarkable station! I leave the transport planning / timetabling experts to say whether it will cope with the lines for reopening, but would observe that 5 platforms (the old GV Street) dealt with Dublin, Armagh, Newry, Derry etc in days gone by, albeit not with such an intensive timetable as we see today. But these days - no shunting, just in and out again. If those contractors had been doing HS2, it would be open by now! Must try and have a butchers when over for Bangor. Thanks again. Leslie