Jonathan Allen

Didn't know that Blaine - I only photographed the things. Right to the end, the Hunslets had only one lamp iron - on the second man's side (left if looking at the locomotive, right if sitting in the cab). I last photographed a push-pull set south of Dundalk on 19 July 1982 101 leaving Drogheda | With arrival of the two 111 class loc… | Flickr but they probably worked south after that. The coming of 113 in August 1984 likely saw the end of push-pull working on the cross-border links, but if anybody knows different, I'll be glad to hear from you. Last photographed top & tail push-pull on 17 December 1988 102 & 101 Lisburn | A poor shot on a bad day, but this is be… | Flickr but that only got to Newry. Again, I'll be glad to know of any later workings. When it comes to lamp irons, the DTSOs are a different matter. I seldom photographed the a&s* end of a train (no imagination when it comes to photography), but this shot suggests there was a lamp iron on the left (looking at the unit) above the light and another just below the cab window. Those positions did not change during the service life of the DTSOs 101 Bangor | 101 "Eagle" propells the 15.00 Bangor - Portado… | Flickr as far as I can tell. My last photograph of a pair of Hunslets on a Dublin was 24 June 1989: 103 & 102 leaving Lisburn | To have had one 101 working by J… | Flickr - a when 101 also worked the sprayer and there must have been several blue moons in the sky. No issue with the lamp irons as 102 & 103 would have run-round in Connolly. If anybody can fill-in the gaps in my knowledge, it will be appreciated.

4 February 1963 according to "Baronial Line of the MGWR" (TRA 1972 - reprint and update eagerly awaited).

They did: 103 Connolly | 103 "Merlin" sits in Dublin Connolly station … | Flickr Just one, on the right hand or "second mans" side. 102 Dublin Connolly | 102 "Falcon" awaits departure from Dub… | Flickr 101 - Belfast Central station | The IRRS tour then moved to … | Flickr

Very probably - but if you enlarge this shot at Seagoe: 101 approaching Seagoe | No sooner had the cement cleared th… | Flickr there appears to be spray coming from the end vehicle and the boards are not fitted. Likely the crew just forgot. At the end of the day, Rule 1 applies.

You may want to check photo references before adding anything - I only photographed 101 on the sprayer and she did not carry warning boards: 101 Bangor | Some use could still be found for NIR's 101 cla… | Flickr 104 did, but you will have to wait for a B201 model!

IT'S ARRIVED! And very nice it is too - sadly, one that will sit in a glass case and be admired (drooled over), as it would look somewhat out-of-place on a GWR secondary line. However, it may get the odd run out. A couple of hopefully helpful tips for those planning to add detail - that light grey roof of 1970 is correct (see: PRU_NIR_101_Connolly_c1970 | [Photographer Unknown] This pho… | Flickr ), but only lasted a few days before exhaust fumes turned the roof various (and darkening) shades of gunge. If you are brave enough, weathering would be appropriate. NIR drivers of the 1970s ALWAYS wore their uniform jacket (and most also their caps)- they were ex-GNR and brung up proper. A shirt-sleeved driver would just not look right. My photographs also seldom show a second person in the cab - possibly a locomotive Inspector in a October 1970 shot of the "Enterprise" entering Portadown, but certainly rare on the "Enterprise". If there is a second person, it's probably me! More common of course on non-"Enterprise" working like PW or spoil trains. A really great model and a credit to all at Acuurscale - now, must return to drooling!

It just reminded me of something I saw somewhere sticking out of a signal lever - withdrawn, it would have prevented the signal being pulled. Don't seem to have photographed it sadly. If it is the Omagh "Shunting Staff", it is very rare - only one!

And just while I'm here - thought this looked a bit Irish: New OO GAUGE PLATFORM END SIGNAL BOX unpainted. suit Hornby and Peco | eBay UK Reminded me of Birr.

This could be the Omagh North "Shunting Staff" mentioned on page 240 of the GNR(I) May 1930 "Green Appendix": "A Shunting Staff has been provided, the withdrawal of which from the Signal Box locks the Main Line Signals. The possession of this Shunting Staff by the Guard or Shunter in charge will be permission for shunting to take place upon the main line between Omagh North Signal Box and the Down advance Starting Signal, and no shunting must take place upon the Main Line without the possession of this Shunting Staff". It certainly does not look like a GNR(I) single-line staff, which usually had a "key" on the end for opening sidings in section.

No.

Some images of the Accurascale "Hunslets" on display yesterday at Model Rail Scotland. Paul Isles told me the models are about to dispatch and should (little disturbance in the Gulf permitting) arrive Q2 2026.

The story - as I recall it - is told here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/152343870@N07/50813669808/in/album-72157713209795583/

Well, you learn something new every day!

According to both "Irish Railways Today" (TRA 1967) and my 1956 edition of the AA "Road Book of Ireland", the station and townland name is Kilmainham Wood.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/152343870@N07/51843043358/in/album-72157713184928158/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/152343870@N07/51842001037/in/album-72157713184928158/

According to "Forty Shades of Steam", 171 was in Lisburn goods store from 27 January 1969 until March '69 for painting. I recall seeing her there, but the "Box Brownie" would not have been capable of producing a decent photograph.

I don't plan to post very often (if at all), but find this sale very puzzling. Firstly, His Lordship would have been much better going to a specialist auction house in the UK (such a Great Central, but others are available), where his collection would have been better catalogued and would have attracted UK buyers, who may be put-off by a sale in the Republic with uncertain import duties (to the UK) and transportation. Certainly, when I sold my modest collection, Great Central spotted that what I thought was a simple wagon plate was something much more important - I doubt His Lordship will get that level of specialist knowledge. And second, this is the sort of collection which should be going to IRRS, RPSI or even Cultra. It's not going to raise millions (perhaps a few thousand) - not enough to put a new roof on the servant's quarters - so why is it being sold rather than donated? There may be nobody in the family interested in railways and this collection, so it is understandable to dispose of these items. Proper provision for the fate of a collection should certainly be made during the owner's lifetime as widows have an unfortunate habit of chucking "that old junk" in the bin when the time comes. The fate of what we have gathered down the years should concern us all and I hope anybody reading this post will have considered the future of their collection when we all depart to that great steam shed in the sky.

Sorry Larne Cabin, but that shot of 169 at Larne Harbour with the weed control train is not one of mine. Wish it was, though: Also the DH - never got a DH at the harbour.

I presume the image was taken from Geograph (which I no longer use), and images may be reproduced under a Creative Commons Licence. However, the licence requires attribution as detailed on this web page: Use & remix - Creative Commons

I really would appreciate if people posting my photographs would acknowledge copyright: