Niles

There's a report from the early 50s(?) which actually advocated the building of new steam locos, tied in with a proposal to cull a lot of the numerically-weak classes in an attempt at standardisation. Interestingly, the usefulness of the 2 K2 class locos (461 and 462) was noted and they would have been spared from the 'cull small classes' plan, had it come to pass. I must dig it out, but it suggests not all in CIÉ where necessarily committed to full dieselisation at that point.

I wonder was the livery influenced by the fact that the LMS had a seat on the GSR board through its LNWR/DSER stake?

There's a school of thought that the 800s did as much for the GSR in terms of PR and marketing than they did in terms of engineering, I suspect this will be the same for IRM and hopefully our little corner of the hobby in general. Two days in and I'm still deliberating which version of 802 to go for, though as I said to @jhb171achill yesterday isn't it a great position to be in, deliberating 'which' 802 to get.

I would say it's at least possible in the case of 801 and maybe 800. 802 was withdrawn in 1957 so less likely though marginally possible. (Open to correction but I think the first Park Royals in service were on the Dublin suburban which 802 most certainly would not have appeared on ).

I'm pretty certain I've seen pictures of a six wheeler stuffed between an 800 and bogie stock, so a head start for anyone with the Hattons stock. And, as pointed out, Bulleid opens work for 801...

Tickets now available at https://www.downrail.co.uk/event/easter/

Downpatrick & County Down Railway are operating Afternoon Tea trains on Mother's Day, 30th March, using the 450 class railcar set, advance booking a must (the Afternoon Teas tend to sell out fast). https://www.downrail.co.uk/event/mothers-day/

Thanks for all the bookings so far, the support is very much appreciated. We're already at the point of outselling our previous 2600 railtour out of Cork and there's still 4 weeks to go. It's quite heartening considering even a few years ago people scoffed at the idea of a 2600 or even a 201 being used on a railtour, whereas in the past three years there have been several popular tours using both types between ourselves (TT hat on), IRRS and RPSI. @Mol_PMB if you're doing the Tralee-Fenit walk on the Sunday, the 17:10 Tralee-Cork is normally a 2600 set on Sundays, if you haven't got enough of a fix on the tour itself.

Believe it or not some did receive it, the one preserved at Downpatrick has a black underframe with paint markings dated 1973 so it's a CIÉ job versus preservation.

yep, that's the one!

There was a brown 4 wheel van of some description in the Boston sidings near Grand Canal Dock into the early 2000s. Not sure if it was H or another type but I remember passing it, it had become one with the weeds.

Post received today. Even on a modern era layout an old brown H van hiding down a siding isn't necessarily out of the place.

That's more or less correct (1381 is DCDR's 1944, renumbered when converted to a brake in the 80s) and you can add 1424 to the list. The only presererved example to be scrapped was the RPSI's 1416, burnt out in an arson attack at Inchicore about 20 years ago sadly. 1381/1944 - Downpatrick 1383 - Inchicore 1400 - Clonakilty 1419 - Inchicore 1424 - Clonakilty

I know of one instance in 2005-ish when Cravens substituted, hauled by a pair of 141s of all things. By that stage substitutes tended to more mk2ds (often resulting in one of the Rosslare links getting the standby Cravens instead of mk2s). fmnut has footage of it here:

Ha. Though in fairness, I believe they were the first railway outside America to use bogie carriages, so marks for innovation.

I believe a potential stickler for sending 29000s (back)* to Limerick is that they're too long for the sheds. *Back, well they were based there for testing back in 2003. Who remembers that?

@jhb171achill will know better, but I think some of the former May Three Day tours may have offered trips to Cobh for the locals? Though arguably they weren't "Cork based" as a whole. Technically the 2014 Blue Train tour started in Cork but it was really a balancing working off the one way Web Summit charter from Connolly to Midleton.

Looks fresh out of the box - I think the smaller numerals were changed early enough.

Everything has its time... if you suggested a 2700 class tour 20 years ago you'd have been laughed out the door, I guarantee one would sell out now though if by some miracle it was even possible. Even the much lamented mk3s were uncommon on tours until the very late 2000s, bar the annual IRRS Executive Train tour.

Táilte Tours CLG are happy to announce their first mainline railtour of 2025, “The Eyre Lee Bird” from Cork to Galway and back via the Western Rail Corridor. This will be worked by a classic Iarnród Éireann 2600 class railcar set, these days very rare visitors to the west of Ireland. Heritage livery “Arrow” set Nos.2601+2602 has been requested as part of the formation. It also hoped to cover the various passing loops between Limerick and Athenry. Passengers will have plenty of time for lunch at their own leisure in Galway; the station is conveniently located in the heart of the city at Eyre Square. Bookings now open at https://www.tailtetours.com/event-details/the-eyre-lee-bird-railtour Dept Cork 08:45 (back 19:20) Dept Mallow 09:10 (back 18:45) Dept Limerick Junction 09:52 (back 18:00) Dept Limerick 10:24 (back 16:23)

At Downpatrick, volunteers are now laying the first section new of track (as opposed to a relay or extension of existing headshunts) since 2015... The timbers come from the recently closed Great Victoria St station, so a little bit of modern NIR history shall live on. More at https://www.downrail.co.uk/2025/01/new-siding-at-railway-museum/

My Ps arrived yesterday and couldn't resist giving them a quick run up and down my WIP layout. Lovely little things.

Interesting to note JCB had a hydrogen combustion engine licenced this week, so there is potential in this to be developed further but I suspect the 071 will be a proof of concept at best.

In some cases yes. I'm pretty certain it's not the case for sites like Fotopic though.