leslie10646

Hi IRM, I've been billed for my grain wagons in DOLLARS! Any reason? Or is it a typo, or is it SPAM!!!! From: irishrailwaymodels@email.preproduct.io Looks fishy. Hope it's not!

A perusal of my IRRS Journal index produced no hits on "Locomotive testing" and only a dozen on testing bridges, clearances etc. There were the famous exchanges in 1911 which is covered by Bob Clements article in Volume 12, pages 281 - 301 (it's not as long as that as there is a considerable photo feature of GN locos in the middle of the piece). A lot of interesting detail, but apparently the GSWR took less interest in the exchange than the GNR. JB's Dad's recollection regarding coal consumption seems to be borne out by Bob's article - there was little in it between the QL and 321.

Our absence at Warley was my fault. The new "professional" organisers did not make any effort to advise Club stands that they would be welcome and I understood them to be Society-unfriendly. I was wrong, it appears. Coming within a month of the annual Dublin shows meant that the two between them just wrecked us, so not going to Warley was a plus and as I returned from Clontarf and promptly caught a virus, I wouldn't have got there anyway! Age has caught up and we're having to be circumspect about the (otherwise enjoyable) round of events which we used to fill our years with! Great while it lasted and thankful to have been blessed with the fitness to do it while we could. Of course, there's no reason why some other members of the IRRs should not offer to run a stand!

Thanks, SP, WE'LL BE THERE (DV)!!! Now planned as the "Last Show" (in the "South") for Provincial Wagons. We're booking our hotel at Blackrock as I type this - we found a good rate which runs out tomorrow and we're grabbing it with both hands! If nothing else, (like me having no stock!) we'll have a holiday meeting pals of long-standing. Leslie and Richard

I'm waiting for Royal Mail to deliver the loco which is going to be tested!

Thanks.

I'm surprised that no-one has posted what Santa brought them, probably because the Boys haven't delivered goodies for at least a couple of weeks. Anyway, this is one of my new toys. Rails of Sheffield were doing an offer I couldn't ignore, so I had one of my loved ones buy this for me. I chose this livery as it had least lettering (and the "stumble" is really nice) but could most easily be passed of as GNR. The real reason is awaited in the post - a delayed present! But isn't this just lovely? Originally NER, of course and the fastest steam age coach in British history, as she was behind Mallard on 3 July 1938.

Wot? I hasn't sold yet?

Is it 25 - 27 October?

Mind-blowing, Patrick. Just terrific!

Gents / Ladies After the splurge of orders in the last 48 hours, this is pretty well my stock, the MINUS figures show what needs re-ordering! Speaking to the guy who took over my supplier of kits, further orders are going to be a hassle as he's so busy. I HAVE promised UTA Spoil wagons to at least one gent (they'll go nicely with the IRM "Birds of Prey", so I am prepared to chase that order up). Double beets and CIE cattle are history, except someone speaks up! IF I do BANGOR (and so Blackrock to finish up), I'm looking at another RTR Van. As Bangor is "The North", I'll do it in GNR livery (as under) but with a new number. CIE modellers can slap a bit of light grey on the "GN" and I'll suppply Snail or Wheel transfers at no extra cost. Let me know if it's of interest! £18 Sterling, or €20 The offer to do an "Open" fell on stoney ground". See: https://irishrailwaymodeller.com/topic/17508-to-stop-the-ebay-insanity/#comment-250702 Kits left NCC Brown Vans 6 SLNCR Cattle 0 GNR Brake -1 Double Beet 0 GNR Y5 Van 3 GSWR Brake 2 CIE Cattle -3 GNR 10T Ftd 9 GNR 10T U/Ftd 4 GNR 9T U/Ftd 4 GNR Cattle -3 GNR 6 Plank 5 GNR 4Plank 5 GNR Loco Coal 3 Spoil wagon -3 Bread containers 17 BR Container 0 Sub total value of all stock 0 48 RTR 0 Grey Bagged Cement 8 Brown Bagged cement 20

Robert You were / are my Champion Double Beet Builder! And yours look great. Long may you run them! Thanks Leslie

Even though it's narrow gauge, that looks great David. Mick Rawlings of Ballyconnell Road fame - the man who models while driving an Artic - gave me a method for doing louvres. Basically to do the layers as a a little ledges at 90degrees to the side and only slope the top one. Never tried - too complex for me.. Of course, that's probably what you're going to do?

First, may I say how blown away I have been by the kind comments when I mused that the time might have come to retire! A quick comment on JB's comment above - it was the lack of Irish brake vans and the very short Irish cattle wagons (so unlike GB ones which first provoked me to dip my foot in the "Kit" water. My announcement resulted in some orders which have eaten a big hole in the stock which I might have taken to Bangor! It sent me to grabbing the phone to check that "My Man" could do more kits for me! "My Man" is no longer Michael Rayner, to whom most of the praise above should be aimed - he designed and produced the kits - I simply told him what to do! It's now a guy called "Hans". Getting back to the subject: after discussion with Richard McLachlan and a review of hotel prices in Ireland; we'll probably appear at Bangor and Blackrock and then, it'll be hang up the boots time. Requests I have had over the last 24 hours have taken up all my stock of CIE and GNR Cattle wagons, and Double Beets. I will reorder those in accordance with requests for them. Thanks again. Leslie Ah Mick, if Anthony had survived, I would have handed it to him before now. It's only a hobby business, so to do it takes someone with a pension like me?

Don't blame me, @Galteemore, when the PP is finished, you'll be happy that you did it! My PP, built by Tony Ragg and came to me via Ken Gillen, is delightful.

Dear friends I am giving serious consideration to retirement. If I get to 2026 (DV), I'll be 80, so maybe the time has come to stop? Reluctantly, I will not deny as I / we get plenty of fun out of it but the "work and getting there" bit is a lot less fun! At present, postal sales are almost nil, thanks to Brexit - and of course the excellent products from a certain bunch of youngsters in Dublin! Any sales I make are at exhibitions in Ireland and an invitation to attend the NDMRC (Bangor) exhibition in April has provoked much debate between Richard McLachlan and I whether to do "one more year" (even to the extent of checking hotel rates in Blackrock in October!). We're sleeping on it! It is no exaggeration to say that each exhibition is knackering, takes up at least two weeks of time, each time - more if I'm bringing new product as I would be chasing the producer for months before! At best I cover my costs. I don't intend to produce more kits beyond what is on order now, or in my attic. That is: NCC Brown Vans 6 SLNCR Cattle 4 GNR Brake 0 Double Beet 10 GNR Y5 Van 3 GSWR Brake 4 CIE Cattle 12 GNR 10T Ftd 9 GNR 10T U/Ftd 6 GNR 9T U/Ftd 6 GNR Cattle 4 GNR 6 Plank 7 GNR 4Plank 7 GNR Loco Coal 3 Spoil wagon 0 (but some on order) Bread containers 17 I still have about ten Grey RTR CIE van with broken wheel and 20 or so Brown vans, also with a broken wheel.

To quote another famous UK Grumpy Old Man "I CAN'T BELIEVE IT"! You're NOT an IRRS member, Ivan? Time that you corrected that! As David says above, in invaluable source of Irish Railway info!

Niles There's more ballast and scenery on your line than the whole of Portadown Jct in ten years! I'm trying to correct that at present!

Why not for the owner of Enniskillen, rather than me? Slaps wrist. Sorry, David, I know that you like building them YOURSELF? AND it's not MGWR!

I certainly agree, SP. Their volunteers make a lot of a little and with a cheerful smile.

Friends Compliments of the Season. The weather forecast wasn't promising, but suggested an improvement this afternoon. So as soon as the New Year's day Concert was nearly over - we jumped into the car and headed for Chinnor in ever wetter conditions! I had planned to do the last two return trips of the day, but decided , as I drove, that one trip would do to allow me to drive home in semi-light - to allow me to see the large quantities of surface water on Oxfordshire's well-maintained roads! 1369 is one of those unusual outside cylinder pannier tanks - mainly used on dockside lines. She has spent her preserved life on the Dart Valley, where I MIGHT have had her before, I can't check as my "preserved loco" book is in Frimley. The train worked to Princes Risborough with 08.825 hauling and the pannier pushing, nothing over 14mph. There is at least one 5mph tsr and the need to stop for a level crossing. Complimentary teas and coffees were expeditiously distributed on board by cheerful volunteers to the adults; juices for the kids. A very creditable and appreciated service. It rained throughout the run and the layover at PR. Returning, the occasional noise from the Pannier, nothing over 16mph. After a visit to their shop, nothing there to extract money from my wallet and then attempted to photograph the last train departing. The diesel was easy: But less so the steam loco, which wreathed itself in steam! Even more amusing to try and video it! IMG_1243.MOV Still, I'd managed my first steam of the year. Happy New Year! Leslie IMG_1243.MOV

Richard McLachlan has done it. I'll reply fully when I get back from my New Year's Day steam train ride .......

The loose wire was a PICK-UP!!! Bent it back into place and the loco started working, after a fashion. Something is causing it to derail, more investigation required. Set her to one side, hoping to find another which would work! Frankly, an afternoon of frustration, I have at least six locos (all steam - you diesel freaks have it easy!) requiring attention. All brass hand made jobs and made by good guys. If you're going to run this type of loco you need a @Tullygrainey, @Galteemore, @David Holman or an @Andy Cundick living next door to you! I'm doing other things and will be away from the layout - probably the best for my sanity. IF (a very big IF) I ever build another layout, will someone remind me to make it smaller!

Paul It looks great in the Ranks Red and yes, you should have bought more than one, but I suspect that John didn't have them to sell - I wanted two and got one! Nice wagon to have.

Almost certainly right - I've brought it downstairs (the cleaning was done at my desk in the loft in iffy light, so I've probably recked havoc to all those sand pipes brake gear etc. While they look nice, they're maybe not so useful on a model? There IS a loose wire to boot! I'll report back!