Mayner

The UTA used a similar apparatus to CIE to exchange tokens on the single track sections of the Larne and Derry lines. The snatcher was mounted on a post in the doorway of the guards compartment of an MPD railcar, when the door was open the snatcher could be rotated outwards through the doorway to make the exchange then brought inbound and the door closed. There is a photo of the token exchange operation in "Diesel Dawn"

Up to the 1960s mechanical staff exchange on CIE was largely limited to the Dublin-Galway & Mallow Rosslare lines and mechanical staff exchange was later introduced on the Limierick Junction-Waterford and Cherryville Junction-Waterford Lines after the AEC railcars were bumped from the principal main line passenger duties. The guard normally did the staff exchange with the CIE AEC railcars, with a bell signal to the driver that he had collected the correct staff. Staff snatchers were fitted inside the guards compartment on some CIE railcars with a small roller shutter door to allow the snatcher head to swing out to make the exchange. The snatchers and roller shutter doors were removed and plated over after the railcars ceased operating main line passenger services.

The diagram looks like its from Pender & Richards book of GSWR Carriage Diagrams. The biggest drawback with this type of drawing (apart from the lack of dimensions) is that they usually show one side of the vehicle which with a side corridor coach leaves the modeler with a lot of guesswork trying to work out window & door positions and beading detail. The GAs available in the IRRS digital collection contain a lot more detail and importantly measurements and construction details.

The book just lists stock in service in 1987 with regard to 7140 the book simply states: "Number Series 7111-7194 See 7101 Series for details." 7101-7106 are listed as 72 Seat Open Standards introduced 1983. The MK3s were introduced in 3 batches the 1st batch supplied almost complete from BREL, the 2nd supplied in CKD form and assembled at Inchacore, the 3rd batch built at Inchacore to BREL design. In the absence of information from an official source, 7111-7194 are likely to from the second batch of MK3 coaches which were supplied to CIE rather than the original 1st batch of coaches. Its unlikely that the two MK3 coaches listed as 1st Class 7107 & 7110 would have been able to cover all the MK3 carriage links that required 1st class accommodation, re-classifying a Standard as a 1st would have been a quick & simple way of increasing available 1st Class accommodation. I don't not know whether 7140 entered service as a 1st and was subsequently re-classified as a Standard or the opposite occurred, it might be worth while having a trawl through IRRS Journals during that period for information on MK3 stock and carriage allocation.

Most likely its more efficient/cheaper to use HGVs to feed into Ballina Inland Port rather than to drive to Dublin and queue to await unloading. A truck is not earning money when its queuing at a a port waiting to load/unload and eats into HGV drivers hours with a knock on effect on productivity. Ballina is more or less ideal as a Hub for Dublin Port in terms of the lack of container ports in the West of Ireland and line haul distance to Dublin. There is less opportunity for this sort of operation in the South & South West with its good shipping connections from Cork, Waterford & Rosslare to the UK & Europe, though an Inland Port for Dublin in the Limerick Junction or Charleville area possibly in connection with one of the big Dairy-Cooperative potentially would have the critical mass for a rail operation but would probably create a political storm with Cork & Waterford port interests.

7140 is classed as a Standard Open In Locomotives and Rolling Stock of CIE & NIR 3rd edition. 7107 & 7110 are classed as 64 Seat 1sts. 7140 re-classified as a 1st with existing seating arrangements as demand for 1st Class travel built up following the introduction of the new trains.

Sudden burst of activity this week possibly shorter days late Autumn or the need to clear the workbench for the next project before everything gets hopelessly mixed up and parts get lost! Starting to look like locomotives 4 sets of mainframes assembled, hornblocks and bearings fitted. Smokeboxes assembled and boilers/fireboxes/smoke boxes fitted to locos. Had a bit of a panic at one stage it looked like a boiler had gone missing. Ended up with a spare smokebox if I get bored with the sloping smokebox on one of the locos! The smokeboxes are bolted rather than soldered to the boiler to ease/simplify assembly. Remaining work is to complete the loco body detailing and to assemble the loco brake gear. When these 3 locos are complete I should have 5 J15s all with different features.

The Casserley Irish collection is historically significant, I hope it goes to a good home. H C Casserley started recording Irish railways principally locos from the late 20s initially concentration on older locos that were still in service and the minor companies. Its possible that some of the negatives may be glass plate, his photos form the 20s & 30s are to a really high standard. I always assumed that Bob Clements was interested mainly in locomotives especially the Midland, his collection of ex-DSER coaches adds another dimension.

The J Classification for steam locos was part of GSR load classification system for steam locos rather than a reference to a particular class of steam loco. With the run down of steam by the late 50s the load classification system was virtually redundant the majority of steam locos apart from a reasonable number of Standard Goods had been withdrawn from service or scrapped. The J Classification included a number of classes of similar tractive effort or pulling power including a number of the larger more powerful 4-4-0s in addition to medium powered GSR, GSWR, MGWR & DSER 0-6-0 goods locos. A--- 5'6" Woolwich 2-6-0 B--- 6' Woolwich 2-6-0---500 Class--5'6"-4-6-0, 646 Class (MGWR B) 0-6-0 C---400 Class 4-6-0----ex GSWR & DSER inside cylinder 2-6-0 classes ex-MGWR Avonside 0-6-0, ex-GSWR 257 (J4) 0-6-0 E-- Medium power 4-4-0 & 0-6-0 Classes including ex-MGWR 623 Cattle Engines, DSER 442 "Standard Goods" misc. GSWR & DSER Classes. J---Ex-GSWR 321 (D2) 6'7"4-4-0 MGWR 540 & 545 Class 4-4-0s, GSR/GSWR/MGWR "Standard Goods" 710, 700,567,573,594,234, 101 L--Ex GSWR & MGWR medium 4-4-0s including 333/342 5'6" Rosslare Bogies, MGWR 536 4-4-0 & ex-WLWR 0-6-0 (Shannon) M--Ex-GSWR Coey medium power 6'7" 4-4-0s ex DSER 6'0" 4-4-0 Classes O--Ex GSWR & MGWR small 4-4-0 & 2-4-0 inc 60 Class 4-4-0 & 650 Class 2-4-0 R-Ex GSWR & MGWR light passenger classes incl Kerry Bogies, Achill Bogies and 52 Class 4-4-0 A separate classification was later introduced for the 800 Class. Theoretically the 5'6" wheeled Woolwick had the highest load classification, while the much larger 400 Class 4-6-0s were grouped in with the inside cylinder moguls and largest 0-6-0 Classes. The ex GSWR 321 & MGWR 540 & 546 Class 4-4-0s were rated at load Class J having a similar tractive effort to the various "Standard Goods" Classes . The large MGWR 4-4-0 were regularly used on cattle trains after the Woolwich took over main line passenger duties from the late 1920s. There does not appear to have been a lot to choose between the locos in power rating L&M the ex-GSWR locos were basically similar medium power 4-4-0s the smaller wheeled 333 & 342 Class had the edge in terms of higher traffic than the 6'7" version and were mainly used on steeply graded lines like the South Eastern Section and Rosslare Route while the larger wheeled locos worked the more easily graded lines in the Kingsbridge-Waterford-Limerick triangle.

Diesel workings on the West Cork seems to have been somewhat convoluted with a mixture of main line goods and passenger and branch line workings. The 1960 timetabe appears to have required 4 C Class to work the mainline goods and branch line connecting services with a single railcar set operating the main-line passenger services. The Drimoleague-Baltimore line appears to have been worked in two sections with the majority of trains originating and terminating in Skibberreen. This required two locomotives and sets of coaching stock(usually one coach!) with one C Class based at Skibbereen, the second loco appears to work down from Albert Quay on the 7:30am "Drimoleague Goods" which continues as the 1:45 Mixed Train to Skibbereen only having connected with the 12:15 Railcar from Cork. The Skibbereen loco then works to 3:00pm passenger to the Junction where it connects with the Up passenger to Cork. The mixed then departs for the Junction at 3:50pm where it transforms into the 4:40pm goods to Cork. Its possible that the Cork railcar has brought up a van or two from Bantry to attach to the 4:40 goods. CIE seems to have rotated the West Cork C Class locos between main line goods and branch line duties rather than allocating a particular loco to a specific duty. The Drimoleague Goods seems to have been used as a means of returning the Skibbereen & Clonakilty locos to Cork for servicing and maintenance avoiding light engine mileage. Clonakilty was unusual in its final years with an un-balanced passenger workings with a single down passenger working from the Junction and two Up passenger workings with connections for Cork. The branch lost its down passenger service when the branch went over to C Class working to allow the branch loco work an as-required goods on the Timoleague and Courtmacsharry branch. Personally I find trying to capture this type of operation far more interesting than watching trains go-round and round or trying to capture intensive main line operation, running a train dropping a couple of wagons off at a wayside siding or better still a branch or trip working into a main line train can keep an operator happily occupied for quite some time

Pairs of 121s regularly worked the Connolly-Sligo & Connolly Rosslare services and some Heuston-Westport services from the late 1970s into the IE era. 121s also worked occasionally in multiple with 141 or 181 sometimes with one loco in Black & Tan and the other in Supertrain Livery. The arrival of the 071 freed up more smaller locos to work in multiple to speed up services on the secondary main line routes. These trains were made up of TL (train line, steam heated) coaching stock and generator van, mainly Craven with MK2 Bredin Buffet car and occasional TL fitted Park Royal or Laminate coaches at busy periods.

For corrugated asbestos Iain Rices Plastic Structure Kits Making the Most of the Wills Scenic Series. Iain recommended wet brushing with a pale bluff colour then dusting with talc before the paint dries. This probably helps capture the chalky look of a newish asbestos roof before it discolours and darkens with moss and algae growth. I spayed the Wills asbestos sheets on the walls on my corrugated goods shed on my narrow gauge layout with grey auto primer & it seems to look the part.

The large wheeled MGWR F/GSR 623/J5 were known as the "Cattle Engines" the first true mixed traffic engine they worked cattle trains from the great fairs on the Midland system, and sometimes Night Mails and excursion traffic. Rebuilt from a large GSWR 0-6-2T banking loco. A Waterford loco apparently nicknamed the "Reverend Mother" with those small wheels she would not run fast no-matter how wide the driver opened the regulator. Jumbo Waterford's Goods Yard and Dock Pilot rebuilt from an 0-6-4 back Tank in 1896. A very popular loco supposed to have been a city institution. MGWR As GSR 545 "Celtic Class" 4-4-0 most powerful MGWR passenger class largest Irish 4-4-0 when introduced in 1902. Ended up on cattle trains bumped from Midland Section main line passenger services with the introduction of the Woolwich moguls, to heavy to be used on South Eastern section. MGWR C/ GSR 536&540 "Connemera" or "Kylemore" Class 4-4-0 Introduced for use on Mayo & Sligo lines 1910 onwards later rebuilt with large superheated boilers. Used mainly on slower Midland Passenger and Cattle trains. Not the most successrful design with a reputation of rough riding and heavy on coal, though seem to have preformed well on Dublin-Limerick via Nenagh trains in the 1930s!

The shed looks really impressive Tony, your determination to persevere with Omagh is seems to be paying off.

An item this size is more likely to be detected by customs than a small package sent by Airmail. I sometimes use the E-Bay Global Shipping programme for items from the States this avoids the cost and delay associated with customs clearance.

I love that LSWR Royal Saloon the Timpleague & Courtmacsharry seems to be the closest thing in Ireland to a Colonel Stephens light railway. I built a pair of standard GSR open wagons in 4mm using similar techniques to your MGWR coal wagons simple and great fun to build, though still have not gotten round to fitting the break gear 20 odd years later.

Brian McCann built an N Gauge exhibition layout based on Bagnalstown that was featured in the Railway Modeller during the early 1980s, the layout included reasonably accurate models of the station buildings including loco shed and the branch line was incorporated into the main circuit, the layout also included models of the Waterford line Barrow & Nore Viaducts. Building or kit bashing the train would be challenging in OO would be challenging in the absence of a suitable loco kit or ready to run donor locomotive. If you want to build a reasonably accurate model of the train O gauge might be a better option than OO as the 2-4-2T version of the loco is available as a brass kit from Alphagraphix and GSWR 6 wheel coach kits/parts are available from Alphagraphix and Worsley Works. Alternatively it should be possible to re-create a reasonable copy of the train that passes the 2' rule in OO or even N by kit bashing a British RTR loco into the 0-6-0T version of the GSWR loco with modified or re-painted Trtr 4 wheel coaches. A diorama featuring the Borris viaduct and a train in either OO or N gauge would make an impressive model The loco looks like a 37 Class or C7 4-4-2T introduced by the GSWR in the early 1900s. A brass kit of the 33 Class or F6 a 2-4-2T version of the same loco is available from Alphagraphix in O Gauge. Both classes appear to have been introduced a a light tank locomotive for Cork Suburban and branch line passenger and mixed train service and seem to have been reasonably successful. Many years ago someone kitbashed a passable model of a 201 class out of a Triang Jinty.

2954 is just about visible at the right hand end of the coach in the photo. I did not realise that CIE carried out such major conversions of relatively elderly GSWR coaching stock into the 1950s. It almost looks like Inchacore went back to the 1900 TPO design for the conversions, the door,window and paneling arrangement appears to be similar to the earlier TPOs.

Freight traffic on the Dublin-Rosslare line during most of the Liner Train era was basically limited to Ammonia and fertiliser traffic in connection with the Shelton Abbey plant and bagged cement specials from Platin to Wexford. A daily Liner train operated carrying container & keg traffic from the late 1970s until discontinued in the early 1980s serving Arklow, Enniscorthy and Wexford. Liner traffic was light (average 6--------4w flat wagons) the train could only carry 10 & 20' containers and keg traffic. In its final years Liner traffic ran attached to the rear of bagged fertilizer trains between North Wall and Shelton Abbey. The loco of the morning fertilizer train from North Wall continuing to Wexford with Liner traffic after dropping the empty fertilizer wagons at the plant and collecting the laden wagons on the return working.

"GSWR Carriage Diagrams" by H Richards & B Pender a 1975 Transport Research Associates re-print of the 1924 GSWR Carriage Diagram Book. The late Padraig O'Cuimin published IRRS Journal papers on MGWR wagon and coaching stock in the early 1970s. I understand that hard and digital copies of some drawings are available from the IRRS http://irishrailarchives.ie/index.php/archives/maps_drawings/

2 roof lights above the mail sorting section & toilet cistern at one end.

The TPOs a bit of a puzzle. The majority of GSWR and MGWR 6w and bogie TPOs had been officially withdrawn from service before the B121 Class entered service. Van appears to be a bogie rather than a 6w van (4 axleboxes showing) with GSWR rather than MGWR design features, including roof profile, gas lighting, window profile and continuous lower foot boards. Looks very close to 245 a 45' GSWR TPO built in 1900 officially withdrawn in 1959 . Van appears to be in good cosmetic condition painted in the late 50s green with single eau-de-nil stripe paint scheme. A pair of GSWR built TPOs survived into the 1960s these were longer more modern looking vehicles with elliptical roofs completely unlike the van in the Athenry photo Its just about possible that GSWR TPO was "cascaded" from the Southern on to the Midland to replace a more modern ex-MGWR TPO as Inchacore rolled out its first batch of Laminate TPOs in 1959.

Waterford received bulk cement for either the Drogheda (Platin) or Limerick cement factories. Cahir Viaduct on the Waterford-Limerick line was out of service between Oct 2003 & Sept 2004 as a result of the derailment of a Limerick-Waterford bulk cement train. Its possible that the train in the video was diverted to run via Rosslare Strand as a result of engineering works at the North Wall or the Cherryville Junction-Waterford line. None of the stations on the South Eastern Section were set up to handle bulk cement traffic. Bulk Cement trains usually did not detach or attach traffic en-route, the main exception (in later years) was a Platin-Cork bulk cement train that conveyed gypsum (for the Limerick factory) between Platin and Limerick Junction, and wagons dropped off as a result of a fault that had developed while in route (relatively uncommon but it does happen)

We continue to experience beautiful Indian Summer or more rightly El Nino conditions, difficult to resist running trains despite the leaf fall. Still nothing to report on the small scale front although the work bench has been cleared and parts ordered to complete work on some J15s. Although we have been running relatively short single engine freights, I could not resist running a 2 engine freight with a pair of leased K27 Mudhens in a similar to RGS. In its final years the RGS relied mainly on pairs of leased DRGW K27 Mudhens to move freight traffic on its heavily graded Northern Division over Dallas Divide and Lizard Head Pass. The second loco was usually ran through from terminal to terminal, cut in as a mid train helper on the up-grades then running ahead light ahead of the train on down grades. (The crew of the helper were paid a higher rate when their loco was coupled to the train). Arboles: Lead loco 463 about to enter the single track section to the next town, 464 has just crossed the bridge (lift out) 7 cars and caboose behind tender. The passing loop here is two short to pass two long freights without a saw-bye maneuver. The train is nearly 30' long almost scale length for a RGS Northern Division freight, 7-8 freight close to the load limit for a single 2-8-2 over the grades on the more easily graded sections of my line. Utah Junction. Junction with longest crossing loop on the main line and wye for turning steam locos. Station buildings have been removed for winter. The train is longer than the longest passing loop or siding or spur so an interesting exercise in reversing the train to run up the high line above the caboose. Putting the trains away re-marshaling stock in the fiddle/staging yard, turning locos and putting them on charge can take almost as long as operating session.

B130 looks like Attymon Junction westbound B?? possibly Athenry Up platform Eastbound. I love the TPO!!!