leslie10646

Looking at the photo of the UG at Fintona Jct, I realised that I could replicate it, although not the precise coaches. I have a clerestory courtesy of Richard Eliis-Hobbs, I have several brake/thirds and everything behind the coaches is in the Provincial Wagons range .....

Good man. Make sure that you come and see us, even if only to say Hi. Have a good flight over - and the same to the rest of you doing the same!

Usual rallying cry to those attending Warley Hall 5 at the NEC. We've even managed to get beside the only(?) Irish layout there - the rightly famed 3mm Ballyconnell Road! Richard McLachlan will be showing his drawings both on paper and via a monitor. We'll probably have a roll-over of photos from our archives as well. I'll be selling Lambeg Man's (the late Steve Rafferty) extensive library, profits to Irish preservation as usual. Steve bought virtually everything published on Irish Railways, so a great opportunity to fill gaps in your library. Priced to sell, so plenty of bargains, as well. We'll also have back number IRRS Journals. If you are after particular ones, let me know and I'll set them aside - or make sure I bring them! Same goes for books - just ask! I'm prepared to DELIVER wagons kits, but these MUST be pre-ordered before Wednesday! Open to public Saturday 25th November 9.45 am - 6.00 pm Sunday 26th November 9.45 am - 5.00 pm (Advance Ticket holders shall be admitted at 9.15 a.m. on the public days) Always quieter and more enjoyable on the Sunday. Hope to see some of you there. Be sure to introduce yourselves! Leslie and Richard

I'm not sure what our policy / practicalities are. I'll find out!

Sorry, IR, 5ft 9in drivers versus 6ft with the Irish locos. That said, there are plenty of Fowler conversions around masquerading as "Tanks".

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.