leslie10646

Well done, Paul. If Airdrop worked from my useless iPhone 13 to my (probably more useless) Mac Air (2015), I'd show you Enda's Uniload containers on this wagon - a perfect fit! WHOOOPPPEEE!!! It's worked.

Interesting to see the U Class at Foyle Road - when I was doing my Summer Runabout in August 1964, there was a S Class on the 1015 from Derry most days, which I would pick up at Strabane. However, on 6 August 1964, No.201 (UTA No.66) was on the train and by an unhappy circumstance, I only was able to travel with her from Portadown to Belfast, not very speedily! Quite why she was on the train, my eighteen year old self did not ascertain. No.171 had gone to Derry on the previous day's 3pm train, and should have been on the 1015 on the 5th. She may have developed a fault and the little U Class was substituted. A S Class was back on the 3.15 that afternoon in the shape of No.172 (UTA No.60) and ran well enough for me to risk the Omagh connection into the 5.08pm relief back to Belfast - which I made! Takes you back ......

Interesting. I like the loop with the crossover which feeds trains back from whence they came, but on the correct line. However, how does an arriving train (an "UP" train), get across to the departure platform to form a "Down" train - don't you need a crossover somewhere? You've hit the age-old issue that points take up a lot of linear layout, which I sort of got round by buying a big house and mortgaging myself to the hilt (paid off when I was 75!). Good luck though, just a bit more innovation?

No, you're wrong Paul. IRM are going to announce their Irish Steam loco on 25th December. This thing's ANOTHER diesel. To quote my favourite Christmas character from literature - "Bah, Humbug" But as it's the Season, the last words of the same Book. "God Bless us Everyone".

Journal No. 57, pages 149-158 is the article John refers to. The same Journal has an article on the then CIE Railcar Fleet! Useful having a bound set on the shelf above me! Containers and the Railway - C.J. Whalley 10/149-158 I've PM'd you.

Hi guys I got an e-mail from Rails yesterday encouraging me to vote for them in the annual Model Rail Model of the Year election, so I did and, of course Accurascale: https://www.model-rail.co.uk/magazine/latest-issues/model-of-the-year/?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=campaign&utm_campaign=Model Rail MOTY Awards 2024 - Voting Open&utm_id=01JF85VRAHD9ZAKD79VE3AZ7F7&_kx=94TVSTwJKaw1u9s0VI6GSrlZad3yB7CBtaw17rSe4OjqnSFePN1n7xZw98DdvMB7.RXkVMS Your favourite manufacturer NEEDS YOU. So Vote!

Is Coach 24 one of your missing ones, Colin? Henry Casserley photographed it in 1932 and as I (The Syndicate) have both a Glass negative of it and a normal negative of it, I should be able to oblige. I don't seem to have scanned it yet. Let me know. Leslie

Glad to be of service!

Great story, Jim, thanks. Sorry to have missed it!

Yes, Darius, I'm also blown away by this layout - well done GSR800! Who wouldn't want to build this station with it s amazing refreshment room at the East end. Anyone here ancient enough to have had a cup of tea in it? I ask especially as there's a tea fixation about this thread, of late!

Rails of Sheffield are selling the Dapol GWR 14xx 0-4-2T for £109.50, an unbelievably low price for a lovely model see - https://railsofsheffield.com/blogs/news/bargain-dapol-o-gauge-steam-locos-advent-calendar-day-16 Anyone need an 0-4-2 chassis for a BCDR tank, perhaps? It would make a nice ornament for the wife's Christmas stocking - better (and cheaper) than many ornaments? Much nicer on the mantlepiece than endless family photos!

Lovely bright picture of the A Class at Youghal - a good buy on your behalf - pretty eye catching and an interesting set of coaching stock. I even notice one of my GSWR 10 ton brake vans in the background!

Obviously good news, but will it pull a scale "Day Mail"? Great work.

PM sent to you, William. The simple answer is come and re-create your Portadown in my loft! The track's down, but little else. Oh, trains run on my awful track! Leslie Thanks, Patrick. Fine fellow!

Hi William, if you're on here -- can you PM me - I need help! If any of you know his e-mail address, can you put him in touch. Thanks Leslie

I've just found this thread. As I showed quite a few slides of Macmine in 1960, I was intrigued. I hope that the layout is still giving you pleasure. Leslie

I wouldn't sit up nights worrying about it @Westcorkrailway, after all @jhb171achill is unlikely ever to see your coaches in the flesh (plastic, resin whatever). If photos of your coaches don't look right to him - blame the camera! Heed the words of that great prophet from Perthshire, late of Dublin @Old Blarney - "It's my railway and I'll run what I want on it"!

The Late Drew Donaldson had a very high opinion of the 500s, a view shared by others, so yes, you are right that more of them would have been good, but I'm pretty sure that he wouldn't have agreed with you about the 800s! They had the misfortune to be built just as war loomed (of course, there should never have been a war at all, but that's another issue) so never had a chance to show how good they were (or not). The Blessed Oliver put paid to any future they might have had by ordering the A Class in the mid-fifties. Of course, for a country with little steam-able coal, they were a nonesense as even in 1939 the yanks were proving that diesels offered a future? Now, having acted as an Agent provocateur, let me make another suggestion. Perhaps Ireland should have looked at electric traction? There's a long and well reasoned article in IRRS Journal Volume 1 on railway electrification - it concluded that it wasn't on then (1947/8) as it would have wolfed up masses of capital and a high proportion of the electricity then generated. It DID touch on battery power, which Dr Drumm had proved was workable and touched on partial electrification (like the "power islands" they're talking about today, to zap power into battery trains and which we will soon see - seventy years later). Another what if?

Very sorry to hear this. Chris was omni-present at every Irish event I attended and there are quite a few vehicles in my collection obtained from him. I was travelling on the Heart of Wales line one day, which happened to be his annual visit to the line, and took the opportunity of ordering a single ended B Class from him. He'll leave quite a gap. Chris, may you rest in peace.

Mind you, I can possibly help with barrier wagons - You don't have to have the container.

Wot? No wagons before Christmas? What are the family going to put in my stocking?

Oops Forgot the Zoom invite! ZOOM LINK (for meeting + AGM) To obtain a Zoom link, please register to join the meeting by clicking REGISTER and fill in your email address to be sent a personalised Zoom link. You can register at any time up to (or during) the meeting, and you can copy this registration link to others. The link will be sent by Zoom (not IRRS London) and will arrive immediately after registration. Alternatively, open Zoom on your device and directly input the meeting details : Webinar ID 842 0892 8218 Passcode 786059 Please note · if Zoom fails, we will email everyone on the London Area email list so please watch your Inbox · if the Zoom reception is unsatisfactory, please check the settings on your device but if the problem appears to be at our end, please let us know immediately via “Chat” · to communicate with the London Area on any other matter, please also do so via “Chat”. As a rule, we cannot respond to “Raise Hand”.

Friends I am the Entertainment tonight at a 80 minute presentation of the late David Soggee's colour slides - 1958 - 1963. Something for everyone and shots of the early disels in different liveries, GNR steam, MGWR steam. Read the notice and ZOOM in!!!! Leslie MEETING ON FRIDAY 6th DECEMBER 2024 ZOOM-only : 18.00 – 19.30 “Off the beaten track - with David Soggee in Ireland 1958 – 1961” by Leslie McAllister + London Area AGM David Soggee was a prolific, skilled and observant photographer of the transport scene. Leslie will present a selection of David’s Irish standard gauge photographs, mostly from the Republic but also covering the LMS(NCC) and the GN. David covered the latter days of steam, including the South Wexford line, the Kenmare Branch, the last days of the Cork Bandon and South Coast Railway and the MGWR branches – open and closed. He followed the 1961 Grand Tour, also venturing into Kerry (including the Valentia Line lifting train!) and to Achill. Some familiar locations and occasions, but seen through another lens and by a photographer who photographed “The Scene”. An eclectic mix, well worth a look! Followed by the London Area AGM at 19.45

Ah, wildly after my period - I live to fight again!

Hi Fran Please text me with the news - I'm behind "Clan Line" en route to Sherborne for the Abbey's Carol Service. Sooo, which of my kits do I stop making now .......