Jonathan Allen

It just reminded me of something I saw somewhere sticking out of a signal lever - withdrawn, it would have prevented the signal being pulled.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: