leslie10646

Wash your mouth out, Beaumont!

Des You obviously don't beat them enough! If they can write, make them do a hundred lines (in Erse, of course, or Latin, if you really want some fun). "No.4 Rules the Rails - Thomas is a TOY". Grandpa Leslie PS My grandson did a wobbler when his parents took him up to London by train and they couldn't provide him with a GPS so that he knew how fast the train was going - I've been training him hard!

Sorry, can't resist this - is she a better modeller than you? With girls spending time (well, they used to) sewing, weaving, knitting, embroidery, cake decorating (The Boss painted locos on two anniversary cakes for the IRRS London and very good they were - the paintings, the cakes weren't bad either) - they ought to make good modellers? Leslie

The IRRS publish a full set off the GNR(I) drawings from the archive. You could build a new one from them. I'll put Richard McLachlan in touch with you. Leslie

Kieran, if it's the one made in NZ, you'll love it! As for your laminates, yes, very well done. Especially that they appear to have passengers in them! My grandson was looking on one of my trains and said - "Where are the people"? Out of the mouths ...... So, I've been buying seated figures! Leslie

Yes, well done the SDMRC folk - my first venture "South of the Border" and I'm glad Richard and I made the trip - another wagon sold out - "Hooray"! Great to meet faces to go with names on my database. Hopefully the MRSI will invite me next year and that I'm spared to come! Dave, that's an extraordinary thing you've just posted - a Black Day for Co Armagh, but, as you all probably know, a day which changed the railways forever and made them safer. Leslie

I think Richie is talking about mine! You'd have seen the prototype at Blackrock, if Michael hadn't taken ill. Early next year and by Bangor, is the plan. Leslie

Hi Richard Nice work all round - the way the goods shed sits alongside the station building, leaving a narrow section of platform - just like I'm having to do with Richhill - I'll show off Glenderg's simply amazing buildings when I get as far as you and put down a platform!!!! Like Kirley, my grandparents' house at Richhill was pretty similar to your little cottage - and they brought up ten children there! "The Cavan" is due to be located in a corner of the loft of my rather larger house - overlooking the line! Complete with grandfather at the top of the lane and my Dad holding up a baby Leslie to see the train leave the station. Now you all know why I'm a railway enthusiast! Nice Bulleid wagons, by the way - wonder where you got those from! Leslie

Provincial Wagons will be on Stand 26 Remind me not to use someone else to book my stands in future, but the SDMRC has kindly made room for me, I believe in lieu of David Wynne's layout that was going to be there. Apologies to those who were dying to see David's works! Obviously, I'll have boxfuls of my Corrugated Open kit (at €29 each - the Euro has improved?)and first sight of my next two wagons. As I'm attending an Old Boys' Dinner in Belfast the night before, I may not be set up until about 11am on Saturday, but intend to attend all three days. I may have some of my German rolling stock for sale, now that I've finally decided to "go native". Do call in and say "Hi" - better still, buy some wagons! Leslie

Diesels first came in the form of multiple units on the old Great Northern in 1950. There were a few home-built diesels on CIE before even that, but the great dieselisation began in 1955 when the first British-built diesels arrived. By 1964, when your man was born, steam had finished in the Republic and I suspect that by the time a boy would notice such things (early 1970s?) we are getting out of the Black and Tan livery into the Supertrain Livery, which looked impressive when you had a full train in it. I leave the Dublin guys to suggest where he might have lived to see lots of trains! Leslie

Helene Richie has done a splendid job in answering your queries, so this is just a little add-on. In the 1960s, I used to attend "Track Nights" at Drew Donaldson's amazing CLOCKWORK-operated Gauge "0" model railway. ALL of that was scratch built - locomotives, wagons, track - and I can bear witness to the brown envelopes crossing the Irish Sea to gain parts from the likes of Bonds of Euston Road in London, who sold every known kind of part for making models. By the late 1960s, I was resident in London and was sent on at least one occasion to buy parts for him and to post them over. Your fictional surgeon would have used methods like that too. Drew was quite a character - an early railtours officer for the Railway Preservation Society and, despite his Ulster Protestant background was a notable Irish scholar (he had attended Trinity in the 1930s). His railway included a Kingsbridge station, but only in name - not really modelled - the trains were the big thing with Drew. The railway was entirely CIE (ie Republic) based and ran the entire CIE timetable for 1953/4 against the clock!!!! Another Belfast layout was that of Fred Graham, also scratch built, and based on the former Great Northern Railway of Ireland. Locomotives and rolling stock from both railways survive to this day - Drew's stuff in the museum at Cultra, Co Down. In Dublin, of course Sam Carse had built his remarkable model railway based on the Co Donegal. His sons can tell you all about it. One of our number is in regular contact with Barry, his elder son. Leslie

Just to say to any living in the South of England that a joint IRRS / Provincial Wagons stand will be at this show this weekend. Principally there to "Fly the Flag" for Irish Railway modelling, but I will have kits on display and for sale. Richard will have a display of his drawings, digitised from the IRRS database. You will find Richard and I in the "Societies' Area of the show. As I'm sure you know, the event celebrates the best in 4mm modelling. See - http://www.scalefour.org/scaleforum/ Leslie

I am delighted to report that Michael has come through his op with Flying Colours and is now a "new man"! He told me this morning that he felt an immediate improvement. Thank you all who gave him support in your thoughts and prayers. Sorry not to have reported earlier but I was leading a tour in Austria (the Zillertalbahn and Achenseebahn are both still excellent steam rides). Regards to you all Leslie

That's very odd, as he e-mailed me today saying that she was paired with No.375, built in 1922 - he looked today! Leslie

I asked Peter Scott last night and he still doesn't know! Going back to the original query, the answer MAY lie in the IRRS archives, where SOME drawings exist. I'll ask my expert who has digitised the GN drawings - one set has gone to the RPSI to help build No.131's new tender! More later. Leslie

Ask Peter Scott or the Friels - I bet one of them knows! If not, I bet the info is hidden deep in the IRRS Journals somewhere. I'll ask around - bear in mind that tenders must have swapped around a fair bit.

Ah, now, if I could get my hands on his remote control, I'd succeed in diverting him from the strange Heath Robinson things he has such a love for and we'd have endless CIE and GN stock!!!!! Thank you all for your kind thoughts. Leslie

Gentlemen (and ladies!) This will seem an odd thread to start, but there are probably more folk likely to pray on this site than most? My friend, and the master modeller who brought you the Bulleid Corrugated open wagon, is very ill. He is bedridden at present, before, God-willing, having a Pacemaker fitted next Wednesday, 9 September. Those of you still inclined to offer prayers to the Almighty might include him in those prayers, please. I'll keep you in touch. Leslie

Thanks for pointing to this, John. I must admit that I bought mine (for an early German-based layout) as a "Track Cleaner". There was anecdotal evidence that they did the opposite - but in fact dirtied the track! If anyone wants to try one, they can have mine! Now DCC! Leslie

John I'll send you a copy, when I find it! I have a couple of photos taken in 1950 of the approaches. Leslie

The May 2015 Modern Railways has an interesting 3 page article by Ian Walmsley on the fitting of the Class 73s with a new MTU engine, rated to equal the existing electric motors (1600hp) so that they can pull the Scotrail Sleepers in Scotland. He knows his stuff and it's an engaging read. I had lots of runs with them (in electric mode) on my commute home from Waterloo in the early 1980s, when they hauled the 1734hrs train on weekdays. Resurrection for fifty year old locos!

Here we go - not great pics - I'll have another go sometime! Thinking about it, maybe not the best light on my layout! But, it will give you an idea. Leslie

"I have a picture somewhere of the stainless steel "de"monstrator", including interior; must try to find it (now there's a challenge). The tin vans and SOME (by no news all) laminates were indeed the only stuff to into traffic unpainted, unless you count the bodies, and done chassis, of the corrugated Bullied open wagons. Plus, of course, the A, C and G601 class locomotives". My dear John, your every wish - actually isn't this a laminate? and a tin van From the Ron Pocklington Collection, now owned by the IRRS, who I'm sure will forgive me using them, as I donated the collection! Ron was the "real" designer of the Turf Burner. Yes, yes, I know, I have to photograph my Mayner Van and put it up - tomorrow, tomorrow!!!! Leslie

I can't encourage any of you guys modelling 1955 - 1970 or so enough - get some of John's "tin" vans! They are just terrific. I have one of his heating vans in "silver" and it's just the bee's knees.

I went to the "expert", namely Richard McLachlan who is digitising loco and coach drawings held in the IRRS's archive. Quick as lightning, he came back with - "Which coach did it come out of? It is obviously from a big wooden corridor coach which CIE took over from the GNR and actually used. B1 class No.401 or B5 class No.144 would be my best guesses, as they were both big wooden restaurant cars converted for AEC use in 1959 to replace steel sided restaurant cars nicked from the AEC fleet to run with BUT cars. Looking at the diagrams I would veer towards 144. If we could see the other side, it might give a better clue". Now, I've known young Richard for over fifty years - we were at school together - and I couldn't quite see his logic, so I questioned it and got - "Simple reasons - CIE didn't keep all that many GNR coaches for very long. About half were full thirds. Then there were Brake thirds and some non-corridor coaches. The door comes out of an oldish panelled coach rather than a modern one with flush sides which whittles the options down a great deal. What's left. Not a lot. As far as I can tell from those that survived to 1963, it was probably one of the two restaurant coaches mentioned. No need for genius or telepathy". Serves me right for questioning him? So, Rod, it looks like you have a restaurant car door there! And probably No.144.