Patrick Davey

Lovely work Alan!

Mighty stuff Kevin!

Superb!

Lovely stuff and nothing wrong with the photos either!

Ok then.....just one more look at No. 74 I have an insane fortnight of work stuff ahead so hopefully after that I can start working on the one video I want to produce more than any other.....a 'pure' Great Northern one, featuring: Steam locos: U class No. 205, UG class No. 147, T2 class No. 64 & PP class No. 74 BUT railcar No. 714 (I also have 2 AEC sets but they're not chipped yet....) GNR mahogany-liveried carriages Loads of GNR wagons 4 GNR buses........

Thanks David - my role was very small though, Mr. @Tullygrainey is the star in this one

No. 74 now has her identity confirmed. I forgot that the Railtec transfer sheet has only 2 number 4s so I’ve ordered another sheet so I can complete the numbering on the buffer beams. A big shout out to Steve at Railtec for his very prompt and courteous service. David @Galteemore has previously mentioned the GNR’s red letter shading so I might look at adding that if I feel brave enough!

Realism on a new level (literally!)

Super photo of Randalstown, only a few months left when this was taken. Thankfully the station survives in good condition.

Nice!

Along with the famous story about my own No. 74

Magnificent photos! A lot of effort must have gone into planning, taking and editing this huge resource, many thanks for that!!

Lucky friend!

Saw that, but no way I could manage that level of fine painting!

So I was all set to get numbering No. 74 when I saw that I had no number 4s left - I'm using the Railtec GNR(I) railcar decal sheet and it only has 2 number 4s and I used them on the renumbering of my OO Works UG. Another sheet has been ordered but I went ahead and lettered the tender in the meantime.

Lovely stuff John - always enjoy these updates.

Started painting the red buffer beams and matt black on the smokebox and running plate.

Black more or less done - the white metal castings can sometimes cause difficulties with coverage, but overall I’m pretty happy with the finish. Next will be the red on the buffer beams and possibly a few other small parts picked out, then transfers, before she returns to Alan for some final weathering and tightening up. The builder plate was a small red oval, located halfway along the running plate in front of the leading driving wheel splasher, so I may explore options for replicating this, although my eyesight might protest The smokebox and running plate will be matt black too.

They are the one loco more than any other that scream 'GNR' to me! Imagine a warm summer morning in 1955, as this magnificent machine simmers at Dundalk as she prepares to take her semi-fast service to Omagh onto the Irish North. She gently rounds the curve away from the main line, leaves Co. Louth and enters Co. Monaghan, calling at all stations and halts to Clones, where she must await the corresponding up service (hauled by sister No. 75) before heading off into Co. Fermanagh, calling at all stations to Enniskillen, then at Bundoran Junction she enters Co. Tyrone and eventually arrives at Omagh, several hours after leaving Dundalk......

Thanks Alan - mighty building sir!

PP No. 74 has left Clogherhead and entered the paint shop at Dundalk. These photos show the result of day 1 in the care of the GNR’s master painters (in reality, me with a rattle can)

Interestingly the first of the 800s to sell out on pre-order is not the class leader!

A mighty collection. And a mighty layout.

Wow

At first glance it might seem like the loco from a ghost train but it’s actually GNR PP No. 74 built by Alan Nixon @Tullygrainey from a Studio Scale Models metal kit, and looking rather fine in grey primer. Alan has done his usual amazing job and the locomotive has been finished to perfection - she runs exceptionally well on Clogherhead, and even the ancient double slip doesn’t cause her too much difficulty. I am going to spray paint the livery shortly, GNR plain black, then apply the lettering, before she heads back to Alan for some basic weathering. A work of art! With sincere thanks to Alan for this - I have long dreamt of having a GNR PP loco and here she is!