StevieB

Presumably wagons dropped off in the loop were attached to the branch train here for onward transmission down the branch and vice versa for traffic off the branch. There is also a siding alongside the loop. I wonder what was its purpose? It must have been a fascinating place to sit and watch train movements. Stephen

It doesn’t seem enough to say that they are up to the usual standard. I guess I’ll just have to be patient. Stephen

The UK version of the story about whether to keep diesel locos running or not revolves around how much power is taken from the battery to start the diesel engine. Apparently it would take many hours to recharge it. Sounds plausible but not a very green approach these days. Stephen

A lovely bit of fiction. Stephen

I think I’m correct in saying that, if the railway had been built between Bundoran and Sligo, as part of the original proposal to link Enniskillen and Sligo, there would have been no need for the SLNCR. A joint station in Sligo would have been served by three of Ireland’s railways, GSWR, MGWR and GNR. Just think of the modelling potential that would have been. We would need some more of Roderick Bruce’s lovely U’s and UG’s to provide the GNR train service, preferably the earlier versions. Stephen

I’ve always had the mad idea about the Maunsell Society rebuilding one of their U’s into a K1a to relieve the chronic shortage of mainline steam in Ireland. Stephen

Let’s hope so. Stephen

Some good stuff there. Stephen

I know there’s another at the National Tramway Museum at Crich in Derbyshire, so how many survived the cutter’s torch? Stephen

Lovely stuff there Jonathan. Stephen

Another example of American’s doing things differently, which is not to say that there is anything wrong with that. Stephen

Interesting take on uncoupling. Stephen

I know that 00 Works have been approached in the past about limited re-runs and said no! I don’t know what the production run is but it would need guaranteed sales to have any chance. I would certainly love to have two U’s and another UG. Stephen

Just like those running on the Swansea and Mumbles Railway. Stephen

Is that the one which is at the National Tramway Museum, Crich? Stephen

Thanks for that piece of information. Stephen

I so:agree with the last comment re a cab ride along the line. Stephen

Lubbly jubbly. Stephen

Absolutely fascinating stuff. Can we have some more, please? Stephen

As a UK resident, can I ask if VAT is payable on secondhand goods sold into ROI or is it just a sly way of charging import duty?

Whenever I see hidden sidings of this order, I know I am in for a treat in terms of number and length of trains operating. Stephen

How lovely just to be able to stand by the lineside and watch the trains go by. Stephen

I first came across the odd/even number conundrum studying civil engineering, when the argument in favour of odd numbers was that the eye had something to rest on in the middle eg an odd number of arches in an overbridge. Stephen

Sligo would have been even more interesting had the GNR(I) extended its Bundoran branch to Sligo as originally intended in the Act of Parliament. However, that would, in all probability, have rendered the subsequent SLNCR line to Sligo unnecessary. One can but dream of the endless possibilities. Stephen

There always seems to be plenty available on eBay. They may be an old design/model but an interesting fact is that they run through code 75 pointwork no trouble at all. Stephen