leslie10646

Don't tell Ken Fox that or he'll be clamouring to his union for them to bring No.4 and a rake of coaches down for him keep his hand in every day!

You've been the bottle again! That Co Tyrone poteen is deadly!

Thanks for the Heads-up @LNERW1. Looks interesting. I got into railway building games when I discovered "1829", as developed by the late Francis Tresham. It is so called because the map of GB is clear of main line railways - the Liverpool and Manchester opened the next year. I first bought the game in Liverpool about 45 years ago. There are now many versions, depending on the country - 1825 (the date of the Stockton and Darlington); 1835 is Germany (a brilliant evolution of Tresham's original idea); 1853 India; and lots of US versions such as 1830 (US generally); 1876 (Texas)etc. Their great plus is that you play with other people. My pals and I (typically 5 or 6) would start at 10am on a Saturday, adjourn for lunch about 1330 and then play through to about 7pm. We'd go out for a curry and then disperse to the four points of the compass. My younger son met Francis about ten years ago, and he was interested in doing 1834 (D&K in case you've forgotten), alas I hadn't the time to get it moving! If anyone is in Surrey or near Reading, I'd be delighted to host a game of one of the six versions I have! It can be played with two or more. Leslie

Oh, come on, JB! You're a serious historian - show me a single log of a narrow gauge loco in action! I think I know most of the people who might have timed a narrow gauge train, but cannot remember a single log. Saying that these things did 50mph is as likely as the Casey Jones 130 (?) mph which the Yanks claim as the steam world speed record! Mind you, they look fast, but without evidence .... When I die, I'll leave you my stopwatches and GPS!!!!!

You might at least have switched on the loco lights!!!

John I hope that you have a good alarm on your place!

I can't remember ever seeing a photo of the BDC Enterprise there. I real find by you, congratulations. AND it's the GNR(I) set!

Very nice, but what about your THIRD (IRISH) steam loco? I'm 78 years, 7 months and counting ..........

Re the Dapol one. This was one of my original quartet of wagons in 2007. I did these flats, similarly lettered, for No.4 Furniture container also. I think I have seen such containers as high as No.6! You can find them in various books. The CIE one would be easy enough to do but Dapol don't just do containers painted to order - I think I have to do a flat as well! They sell them unpainted as a pair. If anyone is interested in a "pretend" CIE Flat (lettering can be researched) with the white container - speak up! I've been looking at ways of doing a GNR / CIE / CDRJC half container of the type which was to be fou8nd latterly on the narrow gauge. Maybe a 3D print.

Terrific model, Alan. I had to smile when you announced that you were going to fit a sound chip. You're on a safe wicket of course, as no-one alive will know what she sounded like and certainly not me - am I the oldest here? I was four and living in the Sergeant's quarter of Carrickmore RUC barrck when she was withdrawn! Downpatrick Loop line platform for your next layout so that you can show her rolling through with the Golfer's Express on a Saturday?

Hi guys When are you going to send out the H vans, grain wagons which I paid for ten days or so ago? Thanks Leslie

Shame on you @Galteemore telling fibs! The line was closed and lifted before the "Inst" Railway Society was even thought of!

Nice wagons on your train, Patrick! I wonder where you got them from? (I won't wind you up with the thought that those wagons weren't painted like that until long after the closure of the station!). Lovely model, as others have rightly said.

Hi LNWRW1 Maybe I've been lucky and got a Monday afternoon one which was put together well? It won't get a lot of running, so maybe I'll never find out. it was (honestly) bought for the Glass Cabinet as another of the Blessed Oliver's creations, but I DID cough up for a DCC-fitted one as I wanted to run it occasionally until IRM do the Turf Burner. Only time will tell - it survived forty minutes running which for most layouts is probably quite a lot - with 21 x 17 a run round my layout wears out these wee engines! I'm waiting for Darius to run his round his layout to hear the chuffs properly!

Hi Ben These guys have given you very good advice. Take note of David Holman's "Start Small" and deciding whether you like running trains, or building them. I like running them and if there were guys out there to build things for me, I'd just throw money at the problem. That said, there is a great satisfaction out of creating something yourself, even to my very low standard. I always wanted a big layout, but with an eye to having "Track Nights", but neither of my sons were into the hobby and no like-minded pals within thirty / forty miles. So I've got a layout which is really beyond me. It takes a train over a minute to do a circuit, I can't see the train as it goes througbh the station at the other end of the loft and IT'LL NEVER BE FINISHED"! So keep it manageable.

That looks better than my KIT. and if you're doing those for €22 a pop, I'll direct people to you - mine's a kit, yours is out of the box! Good luck. Leslie

I think the IRRS could have a good try. We did the first book on the subject, which included drawings and I think i have some of Ron Pocklington's ones

Yes, I hope that some of you tuned in to Jonathan's excellent talk. A good run through nearly a hundred years of history in a hundred minutes, punctuated by relevant photos, maps etc which helped to set the scene. Add to that JB's inimitable style, anecdotes and it was a memorable evening. We heard (and saw)a line laid with short second hand rails on minimal ballast, barely maintained over the next ninety years. A remarkable survivor which served the locality well. Thanks just aren't enough, Jon. The book will be a best seller! Leslie McAllister, acting Chairman, IRRs London Hi LNERW1 I hope that you got logged on and enjoyed the talk.

Yes, I saw that video as well Show off! Actually, Darius, I am cross that I didn't opt for a sound one, but drew the line at a DCC-fitted one as I thought mine would just go into the glass case. However, I'm so pleased with it that it's likely to get used on GAA and cattle specials and be kept on the layout. I wonder if i paid the difference would they swap it for a well run-in model? Please put up a video of it with a string of coaches so that we can hear the chuffage! I glanced at the book a couple of nights ago and only noticed a half built 36003 - did anything of 4 and 5 exist at the time the project was scrapped/ But it IS in Irish colours - the prototype livery which Darius and I chose is very close to the A Class silver - see mine alongside the stand-by A Class at Portadown Jct. Yes, I saw that Review Video too! Mine has survived about an hour's running over the worst-laid track on any model railway! Of course, behind all those covers, there might be no wheels at all!

Busy morning after an even busier day yesterday, estimating likely sales of anything new which I might do for my last year. Anyway, I convinced myself that there was sixpence profit in it and duly asked Dapol what their lead time was - "well after Bangor" was the first reply. Claire in their studio, who does the artwork and liaises with characters like me enquired of the factory, where "Sam" (Samantha?) agreed to do them in time for Bangor. Order placed last night. Worksheet signed off this morning, then the Artwork - useful to be able to refer back to jobs back in the Dawn of History to make the artwork easier. So, now wait ten weeks ....... Two new Wrexham wagons for Bangor .........

I am fairly sure that Ian has moved on (for now) to other interests. He was at Bagor a few years ago busy selling models he'd bought from me back in the day. If my memory is servicing me well, he was helping to restore the Sir Samuel Kelly lifeboat at Donaghadee. A shame as Banbridge would have made an interesting model.

For ANYONE. We do ask for a small voluntary contribution but that is down to the attendee. All part of the IRRS service!

Folks I've updated the Zoom info. this should work, I've tried it! Follow the instructions! The "Button" won't copy from the IRRS message, so use the cut and paste method at the bottom of this message! It works, I've tried it! Hi Leslie McAllister, This is a reminder that your webinar will begin in 1 day: “Loughrea - The Last Branch Line” by Jonathan Beaumont Date & Time Jan 17, 2025 18:00 London Webinar ID 835 6719 2002 Participant ID 504658 Passcode 329657 Add to: Google Calendar Outlook Calendar(.ICS) Yahoo Calendar . . . NOTE 6pm START TIME . . You can cancel your registration at any time. Please submit any questions to: IRRSLondon@hotmail.com Thank you! WAYS TO JOIN THIS WEBINAR Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android Join Webinar If the button above does not work, paste this into your browser: https://us02web.zoom.us/w/83567192002?tk=azMVaLo9eprKakIvHoxOUA1Ou4TwhTqS7aU4lMXZwNY.DQcAAAATdP4nwhZBRm1lM2NXaVFCLWNsT0dSaE1FUzhBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA&pwd=vaJbJ3E50tpW0CLNYGNQNhu23Tlfvb.1&uuid=WN_h28wmoulSmOuF7PFABYQQQ To keep this webinar secure, do not share this link publicly. See you on Friday!!!! Leslie (Acting Chairman)

Guys We had a rehearsal last night with Jonathan to try and get the Zoom aspects working. In the course of which I saw and we chatted about the contents of many of the illustrations he will use - many in the "Write an essay" category. This is going to be a Good One, so tune in at 6pm on Friday - you can eat "your tea" while watching. Only Jon and I have to eat early to avoid being caught talking with our mouths full. All meetings will be streamed by Zoom. Just load Zoom (it will probably update itself before loading, so give yourself an extra ten minutes!). Follow the instructions! The "Button" won't copy from the IRRS message, so use the cut and paste method at the bottom of this message! It works, I've tried it! Hi Leslie McAllister, This is a reminder that your webinar will begin in 1 day: “Loughrea - The Last Branch Line” by Jonathan Beaumont Date & Time Jan 17, 2025 18:00 London Webinar ID 835 6719 2002 Participant ID 504658 Passcode 329657 Add to: Google Calendar Outlook Calendar(.ICS) Yahoo Calendar . . . NOTE 6pm START TIME . . You can cancel your registration at any time. Please submit any questions to: IRRSLondon@hotmail.com Thank you! WAYS TO JOIN THIS WEBINAR Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android Join Webinar If the button above does not work, paste this into your browser: https://us02web.zoom.us/w/83567192002?tk=azMVaLo9eprKakIvHoxOUA1Ou4TwhTqS7aU4lMXZwNY.DQcAAAATdP4nwhZBRm1lM2NXaVFCLWNsT0dSaE1FUzhBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA&pwd=vaJbJ3E50tpW0CLNYGNQNhu23Tlfvb.1&uuid=WN_h28wmoulSmOuF7PFABYQQQ To keep this webinar secure, do not share this link publicly. See you on Friday!!!! Leslie (Acting Chairman)

Thanks for that, Eamonn. I particularly liked the quote from one of my favourite rock songs! Yes, "you can never leave" I'm sticking around to see what IRM produce as a steam loco - and whether they rise to the bait of equalling KR Models "Leader" by producing a Turf Burner. See "Portadown Junction" for my quip to them!