StevieB

Bearing in mind that the current MM models cover the period post mid 70s, ie modern image, you could suggest most of the models already produced by Irish Freight Models. For what is a very limited market compared to the UK, price will be the governing factor. Stephen

Two questions: Were the four Irish Pullmans first class or third class? Are the Hornby kitchen cars a good representation of the Irish Pullmans? Many thanks. Stephen

Were the four Irish Pullmans fitted with the standard Pullman or Irish corridor connections? I would have thought the latter since they ran as individual coaches within train sets rather than as Pullman trains. Stephen

I've just got my order from Rails, 161SA and 182, both in super train livery. I wasn't quick enough to get of the black and tans before they went, but I'm pleased with what I've got. Rails customer service up to their usual high standard.

My particular interest is in the Cork and Waterford Railway that could have been built in the middle of the 19th century if only..... As far as I can see, the principal freight flows in the 70s and 80s would have been Bell Line container traffic and the Quigley factory at Ballinacoury. Many years ago there was a good article about Bell Line traffic in the IRRS journal, but to date I can't find too much about Ballinacourty traffic. There were dolomite trains from Thomastown and magnesite/oil traffic to and from Cork. However, when first proposed, there was the possibility of dolomite extraction near to Mallow as well, which would have introduced some interesting extra train. Does anyone have details of the number and timings of trains into/out of Ballinacourty? I know that trains from Cork were empty magnesite and loaded oil, but were the trains to Cork loaded magnesite and empty oil or were they run as separate trains? Wagons for the dolomite and oil traffic are already available and it is nice to see that our friends at Irish Freight Models are producing magnesite wagons, the first ones being available on eBay. Many thanks. Stephen

What is being proposed here is in line with privatisation on the UK, namely you can have competition but not directly. This why the proposed service would run from Docklands in Dublin to GVS in Belfast. Open access operators in the UK can't compete directly with franchise operators eg Grand Central from Kings Cross to Sunderland can't a stop anywhere south of York for fear of poaching passengers from the operator of ECML. Stephen

Hi Can anyone point in the direction of photos of Manulla Junction in the days up to first closure in 1963, please? To date I have only come across three in Branch Line Album vol 1, Irish Railways in Pictures MGW Line and IRRS Journal June 1977. There are plenty about after the re-opening when it was little more than a bare island platform and two running lines. Stephen