leslie10646

Dave Your GNR locos look lovely. You've got a wee job to do renumbering your "U" - the 1915 ones didn't have "County" names, so you're stuck with choosing your favourite "Lough" - No.199 was Lough Derg, went to CIE and was the last survivor there. It may have been mentioned before, but the T Tanks were a "U" Class with tanks and a bunker! I always thought them rather nice little locos (hence three 4mm ones on my layout!

Hi Darius Yes, they look nice, but how many? Even an 071 could pull TWENTY - OR DID YOU PHOTOGRAPH EACH SIDE ......

I can only report that Daniel Wu, my builder in Hong Kong, would have agreed 100% with David's views. He had built a lot of DJH kits but said that the TMD ones went together much better than them. I have much to thank Terry (and Daniel) for, as they got the Irish Ball rolling for me - two blue S Class and a black one, plus a SG during my time in HK. Now over a dozen GN locos! I've four of Adrian's locos as well, including one built by him.

"69" at Goring! What's a "69"? Started life as a BR-built Co-Co Class 56 around 1980. Not very successful, so re-engined as a cheaper alternative to a new loco. EMD/Caterpillar engine rated as 3,200hp. The trailing load is a brand new SWR Class 701 EMU - going to storage until they've trained enough drivers! Who says the UK is short of money? You couldn't make it up! 69.008 Goring.mp4 Having a blonde standing waving to the driver usually gets a "beep"

David That coupling mechanism is a work of genius. A pity that I have at least a hundred wagons, so while I'd love to use it, I just don't have time for such a conversion job!

Beano, Old Boy, I was talking about the complaints about timescales, rather than quality. I can't comment on liveries at all - I leave that to those who were there! It does seem to be a minefield. Maybe that is why I stick to wagons - almost all a sort of grey colour! Mind you you can get into a bog with that too, a recent article I skimmed over mentions the difficulties of getting Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway grey just right. Anything that happened after 1970 in Ireland was only noticed "in passing" by me when I was over for RPSI tours - the rest of the time I was chasing the remaining steam locos all over the Globe.

Apologies about the way the "Site" iimplanted my comment in the "Quote" box - so expand it and see my point. We had a UK Prime Minister, Harold MacMillan, who once said "You've never had it so good"! And you haven't - stop whinging!

Kernow Models gave me a New Year present in the form of GWR Steam Railmotor No.93 (which still exists in rebuilt form at the Great Western Society at Didcot). Having travelled in the "real thing", I couldn't resist it and, after all, the GNR(I) DID have one! So, here she is, off on a short working to Richhill. Photo there when she arrives! This model has had a very long gestation - seven years or so? When I was in to pick up mine in Guildford today, the man in front was picking up a pre-order for his deceased brother in law! I hope that the poor man saw the prototypes before going to his reward. So guys, NEVER complain about IRM not telling you that something's coming until it's months away! IMG_7781.mp4 This is just a quick shot to let you see it, I had places to go to, people to see...... More later! Nice or what? Another "pick-up" follows! No.186 has got her chip and was also picked up today - thanks to Guildford's chipping Wizard, Mike. Gives a whole new meaning to Forty Shades of Grey? Video of her on a cattle special after the weekend.

No, they're waiting for IR to order their electric locos for the newly electrified Cork - Dublin - Belfast lines, so that they are "hot off the press". then they'll do the EMUs (I thought that they were birds?).

Good man, SP, JB never thinks we say anything nice about him! Yes, JB, I'm afraid that you did miss a fine talk by Joe, who really knows his stuff.

Tonight's meeting. The easy link! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83021026650?pwd=bHIyMTZZRG8ybE5EOEVaSGFoRER1Zz09 Meeting ID: 830 2102 6650 Passcode: 374120 Come and join us!

ZOOM only: 18.00 – 20.45 Friday 19 January 2024 “The Lough Swilly” by Joe Begley Joe gave us a great talk about the County Donegal Railway a couple of years ago – well researched and excellently presented, and considered to have been one of the best talks delivered to the London Area. Come and hear him again on a closely related subject. The Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway began life as a standard gauge railway connecting Derry to Buncrana but later expanded into the remotest parts of Donegal, areas ravaged by poverty and lacking any notable industrial activity. The Company was in continuous confrontation with the authorities, both in Derry and with the Board of Trade, a particular bone of contention being the Burtonport Extension, The rise of road transport had a crippling effect on the Company’s finances, and led to an early decision to move from rail to road services, leading to complete closure of the railway in 1953. Joe spices up the formal history with many local anecdotes. ZOOM LINK – any time after 17.30 Open the Zoom app on your device and enter : Meeting ID: 830 2102 6650 Passcode: 374120 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 If you e-mail me at lesliemcallister@aol.com I'll forward the full meeting notice, which should allow you simply to "click" in. I've seen the content when we had a rehearsal ("It'll be all right on the night") and it looks very interesting, not just the railway but the associated social history. If you have any affection for the narrow gauge, this is for you See you there Leslie (Chairman for the Night, our Leader is skiing)

Oh dear, another interesting "modern image" Bulleid for the display cabinet, where it would go nicely beside the Kernow 1CoCo1 Bulleid diesel - very nice in BLACK - which means this one would have to be black too - a pity as the SR Green Sunshine livery looks nice! Thanks for sharing this George and Darius.

We'll let you away with that one, JB. I agree that the GN locos which got the full bling UTA lined black looked very smart, when they were clean! The issue was the sacrilege of covering up the beautiful blue to do it. Of course, the overhaul / repaint indicated that they meant to keep them a while longer. Now they didn't do it to their two VS Class or their Compounds (scrapped almost immediately after the Dissolution). Perhaps, as the VS Class ran posh specials like the Rugby Trains, they felt they should be a bit different? Also, regrettably, they were never given a major overhaul by the UTA, which probably resulted in their diminishing use, in favour of the ex-NCC Moguls. The Antrim Branch which had to be traversed to get to the York Road workshops had a light axle loading, so the VS were banned from using it and thus not getting major work. There was one exception when No.59 (?) made an emergency run to York Road, so that a repair could be made before the Rugby special season. I have a photo, but can't locate it!

It's very heartening to read David's reports regarding the Chatham Club - long may it continue. I was especially impressed by the "Social Media" comment. I have tended to sleep through the "Social Media Outreach" bit of IRRS committee meetings - I'll give it more attention! Last Monday, my favourite ITV newscaster, Tom Bradley, introduced an end-piece on the the enduring popularity of model railways, starring the Cheltenhamd Model Centre and Pete Waterman (who had a bid involvement with Warley for several years). Worth a minute of your time to cheer you all up? https://www.itv.com/watch/news/in-with-the-old-model-trains-see-a-resurgence-in-popularity/xw2nvdp

Gosh, John , you ARE a long way from home! Great images and of great interest to those of us who have crossed America or Canada by train. Keep it coming!

Not just that, but the UG still has its GNR number! The railcar shot is great to see - a bit of history as she is going under the "under construction" M1 overbridge. I remember experiencing an impressive blow-back from the open firebox door while going under that bridge on a tank engine! Thanks Ernie!

I remember The Syndicate going to IMREX - yes, we would just drive up to Central London, unload, park somewhere, sell all day and drive home again. No real hassle! Try THAT today. I'm saddened to hear about Warley and have written to the Club expressing the thanks of the iRRS for having us for over a quarter century. The Syndicate used to have a trade stand there, sometimes as well. It was hard work, but we raised a lot of money for the RPSI at that time. As luck would have it, the intricacies of the NEC worked well for us this year so that we were looking forward to the Show in November. It was always a great place to meet like-minded folk and it was the first exhibition where Provincial Wagons went on sale in 2007. Thanks to the Warley Club and all their willing helpers (and they DID help) for many happy memories (and a few less happy ones, mainly down to those intricacies of the NEC) over 25 odd years that we went. Now we'll have to meet people somewhere else! Leslie (for The Syndicate and the IRRS)

Hhmmm, started the same year I did! Look at my "Username". They clearly state Brexit as a reason - Well I marched against it and I hope to be a party to replacing one of the gentlemen who supported it with a good Liberal Democrat at the next election. Michael Gove, in case you're trying to guess!

Ah yes, EVENTUALLY! 2025/6!

TWO steam projects, Patrick? What have I missed? I was aware of one.

Well, you know where to come to for that! One of the nicest wagons Michael did for me. I've still got a few!

Yes, worth every penny! A health warning, though, you'll spend hours looking at them, but satisfaction guaranteed! Well done Ciaran! Another job for me this year is to add another two collections to this lot - a few thousand more!

What's wrong with John Mayne's or my brake vans? Mind you, you'd have to fit your own light! I'll wind up Patrick, Fran and Bosko by saying that they'd never do one as they sell SINGLY!!!! Not in threes! 2025 for a twin set of CIE brake vans - one with wood cladding and one with steel sheeting. You heard it first here - from me. Definite prediction - just in time for my eightieth! (DV). You know that it makes sense ......