Mol_PMB

I can't help thinking that the proposal gets less realistic the further you read. Miniature stuff fair enough, but full-size museums are money pits and the ambitions to run heritage trains on the quay branch and beyond on the main line are a whole different level. And while Sligo is a nice town, it's a long way away from the punters in the big cities.

I see lots of them are sold out already - obviously proving popular. Here's an idea for a future run: (Photo from Neil Smith on Flickr)

That looks familiar!

Ciarán Cooney who has been doing such good work on the IRRS Flickr Archive has been recently applying his talents to the CIÉ archive photo collection, and the results can be seen here: https://archives.cie.ie/records/CIE/9/2/1 The railway images are of most relevance to us, but there are also bits of railway interest in the other sections. As yet I haven't found a way to link to individual images within each section, but there aren't too many to scroll through. Students of liveries may like the view of green diesels with black roofs in the A class folder: https://archives.cie.ie/records/CIE/9/2/1/1/1 The passenger stock section includes an unusual view of 'Silver Princess': https://archives.cie.ie/records/CIE/9/2/1/1/11 For those of us interested in coaching stock there is also a lot to appreciate in the background of other photos. For example the train naming ceremonies in 1960 show the carriage livery introduced around 1959 with black roof and numbers both ends: https://archives.cie.ie/records/CIE/9/2/1/1/14 whereas the second photo in the Christmas decorations set shows the mid-1950s green livery where the edges of the roof were green: https://archives.cie.ie/records/CIE/9/2/1/1/28 Students of wagonry will enjoy these: https://archives.cie.ie/records/CIE/9/2/1/1/19 The road freight vehicles section has some nice containers amongst other things: https://archives.cie.ie/records/CIE/9/2/1/2/10 https://archives.cie.ie/records/CIE/9/2/1/2/1 Enjoy!

They are all around Manchester Docks - New Barns area. The cars will be waiting to be exported. More in the same area, different photographer and date: I found a few more negatives I'd scanned but not yet uploaded to Flickr which also feature the Hunslets...

Those are ones in my collection where I acquired the original negs/slides. But I have more of the Hunslet 'Jazzers' that I don't own copyright for, if you need specific views. MSC Railway is my other speciality...

The LMS coach conversion with JM Design sides is gradually progressing but there are some frustrations. I’ll get this finished but I’m not sure I’ll do another this way. I had hoped the Pareto principle would apply - to get a coach 80% right for 20% of the effort, but I think I’m going to end up putting in more than 80% of the effort. Would be better to make it all in metal and I may try applying the next set of JM sides to a Comet kit instead. Still, it’s useful experience of the challenges of multi-media constructions. I’m off to Downpatrick for the long weekend, might see some of you there. When I get back I will try and make progress on the second build of the GSWR 50’ coach (including writing the instructions) and the AEC Railcar drawings. But I do have a rather full diary this autumn so please bear with me - I need this to be a hobby not a chore.

Is it one of these?

I think that's unfair on the Casino. Fry's rolling stock models are masterpieces of craftsmanship, especially considering how much had to be hand-made and hand-painted in those days. The recreation of his workbench is a nice human touch to illustrate that, also giving the opportunity to show off some of the incomplete models or what the mechanisms look like. The Casino shows off the main collection of models very well, allowing close inspection, and the models are well grouped and tell the story of his modelling as well as the development of Irish railway locos and rolling stock. The OO layout is nicely done - the cliffs are dramatic as is the central Dublin scene. And it works, apparently reliable, with a continuous sequence of trains. You may not like it, but I think 'woeful' is far too harsh, and I didn't find it disappointing. In fact I went back again for a second look.

OK, these are the rebuilds from LHCS to 80 class trailers. I assume you can look up the original vehicles in Harris. Driving cars: 752 Converted 2/1982 from BR 5516. Rebuilt again by Hunslet-Barclay Kilmarnock 9/2000, became 8752. 75 seats. 753 Converted 5/1984 from BR 5498. Became 8753 in 6/2001. 75 seats. 754 Converted 7/1988 from NIR 811. Became 8753 in 7/1999. 31 seat BDTS. Rebuilt again by Hunslet-Barclay Kilmarnock 3/2001 to 75 seat DTS. 8755 Converted 6/1999 from NIR 932 (former NIR 825) at Railcare Glasgow. 75 seats. 8756 Converted 6/1999 from NIR 933 (former BR 5577) at Railcare Glasgow. 75 seats. Intermediate cars: 774 Converted 2Q/1982 from BR 5521. 62 seats. Became 8774 in 5/1999. Rebuilt again by Hunslet-Barclay Kilmarnock 1/2001. 74 seats. 8775 Converted 4/1999 from NIR 930 (former BR 5573) at Railcare Glasgow. 76 seats. 776 Converted 6/1984 from NIR 824. 62 seats. Became 8776 in 8/1999. Rebuilt again by Hunslet-Barclay Kilmarnock 1/2001. 74 seats. 8777 Converted 4/1999 from NIR 931 (former BR 5531) at Railcare Glasgow. 76 seats. 778 Converted 1/1984 from NIR 826. 62 seats. Destroyed 7/1997. 779 Converted 7/1984 from NIR 827. 62 seats. Rebuilt again by Hunslet-Barclay Kilmarnock 8/2001, became 8779. 74 seats. 780 Converted 4/1984 from NIR 828. 62 seats. Rebuilt again by Hunslet-Barclay Kilmarnock 2/2001, became 8780. 74 seats. Hope that helps?

Many were rebuilt over the years, including the BDTS to DTS. There was also a mix of vehicles built for NIR, and those purchased secondhand from BR, so more variety of types than you would expect. Some were re-seated from 2+2 to 2+3, not always at the same time as being converted from loco hauled to railcar trailers. Some vehicles were badly damaged in collisions, explosions or fires, and received heavy rebuilds not always in the same form as the original; others were replaced instead. The story is very complex! Jonathan Allen’s book ‘35 years of NIR’ has comprehensive details.

Some clear views of goods wagons, and carriage/railcar interiors. Thanks for the link.

Many thanks all. I'll definitely visit the Caroline and take a look at the Nomadic. Might give the experience a try if I can get there early.

Without any coal to hand, what did the driver of the Unit fling at the goat? Your tales of exhibition woe despite the highest quality modelling continue to discourage me from aiming to exhibit anything of mine. I’ll just keep filling the display cabinet at home…

I agree Cultra is excellent and I’ve been 3 times over the years. Just fancied something different, but as you say I wanted to avoid too much of the tourist trap! Many thanks. I’ll see of I can get there early off the ferry. Thanks for the tip about the Caroline - I’ll look that up and see if I can fit it in.

On Friday morning I'll be arriving in Belfast on the ferry from Liverpool, and I have most of the day free until getting a late afternoon bus to Downpatrick. I was thinking about visiting the Titanic experience, which I've never been to before. They seem to have various options including the main experience or the discovery tour, plus the SS Nomadic. The website indicates that everything needs to be booked in advance. My interest in ships doesn't quite match my interest in railways, but I do have a significant interest in ships, naval architecture, marine engineering etc. I'm more into the rivets than the personal tragedies. Any recommendations as to what's the best option? Are there any other marine attractions in the vicinity? Looks like it's fairly easy to get to on the bus from City Hall? Many thanks, Mol

Getting there and back is cheap enough on the cheap and nasty airlines. I find that hotel accommodation can be reasonably priced if you're not too fussy - usually cheaper than Dublin. But eating and drinking out is expensive - best to snack from supermarkets where you can, there are some nice local brewery taps that are reasonable, and maybe just have the one pricy proper meal each day. And for transport, make best use of the regional passes, or visit a canton which offers a free travel pass for the duration of your hotel stay (Jura and Appenzell do this, others may too).

I'm sure that when I first started visiting Switzerland it was about 2.5 CHF to the pound, and prices seemed reasonable. On a recent visit I nearly bankrupted myself with a visit to the workshop and layout of this gentleman: https://www.laser-creation.net/boutique/preannonce/ But it's a super country to visit and I still have a lot of railway miles to cover there.

The LMS experimented with lots of diesel shunters in the 1930s and 1940s, on both sides of the Irish Sea. As far as I'm aware, only one of them (a Harlandic, but not this one) worked on both sides of the water.

Here's one from a copy slide in my collection, UTA livery but the side that was less commonly photographed: For a one-off rather obscure loco, I think you're doing pretty well for photos so far! Have you any plans for a model? it would be most interesting, especially in LMS crimson livery.

PS IRRS archive on Flickr has 2 photos in NCC livery, and Ernie has one. Plus some in UTA livery. https://flic.kr/p/2qEmvQX https://flic.kr/p/2pwiWVb https://flic.kr/p/2pZjzF6

The book ‘Locomotives of the LMS NCC’ (William Scott) includes a diagram of this loco with basic dimensions. For those wondering, it’s the Harlandic 0-6-0 diesel with jackshaft drive. The only photo of it in that book is in UTA livery but the diagram shows the NCC lettering arrangement. The manufacturer’s plate on the front read HARLANDIC. The book ‘The LMS in Ireland’ (Mark Kennedy) has two excellent photos of it in use in NCC times in 1937. That shows the lining and it appears that the main colour is lighter than the edging colour. The two photos are credited to the Harland&Wolff collection at the UFTM. Hired by the NCC from H&W in 1937 and purchased in 1941. Used primarily for shunting in Belfast. It saw little use after March 1966 and was scrapped in 1970.

Ah, I must have got my wires crossed then. I’m sure I read it somewhere but my memory isn’t as good as it once was. Sorry for the confusion.

Latterly the Cashel branch was operated by CIE railbus 2508. How was that turned?

On past experience, a few extras of each type often appear for sale a few weeks after delivery - presumably unpaid pre-orders. It’s a gamble though. I do think there would be a market for a re-run of grey/blue BDTS (not generator) vehicles, these seem very scarce. Or even the grey/white/blue livery which at least one of them carried. Of course there was also the unique BDTF - though I’m not sure if that would need a different tooling.