StevieB

We live in interesting times. Despite what Boris said, it is not a free trade agreement between UK and EU as most of us would understand it. It’s going to be a ‘buyer beware’ situation from now on to find out whether you are paying the retailer all taxes and duties or the postman. My wife and I found out a long time ago that it’s so much nicer to pay everything upfront rather than getting a demand from the postman for money before delivery takes place. Nevertheless, you have to feel for the little man in all this. Politicians never life easy! Stephen

PM sent. Stephen

There were a good many ex BR mk2 coaches in their various guises that ran in the two railway systems in Ireland, not just the mk2 TSO’s that were available from Murphy Models. Producing some of them in both IR/IE and RPSI liveries would make for greater variety and accuracy. Stephen

Am I correct in thinking that the K1a was the Irish version of the Maunsell U class, with the boiler raised a few inches to take account of the increased size of the driving wheels? Stephen

We’ll have to hope that IRM’s next diesel is the C class, and that they follow Accurascale and produce their first steam loco the J15 class. Stephen

Simply delightful. Stephen

Am I right in thinking that the real Grand Hibernian has stopped running? I wonder what the owners will do with their mk3’s. As no-one wanted them following withdrawal by IE, I can’t see anyone else wanting them now. Stephen

My mistake. I only saw the date at the very top of the article. Let’s hope the climate change agenda is a positive force in favour of railways. Stephen

Interesting piece https://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligochampion/news/sligo-dublin-rail-service-under-threat-35233693.html. Are things that bad? They must be. It appears that successive governments on both side of the Irish Sea seem unable to grasp what is required to run a successful railway system. Privatisation in the UK has as much to do with raising revenue as it does with providing a service. Stephen

Interesting piece https://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligochampion/news/sligo-dublin-rail-service-under-threat-35233693.html. Are things that bad? They must be. It appears that successive governments on both side of the Irish Sea seem unable to grasp what is required to run a successful railway system. Privatisation in the UK has as much to do with raising revenue as it does with providing a service. Stephen

And Muine Bheag. Stephen

You guys have got your act together Re all the changes post Brexit. Well done. Stephen

I bought my copy earlier this year and there was nothing to extra to pay. It was like it always had been, but I’m sure there’ll come a time when it won’t be. Happy reading. Stephen

Not quite, more domestic cats derived from the Asian leopard cat. You know you’ve got them. Stephen

If you contact Tom with your wishlist, you may be pleasantly surprised at the response. Stephen

If you google Irish freight models Facebook, you find him. This is where you reach his store. I believe his original website got hacked, or something similar, so he resorted to using Facebook. I’ve always found Tom a very good guy to deal with. Stephen

If you read the last paragraph of Mayner’s post again, you’ll see that they haven’t decided yet about RTR. Sorry about the duplication, I got called away to feed our Bengals before I had finished! Stephen

That was a good, but short series, of articles. I believe others were Killarney, Carlow and Rathmore. An interesting variety. Stephen

I was talking theoretically. I believe consideration was given during WW2 to laying a third rail on the CDJRC Derry to Strabane line so that all military traffic didn’t have to go via the NCC line. The GNRI Derry to Strabane ran through neutral Ireland. Stephen

There were three circular routes serving Belfast, the still existing one through Lisburn and Antrim, and the now closed ones through Cookstown and Derry/Londonderry. The latter still partly exists through Coleraine. Stephen

Quite delightful. Stephen

We could always hope that this Ruston is on Hornby’s radar. They were widely used at industrial locations throughout the UK, in addition to the solitary example working for CSE. Stephen

I think you’re right. It opens up great opportunities for modellers of the Irish scene. Stephen

Have you ever shown a track plan? I would be interested in seeing one. Stephen

More lovely photos of the South Waterford line. Stephen