Mol_PMB

Yes, that’s correct, the GSR type is an earlier design. The GSR one is also articulated. For those wanting a more accurate model of a GSR railcar the NIU models print would be a better starting point, with adjustments to lower the ride height and buffer positions. However, the Heljan model captures the style of these railcars pretty well and is RTR in almost the right livery at a good price.

What years are you interested in? I have a fair few from the 60s 70s and 80s. Actually I should clarify that. I have a good selection of CIE working timetables but they don’t give times all the way to Derry. I think I only have one NIR WTT.

Eeyore, perhaps?

Very good! Sounds spot on. I should read more carefully.

That’s looking excellent and you have done a great job in capturing the little details. One of the differences between the faces of the A and C class is the relative position of the cab front and the bufferbeam, with the footplating overhanging the bufferbeam on the C, while on the A the cab front is set back a bit. Looks like you’ve got that relationship correct but perhaps need some thin metal shim for the overhang? Excellent work, anyway. I’m taking the easy way out and waiting for IRM to make one, but I do hope they hurry up!

For sale on eBay at present, a nice 1956 image showing a suburban train at Bray, comprising 3 Park Royals and 3 older wooden-bodied bogie compartment coaches. No need for a heating van here as there's a kettle on the front. The Park Royals have the livery variant where the roof and the upper part of the end are black; this was applied to some coaches but by no means all. Some had entirely green ends, while others later had entirely black ends. 6 x 9 Railway Negative: CIE 346 at Bray, Ireland 17/06/1956 LN-510 | eBay UK

My plan is to order the etches next week, once I've been to the IRRS Archives to check I'm not missing any crucial information on these. I have also been studying the Irish Railfans News recently, which has confirmed that it was 841 in the last passenger train on the West Cork. I'm hoping that if I produce etches for 841 and 2660, then IRM will complete the set with the Park Royal (which I can renumber as 1410) and the AEC railcar 2641 (fingers crossed we get one eventually). That would be a nice characterful train! If I'm interpreting the old photos and film correctly, I think that on that day in 1961, 2641 and 841 were still in medium/dark green, while 2660 and 1410 were freshly painted in light green. I'm still trying to fully understand the early 1950s liveries but I am gradually building up contemporary evidence to the different styles and colours. Roof and end colours have turned out to be more interesting than I had first thought...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/306888935989

The Heljan Sentinel model isn't exactly right but has the right character and wouldn't look out of place. It's available in LMS livery which could be easily tweaked to GSR The NiU models kit is much closer to the GSR type (still not identical, but you have to look carefully to spot the differences), but of course it needs building and painting. Because it's a kit it may be possible to kitbash it slightly into an even closer representation. NIU3002 - LNER (Diagram 89) Sentinel Rail Car - OO Gauge - AVAILABLE AT END OF JANUARY I reckon it would look pretty good in CIE green. But I've got far too much in the kit stash already!

Many thanks Colin. Early days yet, I haven’t ordered the trial etches yet. In due course I’ll illustrate the build on here (as I did with the E401 class) to give people an idea of the build process as well as the finished result.

They seem to be preparing to list others though, there are more categories (such as the 48DS) even if there’s nothing in them yet.

It looks like the next container from Denmark is being unpacked and listed…

Thanks John, most interesting. The Clayton carriage portions ended up on the W&T, the Sentinels seem to have been a bit ore successful in service but may not have had that subsequent life as hauled stock? There's a detailed article on the LNER ones here, which also mentions some of the issues with performance and reliability: LNER Encyclopedia: The Sentinel Steam Railcars

The Drumms must have been the only vehicles in Ireland to have operated with steam, diesel and electric traction. I have now found two photos of them in use as AEC railcar intermediates.

Super - many thanks Ernie! In the first photo, note the GSWR arc-roof gangwayed open coach on the left, in the 2-colour livery. Just visible behind it is what looks like one of the 1930s GSR steel-panelled coaches, but given the 1934 photo date I'm not 100% certain. The portrait of luggage composite 501 is nice; note that this is one of the 6-wheelers converted to 4 wheels. I'm gradually gathering more data on these. The last photo shows a wonderful variety of goods vans - all shapes, sizes and styles.

I’m with you in the minority, much preferring written words and still images. My brain likes to consume the information at its own pace rather than being forced by the pace of the video. I might re-read a paragraph several times and then make some notes, or spend ages looking at the details in the background of a photo. Or just turn the page past a bit I’m not interested in. When I have to watch youtube I’m forever pausing or fast-forwarding. I could go on but we’re probably way off topic already.

RPSI Mk2s could be worth an offer… https://ebay.us/m/yN100d

Now I have a vision of people worshipping at the altar of Rails of Sheffield... Or perhaps they're more like one of those American TV preachers - they certainly seem to get plenty of suckers sending them money...

Great to see the team growing! Will be interesting to see which Irish tram Scott manages to get into the range...

I'm not tempted by the big diesels I'm afraid, but my resolve might weaken for a Heljan 48DS to accompany my AS 88DS. If the price was right.

If you drum up enough support then I suppose they might cell enough to make it worthwhile. It would depend how much they charge. These steam railcars are too early for me, but tempting!

A good find! Yes, those pics show one of the GSR cars - it looks like 357. Interesting to hear about the use in West Cork - maybe Kinsale? The NIU Models kit looks very close to the GSR type.

Or there is this: NIU3002 - LNER (Diagram 89) Sentinel Rail Car - OO Gauge - AVAILABLE AT END OF JANUARY

There's an IRRS photo of 355 here: HDF_GSR_355_Limerick_1935 | [Photographer: Harold Fayle] Thi… | Flickr The book 'Great Southern Railways' (Murray) has a photo of one on page 77; that shows the other side (but the same end) There are strong styling similarities but many detail differences, not least that the GSR cars (and earlier LNER cars) were articulated, while the later ones (as modelled by Heljan) have a one-piece carbody. Nevertheless, the LMS-liveried model with a change of lettering probably wouldn't look out of place on a GSR layout.

There's a fairly decent dimensioned diagram of the GSR railcars in the IRRS archive, which I have a scan of. They were numbers 354, 355, 356, 357, all built in 1927. 355 and 356 seem to have survived to at least 1942, but had been withdrawn by 1950. The other two went earlier. They were similar to the contemporary Diagram 88 LNER vehicles, but I think the Heljan model represents a slightly later variant - Diagram 96/97.