Weshty

The premier route here is 2 hours in time, Blighty and EU mainland would have far longer times and more justification for serving "proper" fare.

Aspirationally that's lovely Junction, but very far from the reality of the last 40 years. Fergus Finlay recalls a 12 page position paper he worked on for the CIE unions in the 70's where the customer wasn't mentioned once. The motorways have buggered up IR's USP in the last five years. Short of another oil crisis (or developing 125mph working) their intercity offering can't compete with road travel times. The other aspect is that eating habits and etiquette have changed completely. Grazing on the hoof is the new norm, and a meal is no longer a necessity on a sub hour hour journey. Airflight and rail have joined the paradigm that always existed for the bus. Secondly, railway travel was never a cheap option, irrespective of meal or not. Alan O Rourke's North Kerry Line has specimen prices in Appendix 1 for 1937 and they are shockingly expensive. A return 3rd class from Limerick to Abbeyfeale was 9 shillings, or.c€75 in earning equivalent today. 3rd class return from Heuston to Newcastlewest was 33 shillings (€500). You could fly one way to New York for the same money today.

Strategically focus on what you do (i.e. getting people from A to B). Subcontract services that are not core functionality. Benefits of reduced costs, more flexibility, less long-term overheads in terms of permanent staff, pensions, admin HR issues etc. Hard, but there you are.

I love the way that social media enables the chronicling and categorisation of material that could otherwise so easily be lost to time

Absolutely. Commodity wise, it's equivalent to €14, but in terms of labour equivalent hours, it's closer to €25. JHB, any price list available there?

Damn, that is fine looking , reminds me of the old Dysart Road layout

It shouldn't wobble that badly, but yes it is a tad off centre at the best of times...

Treated myself to the new Hornby HST in Virgin Livery, as I had a load of Virgin Mk3 to be used as donors. Yup, gorgeous model....may yet get the classic blue and yellow. Any time I see an old 70's Hornby catalogue photo I get a surge of pure nostalgia.

Not a concern for my model that may still go under the chop! Point noted, but it doesn't detract from the fact that standard locos now come with significantly improved drives. Regarding the Airfix C31, I bought a second, thinking I was unlucky the first time. Nope. The second was equally sh*te. Obviously the motors just demagnetise over the intervening 30 years. They would whiz away with no load (power applied directly to motor leads), but the moment any torque was applied, nada.

Noel. I was referring to the drives as well. To validate the term usual mediocre fare what percentage of their locos use pancake/ringfield motors? Nothing wrong with single bogie drive per se provided it has the requisite torque and traction. I have a Hornby Class 31 (just like the one Garfield shows above) that I purchased on fleabay at least 7 years ago to cut and shut for an A Class, but on receipt, just didn't have the heart to destroy. Central can , working fan, sprung cab doors. Just couldn't. I mention it as it is a complete contrast to the Airfix C31 I used previously. Lovely donor base, but staring at the motor would be enough to make it stop. Ugh.

A bit of a global statement there Noel. What particular locos would you apply that to, other than the Railroad range?

any chance of getting a scan of that Andy?

King Henry....phwaaaaarrrrrr!!! http://www.hornby.com/uk-en/shop/new-for-2016/br-4-6-0-king-henry-iii-6000-king-class-early-br.html

Try Google. The_wartime_Irish_railway_system-_problems_and_international_perspectives http://www.academia.edu/7526298/The_wartime_Irish_railway_system-_problems_and_international_perspectives

Showing your age there Horse. Anyone under 35 probably hasn't a clue "was ein Trabbie ist".

"Fast and loud" car programme on the other night. '67 Cadillac in bright red, €9000 dollar paint job. Stunning.

What will it do to yah?

Well travelled?? They were the wanton hussies of the irish rail network.

Looking through my little collection, the following books have J26 photos: Great Southern Railways Donal Murray 61, 56 41 20 Rails Around Cork and Kerry Michael Baker 75 68 20 Locomotive Compendium Colin Boocock 34 Irish Traction in Colour Derek Huntriss 95 94 84 Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland Ernie Shepherd Front cover Cork Bandon and South Coast railway Ernie Shepherd 107 67 52 Irish Railways in Colour V1 Tom Ferris 79 Irish Railways in Colour V2 Tom Ferris 34 36 37 39

Best pints in Clare indeed. Fawls, Old Ground, The Diamond, Steeles, Brogans, Powers. Roll on the weekend.....

Sorry chaps, couldn't resist. It was sounding like the ebay one was the last one off the assembly line, had to say something. I'll refrain from commenting on the full availability of the 20 ton brake vans then....

And don't forget chaps, the J26 is in stock here in SSM. Wheels, motors etc all available.

13.7mm = one scale inch oversize. That will do QUITE nicely.

+1. It's a classic shot of the Ten Arch bridge (as it is known locally even though it hasn't existed since '22). Green bridge, green rake and no foliage so plenty visibility with a low lying sun. Perfick.