leslie10646

I've just received my Class U back from Kevin and Co at Coastal DCC - they were putting a Stay Alive chip in No.205 - just over fifty quid, by the way. Result - I'm delighted - she crawls over my points without a flicker. Money well spent. The debate about weight still holds, of course. I have yet to add weight to the cab end. As she stands, she'll fly (even tender first) with three coaches, but take that up to five and 20 grams or so extra weight (Blu-Tak'd to the roof!!!!) is necessary. But it is a common problem with 4-4-0s. So the sooner Roderick, Rebecca and Zivan find a suitable motor - the better. One UG won't be enough! Leslie PS Thank you David (aka Lord White) for making me aware of Stay Alive chips!

Just another reminder that you can buy John and Barry's North Kerry book from me on Stand D056 (Irish Railway Record Society) at the NEC on Saturday and Sunday. The stock arrived today! Leslie

As John will tell you, there are several collections which give us an insight into Ireland in the early years of the Twentieth Century - Kelland Collection, Henry Casserley (from 1930s on), Ken Nunn Collection to name a few - all Englishmen, but they left us a Treasury - thank the Lord! The earliest photo from any of these three gents in my book Steaming in Three Centuries was taken in 1901. Leslie

As usual, the Irish Railway Record Society will have a stand at the NEC this weekend - Stand D056. Richard McLachlan will be showing his famed Carriage and Loco diagram books produced from the IRRS Archive - more than thirty sets now available. Invaluable to the Modeller. We will also be selling a wide range of Railway books - new and secondhand plus out of print delights. I will also have a supply of old, hard to get IRRS Journals. John Beaumont may be launching his eagerly-awaited North Kerry book in Foynes on Saturday, but if you come to my stand on Saturday morning, you'll see it before his audience does, as Colourpoint has managed to get a supply to me! It's at my "other address", otherwise, I'd tell you how good it is!!!! As well as the undoubted attraction of meeting Richard and I, there are not one but TWO Irish layouts to enjoy. Colm, Ken and Ian will be showing the remarkable Bleach Green (Stand C56). I understand that at enormous expense, Colm has engaged the services of Lord White of Old Blarney to regale the passers-by with tales of Bleach Green's Fairy Glen and other equally unbelievable "facts". If you haven't seen the layout, don't miss this rare opportunity to see it now. Finally, the affable Andy Cundick, Master Modeller of the Obscure Line will have Castlederg there - a brilliant depiction of the tramway which once joined that little town to the Great Northern Derry Line. Stand B16A. Do drop by and say "Hi". Leslie

Yes, I heard that the Friday "gig" was some 'in else when Des rang me this morning, just as I was completing my stroll by the Basingstoke Canal. Des expressed his envy at me for experiencing "real steam" and I was able to really wind him up by remarking that I had been under the bridge I was standing on at around 90mph behind a Bulleid Pacific (49 years ago!). Nice photos of Arigna Town - David has a very nice layout. Personally, I was at Tolworth (Surrey) admiring Andy Cundick's "Castlederg". It was compulsory viewing as I first went to school there in 1950 (aged four!). The tramway had succumbed in 1933. Andy has surpassed himself with this one! The Good News is that if you're coming to Warley, "Castlederg" will be at the show, along with a rather larger edifice in the form of Bleach Green. If I'm spared, I must think up an excuse for Ian to let me have a pitch at Cultra in two year's time. Leslie PS The Rank wagons are from Drew Donaldson's collection and are in 7mm scale. I was in his workshop when he was building them - the air was blue at times and not from solder smoke!

Eamon Thanks for putting that up. Back in the mists of time, the NCC steam engines had the Manson tablet catcher as a standard part of their equipment. I still remember a footplate ride on a 2-6-4 tank on the main line in the mid 1960s - the fireman, having placed the tablet in the catcher and swinging it out - planted his foot on it to make sure it was steady as possible as we exchanged at over 50mph! H&S eat your heart out. Of course, there are plenty of tales of the tablet being "dropped" - or to be more precise - flying off into the long grass! Leslie

Ah, I always knew you were really a Man of Letters, young David. Well remembered. Good to see you at the weekend. I hope that Chris and you had a good weekend. Leslie

Bren Now there's a TURN-up for the Books. Don't let my grandson see that either!!!! Impressive skills! Leslie

That's an interesting prototype in the aerial picture. If you modelled that, people would say it was your imagination! L

You're just fishing and you're far too young to remember a book first published in 1951, based on short stories first written in 1942! Leslie

There's no hope for you at all, Beaumont! I took my THREE year old son to see the original Star Wars when it came out and, as they say, we've never looked back! Now his son hunts for his Dad's Star Wars characters in the loft when he's supposed to running trains with his Grandfather. I did once build him a space station of sorts, but if he finds Bren's little toy on the Internet, I'm sunk! Can you do two - it's always easier to do a series? Now, JB, can you tell what book this is the first sentence of - definitely YOUR timeframe! "He was just a country boy who had never seen Trantor before ……" Leslie PS Bren, keep it up; May The Force guide your Light Sabre (pretty good on MDF, I'm told!)

I've really stuck my neck out and suggested to "00" that they source the motors and pass on the increase - better that THAN NO LOCO? Maybe those of us who have ordered them (and NOT PAID a penny, after all) should get our own motor and send it in? Anyone worked out which one it is? Spoiling ships for a ha'p worth of tar leaps to mind? Leslie

Regrettably, Ivan is spot-on. The issue is clearly the cessation of Mashima Motors. I quote from London Road Models site - "WARNING! Mashima is closing his business and production of motors will cease. This is happening as he can no longer obtain the rare-earth magnets. Also the dies, jigs, testing equipment etc. are too old so has said he will not be selling the business. Motor production will continue until parts in stock are exhausted. Due to this and the value of the pound motor prices have increased" I trust that John Redrup will forgive me passing on news word for word from his site! NOT good news and I wish Roderick and Rebecca all luck in finding supplies, or a replacement. What a pain to design a loco around a particular (obviously well-known and trustworthy) motor, only to have the supply worked out. Or is it - there are a number of suppliers claiming to supply the particular magnets still. Maybe Mr Mashima has decided to spend "more time with his family"? I wish him well in his retirement - there are a few of his motors in various locos upstairs. Why this particular magnet? Google says - "Neodymium Magnets are permanent magnets which are produced from a composition of neodymium, iron and boron. The material remains the strongest type of permanent rare earth magnets currently available." And I thought this was a nice simple hobby to while away my days at ….. Leslie

Dear All It was indeed good to meet a lot of folk behind the names over the weekend and gratifying to admit to my best sales ever in a day! I'd have been better off in church on Sunday morning, but that's always the way of it and I'm certainly NOT complaining. It shows that if you have the RIGHT stock for the venue, you will shift it - over fifty H vans out of the door as kits and RTR. Don't worry, though - it's still available in both forms! Congratulations to the gents of the MRSI on a grand show and especially to their Ladies who looked after us in a manner that would have shown up many a top notch restaurant! Now, back to planning the project after the beets….. Leslie

Ivan and others The reason MAY be that they are having difficulties getting motors? That's the reason they have stated for the non-appearance of the Class UG. Fingers crossed that it's just a blip. I've asked them and will convey any response. Leslie

Gentlemen That scenery is pure artistry. Very well done. Now, I must read the rest of the thread for it looks as if ANYONE could learn from you. Keep it up! Leslie

[quote name= Leslie' date=' I presume you're "Built in Britain'. [/quote] I sure am, Kevin, Isle of Wight, Mainland England and Belfast. Working hard at Raheny for Britain's export drive. Good to meet you (and loads of others) today. Thanks for making my trip worthwhile. I'm getting some local input here in Dublin, so maybe I'm on the way to becoming a Bloated Multi-national? Leslie

Thanks, David. It takes a Master Modeller to appreciate the better things in life! Leslie

Well, what can I say - mine aren't! My prices have dropped in line with the collapse after Brexit, as you'll see tomorrow at Raheny - most of my kits, which would have been around €30 before will now be around €25 at the exhibition. Scale RTR wagons, built from those kits, which were €50 are now nearer €45. Good time to clear my stock out for me? Leslie PS Thanks, in anticipation

Des Takes you to spot the ones they missed in the wagon! Interesting idea. I could do a vote on which kitchen cereal is nearest and put a handful in every kit? Leslie

Des Thanks for the order - you're first in the queue! If you're at Raheny, you can judge between Lentils and Pearl Barley for loads! I raided the kitchen on the suggestion of Lord White of Old Blarney. Leslie

Hi Harry and friends I'm waiting for the postman to deliver the worksplates for my H vans, prior to departure for Raheny, so I have a bit of time for research. I mentioned the Christmas 1958 extra worked by No. 800 - 3.40pm ex Dublin. She was FOLLOWED by No.801 on 4pm perishables extra. Apparently, No.800 was failed with leaking tubes at Ballybrophy and was replaced by a diesel, at which point the enthusiasts on board removed themselves from the train! What happened next must have been heart-breaking for Bill McDonnell (who tells the story in The Journal) and his two, un-named friends - one was sure to have been the late and lamented Drew Donaldson. When No.801 arrived with her train of seven four wheel vans, No.800 was attached as pilot! The three pleaded with the guard to be allowed to travel, but to no avail, so the only known example of a train DOUBLE-HEADED BY 800s went unrecorded, both by stopwatch and film - it was too dark for a photo! It appears that they only worked thus as far as Thurles, where No.800 went on shed and languished until August 1962 when she was removed to Inchicore. Now that rail tour you mention. No.801 was used on the Joint Tour of Ireland in 1961. On 5 April 1961 she worked the train from Cork to Mallow only and I suspect this was the last time she was used. Just five coaches and a four wheel (tin?) van. In The Journal, Jimmy O'Dea mentions that No.801 continued working occasionally on goods and beet trains until the end of 1961, when she joined her sister at Thurles. In 1962, she was also moved to Inchicore. So, during a school railway society visit, that's where I saw the pair of them, on 30 August 1962 - TENDER to TENDER. There's a photo somewhere. I expended an entire 120mm film that day - 12 shots!!!! No.801 was cut up early in 1963. I hope this casts a little light on the latter history of these impressive looking engines. Leslie

Order this weekend from me and you'll have them before Christmas. No money need change hands - just tell me how many. For such orders, I will fulfil them at not more than €28 a kit - a bit less for multiples, if I can save on postage.

Richie I've passed this on. He actually has GSR and GSWR books, plus Midland. Leslie

Hi Mike That message has been passed on. Richard only ever holds a few of any book at a time and prints on demand, so get to see him early. The GN ones have your name on them, but you need to decide which GSWR, GSR, Midland books you want. Thanks for the interest. Leslie