leslie10646

Folks

I'll have no less that three new books for sale on the IRRS Stand at Warley at the weekend - profits to support Irish railway preservation.

Irish Railway Memories - a Decade of Change 1984 - 1994: an album of photographs by Paul Haywood - until I looked through this, I hadn't really realised just how dirty  diesels could get - ammo for the weathering men? £10.95

Railways in Ireland Part One: is a new edition of Martin Barstow's first of five volumes on Irish railways. This one covers the GNR, SLNCR, and the five narrow gauge lines in their hinterland. Many new photographs have been added - I haven't done a page by page comparison, but can assure you that it's beautifully reproduced with fine sharp b;ack and white illustrations. For an Englishman writing about Irish Railways, Martin does a commendable job and found interesting photographs by fellow countrymen who put their camera to good use in the Emerald Isle. £17.95

Finally, for the people with a narrower view of life:

Narrow Gauge Album1950-1965 In Colour by Michael Whitehouse, son of a famous father PB ("Pat") Whitehouse of Railway Roundabout fame. "From the wilds of the west of Ireland, through the mountains of North Wales to the rolling countryside of the east of England ironstone fields, the narrow gauge railway provided an invaluable service for around a hundred years." I have yet to see the book, which just arrived in Lightmoor Press's warehouse yesterday, but I'll be picking up a supply on Saturday. Black Dwarf Lightmoor are the top railway publisher these days, in my not humble opinion - their books cover their topics thoroughly and the reproduction of images would take some beating. No one line captions for them - the norm is a meaty description of the scene, doing credit to the scene depicted. £25.00, but mention my nickname on this site and i'll give you a couple of quid off.

Come to Stand C65 at Warley and have a look!

Leslie(10646)

The wait is nearly over!

My Informed Sources tell me that the driving wheels are due early next week, so the first locos should be completed pretty soon after that!

Just in time to run  Christmas extras! 

On 11/14/2018 at 6:59 PM, Andy Cundick said:

Err sort of done about half of it (the Donegal half)but wasn't happy with the trackwork (Peco) it ran alright but the points are a bit sharp for the Donegal stock so currently dismantled waiting its place in the layout queue,roll on early retirement next year Andy.

Aw, Andy, ye're no fun at all - I thought you were going to do the whole of Strabane and was looking forward to selling you a load of GN wagon kits!

Ah, David, I always ask to be at least close to any Irish layout. This time Chris, the Societies man for the Warley MRC, has really come up trumps.

One year we were actually in line with two MRSI layouts - one of which, very deservedly, won a Cup! There was never a moment when there wasn't a crowd in front of it. It was a brilliant crowd-pleaser for an exhibition.

On 11/12/2018 at 10:09 PM, David Holman said:

Arigna Town and Andy Cundick's new layout, Courtmacsherry, will be next to one another at Warley in two week's time. Both are proper broad gauge [36.75 & 21mm], so those with an interest in all things Irish, do come and say hello. I'm really looking forward to seeing Courtmacsherry. Andy is doing it to scale, but the track plan must be the closest you'll get to the perfect branch terminus and why nobody has done it before is a real mystery. If it is as good as Castlederg, then it will be well worth seeing.

 Lots of other layout too, of course. At least another 88 in fact...

As I'm just packing up stuff for Warley, I'm checking through the papers which the Club sends us. I was looking to see just where they'd put us and, Bless 'Em they've put us back to back with Andy and David - so we have a nice little Irish corner. 

So, after you've ogled the layouts remember to pop round the corner and say "hi" to us at the IRRS Stand C65.

I hope to see lots of you at the weekend.  

Leslie (and Richard)

PS Wow, I've just noticed that The Lads have a whole Island to themselves at B31a!

Now, "back to business".

I won't be overtly selling Provincial Wagons at Warley, but I'll happily DELIVER pre-orders there. Please let me know what you want, either by the e-mail address on my website, or by PM here.

Obviously, having had to miss Raheny, I've plenty of stocks of most wagons, especially my new GSWR 10 ton brake van - intended Raheny prices will apply.

You'll find Richard McLachlan and I on Stand C65 - the Irish Railway Record Society, London Area, so drop by and say "Hi".

We'll be displaying (and selling) digitised drawings from the Society archive - locomotives, coaches, wagons, buildings, signalling diagrams - you name it! Come and see the superb drawings of the Dundalk Newry and Greenore line - a work of beauty.

I'll be selling a selection of recently published Irish railway books and some out of print works.

We look forward to seeing you - never a better year to come with two superb Irish layouts, the IRM guys and us!

Leslie

First, Andy, my condolences on the loss of your Mum. 

I'm not surprised to see the effusive praise on another thread for Castlederg - an advantage with being in "Weeping Exile" is that you can see Andy and David's layouts without having to go too far, for exhibition managers here in England know a good thing when they see it.

Castlederg is seriously wonderful modelling - as Andy knows - one of my first homes - I went to school there at the age of four - my Dad was a Sergeant in the RUC there - unhappily fifteen years after the tramway closed. My first train set was delivered to our home in Castlederg by a fat man with a beard at Christmas 1950.

Good luck with your interesting project - The Locomotive that Never Was - it could be a film?

Henry Forbes, in true style, made quite a success of the little tractor after ten months of surgery at Dundalk. I always assumed that it was simply the Strabane shunter, but when scanning Lance King's photos, I realised that successive photos of Phoenix were at Strabane and Stranorlar!

I was tempted to get a model made of another loco which never made it off the drawing board - Ron Pocklington's single ended Turf Burner! I could replace my G Class with one?

NO trade - believe me, I've tried every time it has run.

Apparently the Museum does not want any there, so the only stand you're likely to see is the fellow who sells books at IRRSA meetings in Dublin - he has "Grandfather" rights!

Now, he does turn up the odd bit of interesting railway paperwork, but otherwise, Andy, you'll have a cheap weekend!

Enjoy it nonetheless! As others have said - an amazing place to have a model exhibition.

Hi Joe

Well, if we're into blowing trumpets, Provincial Wagons do the CIE 1970  four wheel flat - designed for 20ft containers as a kit for £20. If you need several, I'll knock a bit off as I save postage.

See 

http://www.provincialwagons.com/--7/

I've just noticed that I don't mention the Flat price - must update the website!

Noel

See a reply of mine on another thread.

In the 1960s CIE had a Pilot Engine at many main stations to deal with sundry shunting and rescuing trains whose unreliable A Class had failed. So you chose your shortest, least useful, siding and bung one of them there as your station pilot?

Tony

From watching your videos, the layout looks as if it could be circuit, but you seem to be saying it's end to end?

If, like me, you like to watch trains going by and what's nicer than a blue GN loco passing by - then can you adjust the layout to be an oval? 

As for the bit about putting scenery up, don't give up. I'll start a thread on Portadown Junction - 21x 17 oval (of sorts) and you can see that after FIVE YEARS not only is there not a blade of grass of scenery, but I can watch No.207 plod round with The Enterprise (it needs the weight treatment mentioned above by David White); or my little U Class with four bogies, which it's pretty happy with four bogies (without any treatment). My UG romps away with ten bogies!

I've avoided showing anyone what's in the loft as it would destroy any reputation I have, but I'll do it in the hope that it will encourage you to carry on.

You're miles ahead of me - I'm laying Portadown Goods Yard, during my enforced absence from Raheny!

KEEP IT UP!

Leslie

 along with random failures built into the chip to force rescue by modeller operators..

Spot on Robert! I'm afraid that until they put a good american diesel engine in them, these locos were not too good. As a  result, most significant stations had "Pilot Locomotives" (there were pages in the WTT of the hours when they were on duty and where). What today is referred to as a Thunderbird Loco.

So, I've found a use for the older As in my collection - "standing pilot".

Thanks, Robert!

Somebody has to ask the question: will there be space to fit a smoke unit to the original Crossley engined versions..............

Nothing daft about that question, Glover, the real things were notorious smoke producers. But it would need to be a very high quality unit which blasted out more, depending on the torque the loco was producing at the time - Maybe not.........  Add a hundred Euros to the price!

Glover, young boy - give up the fags - then you can afford every livery you can imagine!

I only ever puffed cigars and now I can't walk up hills because of my COPD. You want to have decades more to run trains through your famous station (remember my house is named "Pettigo Fair" - the Fair was on the day (established from the GNR Weekly Notices in the IRRS Archive) on which The Boss was born, hence the name.

The loco is sure to be a winner - almost as many variants as the J15s!

Great choice, lads. All the very best with the production!

Lord, I'll be 73 when you get it to me.

Will A1 be the only one you'll do in silver, or do I have to wait until I'm 74 (if God grants...).

(Now what do I do with the two I've got already - I know, a diesel scrap line behind my steam shed .....)

Only kidding, a really great choice and you'll get my order soon - even if the Blessed Oliver never wanted to "Buy British".

Have a great show - I bet it has caused lots of excitement and rightly too. If I'd been there, I'd be along with €50 right now.

Leslie 

Nothing I had experienced in the West Cork could have prepared me for Blaenau on a wet day.

I loved John's comment about North Wales - but of course, there was a positive side to it - the waterfall at Tanygrisiau would be in full flood and that was a sight to see!

When I saw Andy Cundick's Valentia, I commented on how wonderfully grey it was (boy, I've led  a few tours round the Ring of Kerry on rather dull days) - I did suggest to him that he have a glass front to the layout with rain somehow imitated on (in) it. If the German's can make  the glass opaque behind the driver in an ICE3 - by just flicking a switch - I'm sure imitation rain would be a cinch?

Mike - Bantry is an absolute delight - looking forward to seeing your GSWR brake van in the station!

Eoin, I hope that you don't mind me bringing this excellent thread to the attention of Richard McLachlan, who has built well over a hundred coaches in brass. He has a weakness, of course - they're mainly North Eastern Railway!

To say he was impressed - well, read his own words -

"Eoin's post is very detailed. He is doing a really good job.

Eoin, a terrific thread which will hopefully encourage some younger modellers to "have a go" at the harder stuff.

More power to your elbow with it.

Glad to hear that, Dave.

I always thought John a sensible guy - better out enjoying a good walk in the Lakes or up a mountain, than being cooped up making locos etc. 

On the other hand, he's promised some interesting things for we "Oldies".

For those of you who had planned to buy one of my new GSWR brake vans at Raheny - I'll send it to you by post for the Raheny price of €35. Just send me a PM, or use the e-mail address on my website.

Naturally, I have good stocks of all my wagons ready for the Show, so let me know of anything else you need and I'll send a quote - I can usually post two kits for the same price as one, so you'll save a bit.

Enjoy the  show! 

Leslie

Sorry to say, it was poor Richard's car which went - a more prestigious looking vehicle than my little 12 year old SMART! 

Thanks for good wishes, Garfield. Warley is definitely in the calendar and "on" - I'll be on the IRRS stand.

Have a good show. Looking forward to your news.

L 

John

I saw that picture in the GSWR history. 

Before any of you ask - we aren't doing the Guard's name on each van!!!! (Look at the caption to see what I mean). 

Can someone teach young Beaumont how to include piccies in the right orientation!

I'm sorry to have to report that Provincial Wagons will not be at Raheny.

Nor will the Show be graced by Richard demo'ing all that is best in brass coach-building.

The long and the short of it is that our means of transport was stolen 24 hours ago and we cannot rectify this at a reasonable price in the time available.

Add to that, I had a serious fall on the London Underground last week and am limping about - you are all spared me showing off my bruises!

I'll put up suitable notices on this site and my own website for those who were hoping to buy the new brake van. It is my intention to offer it at the intended "Raheny" price of €35, posted to you. Either send me a PM, or use the link on my website.

Have a great show.

VERY sorry not to be there.

Leslie and Richard

G Class:

Norman Johnston's book (you MUST have it Tony?) pages 48, 52, 53, 60, 72, 73, 84, 108 and 197!

Appear to have designed by, or heavily influenced by Beyer, Peacock. Photo on Page 52, 53, etc.

Leslie 

leslie10646 might be interested to see the above video! (the double beets at near Light Speed) - 

Oh yes, I am!

Great work Robert on your train - you're the only person who has twenty of them.

The layout looks terrific as well!

Leslie