leslie10646

Vide: Although these are Hattons' ones! LNWR passing.mov

John The "modern" building in the background is the former RIC Barracks, burnt out by "The Boys" during the original troubles. I'm pleased to see the building restored - it looked like that when I dragged one of my English tour parties to view the bridge over the river - which is also still there - at least what I told them - I wanted to see the station!

Seen at Killorglin with the Valentia Line lifting train in June 1961. A David Soggee photo, Copyright IRRS.

I thought that to differentiate between my "Trainspotting" on the Western and my search on the Southern (near the family home) for semi-interesting trains, that I'd start a new Thread. "Deepcut" refers to the Deep Cut through a ridge in the local hills to get the Basingstoke Canal (1794) through. When the London and Southampton Railway was opened in 1840, they had to build a wall 8ft high between the railway and the canal so that the horses were not frightened! You can see in some of my videos taken at The Curzon Bridge - two bridges East of the actual DEEPCUT BRIDGE from which the first of these shots was taken. It is a VERY high bridge, as the railway is at a lower level than the canal which climbed over the ridge by courtesy of a ladder of FOURTEEN locks. The canal is a lovely place to walk, was it not for the cyclists, who don't seem to have heard of bells! Oh, and the occasional military men out keeping fit - the Curzon Bridge leads into the former Guards' Depot at Pirbright. It's all within two miles of the house! So first, a light engine movement this morning from Tonbridge to Eastleigh - no less than the Electro-diesels (nearly sixty years old) 73109 + 73213. They are on the Fast Line as there's work going on on the slow line. They are just approaching the top of the ten mile 1 in 300 or so climb to milepost 31 from London - the white box by the track almost marks the spot. IMG_0041.MOV Next today was a mysterious "Empty Coaching Stock" shown as timed for an electric multiple unit, maximum speed 33 mph - I'm only quote from "Realtime Trains". This one is filmed from the Curzon Bridge a mile to the east. Guess what turned up, a PULLMAN-liveried Class 67 (67.021) doing 75/80 I'd say - IMG_0043.MOV After a nice walk from Lock 25 at the Curzon Bridge down to Lock 19 and back, I video'd the good old boring Mountfield Sidings (near Robertsbridge in Kent) to Eastleigh empty stone train. A real Accurascale benefit - I think that these are wagons which they've produced? The Basingstoke Canal is behind the trees on the left (you can't see the wall, which IS 8ft high) for the overgrown vegetation!). Mountfield 5824.mov

I think that Darrman is on the right track (pun intended). The more that this line is build on a Brown Field Site, the better. HS1 was so built and came in close to time and budget. All that said, the Government of the Peoples' Popular and Democratic Republic of Grot Britain has cancelled ALL further rail reopenings, so you can forget about it altogether, as Ivan says?

24 February 1962, I went to Dublin on a Rugby special. Pre-timing days, I'm afraid. These notes from a late friend who took more notice of things than I did! The Specials were: Moguls 93,98, VS 210. 08.15 regular: 104+10 bogies. 8.45 spl stopped GWD and DKJ. Running time 2 hours 31 mins. No.98+10 bogies driver Charlie Hurson, arrived 30 mins late due to sigs etc. Inspector (Frank) Dunlop on 98. Presumably Frank was there to give encouragement and advice on handling the mogul from his home territory. The two stops will have cost a decent amount of time, so all in all probably a decent effort. 9.25 spl booked nonstop: 93+10 bogies. Booked 2 1/2 hours. Sigs PPS and GWD and stopped DKJ for water. Running 17 late. Inspector Hanley on 93. I have the log my friend took. Driver Arthur Boreland of Adelaide. Lurgan passed in 29'34 at 65, max 66 beyond, , 34'34 to pass Portadown, 50s across The Bog, Goraghwood in 61'15 at 15mph a temporary restriction at the worst possible place, recovered to 30 but fell to 22 at the top. Ran freely downhill, max 72 to stop in Dundalk in 89'48. Onwards ran in mid to high fities with a minimum of 45 at Kellystown followed by a little sprint to 61 before the Drogheda slacks. 71 down Rush bank suggests that the typical mogul free running was no myth. 71'29 to Amiens Street. 11.10 spl 210+10 bogies. On time. Inspector Mullen on 210. Showing that the GNR 4-40s were still best on their own main line. 210 would have had a 2hrs 30-ish schedule. In 1962, I returned with the 6pm special, No.210 and nine bogie coaches. Bob Surgeon of Adelaide, again with Inspector Mullen who came down on the VS, I guess his job was to get the first special home in good style to ensure no hold-ups for the later trains! 42'10 to pass Drogheda, no speed over 61, but 72 at Dromin Jct descending to Dundalk, reached in 68 minutes. The following year, 1963, I travelled with No.91 and 8 bogie coaches on the 0925 special with one of Adelaide's finest, Arthur Boreland. He took the 90 minutes allowed to a water stop at Dundalk. Mind you, his fifty minutes Portadown to Dundalk looks very slow compared with recent runs with No.85, albeit with smaller load. No.91 took the 70 minutes allowed on to Dundalk - a slower schedule than the previous year. Returnng in the evening - same loco and load we took 76 minutes to Dundalk, but with a bit of 70mph running "down Dunleer". Sorry, this doesn't really answer your query - but you get a flavour? @Galteemore

Especially for the diesel men! 69.004 (I think) taken with my new iPhone 13. Note the little twitch when he acknowledged my presence by a toot on the horn! A daily Hoo Jct (in Kent , I think) to Eastleigh train, taken during my walk along the Basingstoke Canal. IMG_0002 copy.mov

That was the reason I stuck a title on the video! This Burnhouse Bridge is closer to my present home, than the one near Knockmore Junction was to my home in Belfast! Another Ulster connection was that two Ulster "timers" of my circle were on the train - while they would have loved to have had a UG under the original bridge, it wouldn't have been making as much noise and had ten passenger coaches behind it!

The Burnhouse Bridge! Today's Dorset Coast Express. This morning at The Burnhouse Bridge (GNR men will remember another bridge by that name on the Banbridge line?) Then tonight, the return IN THE DARK - but good sounds! IMG_9252.MOV Tonight - An hour or so ago! IMG_9253.MOV

For what it's worth, I've blown up the original photo (the one I've posted is very low resolution) and used the magnifier function on my Mac to look at the rear of the train. To me, it's the same spacing of windows as the 900 at the front. So based on this 1959 evidence, @Colin_McLeod , it is a full cab at each end! The 700 Class spacing of windows in the third coach is very obvious and quite different looking to the 900. I have little doubt that as the years went by, the set will have been less symmetrical.

Untitled 3.mov This one is a long way from Goring! Between Worplesdon and Guildford tonight at 8.30pm on an evening circuit to allow people to enjoy an expensive dinner! Britannia has THIRTEEN coaches plus the inevitable diesel. Doing most of the work. TURN THE SOUND UP! Brits are noisy beasts - this is half the video which is 100 Mb - worth waiting for it to download - nice and noisy to the point were he eases at the white lineside cabinet. !

A photo of the Enniskillen Flyer appears in Charles Friel and Norman Johnston's "Fermanagh's Railways". I can't help except to offer Lance's photo taken of the UTA Enterprise entering Amiens Street in 1959, in full GNRB Regalia, bar the little UTA Roundel - if you know how to identify a half cab from the window shapes - feel free to look at the back of a fairly short train.

Now - AND THIS IS A WIND-UP - Note the BR furniture containers in corrugated opens in the background of the photo of the "E" Class at Kingsbridge. The Bachmann model of said container WON'T FIT INTO THE NEW IRM OPEN!!! Comments gents? Mind you - it won't fit into my kit of these wagons either! In the interests of scientific experiment, I'll get my files out and adjust the container and post the results!

Still got some kits, of this nice brakevan - by post to UK, or I'll reserve to be picked up on the Smaller Island when I take a holiday there in late October ,,,,,,,

Obviously I liked the GNR shots, but it was the photo at Inchicore which caught my eye - I hadn't realised that the Work's Platform was so long! When was it shortened / removed, or is it still there - I wouldn't know as it's on the non-milepost side and I'm always on the other side of the train!

Dapol couplings with NEM pocket: https://www.dapol.co.uk/products/coupnemoo-oo-gaugenem-couplings-pack-of-40 OR https://www.dapol.co.uk/products/4s-024-cpm-00-gauge-spares-h-l-040-coupling-and-mount-ea-r?variant=46055267139807 I knew Dapol sold them as we have them in our kits and Michael had to have a source! Obviously the pack listed first!

Looks Ok to me: 9 June 1957 Lance King Collection Copyright IRRS

Just a word from a supplier's viewpoint. I've sent stuff to both Addresspal and Parcel Motel and they seem to work very well. Getting stuff to John in the Canaries fell over when the last lot was returned after six weeks - more to do with local problems on the Island, it seems. These agencies rely too much on Artificial Intelligence at times and it's not THAT intelligent. I suspect that another issue is that people (when they exist at all) are poorly trained, or take the easiest option. Service? Don't make me laugh!

Thanks for the shot of No.207, Ernie. I immediately thought - Thursdays only tourist train for folk staying at the UTA's hotels. But the 26th was a TUESDAY! Also May is a bit early to be holidaying in Northern Ireland! Someone with a set of Weekly notices can sort this one out!

Like a Sunday School Saturday at Portrush, but with diesels!

Done! Thanks

Yes, one of each would be good, as I'm dual gauge!

Wow, @Galteemore, how right you are! Thanks Leslie

Ivan, she was restored with No.207's tender because the Society's hope was to run Belfast to Dublin, or vice versa, NON-STOP. Received wisdom was that you needed the 4,000 gallons of the Class VS tenders. It wasn't a happy marriage ans the coupling of loco to tender caused a rough ride - at least that was The Word in those days. She was reunited with a more appropriate tender later - certainly non later than 1975 or so.

A long way to go for a sarnie and quiche, but well done supporting a wonderful institution which is common to both islands. I was reminded of this when a RNLI crew from somewhere in South West Ireland were on the boat to Holyhead - heading for Poole to pick up their new boat!