leslie10646

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

I hope to see a lot of you at the exhibition, so come to my stand (Provincial Wagons) and say hallo! For you guys modelling CIE, I may have something to interest you! I'm also having a loft sale with a couple of boxfuls of unwanted BR wagons and some continental stuff - so if you're modelling in those areas, come and pick up a bargain! Next door to me, you'll find Richard McLachlan who is a bit good at finescale stuff - just don't ask him a question or you'll be there all afternoon! Hope to see you on Saturday or Sunday. Leslie PS I'll be at the IRRS meeting in Dublin on Thursday evening, so if you aren't heading North, say hallo and maybe I'll let you have a peep at the stock!

Nelson Look no further. I have a set on the desk beside me and I'll bring it to Bangor. See below for Eric Robinson's details. Regards Leslie - From: ROBINSON ERIC < e.robinson40@ntlworld.com> To: lesliemcallister < lesliemcallister@aol.com> Sent: Sat, 24 Aug 2013 17:28 Subject: Re: Loco Transfers Dear Leslie Yes I still do them, Loco @ £4.75 and wagon @ £3.00. Just send a cheque with a stamped addressed envelope for return to me at 7 Petre Cres Rishton Blackburn Lancs BB14RB I also have some G S wagon as well Regards Eric

Did they list it on 1 April, by any chance? Nearly as funny as the nuclear-powered Class P2 story in the Steam Sun.

TRIANGULATED CHASSIS Well done Richie finding that patent. I note that it was taken out jointly with Lionel Lynes, which made me wonder who is was. The internet helped but it was "Bulleid of the Southern" (naturally in my library!) which gave the answer. Lynes was Bulleid's wagon Chief Draughtsman on the Southern and they originally jointly patented the chassis in 1944-45. The one you highlight is an update. While Lynes had no Irish connection that I can easily see, he was recruited (from Swindon) by Richard Maunsell when he joined the SE&CR from INCHICORE. You mention whether some recently-used wagons had a triangulated chassis - it does make me wonder just how many Irish wagons ended up being built with them. So, I've got my researchers working on that! Leslie

Careful, Richie: I named my second son after the Great Man and for good reason. When you've had the number of brilliant FAST runs behind his engines as I have, you wouldn't view him as crazy. His misfortune was that he came to the top job fairly late in life and so he had to put everything into one roll of the dice - so the original pacifics had many unproven ideas which he thought would work, but didn't have the time to spare to test fully - hence the oil-bath (NOT a good idea in the event and loathed by the fitters), steam operated fire doors (which the firemen loved) and electric lighting - there is a story that the Southern men used to roll into Exeter St David's and when they were sure plenty of Great Western men were watching, they'd switch on EVERY light on the engine - no smoking oil lamps for enginemen in Bulleid's world). The Turf Burner wasn't his idea, it was the turf board which launched the project - in any event, he did little of the final design, that was done by two young engineers sent over on loan by BR. I can offer a talk on the truth behind the engine. I've met the man who rerally built the TB. Finally, the pretty disastrous diesels - Bulleid favoured US manufacturers from the beginning. Like it or not, no-one builds diesel locos as well as the yanks. It took Britain a long time to figure that out - they should have paid more attention to the Irish scene? Leslie

John Interesting about the early railcars and with hindsight, it's s pity they all went. Of course, we hated them in the '60s - they were doing work our beloved blue (and black) engines could have been doing. Several RPSI coaches were former BUT trailers, but not AECs? Maybe a K15, of which the Society has several. My London based "Syndicate" bought 737 (or was it 727) which had had a driving position. I can't find my copy of 40 Shades, in the bookshelves, otherwise I would be more certain! I'm sure you know? Maybe you should ask them for a couple - after all "we" can't run them any more? Leslie PS Of course, I have a AEC set upstairs and my BUT is being digitised as I type!

Nelson To add to Hunslet's reply, which covers 1970s - 80s. In the 1960s. there was a weekly Shoppers Special from Dublin to Belfast (on a Wednesday, if memory serves - my copy of the WTT is buried at the moment). In 1963, it was hauled by No.85 or even No. 207, before she came North. I believe I saw both engines on the train. There was a Southbound Tourist Train, complete with dining car (possibly even a KITCHEN Car) on Thursdays - run, I think, for patrons of the UTA Hotels, especially the Laharna at Larne. Now that would have been hauled by one the the UTA's Class VS - No.58 (208) or No.59 (210) until maybe 1963. In 1964, I am fairly certain that it was Class WT hauled. I had my last run with No.207 in July 1965 on a Thursday summer extra to Dublin, but I think it was deemed to be a "Board Excursion" that is an extra run by the UTA at a special fare to encourage leisure traffic. Leslie

Junctionmad says he can't think of another country so railcar oriented. Well, I live in one. If you ignore the HSTs, which are a fixed formation train, you've only got the East Coast, the Norwich services in East Anglia, the ATW Holyhead trains and a few one-off temporary services. There IS however, one British Railway which understands that above 5/6 vehicles that a loco and coaches is cheaper to run and that's the award winning, customer-loved Chiltern Railways. Which happen to be German owned!!!! In fairness to Dick Fearn and his managers who bought the Rotems, I have found them a delight to travel in and an example of what a DMU should be. But, as others have said - it makes Ireland a very boring place railway-wise. Just as well there's lots of steam!!!!! Leslie

The problem is that the RPSI needs locos which can pull 7/8 coaches at 60mph (70mph would be better!) to keep out of the way of Mal's CAFS and your Korean things down South - so if she steams again, it'll more likely be on John's Little Railway - aka Downpatrick - or on our site? By a stroke of luck, I travelled behind her sister, No.132, in the 1960s so No.131 will be a new engine for me! It has been a terrific job by Peter Scott and his trusty henchmen at Whitehead. Leslie

Noel All interesting stuff. The choice of steam loco to produce was interesting. I wonder what the answers would have been if you had suggested a "101"Class (J15) 0-6-0? Apart from two preserved ones, they were all over the place "down South" until 1960 or so and were the last to go. Leslie

No.800? Too many wheels! Engines are meant to have EIGHT, arranged 4-4-0! Given the Euromillions, it would be No.207 again and she wasn't preserved for much the same reasons Lord White mentioned earlier against No.800. That said, it WOULD be interesting to see how she really could run, as there's not a lot of info on how good they were. They were never given the chance to shine. On the names - my sons are William (not Stanier, but that was a useful second reason) and Oliver, who IS named after an Irish 'Saint', born in New Zealand. Now, I have to admit that HIS engines had TWELVE wheels and went like the wind! Leslie

Nelson Not at all - there are loads of SETS of these drawings around - all you need do is find someone with a set and ask them nicely for what you need! On the coaching front, Richard McLachlan of the IRRS has digitised lots of coach drawings and sells them as sets. I'll put something on my website. Leslie

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Oh, all right then, I'll get it our of its nice warm box and photo it for you. But not for a day or two - off to see ARIGNA in the morning. Maybe i'll photo that too! Leslie