Patrick Davey

More tiny details..... I had toyed with the idea of getting a pic of an actual GNR(I) cast iron notice for this little job but in the end I just went for these neat signs from Scale Model Scenery - not totally authentic but the proper GNR(I) one might not have been readable at this scale. I fixed two of them to some short scrap pieces of rail, suitably painted, and placed them at the end of my two platforms. The others look fine affixed to brick walls. Detailing is addictive......

A TRIBUTE TO TWO FINE RAILWAYMEN It’s August 1970 and senior NIR and ex-GNR(I) driver Ned O’Hara is at Brookhall Mill with brand new Hunslet locomotive 101 ‘Eagle’, barely a month after the loco entered service. There is a public event taking place that warm summer’s day and groups of visitors are being shown around the mill. Ned notices a young lad standing on the platform, admiring and photographing the locomotive. Ned comes down from 101’s cab for a chat and then invites the lad up into the cab of the loco and shows him around, noting the look of awe in the young eyes as the lad hangs on Ned’s every word, asking questions which show an obvious understanding of everything Ned was saying. The young lad sits with Ned for some time in the cab of the locomotive, listening to incredible stories about Ned’s time as a senior driver with the famed Great Northern Railway of Ireland, driving top link expresses to Dublin with gleaming blue steam locomotives bearing names such as “Peregrine”, “Merlin” and “Boyne”, and bringing long goods trains through the Irish countryside in the dead of night to far distant places such as Cavan, Enniskillen and Strabane. The young lad is mesmerised by these almost mythical stories and he may not realise that this brief encounter with a highly respected and experienced railwayman is helping to fire a lifelong passion for railways, past and present. As he gets ready to leave, the young lad shows great courtesy and respect to Ned, thanking him for his time: “Thank you sir, perhaps one day I’ll be an engine driver just like you and I might even get to drive the steam trains too!” says the young lad with a twinkle in his eye. Ned smiles and asks “What’s your name son?” “Noel, sir.” comes the reply.

The scenes at the railway bridge in Carrickfergus were very poignant and very fitting.

RIP Noel - a wonderful railwayman and a fine gentleman. Look out for a little tribute to Noel on Brookhall Mill, coming soon.

Fish vans - interesting models, lots of scales........

Seriously impressive Philip!!!!!

Gabor Evenich is the gent concerned, again very highly recommended

Great products and great service from Gabor. For example, a package he sent me got lost in the post and he immediately sent me another, when the first one turned up weeks later, he said I could just keep both with no extra charge. And a fab range of products too. Highly recommended.

Not sure where I found this photo so apologies if I have taken it from somewhere I shouldn't have!! It is a rare view of QB station looking FROM the direction of the tunnel. I have tried to lighten it a bit and bizarrely adding a sepia filter seems to bring out more of the detail. It shows a set of steps down from the platform to the track, there looks to be an open wagon in the platform road. Two buildings in this view still remain in 2023 - the huge court building in the background and what I think is a pump house (?) which for a long time was right beside the bus entrance to Oxford Street bus station. Hopefully of interest!

Personally I derive great pleasure from following your 'ramblings' David so please keep rambling! Inspirational as always.

Always like to see updates on this thread Alan and this is a cracker - the loco is looking great and with all that lead it'll probably be able to haul 10-coach Bangor specials as well as the 2-coach Ballynahinch branch set... Colour looks great, and the cab controls will make a big difference even if they can't be seen too clearly - we all know they'll be there!! Looking forward to more!!

Fantastic layout Andy and fair play for recreating a less familiar prototype. Great job. Great photos from CN as well and a good write up, apart from a geographical slip in one of the photo captions

I looked up the videos I made on Tuesday May 15th 2018 when Noel was driving newly-restored 131 and here they are in a compilation. 968448517_NoelPlayfair.mp4

More memories of Noel: Back in February 2016 I attended the funeral of a neighbour and ex-GNR driver Ned O’Hara. I met Noel Playfair there and although I had only chatted to Noel online by that stage he recognised me and came over for a chat about Ned. He described Ned as a total gentleman, very professional and helpful to everyone he met and particularly so to the upcoming generation of railway employees, giving encouragement and advice freely and always with a smile. Familiar words over these past few days. On May 15th 2018, newly-restored GNR Q class locomotive No. 131 was doing a run up the Antrim branch and I was following the working that day, and of course Noel was driving. Here are a few screen grabs from video clips I made that day: Noel giving his customary wave to this enthusiast, as he brings 131 through Finaghy on the outward leg of the trip. 131 and train approaching the Largy Road bridge near Crumlin with the return working. Noel doing what he did best - driving a steam loco at speed along the GN mainline, again at Finaghy on the return working that day. Paul Hoy, NIR driver trainer, is the other gentleman on the footplate. RIP Noel

@Rebekah Cunningham like so many, I was absolutely gutted to learn of your Dad's passing, a truly exceptional railwayman and a genuinely nice person, I met Noel a few times and corresponded with him too and he was only ever charming, kind and very very helpful. It has been said that he was equally at home talking to his professional colleagues and also the enthusiast community and I can certainly vouch for the latter, a passionate railwayman to whom we all owe a huge debt of gratitude for his years of work keeping the steam locos running to perfection. But the biggest loss is of course to you and your family - my sincerest condolences to you all on the loss of such a wonderful person, taken far too soon. You can all be extremely proud of Noel. May he rest in peace xx

Very impressive - well done!!!

Very sad news for a great many people throughout Ireland. May he rest in peace. Very very sorry to hear this.

Truly exceptional!!!

Insanely good - I know that part of Fermanagh very well and everything, particularly the back scene, conveys a strong sense of location. Beautiful loco and, it certainly IS exquisite!!!

Updated the platform lights today, hopefully that’s all the lighting completed. Lovely old fashioned lamps from layouts4u

Speechless......

Ever since Paddy Murphy released his fantastic 121 models I have been searching for this photo: here’s my younger self, aged five, beside 121 class loco No. 132 at Killarney, in 1976 I think, having just arrived from Dublin on the Radio Train. Photo posed beside the same locomotive as produced in OO scale by Murphy Models. I wonder can anyone tell me the name of the CIÉ driver? I remember he and his colleague were very kind to me and showed me around the cab. I also remember the return journey that day was quite eventful because we were stopped at Ballybrophy due to a fire on the line beyond the station, eventually reaching Houston in the small hours.....

Almost - there is one with a whistle which I missed!!!! The photos on the Modelu website show stunningly amazingly painted figures, my attempts are very embarrassing in comparison, hence the B&W photo of the musicians on the platform.....

Ha! Not quite! https://www.modelu3d.co.uk/product-category/finescale-figures/town-and-country/1948-1968-tc/musicians-1948-1968-tc/

Some new characters at the mill...... Mr. Weaver was an ardent animal lover - here he is deep in conversation with his two cats, Merlin & Peregrine: During their lunch break, Bertie Bellows and Sammy Screech would often entertain the other mill workers with their legendary duet of concertina and fiddle. Mr. Weaver wasn't a fan though and they were generally banished to the end of the platform, where their mischievous melodies and horrible harmonies would drown out everything, even the drone of the newly-re-engined diesel locomotives: