leslie10646

Good morning, Gents

As of now, half of the run of the new wagons is "Spoken for".

It would be helpful, and also ensure that you're not disappointed, if I knew when you were planning to collect the wagons at Blackrock, please?

Could "Flying Snail", "Gabal Lum", "Sean", "The Bandon Tank", "Fishplate Seven", "Jarl", "Derek", Traction Man", "DB Joe", "Branno", "Leyney", "Phil350", "Louth", "West Cork Railway",  "Rosslare Ranger" please PM me and give me  their usual names and which day they are picking up their wagons at Blackrock, please? Then I'll know how many wagons I still have to sell!

Thanks.

Leslie

Hi Derek

You have three reserved. Can you send me your "real" name, so I can note your reservation correctly. It's be useful to know when you're attending.

WHICH Brake van - the GSWR one or the GNR one.

Thanks for the interest

Leslie

I've started my packing up of kits for selling at Blackrock.

As usual, if there's something which you want, please let me know and I'll set it aside for you.

To save me needlessly bringing "Northern stuff" over, if any of you want "NCC "Brown vans" or "Spoil Wagons", can you let me know, please. I plan to leave them in the UK.

You see, I need the space in the vehicle as I'm also bringing half of Bob Sankey's 7mm Irish trains, en route to clubs in Ireland.

Thanks in advance

and thanks for the interest shown in the new RTR vans. The "Broken Wheel" one was made, on schedule, on Monday and should be with me by Thursday, when I'll post a photo.

I'll have B121 in Grey to sell at Blackrock, so no postage, if you pick it up.

Still with accessories in bag, so Lambeg Man probably never used it!

€140.

On 8/10/2023 at 8:31 PM, jhb171achill said:

It hadn't seen a passenger train service since 1931! One of the first lines to lose its passenger trains in the entire country. Even the goods didn't last much longer. Latterly it slumbered in near dereliction for many years, the weeds only disturbed the odd time by a cattle train on market days.

And the 1961 All Ireland Tour ........

Lance King Collection, copyright IRRS

34 minutes ago, airfixfan said:

Any date for Foyle Road photo? If after 1963 could be 170,171 or 174?

I don't think it's as late as that, JIm, as the first coach is in blue and cream and I don't remember those on steam trains as late as 1963.

3 hours ago, Noel said:

@leslie10646 FYI, the link on your web site to your products is not working. 'Kits of model Irish railway wagons' has no hyper link to a products page. Was interested in ordering some of these wagons. Cheers Noel

Hi Noel

I'm sorry that you have had difficulty with my "website".

The "links" are on the right hand side of the Home page - offering "About us";   contacting us";  "Exhibitions";  "Home" and "News". The last one announces the new wagon 2211N and its UK price £17.

As Dave says above "provincialwagons.com" will take you to the site, as will a query "Provincial Wagons" - my site comes top of the page on Google.

My preferred way to deal with orders is through my e-mail, which gets looked at regularly.

I do apologise for the exceedingly amateur website. I just haven't got the knack, patience or time to conquer "Wordpress" - I even bought the book, but it remains a Black Art!

I'll stick to "The Good Book" - a much better read!

Brave man. Good luck with the re-engineering!

Thanks, Derek

According to Dapol, they are making them tomorrow, 16th. Fingers tightly crossed.

However, the "Flying Snail" version was with me before its scheduled build date!

I'll know precisely when I get a demand for a Grand or so from Andrea in their accounts department!

I promise that you folk will be the first to know!

In terms of Expressions of Interest, the "Wheel" version is nearly half  spoken for, and the  Snail, over a third.

Leslie

On 11/10/2023 at 11:26 PM, Patrick Davey said:

Occasionally I fantasise about having unlimited space, time, patience and of course money, and think about what the 'dream' layout would be.  And of course it changes often....

It's currently Armagh:

* Four lines converging

* Mainline passenger and good trains between Belfast & Cavan

* Steam and diesel railcar operation

* Branch workings from Keady/Castleblayney and also the Newry direction

* Extensive layout with two signal cabins, a level crossing, large goods shed and cattle pens, two loco sheds and turntable

* Double tracked through station with overall roof, two platforms and footbridge

* Very distinctive station architecture

* Detailed plans survive in the IRRS archive, including signal box elevations and station building plans

* Generous photographic coverage

 

Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh..........................

 

 

Get on with it, Patrick. Mine used to be  Armagh, I think 35ft LONG would do it. I have an old map from the museum.

That's why the Dream Layout is Portadown jct - roundhouse (to use the Flesichmann turntable), trains TO Armagh, via Richhill. Masses of trains through each day.

Of course, I've been beaten to it by William (?) Redpath.

I've got the  track down, close to proper trackplan too, just a matter of bringing it up Mr Redpath's level of scenery. He's got the layout, and I've got the rolling stock!

3 hours ago, Westcorkrailway said:

Just purchased my Dublin train ticket… 

Good man - how many? A "Proper" name would be good, then I can reserve one for you. Send me a pM.

Thanks

Leslie

9 minutes ago, Patrick Davey said:

Leslie can I have one please - the 'Drogheda' reference fits very nicely with my current project!

Will maybe get to Blackrock but if not I'll order by post.

Great looking van!!!

Your name's on one, Patrick, thanks. As you're in UK, I'm happy to post it to you.

Now, lads, I'm not in IRM's league, so no photos of containers just a big box from Dapol a couple of hours ago.

At least the first one looks fine .....

Fingers crossed for the second one. this was a week early!

Back to a bit of labelling, certificates etc .....  Blackrock is just around the corner (time-wise)

On 12/8/2023 at 8:01 AM, murphaph said:

A couple of short videos from the above two locations...

I've got one of those in a box upstairs! Never run, needless to say!

 

Mayner suggested: Perhaps the best option would be for OO Works to produce a model of McDonald's NER D38 Class https://www.lner.info/locos/D/ner_38.php which look very close to the GSWR 60 Class, though its difficult if there is sufficient interest in a D38 Class among NER enthusiasts.

Yes, superficially close, I haven't got McMahon to hand to check fully, but a look at photos in Decade of Steam certainly show likeness and quite major differences - the larger cab carried in  later years, the safety valves, smokebox details, from the trivial (wheel versus levers) and a different "saddle". The tender could be tweaked. None beyond Roderick's capability, I would think.

Who's going to ask him ......?????

Regarding John's comment about the 00 Works U Class, I don't remember having an issue with mine. That MAY be because I never put more than a few coaches behind her.

Anyway, the proof of the pudding is to try it and as my granddaughter (4) is apparently dying to see my trains working - her dad took her upstairs to see when I wasn't around - I shall get the U Class out (layout cleared for trackwork) and try it with, say, five bogies. They wouldn't have taken more than maybe six or seven, even on the Bundoran Express.

I had one run with a "U" in 1964 on the 1015 from Derry (probably five plus a van) and it was well below the relatively poor standard of the S Class usually on the train.

Unhappily John is right, getting a model 4-4-0 to pull as much as their prototype seems very hard work. I nearly cried when my brass S Class, after much modification by Alan Edgar (Splendid Fellow), took ELEVEN round the layout - twenty years after the engine had been built!

More later. I have to stay downstairs to her the Postie when he delivers a load of kits from Michael.

2 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

My thoughts exactly. A 4.4.0 of GSWR design would be a good and versatile bet.

JB

I agree that a rtr model of one of the GSWR 4-4-0s, would be delightful, but did they run many trains after about 1955?

A quick scan of some of the books, plus Irish Railfans' News for 1955 suggest very rapid dieselisation and such mainline steam as was on the Cork line was 400 or 800 Class 4-6-0s, or Woolwich moguls.

The humble J15 still did a lot of secondary work still and bizarrely a handful of MGWR 2-4-0s (like Mayner's little engines) ran some of the branches right into the 1960s, as did various ex-MGWR 0-6-0 classes.

A green A Class, a grey 121, two BnT 141s, five Cravens and three sets of grey bubbles. I need to get the numbers of each to produce a list and they're not with me at present.

As well as selling my kits and RTR wagons, I will be selling the Modern Image, unused, collection of our late friend Steve Rafferty (aka "Lamberg Man"). I'll produce a list later this week which includes locos, Cravens and bubbles.

I'll also have the superb BOOKS on Irish Narrow Gauge, as published by Lightmoor Press, includng the new Traleee and Dingle book at a Show Price of €60 (RRP £60 sterling).

All being well, I'll be there, with one or two new wagons, already announced. Please light candles, etc on 12th and 14th when they are on the factory worksheet!

I'm just off the phone to Michael Rayner, aka "My Man". The very bad news is that he is retiring. As an Octagenarian, I can't blame him! (A couple of weeks in hospital haven't helped either).

Theoretically, I will still be able to get my kits made through the new Smallbrook owner, but maybe it's time to retire myself?

I have been building up stock, ready for Blackrock, but some kits will be in limited supply so if you have specific needs, now's the time to have me reserve them.

As usual, either PM me, or send an e-mail to me.

Like Patrick, if the Steam announcement isn't made in October, I'll get very upset, maybe not to the extent of needing the Samaritans! At my age, pre-ordering stuff is a risk!

PS Good luck with your "New Arrival", Mr Mogul.

2 hours ago, WRENNEIRE said:

 

If Carlsberg did rail cleaners
Probably the best rail cleaner around
Uses a chemical to clean so no scratching with rubbers etc

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the heads up, David. Every time I've looked at it it appears to be out of stock everywhere.

My brass coach-building / IRRS Drawings man, Richard McLachlan is heavily involved with various Scale Four Society projects.

Why do you ask?

PS Ivan is certainly not "messing"  with his P4 stuff, neither is Richard, whose work is exquisite. I'm not sure if he's building DNGR coaches or more K15s for me at present .....

I'm preparing for Blackrock and it occurred to me that some of you might like a copy of the Tralee and Dingle book.

I am prepared to supply the book, picked up at Blackrock, for €60 a copy (normally UK Sterling £60).

Either PM me to put in a pre-order, or e-mail me

lesliemcallister@aol.com

Profit to Irish preservation funds.

Thanks

Leslie  (for The Syndicate)

Isn’t the best way to preserve the 071s to rip out the Diesel engine (good as it is) and stick a pantograph on the roof, put some electrical wizardry in its place and, Hey Presto, you have an electric loco fit for another thirty years.

I’m assuming that the All-Ireland Plan goes ahead and we have wires almost everywhere. 

For the non- wired bits - stick a battery in a few of them.

PS if IE takes up this splendid idea, my lawyers will be in touch, re consultancy fees.

There is a page in the September "Today's Railways" (European edition) on this report.

So, there'll be trains through Armagh again? All I have to do is live to be 102!

And Banbridge!!!!!

I note that the cost of the Northern Ireland section is equal-ish to the price of a couple of aircraft carriers - so all we have to do is persuade Rishi / Kier Starmer to cancel the next one and get on with it. If Ireland can do without a big army / navy / airforce - then so can we? Oh, and we could rejoin the EU and let sanity return .........