Old Blarney

Unusual Horns on A Class Locomotives. I failed to notice the altered position of the Horn in this photograph, or any other photographs. However, the unusual positioning of the warning device has now reminded me of a footplate journey between Waterford and Limerick Junction. The locomotive was an A Class, unfortunately, I cannot recall its number. However, its horn was incomplete, as far as I'm aware. Perhaps this was another CIÉ experiment! The vertical section of the warning device was in it usual place, but it lacked the horizontal horn section. The result, when used, was that it sounded exactly like a Steam Locomotives horn. The unusual, or perhaps unexpected sound emitting from the warning device turned a few heads that day. It was, for more than one reason an unusual, and pleasant journey. I am fortunate to have travelled on the footplate over the railways of Ireland .

Thank you for your assistance and agreement re the mysterious - Wing Mirrors!

GMK011 CIE 1961-04-xx Inchicore A15 TI148 Image taken from -David Dawson's Post. COPYRIGHT ERNIE's Railway Archive I have not been able to copy this photograph in Ernie's Photographs, perhaps one of our talented members can or Ernie himself? As one can see, this photograph of A15, with a goods train, is passing Inchicore Works. Locomotive A15. The point of interest to me, and I'm sure others - Has A15 been fitted with Wing Mirrors? If, YES. When and for how long did she carry these? Is this unique to A15? If not, how many other locomotives, A,B,C carried wing mirrors. Loads of question!

Interesting in more ways than one. Might these rails be cast-off from:- The Ballymena, Cushendall and Red Bay Railway was a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge railway between Ballymena and Retreat,[1] both in County Antrim, in what is now Northern Ireland. It operated from 1875 to 1940.[2] Above information from:-Ballymena, Cushendall and Red Bay Railway - Wikipedia

Thank you. So obvious. I should have remembered the CIÉ emblem, "Speed on Wheels" was irrelevantly referred to as "The Flying Snail" hence (FS). It's the excitement that gets one at my years. Will I be alive when this model is delivered? Having recently ordered rolling stock from the Lads, am I concerned? Yes. "The Department for Finance (The War Office) noticed that transaction within five minutes of my placing my order. She is more than likely to Murder me after I place this forthcoming Order. Any betting on my survival to take delivery 50/1 against? Seriously. Thank you IRM.

Good evening Gentlemen, Question. GSR800 - 800 Maedb - CIE (FS) - DCC Sound. Can you tell this aged fellow what (FS) is? I run a DCC layout at home and have Old Blarney, (an exhibition layout, presently in storage) Help Please! 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.