Old Blarney

Is it all of your tight curves and all of the new rolling stock that won't take the tight curves? My reason for posing these question is this. One of my sixteen Hattons six wheelers has wee vagaries on two of my tight curves. It is perfect in one direction, turn it around, then run it in the same direction, off the track she pops. Time after time, in the same place irrespective of speed. I removed the centre set of wheels. Problem solved. the coach ran in either direction without any problem. I have replaced the centre wheels, and run the offending coach in one direction only. Suggestions. 1) Check the back-to-back measurement of the Centre wheels. I found mine to be very slightly out of measurement. 2) Check the wheel assembly for sticking in one direction be it Left to Right or visa versa. 3) Check the piping that runs under the coach and over the wheels. You may find this to be bent, it was on one of my coaches, thus it caught on points and curves. 4) Try applying a small amount of lubricating material on the centre sliding assembly - Graphite, Dry Lubricating material or perhaps a light oil, (safe on Plastic)

Ah the tasks for the day. Might your checklist be as follows - Pen, Reins, Leads! Choosing leads; could this be a walk for the four legged team? Reins, perhaps a walk with the apple of my eye? Pen to hand, putting thought and facts onto paper? Silly me, we use keyboard devices nowadays. What a train of thought That's it. A train. A train journey! A wee trip to Belfast. That what I shall do, i'll spend a day remembering the past, viewing the present, contemplating what would have remained had it not been for the railway closures of 1957 and 1965. Have an enjoyable journey, hopefully one without incident.

"I plan to make a flying visit some day soon." Now then, Mr Beaumont. If my aged memory servers me correctly, and at my advanced years, there has to be doubt about my aged recollections! Your turn of phrase - "I plan to make a flying visit some day soon." . Is this not the reason for the introduction of - The Enterprise? The Non Stop, Customs Examination at Termini, - Enterprise - was to thwart the commencement of Aer Lingus direct flights between - Dublin - Belfast - Dublin. Wishing you happy travelling. White.

May I suggest you go to this link - GeoHive Map Viewer - There you can access the 25" Map. This shows Tramway Lines, Railway Lines etc. I assume your reference to 'Farmleigh' is to the Foot Bridge over the Liffey to the North of Palmerstown! This was a Pedestrian Bridge, recently refurbished. Might you be asking about the Tramway that ran from O'Connell Bridge to Chapelizod and on to Lucan? Zooming into the 25" Inch may you can clearly follow the line although, I believe it is the 1913, or thereabouts version. The final tramline was reopened by Dublin United Tramways (1896) Ltd in 1928 and closed on April 1940. Route 25 ran to Lucan with Route 26 running to Chapelizod where it crossed the bridge over the Liffey. I can recall various sections of the old tram lines still being discovered when the new sewerage system was installed in the late 1940 to early 1950s. I also believe a section of the former Tram Lines was uncovered when resurfacing of the bridge over the Liffey in Chapelizod took place some years ago.

Branchline 121 Thank you for your rebuke. My wording was clumsy. Perhaps I should have written - The building of the railway line from Armagh to Castleblainey put a stop to any future expansion of this line by the Midland. Mayner Thank you for your explanation on the politics behind extending the Dublin and Meath to Armagh and further north. OB.

"The line was supposed to have made it to Kingscourt, if that had came to fruition that part of the railway probably would have lasted a bit longer. The Dublin and Meath Railway Company way back in 1865 had reported an increase in their traffic of 19%. At that time they had plans to extend their line from Navan to Kingscourt and even for an extension to Castleblaney, where it was hoped to join the Irish North Western Railway. The Navan and Kingscourt Railway Act was passed in July (1865) to run from a junction with The Dublin and Meath at Navan to Kingscourt. Move forward to November 1887 when the Dublin and Meath sold their company to the Midland Great Western who purchased it provided there was also an agreement to purchase the Navan and Kingscourt railway. The Great Northern built the Armagh to Castleblainey to stop the midland gaining access to Armagh. For a detailed history I recommend reading -- The Midland Great Western railway of Ireland --An Illustrated History -- Ernie Shepherd

DSER Sections of Double Track Harcourt Street - Shanganah Junction. Newcastle to Wicklow - 19th July 1887

A very good question. My excitement had got the better of me! I discovered that which did not exist! Having looked at the photograph again, I should have observed the wheel position. Had I done so, your explanation would have become apparent to me. Thank you.

ERNIE'S PHOTOGRAPHS Perusing Ernie's photographs today, I found this image of GNR No800 at Dundalk. Whilst she certainly caught my attention - there is something else in this photograph, that caught my eye and my attention. What might this be? Look to the right-hand -side of the photograph and to the rear of the shed. There sits Cattle Wagon 4872. What is unusual about Cattle Wagon 4872? The loading ramp is at the end of this Cattle Wagon. Was this a one off? Our Font of knowledge, young Mr Beaumont may well have the answer? Jonathan, can you or others on our Forum provide further information? Why is this wagon or any companions different to the standard Cattle Wagon; the ones with their doors in the centre! IMAGE (Copied from Ernie's massive collection of Railway Photographs)

Athlone, Great Southern and Western Station and Yard? Looking to the right-hand-side of the signal, between the two sets of Telegraph Poles there is a Railway Line. The Midland Great Western line from Mullingar met the Great Southern and Western Line from Portarlington East of the Shannon Railway Bridge. This junction was a short distance West of the Great Southern and Western's Station on the East Bank of the Shannon River.

I know it's Christmas and that we are supposed top believe in Miracles! Well that picture has to be a Miracle if it were taken in Inchicore or, anywhere in Ireland! Why? The picture is showing a Glasgow and South Western Railway Locomotive. The location, St Enoch Station, Glasgow. This was a location I knew well as I travelled to it on a daily basis prior to its closure. It was demolished after its closure and replaced by a Shopping Centre. A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our members of this forum.

Dear Mr Holman, Please see attached. This is a Quay building in Rathmelton. It has a plaque - L&LSRWayCo - 1864. I have viewed it whilst visiting relations, resident in the area. So, you have the building. Just need to get tracking, eh! Thank you for your interesting posts, excellent modelling. Image from Google Maps. White.

CIE Dark green. 1st and 3rd Class CIE Lighter Green. 1st and 2nd Class.

Mr Beaumont, CIE Liveried Coaches Thank you, yet again, for your contributions on the vagaries of our Irish rolling stock, and for covering so thoroughly - the variety of consists, the era in which they ran, the locomotives that they were paired with, as well as the geographical lines they ended their days upon. I placed my order this afternoon for these. I chose the four pack, individual 3rd, 2nd Class, composite, 3rd and 2nd Brake Vans in both liveries, and to finish things off, a couple of B&T Vans too. All to remind me of my days when I watched and travelled on 1950s CIÉ, in a coach that had six wheels, a half compartment partition, and bounced its merry way from Sydney Parade to Killiney, without stopping at Booterstown Station. Even better, a train from Harcourt Street to Bray and sighting GSR Maroon six-wheel coaches at Foxrock. Perhaps, Hattons may consider a Great Southern version of these too. Would this be unlikely as it is too far in the past? I just hope I'm still alive and able to run my Model Railways when deliver of these coaches takes place. This is really a comment for you young McAllister!! Oh, coach numbers and possible duplication. I believe, unless I misunderstood the conversation, I held with Hattons, the four pack numbers are not duplicated by any of the other coaches. Jonathan, again, thank you for all your contribution and time on this matter and others too. White.

Not the best image of a U Class.