leslie10646

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.

Great Stuff, Richard At least you're using the right loco as a starter, for apart from the fact that the WTs were parallel boilered like the Fowler tank, they are directly descended from that engine! As I'm sure you are aware, young Mr Flanagan of this parish uses the Fowler as a basis for the WTs which he has built for quite a few of us (two in my case). They are great runners and I've just been entertaining my grandson with No.10 hammering round with 21 wagons in tow (including five corrugateds!). Good luck with the project. Leslie

Charlie Petty, whose trade name I have forgotten, sells these at lots of shows. He's always at Bangor, for example. If memory serves - both 20ft and 40ft - the 20ft ones cost me about £7.50 sterling.

Not sure what you mean by this. If you mean "did it?" I have no idea, as I don't think I have an open door photo to hand. In making some wagons like this, our intention was to make it possible for diarama with an open door - that is at a loading bank for some kind. Why would you want to run the wagon with the door open?

This really should be on someone's "Workbench" string, but as he did it for me ..... Now you see it - Now you don't! This one complete with the Modeller's finger! It'll be On Old Blarney at Cupar on 25th being loaded with Lord White's possessions! To quote the Lego Movie (Yep, I've seen it a dozen times - I HAVE a six year old grandson!) - it's just "Aaaah-sum"! Leslie

Just to try and get a bit of decorum back onto this string - Yes, Minister (oops, sorry!) you are quite right - there are loads of photos around of these wagons with a "B" showing that they were used to carry a well-known agricultural product. The double deckers (of which, more later) had crude numbers slapped on their ends!

All of that was a CRAFTy way to get your attention. I know that an esteemed member of the Parish is about to let us see his "go" at painting this wagon, so here's FIVE liveries, all correct at some point in the wagons' long history - and we're still working on it! First, in sunlight! Now, under my layout lighting - needless to say they look different! If any of you are old enough to remember them in the early days (I was eleven when they were introduced and had never even heard of CIE) give me an opinion! Nothing rude, mind!!!!! Regards Leslie

Apologies, David, a CRAFT moment - you told me perfectly clearly! CRAFT? - the new term for a senior moment ( teenagers not to read this!!!!!) Can't Remember A Fxxxxxxg Thing Now you all know what the numbers in my name mean!!!!!

Oops, sorry - LENTILS - not Barley - The King of Fife says he has some over from his Scotch Broth! Leslie

John Thanks for this - I'm not changing the floor and you've vindicated our choice! On the business of nitrate traffic, I have a photo by Joe Cassells of No.186 at Kilkenny, but the reason I have the photo is the line of corrugateds with plastic sheeting over their loads - now I know why! Useful to know when recommending what LOADS to put in the wagons! Lord White, King of Fife, Chair of Perth etc, gave me a good line for you guys who want to use the wagons for BEET Traffic - BARLEY grain. I assume he'll turn up at Coupar with a bag of it to fill his new wagons? Greetings from a wet Surrey - you can tell it's Men's Singles Finals day at Wimbledon! Leslie

Well done Kieran with the North Atlantics - especially as the train actually has passengers!!!!! My grandson, an over-wise 6 year old, admonished me for having trains with no passengers in the coaches! His uncle is a dab hand at painting Warhammer figures, but can I get my son to paint people for me ???????

"Also model shops in Belfast tend not to last very long for whatever reason". Just being pedantic, but ...... I wouldn't agree with this statement, as "The Model Shop" was in business when I was at school and continued until Gareth shut up shop recently (mind you after a move out of the city centre) - so that's fifty years - most businesses don't last that long! Your point about the English Box Shifters is, of course, the crux of the problem. We all use them, but if we're wise, we buy stuff from the local man too - you never know when you need some little part and if he's gone out of business .......... I think another issue is down to the character of the person who runs the shop. Some are uncommunicative and you feel you're intruding by even being there, others are chatty and helpful. The latter get my business any day. In fairness to Blaine's comments, I agree that there are things to keep under your hat until you're established and in the end, actions speak louder than words! Leslie

"The floor of the Bullied Wagons. Were these wooden planks or all metal? I ask as I believe I have seen a photograph somewhere of the floor of one of these wagons". Thanks, David, now you've given me a heart attack about the floor. We based the floor on photographic evidence from a gent in Norway, who had photographed the "preserved" one. That clearly shows the floor as we have modelled it. HOWEVER, when I look at one of the drawings which I have, the suggestion is of a planked floor (latitudenly - hmm - that seems to be a new word, but you know what I mean)!!! However, no photograph to prove that they were ever built like this. That said, the recent photo could easily be sheet steel placed over wood! Feel free to insert a piece of cardboard, suitably scored? I ain't doin' it again!!!!! (Now that's what I call customer service ......) Assuming you're right and I am suspicious that you may be, just when the floors were strengthened (or was it just protecting the wood underneath) is lost in the mists of the 1960s, 70s, 80s ....... Leslie

I thought this might be in the WTT, but no. Possibly the Working Timetable "Appendix" if someone has got one? They're sure to have one in the IRRS Archive.

Yes, good job Alan, for an easy win. I bought a WRENN 08 years ago for similar treatment, but then turned my back on these diesel things when I got my SSM steam locos built - so I sold it for a minor fortune on eBay - over sixty quid, when I'd paid a fiver or so in a Beatties sale. Who needs the Stock Market? Leslie

The Hornby / Wrenn Banana van was / is very close to the GNR 1954 Bagged Cement vans, even in the brake gear, I would submit - not a lot of use to 21mm men, I accept. I used the Dapol one for my Cement Van, which I sold to the tune of 450 pieces, in three guises - by far the best selling wagon I have produced. It was a very unusual Irish van, being of much higher capacity than the normal 7, 9, or 10 ton jobs, which invariably were squatter than the British counterparts. Assuming that by an "H" Van, you mean the CIE-built 17222 - 19754 series of 12 ton vans, on Bulleid's triangulated chassis; then be patient - my kit will appear later in the year - it has essentially the same chassis as my recent corrugated sided open wagon. Leslie (Provincial wagons) For the 21mm men, I will happily sell it (as I do with the open) without the chassis, so that you can fit your own W irons, OR you can split the chassis and move it out a bit?

Whatever you think, privatisation was the best thing to happen to BR. UK railways are busier now then anytime in their history. You've got to be joking! The railways cost us over TWICE as much in subsidy in real terms as they did in BR days. Are you a UK taxpayer? They can't renationalise the railways a day too soon! Passenger numbers are up not due to privatisation, it is natural growth spurred on by an ever more gridlocked road system. Your railfreight figures puzzle me, in the 1950s, surely there were many times the number of freight trains that there are today? I've just looked it up: see - http://www.metadyne.co.uk/D_ml_freight_km.html it's HALF what it was in the 1950s.

I ALWAYS send my stuff in plain envelopes, so wives don't know! Rich, when you're ready, order through the website or by e-mailing me - lesliemcallister@aol.com Regards and thanks for the comments which I'll pass to the magic modeller. Leslie

Just for the record, I have used a mix of Peco 100, Peco Setrack (I'm lazy and it saves cutting rail!) and even Hornby straights for some sidings (you can pick up secondhand ones cheaply at exhibitions here in England and it's cheaper than yards of Peco), all without obvious problems. Peco Setrack Special curves (33" or so radius) was particularly useful to lay a fairly inaccesible curve on the layout. I agree with others - buy it from your local shop - if you're buying a lot, they usually offer something off - maybe not to Rails or Hattons level. Better to support them, so that they're still there the day you need something quickly!!!! Leslie

Garfield Thanks for this, but it's my modeller Michael Rayner you should applaud - I just "make it happen"!!!! Leslie

The photo is of our prototype wagon which clearly shows the unusual triangulated chassis, patented by Oliver Bulleid and his chief draughtsman at the Southern Railway - Lionel Lynes. The wagon was introduced in 1956 in this form and was built to the tune of over two thousand wagons, of which 1,000 were still in use by the end of the 1970s. They were used on all manner of traffic initially and were seen all over Ireland, so you can have one (or more!) on your train North of the Border as well. They were extensively used in the annual Beet Campaign, even in steam days and in this form, right up to 1980 or so. Number series was 11817 to 14672. Our model has the signature corrugations inside and out, plus a plated floor as in the real thing. Count the bolts! Note the Builder's Plate and the representation of a consignment clip. The brake gear is a close representation of the real thing. Apart from the brake gear, this should be a very easy kit to build as body and triangulated chassis will be a single casting! About fifteen parts in all. NO transfers are supplied as the original wagons merely had a stencilled number on the left hand triangulation and it would be so small as to be unreadable. In any event, in real life it quickly disappeared under a coating of muck, oil etc!! Pretty well everything you need, bar adhesive and paint are included. You’ll need a few tools, which should be found in any modeller’s tool kit. I have received the first delivery of kits, with more on the way. If you want yours quickly, I shall be on the RPSI tour on 9 - 11 May, but please pre-order. Theoretically, I can deliver in Dublin, Cork, Killarney and Tralee! £21.50 or €29 post paid.

Just to say the Irish Railways in Pictures No.2 - The Midland Great Western is available from me for £2.95 sterling, plus postage (which looks like £2.45). If someone wants one and is travelling on the RPSI South Munster railtour then I'll hand it over for €5. Just e-mail me at lesliemcallister@aol.com I need to know how many before I travel on 7 May!!!! Leslie

My Giddy Aunt - a STIRLING SINGLE!!!! If you've seen the model of the Ivatt (Inchicore man, remember) Atlantic, you'll be saving for this one too!! George, what's wrong with your geography - NORTH WEST???? EAST Coast and usually not North of York! But thanks for sharing this with us! Leslie