Lough Erne

For general interest regarding Bogie springs on the later B4 bogies found under the mk2 coaches the general accepted colour scheme is/was as follows Primary - Red Secondary Outer Bolster Spring - White Secondary Inner Bolster Spring - Red For interest, the earlier Craven B4 Bogies were Primary - Tan/Orange Secondary - Brownish

Just seeing this now. For info. the earlier type of Dutch Van that supplied steam are fitted with 2 boilers rather than 3. On the model the boiler visible through the third window (the window with 'rpsi' underneath) is a storage area.

In a similar vein, If you have the time type sri lanka steam crane into youtube, to see their cowans 1950's built steam cranes in action over the last few years.

Looks like JD and the lads have made excellent progress in such a short timescale, which is brilliant to see. The pway also seems to be taking shape as well, and I imagine it will not be long before we see photos of self propelled vehicles on the line? I will definitely need to arrange a visit to see progress in due course. As an aside, I see that the ground in the station area also seems quite firm as well, which will be beneficial for unloading/ loading vehicles of either gauge in due course.

As David says vacuum tables were common in Britain, not so much over here - Connolly may be unique in this regard on the Island. The GNRI Connolly table today is electronically operated. For info the ex CSD table, now at whitehead was operated with winding handles and there are plans to either motorise it with electricity or potentially vacuum using a vacuum motor sourced by the late Sullivan Boomer. So there may yet be a second!, but I suspect electricity will win out as being more practical.

Very interesting, however it does seem very hard to place with the shape and style of the beading, in addition to the recessed windows seen on the exterior. Possibly suggests a cleminson design though not certain. If you can grab a few dimensions it would really help. I was leaning towards Macroom though I am not convinced at this stage. I wonder is it ex W&T? Also what may give us a clue would be if there are any original door handles and external handles in place, as well as light fittings - you may find initials stamped on these. The door hinges may also have initials stamped into them as well.

Great to see that so much progress has been made in such a short period of time. What's the total length of 3ft laid now do you know?

Great, I await with interest and look forward to hearing more. Meanwhile I'll let my imagination wander as to what 'it' could be !

Hi ttc0169 Great progress. Out of interest what is the logic of laying the 3ft stuff first, if it is to be replaced by 5ft3? I assume that it is to get something on the ground quickly to draw the crowds? Regards LE.

Gas generally was carried in longitudinal tanks as noted by Galteemore - you can see still see the tanks on the RPSI's 861. (Worth noting that 861 has never been lit by electricity in all of its years of traffic !). I think Downpatricks 836 may have been fitted with Gas at least initially when it was restored but is now electric. As noted gas was usually contained in long cylinders parallel to the track mounted to the underframe of the carriages. I imagine on a six wheeler the tank was roughly 1.5ft dia x 5/6ft or so. Depending on the level of detail you wish to go into there would be a gauge mounted on the solebar of the chassis above the tank. LE

In reply to an earlier query, the DBSO trailer is currently sitting on B5 bogies not B4s.

I wonder if it is the work of Mr Montgomery of Bray, Co Wicklow? MM - He built the model of No 800 which is currently on display in the Ulster Museum.

No problem.

Hi Peter You will find your answers in the Traffic Signs Manual Ireland (Chapter 7). The link below will tell you width of line and type based on location, design speed etc https://assets.gov.ie/34719/d2683724881f4477bb2babe78c282e6f.pdf If you have any queries, post them

Great photo of the office, though it seems to be uncharacteristically messy! Was it taken post closure?

Great photos. Re the inspection bike, what is the tube attached to the bike for, drawings, umbrella, staff? Speaking of one way/ single line working I remember chatting to HB over afternoon tea a few years ago recounting a tale of meeting an unscheduled train on the C&L section and having to lift the bike off the line sharpish!

Thurles?

looks like a BNCR brake - see pg68 of Des Coakhams book. 1878 origin apparently.

For my sins, I have had the pleasure of inspecting the inside of some railway water tanks over the years. The GN and the NCC favoured tanks with subtle curves at the bottom and the corners - this can be seen to some effect in the tank kit at whitehead - ex portrush. Murrayec is correct, that less is very much more, and each panel, making up the tank (usually cast iron grouted and bolted together) would be connected to the floor panels with tie bars at approx 30-40 degrees, with additional horizontal tie bars in the corners - highlighted yellow in the sketch above. The tie-bars would usually be solid rod, bolted to brackets cast into the panels making up the tank. Regards LE

Derailed, Yes that is a trailer (poss no 5, I can't find my notes) from the Bessbrook and Newry. It is at whitehead for detailed examination, costing and hopefully overhaul to original condition. It seems to be in reasonably sound condition and appears to have had its floor sympathetically rebuilt/ renewed at some time also. A private individual/ group are funding its overhaul. Currently it is sitting on the ex Dundalk boiler trolley in a frame specially built for it (bolts onto original underframe) to make life easy for lifting/ moving it around.

Without a shadow of a doubt, they will not be stored at whitehead! From what I've heard it will be a Dublin based location - however either BBC/ some local rag reported the sale of the BallyKelly MOD site and the buyer has stated that they may build a 'rail carriage facility' on site. This is perhaps where the Northern aspect comes in. It may well be the Mivan group perhaps looking to act as some form of rail care sub-contractor - after all they are doing the internal refurb of the mk3s. Pure speculation of course.

Speaking of ugly vehicles, I think the Belmond butchered mk3 observation carriage will even make a castle class look pleasing to the eye

For interest, the majority of vehicles had one cylinder per bogie, however it is not unknown for some vehicles to have 2 per bogie, just to make the life of the person overhauling the cylinders that bit more awkward.

JB Beet photos were taken on 22/10/05. Photo shows the 09 35 ex Wellington Bridge beet consisting of 079 and 13 bogies

The buffer when retracted is sprung as it is against the inner buffer housing which provides the resistance force as it is mounted against a stop plate with the standard rubber and steel disc arrangement. When extended, the saddle is placed on the buffer shank and it effectively acts as an extension of the inner buffer housing and is again sprung as before. Hope this makes sense.