Niles

8 hours ago, GSWR 90 said:

Very well done to IÉ and the IRRS for making this possible. I’m very tempted to go on the IRRS railtour, but I can’t afford a hotel in Cork!

Táilte Tours put up a great article about the 2600s a few weeks ago – you can read it here

No idea who wrote it, but they sound handsome...

Not my best photo, but you can just see the gangways made up between a 2600 and 2800 here.

17 hours ago, Westcorkrailway said:

 

They used the gangways on the suit lee knot railtour . @Niles might know about everyday services I presume they did. Don’t think they do it anymore. Attached below is some of the interesting sites of a gangway linked 2600
 

 

 

 

 

Sorry just seen. Yes, I remember 8 car 2600s in action on the northern suburban in the mid 2000s though originally 4 was more common, but gangways were in use.

They weren't unknown to run in multiple with 2800s on DSER line services and again the gangways were in use.

2 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

 

I have just revealed my "Carriage Project", to commence when I win the Euromillions - because, in truth, that's precisely what I would do with a fair chunk of the loot................

 

And the rest on the newbuild Woolwich? 

Re: specials, Táilte did look at operating a tour taking in GVS but unfortunately resources and scheduled works precluded it this year, however we've had some nice chats with NIR people about the future...  

11 hours ago, Colin_McLeod said:

So who plans to travel on the last GVS train?

Must be a record, Great Victoria Street will have had two 'last trains' in under 50 years. 

1 minute ago, Westcorkrailway said:

A silver 201 is a flying snail on the side like A30 with a couple of these mark 3s

On fictional liveries, someone (maybe it was on this group?) had one done up in freight grey, looked quite well I thought...

On 27/3/2024 at 8:52 AM, Irishswissernie said:

Some interior views today courtesy of JG Dewing.

C&L 1959-03-xx Ballinamore Coach No 1 JGD After renovation but before they swept the floor !

C

Apparently one of the rebuilt C&L carriages only re-entered traffic in November 1958—so it didn't even see six months in service post rebuild!

Worth remembering the acceptance procedure for a loco to run on the mainline has taken years in some cases, it wouldn't be worth the while going through for it a one off tour (aside from all the other points).

I was thinking of adding another pun but I don't want to add fuel to the fire.

13 hours ago, murrayec said:

Another project back on the workbench after a modelling brake looking after family and the house;-

First layer of weathering added to the chassis, this coach is the heavy weathered one, the other three will be lightly done.

Wheels on, the wheel sets are held in place by a .5mm brass wire epoxied on.

Partitions and seats installed.

Roof gas supply pipe installed.

The four coaches are now ready for final weathering and lacquering, then the windows and door handles will be installed........

Nearly complete!!

Eoin.

luverly stuff altogether

26 minutes ago, hurricanemk1c said:

Passenger numbers are back to near pre-Covid levels particularly on Intercity routes, so think you're mistaken there. If the lack of catering was such an issue that would not have happened

Quite. I regularly travel on a route that still hasn't regained catering and it can be difficult finding a seat at times.

I gave into temptation by the model devil who possessed me and added the P class to my cart. Always had a penchant for the smaller Terrier-esque locos.

On enquiring, Rails have advised me that there's no need to do anything, "the orders will be transferred automatically as they are" so sounds like a nice hassle free experience, kudos to Hattons and Rails for looking after the customer.

No.325 sold out already? Must be a record. 

Just now, Mike 84C said:

Mike Beckett; I do not understand the politics of Irish preservation. If its not too contentious, please explain the joy over the collapse of Moyasta and from where?

 

If you look on certain Facebook groups, there are a few who seem to love posting about the ITG/Moyasta's alleged failings without offering anything positive to help.

"It's too far to volunteer at Carrick/Downpatrick" - but will drive to Moyasta to take pictures they can post up and moan about.

One actually blatantly admitted to wishing he'd stolen bits off an A class... some "enthusiast".

2 hours ago, minister_for_hardship said:

 

Plus what experience and facilities do the W&SV have to look after it? A steam loco is for "life", a long term commitment, not just for Xmas.

Everyone has to start somewhere. W&SVR have put a lot of effort into getting where they are today (20 years+ operating Ireland's longest heritage line 7 days a week over the summer), I don't doubt their ability to develop steam loco maintenance procedures too.

27 minutes ago, K801 said:

its a previous issued model available cheaper on ebay

Whoever thought that day would come? 

8 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

Original - so, yes, the mix is available in model form. I see a few of Leslie's Provincial "H" vans in tere too, in this case probably to carry beet pulp. There's another brake van in the middle, so gawwd knows what's going on - was my first thought. But:

The then Wexford - Waterford goods had a guard's van at each end to save switching one from one end of the train to the other when it reversed at Rosslare strand. And the ferts have just ended up being added on somewhere.

At a guess maybe the ferts came down from Arklow on another service and were added in Wexford?

(Unless of course they're empties going back for Albatross in New Ross and were tripped from Waterford?).

35 minutes ago, leslie10646 said:

Well done Niles for posting this. We always need a bit of evidence of what was done "at some time" in the past.

It saves us saying "It's my railway and I'll do what I want on it!"

 

Both work for me 

I was looking for something else and came across this, proof that you can run bullieds and bogie ferts in the one consist: 

56 minutes ago, Irishswissernie said:

GNRI 1957-09-21 Omagh, 12 shunting van off 2.20pm Belfast - Derry onto 4,23 Omagh - Enniskillen WACS2251

GNRI 1957-09-21 Fintona Juction , Tram WACS2255

Cork 186 ITG Special ca 2000+ j039

 

That last one is likely the "Suir Thing" railtour 9th October 2004.

22 minutes ago, Colin R said:

Wow just shows you can't take anything for granted, I would not have though Downpatrick could have suffered from such a flood. Just where did all that water come from? did a local river burst its banks or something?

 

Colin Rainsbury

Late Oct/early Nov saw a rainstorm and unprecedented flooding levels at Downpatrick, with many businesses in the town horrendously affected along with the railway. Unfortunately the town lies on a flood plain, though flooding to this extent has not been seen in the railway’s time.

Further to @GSWR 90's post, and for those of you not on Facebook:

Quote

On inspecting the battery boxes of our 80 class 'Thumper' Power Car No.90 after the flooding, we found that considerable (and rapid) corrosion had developed on the batteries. We are sorry to say that this is to the point that are no longer usable, and have had to be removed. As you can imagine, their replacement will not come cheap, and this is considerable set back in the return to service of this classic vehicle (we had originally hoped it would have made a cameo appearance at our now-cancelled Diesel Gala).
If you would like to help towards our flood recovery, please consider donating to our appeal at https://www.downrail.co.uk/appeal/

Second one looks like the Docklands Pioneer tour on 31st March 2007, 152+190 worked Connolly-Limerick Junction via Kilkenny and Waterford. Oddly both locos ended up in the ITG fleet.