josefstadt

As mentioned previously, in the Roscommon train crash thread, February 1974 was not a good month for CIÉ with two serious derailments - the Roscommon one on the 16th of the month and a potentially more serious one at Longford on the 27th. Whereas the Roscommon crash featured a goods train, the one on the outskirts of Longford town involved a passenger train, the 07:45 from Sligo to Dublin. During the early hours of the morning the bridge carrying the railway across what is now the N63 road was struck by a large container loaded on a lorry. The lorry driver reported the incident to the Gardaí who, in turn, notified CIÉ. However, due to a mix up the wrong bridge was examined by permanent way staff and, as no damage was found, the all clear was given. The bridge and track were subsequently found to be some 13 inches out of alignment. The train consisted of locomotive A36R with 3106 (4-w Heating/Luggage Van), 1907 (Bk/Std), 1513 (Std), 1508 (Std), 2416 (Cafeteria), 2174(Composite) and 3161 (‘Dutch’ Van). The train was carrying 24 passengers and 3 crew. The locomotive derailed to the left as it crossed the bridge and ended up on its side at the foot of the embankment. The bodywork of 3106 was completely destroyed, while 1907 was severely damaged. The remainder of the train stayed upright, with all vehicles except 2174 and 3161 being derailed. Fortunately there were no major injuries largely due to there being no passengers in the two carriages that went down the embankment. Only the driver was removed to hospital, for precautionary reasons. One passenger received medical attention at Longford station but was fit enough to continue their journey to Dublin. Recovery work involved re-railing 1508 and 2416 which, along with 2174 and 3161, were brought to Dromod. 1513 was lifted by the Inchicore and Limerick steam cranes and brought to Longford, as was the chassis of 3106. Following the removal of the carriages and vans, the embankment was repaired and the line reopened on the evening of 4 March. A36R, which had come to rest in a very awkward position, was not recovered until the weekend of 4 / 5 May, by which time a large amount of the locomotive’s brass and copper had been removed by persons from a local ‘caravan park’! Until the evening of 4 March, train services operated Dublin-Longford and Dromod-Sligo, with bus transfers Longford-Dromod. 232 is running round its train in Longford after arriving with the morning train from Dublin. A59R brought the Inchicore steam crane to the Dublin side of the derailment site. The support coaches for the crane (sorry don’t have a better pic of them) were of GS&WR origin. The coach seen at right angles to the line is 1907. Work in progress on recovering Cravens Standard 1508. The steel hawser is attached to the carriage’s draw-hook at this end and to the one on A10R at the other end. Temporary rails were placed under the wheels of 1508 and the locomotive then dragged the carriage up the slope and back on to the running line (I presume that a risk analysis of the procedure was carried out!!!). A10R ready to drag 1508 up the embankment. The line of temporary rails can just be seen between the rear of the loco and the man in the white coat. The trackwork and embankment where A10R is standing has already been repaired at this stage to facilitate recovery operations. The smoke rising above 1508 is from the Inchicore steam crane. A36R lies on its side at the foot of the embankment. Above it are 1907 and 1513 and the remains of 3106. A general view of the site from the northern side of the line. From the left are: one of the Inchicore support coaches, the Inchicore steam crane, 1907, 1513 and 1508, with A36R at the foot of the embankment. A10R dragging 1508 up the embankment. The hawser connecting the locomotive to the carriage can be clearly seen. The staff controlling the operation are anxiously watching the wheels of 1508 to ensure they remain on the temporary rails. The Inchicore steam crane preparing to lift one end of 1513 so that it can be separated from 1907. Hope you enjoy the photos.

Transport Research Associates produced 'GSWR Carriage Diagrams' in 1975. This covers all the GS&WR stock still in existance in 1924 immediately before the the amalgamation which resulted in the formation of the GSR. The volume includes not only coaching stock vehicles (carriages, restaurant cars, luggage and brake vans) but also other vehicles which, because they were vacuum braked, could run in passenger trains (horse boxes, carriage trucks, fish vans etc). A lot of these vehicles lasted into the 1960s and some even were not withdrawan until the 1970s. Each class of vehicle has a page devoted to it. Included are a drawing of one side and one end of the vehicle, as well as a plan view of the interior. There is also a table of dimensions and seating. Also included are details of build and withdrawal dates for each vehicle. - most useful for deciding which vehicles would be appropriate for a particular era. I'd say this would be hard to find now but the IRRS would most probably have one which could be referenced.

Why not A class? If I remember correctly A was for locomotives over 1,000 hp (or was it 1,200 hp?). So A71 - A88. H class would have been for something less powerful than a Deutz. A horse and cart maybe?

No, they are still the 071 class. But if you want to call them the '92600117071' class, that's up to you!

My condolences to you and all your family Eamonn at this sad time

Stephen deserves a huge vote of thanks for setting up the site as Westy says. Thanks in no small way is due to all those dedicated people who help run the site and also to all those who share their extensive knowledge with the rest of us. And finally thanks is due to all those who1!!! post on the site, be it serious or banter. Collectively you have made it a fantastic site to be a member of. Thanks to one and all!

Sorry about that Noel. Hopefully Mayo will bounce back and achieve the standard set by Tara Junction!

Maybe one could use a T scale motor bogie to provide movement ......!

Can't wait to see this develop.It is an excellent concept - as you say great variety of stock operating to and from this station over the years. Even had beet trains through the loop line platforms in 1996.

Now where's 112 when its needed?

The only flying snail that would have been seen on the Austrian narrow gauge would have been a mollusc dropped by a passing bird!

Three brilliant videos Anthony and thanks for sharing them. They show off your fantastic models and modelling skills to perfection. On what part of the layout were the scenes shot?

Fantastic concept and workmanship. And of course work will never notice anything is amiss when you return those folders!

Couldn't disagree more. There are plenty of posts about modelling Irish railways - Kirley Junction, Patrick's Layout, Modelling Bord na Mona, Tara Junction, Amiens Street Terminus, JM Design's Tin / Heating vans, 33lima's NIR 80-Class DEMU, murrayec's DART units, Riversuir's Tara wagons and so on. If you want to remove all the things you list the people like Noel from Tara Jct wouldn't be able to include references to his road vehicles which add so much to his layout's appeal. If you dont like the non railway subjects then you don't have to look at those sub-forums. The inclusion of non-railway subjects doesn't diminish the amount of Irish failway models that the site can feature. It is people who are modelling Irish railways who are not posting updates, pictures etc of their models and layouts who diminish the amount of coverage of the subject on the site. We haven't seen any postings from Ballykay recently and Mark how about a look at your layout?

There are even people posting about aircraft now!! As Glenderg says what ever your interest then someone else here will share it. Also so many aspects of railway modelling are not related to a specific era, system or country - eg making scenery, track laying tips, scratch building techniques, wiring the layout etc.

Firstly, thanks to all those who facilitated the setting up of this sub-forum. I hope I didn't step on any toes when I mentioned just one person previously. My oldest surviving model aircraft is a Tomiyama model of an Aer Lingus Boeing 707 / 720 type. I can't remember exactly when I got this but it must have been around the time that Aer Lingus put the first of its Boeings into service, 1960, and I don't know whether it was bought here or was brought from overseas. A neat feature was that when the radio aerial on the roof was moved forwards and backwards the cabin doors opened and closed. When the doors were open a stewardess coud be seen in each doorway and no passengers could be seen in the cabin windows. However when the doors closed images of passengers appeared at the windows! I don't know what scale the model is (or if it is even to scale. It is about 14 inches nose to tail and the wingspan is just under 14 inches. It is definately a toy rather than a detailed model. The undercarriage is completely toy like with the main wheels connected to a gearbox which makes a loud whirring sound when the plane is pushed along. Also the plane's registration, EI-AET, never existed in the Aer Lingus fleet. I'm wondering, has anybody else come across this model (toy)?

They were converted from DC-4 / C-54 aircraft by Aviation Traders Ltd in Southend. I wonder would Stephen consider an aviation sub-forum, possibly in the 'Railway related Modelling' section? After all there has been in the past close connections between railways an airlines, eg Railway Air Services in Britain, which, in addition to Imperial Airways, had one director from each of the 'Big Four' railway companies.

If he is I hope he knows more than 'I can't do it' !! That seems to be the mantra of the players.

I think that two passes was originally intended for all planes. But I think that you are right about the third being to fill in gaps.

Does anyone else think that the one saying 'I can't do it' sounds a bit like a certain well known soccer player from that part of the world?

Hi Joe, I also have some aircraft models. I tend to collect the ones that are sold in flight, especially if there is a model of the aircraft I'm actually travelling on and it is an unusual type or airline. I recently picked up a model of an Aer Lingus Carvair (EI-AMP) in a shop in Nassau St. I flew in one of these from Cherburg to DUB way back in 1964!

An excellent afternoon, especially as the weather remained kind. Pity some of the smaller craft couldn't partake due to the wind but there was a great selection of 'heavies', culminating with the A380 of course. I can see great potential for Tara Junction, Amiens Street, Kirley Jct etc having scale models hanging from the ceiling!

4 piece Executive train for the victorious Mayo team? Want to be careful that carriage control don't pull this special and send it to Parnell Park instead!

I'd say 'Pat'.

Ok, I’ll accept that IÉ has the loop platform listed, but it can’t be used as a platform as there is no bridge to it. That is why one of the Limerick-Ballybrophy services in the last timetable ran through Roscrea without stopping as the main platform was occupied by a train going towards Limerick. Talking of the 2014 IÉ Network Statement. I see that the photo on the front cover is of a train of cement bubbles heading towards North Wall. Not the most up to date photo!