leslie10646

Dead on, David, Noel's weathered container looks just like the ones I measured and photographed before we made the original kit. So, fifty years in ninety minutes - almost Faster than Light travel (if you're a SciFi type like me!).

Super job, Noel, thanks for sharing it. I presume showing the effects of forty years ageing, but achieved in as many minutes? Please forgive a correction - the four wheel flat isn't a Provincial Wagons one. I do such a kit, but in resin and sell either that separately, or with the container. Very pleased that my (earlier) version of the 20ft container fits nicely on The Boys' super 42ft flat.

Thanks for posting this, Ernie. Monaghan isn't far from Portadown, so maybe I need MORE of these hoppers? An interesting photo of the period after the GNR had finished and CIE ran a service over the stub of the Irish North within the State. I saw one on the Lisburn Road, Mr Lambeg. In model form. In Drew's workshop...... Ah, maybe that doesn't count?

At the risk of being thrown out of the IRRS, attached is a Lance King slide which shows the Clara elevators. Lance took this shot during the Society's Clara Branch railtour. No.151 at Clara (GSWR) in 1962. The grain elevators which John refers to can be clearly seen. Copyright Irish Railway Record Society.

Ah, David, the air was Electric Blue in Drew's workshop when he was building the Ranks wagon - that probably persuaded me NOT to get Michael to do one of these as a kit after the Spoil wagon (which is probably harder to model. John's news is terrific and I've just spent a theoretical £500 or so on Survey Monkey. All I have to do is live long enough - I'll be 75 when the Opens appear, if God grants. Now, now, George - Noel, like me, likes running his trains, but if he wants a wagon enough, he puts a lot of skill into building (my) kits - see his Workbench. Of course the price is high, sorry, chaps (and chapesses?) but if you're modelling 1950s/60s, you are in a minority within what is already a minority (but growing thanks to The Lads) modelling the railways of a Small Island. Good luck with the project, John.

The book's easily worth that for the photos alone, which are well reproduced for the period. Getting back to the main subject - in the book there is an excellent diagram describing THE JUNCTION's operating methods - who everything had to reverse to get to its platform! Seems insane, but the passengers never had to use a footbridge to change trains. Noel's point is not wholly correct - people do live at Limerick Jct - not many, I'll give you. As you approach by road, you pass placename signs as for any metropolis proclaiming "Limerick Junction"

Ah, Ahrons! From my 1964 Railway Diary - "Thursday 30 January: Fateful day – I bought EL Ahrons book “Locomotive Practice and Performance in the 19th Century Vol.6 - Ireland”. It was going cheap in Mullens (8/6, I think?). Fateful – the first of the hundreds of railway books I now own! Mullens was the Belfast Bookseller in those days - Galteemore's Dad will have known it well. Ahrons describes the main line locos of mainline trains as being like two Kilkenny Cats - ready to spring at each other. Colourful prose was indeed his style! By the way - "8/6" is about 42 pence (45 cents). Cover Price was 12/6. Dare I ask what you paid for it, David? Enjoy. Leslie

Leslie IS delighted! Now, where can I show 28 GNR wagons behind steam, without showing up my lack of scenery? Great job Noel - the corrugated open is a work of art and You've reminded me just how much the addition of the GUARD makes to a brake van (also a work of art!).

David and others I have a Copyrighted 1964 drawing by "The Irish Model Railway Company" - No.3 in their series. I have an idea it may be one of Herbie Richards' drawings and as he has kindly helped me with other drawings, I don't feel I can copy it here willy nilly. However, it appears to be 3ft6in from rail to buffer and 7ft 11in to the crown of the curve of the roof.. I'm pretty sure that this was the basis of my kit. Leslie

Great stuff, Patrick. Super layout enhanced by the interesting period rolling stock - but then I would say that, wouldn't I? Nice to see the cattle wagons au naturel and in vacuum mode.

Noel remarked: I only discovered three days ago the the chuck in my hand drill can reverse handling narrow or wider drill bits. Had it 3 years but only figured that out doing this wagon. 0.5mm is now my goto drill bit and ideal for the 121 grab rails too. That's mild, Noel - after twelve years I discovered that my Smart Car's tailgate had a keyhole and could be opened by turning the key! Previously I'd always used the wee button inside by the steering wheel. Unobservant, or what? You can thank Michael for the kit - I simply suggest the things, find the info and then harry him until it appears. I'll whisper, too, that Glenderg of This Parish was a willing contributor of critical info for this van.

Great stuff, Noel. I usually ask my customers to confirm arrival of kits, but you've gone one better by posting them on line and e-mailing me, thanks. Sorry about the woodworm in your 130 year old woodwork! Likewise sorry the handbrake wheel proved a pain, but it's a really nice little detail. Another Master Class in resin kit building, thanks. Good old Halfords! Like you, I find my little "twist drill" invaluable - mine has been mainly used track-laying, mind. I've been buying all sorts of tools, encouraged by Richard McLachlan and guess what? After years sitting in boxes, they are all proving useful now! I wish you many years of happy running with the finished article - a lovely piece of archaic rolling stock! Keep well. Leslie

Well done for not accepting what was available out of a box - a very nice job. I'm afraid that having a Fleischmann motorised turntable from my German days, that's in the middle of Portadown - I'll have a to try a d bit of surgery. In fact, that's today's job - adjusting the Peco level crossing to approximate to the one that was at Richill. Keep it up and stay well. As David mentioned - good old Kernow have delivered to me during lockdown.

Heaven, Lm, you'll have me searching out a copy of "Steam's Silver Lining", which I published - it includes a RPSI coaching list correct (I hope) for the first 25 years of the Society. Like it or not, we're a very small minority on the Island of Ireland and we're lucky Jimmy's stuff is safe, even if badly described. The National Archive in the UK does "employ" (at the volunteers' own expense) a lot of people who do know their stuff to make sure the catalogy=uing, etc of railway stuff is "correct". Now, my turn for a rant. When people hear that you're interested in railways they immediately say - "I expect you've travelled behind the "Flying Scotsman"? Between us, yes, I have and on the footplate on two occasions on the mainline, but I wouldn't go from here to the front door to see her. Why? The wrong A3 was preserved. There is a myth that she was the first steam engine to do 100mph - she wasn't (and certainly neither did "City of Truro"). She did 98mph according to Cecil J Allen, who was timing the train on the day - the 100mph thing was claimed by the LNER publicity Department. As the actress said - "They would, wouldn't they?" The first engine to do the Ton was 2750 "Papyrus" (also an A3) - in fact 108mph on trials before they decided to build the A4s and ran the Silver Jubilee in four months from drawing board. For younger readers - Silver Link reeled off forty miles at 100mph on the famous Press Run - they had no speedo on the loco and they crew thought they were doing about 90mph - the max was 112mph! Rant over. Glad you're obviously in good form, Stephen! Leslie

Played a blinder there, Noel. No-one has any excuse for not trying the kit of this iconic, ubiquitous Irish wagon. Over 300 kits sold now - my best seller by a century or so. There are more upstairs for when anyone wants to have a go! Between us, I didn't quite believe it when the first batch of kits arrived at "Pettigo Fair" with those staples, but you've got to hand it to Michael, it produces a very good representation of a very delicate brake gear set-up. Bet the Chinese couldn't do better! Very well done Sir, even if the eyes are getting on a bit - they obviously work! And are well co-ordinated with your hands Leslie

Re the Nohab diesel. Fleischmann used to make one - obviously in HO. See: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fleischmann-danische-NOHAB-Diesellok-MY/402245656044?hash=item5da7b59dec:g:rQ4AAOSwWSJepeIS Belgium, SNCB: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/188HO-Fleischmann-HO-1385-Diesellok-Nohab-202016-grun-gelb-SNCB/352874373859?hash=item5228f3a2e3:g:~ZUAAOSwYAdd48te Also MAV (HUngary) had them and I've got at least one trip with them, as one is preserved.I can't see a Fleischmann version of the Hungarian version as Hungary was behind the Iron Curtain when it was in production! These days ROCO make the Nohab as well. Quick paint job .......

Patience, Old Boy. Des is probably busy at the Day Job. He's almost certainly busy doing that from home.

Super, Noel Not only a master class in building it, but you've got what Michael called the "dustbin zinc colouring" to prefection! Very well done. Leslie

Super, Noel Not only a master class in building it, but you've got what Michael called the "dustbin zinc colouring" to prefection! I'm afraid you didn't need to rush - the Post from Frimley to The Republic seems to be taking two weeks plus. Did you ever build the Bulleid open kit I sent ages ago? I'd like to see the outcome of that after your treatment. Keep it up. Great stuff.

Hi Mark I was intrigued by the name you use - you obviously like Bagnall locos? I can supply the IRRS (London)'s MGWR picture book at its original cover price (£2.95) plus postage (about a quid at the moment). It will be from The Syndicate's stock. FYI, The dubiously-named Syndicate is a small group of UK based Irish enthusiasts who have raised funds for Irish preservation for half a century. If you are interested in the GSWR loco book, I am pretty certain we've got that as well - again at Cover Price (£30 - £35). Just Message me with your interests. Leslie

We've found a much better picture of Anthony, on the happy occasion of the IRRS 70th Anniversary meeting at the Irish Embassy in London. The Society will miss him as much as his close friends. Best to remember him with that smile on his face?

(Oh dear, Patrick, you should have been sent them with the kit! Mea culpa. I'll get some to you asap.) Oh, just read the post properly - maybe I should do a "Vac Pack" for you guys who want to treat the poor animals to a frightening ride? Bad enough that they probably got soaked in the Irish weather with those planked roffs!

It’s impossible to do justice in a few words to Anthony’s memory. A guy who lived a half century of life to the full – in fact you might say he crammed two half centuries of life into one. The word enthusiastic was made for him - for when he was on a favoured topic, not only his eyes, but his whole being lit up with his passion for the subject. Some of you will know that Anthony acted as Provincial Wagons agent in Dublin, attending the last two Wexford Easter exhibitions on my behalf. He also built a large number of wagons from my kits for clients who wanted a RTR version. If you’ve got one of those, treasure it, for he was a master modeller, as well as a really great guy. Richard, who has been digitising the IRRS drawings archive, has lost an able and helpful assistant. We can both testify to how a request turned into speedy action and useful results – we just had to ask! If he didn’t know something, he knew someone who did! When I said “PALVan” to him, he arrived in England a month ago with thirty pages of drawings, photos and details. A man of many parts - from his younger days in England (he was no stranger to the House of Commons, no-less); a really serious cyclist; very involved in Scouting; a first aider; a very competent engineer with an eye and enthusiasm for detail and getting things just right; skills he demonstrated anew in smaller scales. Shamrock Rovers has lost a passionate supporter, the President will have to cheer louder in future. But most of all he will be dreadfully missed by his wife Lorna, Caoimhe, Oisin and little Fainne (pictured with her Daddy at Wexford in 2018), to whom all our love and sympathy is showered at this very sad time. Pax tecum, noster amice Leslie McAllister and Richard McLachlan

First, to restate the @Wrenneire point, if it looks too good to be true, it usually is. That said, we've all been there, except we are unusually astute. Needless to say, no-one will get anywhere challenging as corrupt a system as the Chinese one can be. (It has many good points so I don't condemn everyone). It was a standing joke in my Hong Kong days to see people walking about in the UK in very expensive, badly made, "Designer" clothes - when you went into China (as I did often) you saw the least well-off folk in gear with all the Big Names on them. We used to smile at Chinese guys who walked around in SUITS with the Fashion Chain's label still on the outside of the sleeve, to show off. Don't misunderstand me, the ordinary people were lovely - nosey, staring at you but as helpful and kind as you could imagine - as is the case almost everywhere - it's the politicians who muck it all up.

Hi MM Thanks. It probably got lost in my verbiage, but it's only a loading platform for goods and is part of the Richhill station on the layout.