Flying Snail

They would have been standard class. Here's a picture from 2006 on a Mark 2d interior .. apart from the logo its pretty much the same as 1990

Thats a most excellent reason for your decision As a child, I was extremely disappointed the first time I came across a Mark 3 in the 80s when I saw that they hadn't got the old-style seats with the padded arm rests at the end and the leatherette headrests that I had being used to on my trips to Dublin in the Mark 2s

Hi MAL, and welcome aboard! Dublin - Cork would be considered the premier route in terms of allocation of rolling stock, so my bet would be on Mk 3s for your trip to Dublin. Can you remember anything about the interior of the carriages? If they were bench type seating and wood veneer then they were Mk 2s (at least in standard class anyhow), but individual seats with a cream/blue interior would be Mk 3s. The Mk 3s had automatic doors also if that jogs your memory. As for your trip back down to Cork they could very well have been Cravens. Park Royals were still around in 1990, but I don't think they would have still been on the Dublin - Cork route in 1990 and I don't think that the Mk 2 air-brakes had arrived by then (someone more knowledgeable than me can confirm)

Yes please! Wouldn't be right not to honour the oldest heritage railway in Ireland. Hon Laois .. there's a C&L connection in that picture too!

Coincidently, Ernie has just posted a picture of Ballinrobe in 1959 here A fine stone building it is too!

Looking forward to seeing this develop ... and maybe even on the exhibition circuit too. Good luck with it!

Seems that way to me too ... I picked up 088 from them (a year ago mind) for less than half the price they had 078 up for

Well £299 is pricey to begin with, and there will be postage to Ireland (think its about a fiver if I recall correctly), so its too pricey for me .... but in fairness to Hattons they are VAT registered for Ireland so there shouldn't be any customs charges or An Post charges to worry about But someone somewhere thinks its worth it

It can easily happen - I often see G&SWR images coming up when I search for GS&WR online (and yep, the editor would have expected to be able to rely on Getty Images too). And as I said above, it's a fascinating read - the author clearly knows his subject.

Interesting article up on RTÉ'S website about Irish railways north and south in 1922/23 - civil war disruption, strikes etc all feature. Article here: https://www.rte.ie/history/irish-free-state/2022/1123/1337904-the-conflict-on-irish-railways-1922-23/ Fascinating read ... only let down by this pic <ahem, ahem> of a Great Southern & Western Railway steam locomotive at the company's Inchicore Works, Dublin, Ireland in 1916. But apart from that Scottish diversion, a fascinating read!

There was more than one though, wasn't there? I don't know, were they all mares? But getting back on track ... I think DoctorPan is probably right. I'd say a Jeep - IRM like to be able to view and measure the prototype plus there's plenty of photos available of them in service. Could then be leveraged for an NCC Mogul and maybe elements of it for an LMS project????

I'd wager my winnings from the WCIR bet on it being one of the other new announcements... but surely the only time steam was associated with that form of traction was after Dick had done his/her business on a cold morning???

Absolutely ... its a no brainer! Go nice with the WCIR 4-wheeler triple packs

Another question for the learned gentlemen here ... this time re the liveries chosen by OO Works for 186 and 179: Grey with Black Smokebox. My understanding is that all-over grey would have been the most common livery, where there many turned out grey with black smokeboxes? Also, how common was black which I see in another option for all four locos? (I gather that after a while they probably all looked black regardless of the original livery)

Am I right that the Z boiler is from the 1930s on, so this is the J15 in its most 'modern' guise?

Thats a very nice looking scene indeed! Did you have long to wait between ordering and dispatch from Silverfox?

Very interesting project - do you mind me asking what laser cutter are you using? When you mentioned decals, I wondered if you considered any of the vinyl cutters like the Cricut Maker etc.? I presume the laser cutter will give you more options around materials to cut ....

Thats another great deal! Looking at the links above @Warbonnet - it looks like they're already live now?

Very nice indeed - I especially like the signal cabin and point rodding.

I've some of Mayner's wagons (brake van and open) and they are to a very high standard. I also purchased some of @leslie10646 's 00 kits (corrugated open, GSWR van and CIE cattle wagon) at Raheny. I haven't made them up yet, but again, there's very good detail and they come with all components required. Btw Leslie: have you any more beets?? I'm very happy to recommend both (although there's the very big caveat that I'm only beginning my journey as a modeller)

nice ... very nice. Looking forward to these!!

Indeed - and the WCIR 4-wheelers were famous ... as been the worst carriages in Ireland! I've found the two HMRS drawings but can't get any decent photos of WCIR carriages or wagons!

Yes, drawings of a WCIR 4-wheeler exist! The HMRS can provide digital drawings for a Second Class Carraige built by the Metropolitan Railway Carriage & Wagon Company in 1878 - 4 Compartments, 14ft w/b, 25ft o/b https://hmrs.org.uk/hmrs-21237--second-class--4-compartments--14ft-w-b--25ft-o-b.html They also have drawings for a third class 6-wheeler

Fingers crossed - it would be great to see them in GSR and GWSR liveries too. I've pre-ordered a few (well actually I've ordered a lot) to do my bit ... and no doubt Mrs. Snail will be delighted to hear that she's got my present for Christmas '23 sorted already!