Niles

That's a good point actually, even now there's a bit of confusion out there between Park Royals and Laminates, despite being very different profile wise. Even on preserved workings, I think I traced the first instance of the RPSI having one on a hired set to be part of the North Kerry tour (removed for some legs, annoyingly the most photographed ones) in the early 70s. This caused a lot of midnight oil to be consumed between Tony and myself back in the day, the aul 3am 'look at this!' emails...

I was researching Cravens for an article in Five Foot Three many years ago after we put the set back into traffic. I came across at least one source that noted them being in the formation of a steam-hauled cross border working in the mid 60s (behind a UTA Jeep to be specific). I seem to remember coming across another instance subsequent to the article being published, I must dig out my notes...

On the 201s being introduced, I understand when 201 was being tested she was given a combination of various wagons to form a long load test up the climb out of Cork. I'm sure it's recorded in one of the ITG or IRRS journals, that could be something different to model...

Link now available: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3040263673

More camcorder footage of dear old 186. Here she is arriving at Gorey on her way back from Waterford, 17th May 2005. I think this was the first time I saw her in steam. Modernisation has changed the view considerably since then, with the platforms extended, raised and resurfaced and the semaphores uprooted. The number 10 points near the water tower were removed about a year later, reducing the goods loop to a dead end siding. The carriages are mostly Inchicore built vehicles, including 1335, a GSR side corridor from the 1930s, and also some of the few surviving laminates, the last carriages to be built from scratch at Inchicore, extremely important survivors in their own right. 186 ‐ Made with Clipchamp.mp4

Some camcorder footage of the delightful GS&WR 186 arriving at Wicklow with the heritage set on a private charter, 22nd June 2005. Look closely at laminate brake 1916 behind the loco... I believe the odd modeller has used this technique to create the illusion of two different carriage sets. A prototype for everything indeed. 186 Wicklow ‐ Made with Clipchamp.mp4

Over on the Irish Railways Present, Past & Other Interesting Railways Facebook Group, we're holding a Donegal-themed Zoom night on Tuesday 25th Jan (you don't have to be on Facebook to view, actually fair play if you're not on it ). Kick off is at 19:45, but we might open the doors early if people want to have a chat. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3040263673 https://www.facebook.com/events/436147631524188 Jim McBride of Donegal Railway Heritage Centre will discuss the recent renovation of original Donegal loco "Drumboe" and tell us about their exciting plans for the future. Richard Logue, Transport Consultant, will discuss the All-Ireland Strategic Rail Review. David Walsh will give a round up of the latest news from the Irish railway scene. Bring your own beer/tea/cake. All welcome very welcome to join in! Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3040263673 Meeting ID: 304 026 3673 One tap mobile +35361639031,,3040263673# Ireland +35312408941,,3040263673# Ireland Dial by your location +353 6 163 9031 Ireland +353 1 240 8941 Ireland +353 1 536 9320 Ireland +353 1 653 3895 Ireland +353 1 653 3897 Ireland +353 1 653 3898 Ireland Meeting ID: 304 026 3673 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kZF472fpc

There is a small Zephir LOK 1400 loco in Inchicore, only there a few years. Can't remember what the power source is, might be diesel. I believe it's very much restricted in use but powerful for its size.

Wow. You've certainly captured the atmosphere of Heuston quite nicely. Well done.

And a very hard working if unsung one too.

I'm not sure what the situation is now having left a few years ago. I do remember at the time there being hesitation as there's still an association in the public's mind with black and orange as being "diesel" distinct from the steam image. I would guess IÉ no longer have an issue though as it's no longer their own brand.

I agree, from memory it was just one of those things we never got around to. I and other brush/sprayer wielders actually considered the idea of early 50s two tone green way down the road when the blues came round for repaint. Sadly those who didn't wield the brushes imposed otherwise. C'est la vie. An interesting speculative model though...

Yep. History repeated itself when we got the first Cravens in 2006, and 1529 and 1539 received lime green below the waist (as IÉ still had Cravens in service). 1539 later got a darker shade (snaps of both below should they be of use to anyone). Tony, the late Carriage Officer who oversaw the Cravens set renovation, used to joke that he made up the requirement with a (now retired) IÉ officer but based on meetings I was in there was definitely some weight to it. The "blue and yella" came about via discussion of the stewards and volunteers working on the bodywork, a vote was had and then did it went to board. Idea was to give a contrast with the green liveried heritage set. The blue and cream later came from some others outside the carriage department (incidentally the cream is the same as used by Bord na Móna). I actually quite like the weird and wonderful preservation era liveries; a model of a laminate set in Westrail livery would look the business. At this stage they're as part of Irish railway history as anything. Actually, it occurs to me that the GSRPS had their own brown & cream livery too, pity it never got out on the mainline.

It's not a Spielberg production, but the some camcorder footage of 124 at Rosslare and Waterford on the Waterford 150 special, 25th September 2004. Sound from about 6:50 is worth putting up the volume up for. 1262080668_124Rosslare-1.mp4

226's restoration over the decades is an inspiring tale of perseverance in Irish preservation. Well worth supporting https://www.irishtractiongroup.com/join

If we're applying Rule 1, I might repaint a Woolwich in 'might have been' MGWR tourist train livery (had they arrived a few decades earlier) - any excuse for a bitta blue & yella stripe.

There's a photo in Ernie Sheperd's book on the Midland Great Western of the first one in MGWR livery (complete with MGWR number) - it's a works photo so probably never left Broadstone like that with the GSR takeover.

Interesting - I've seen pics of Cravens and/or BR vans transferred on the back of mkII sets but not with pax. It would also suggest that the train changed from screw link to buckeyed couplings midway.

Just a stock transfer from Heuston/Inchicore to rotate the mk2s on the Sligo set.

Excuse the photo quality (I'd borrowed the family digital camera for the day but it wasn't the most advanced, nor was I ), but the stock formation might be interesting to some. 184 on a stock transfer at Connolly, consisting of: mkIId Restaurant, mkIId standard, BR van and another mkIId standard. 29th October 2005.

In furtherance to this, I actually remember the black ones being available in Marks into the mid 2000s (and I think they came out 2000?). They must have been there a good 3/4 years before selling out. That said, I'd love a J15 or K2, but with there only being 2 of the latter I appreciate that mightn't be a runner... Anyway, my layout-to-be will be set in a corner of the multiverse were a Woolwich was saved and runs with preserved coaching stock.

There's a few threads on these at the moment, here's 5233 in the consist of the morning Sligo-Connolly at Enfield, 23rd July 2005. I've another somewhere of such a coach added to the back of a Rosslare prior to a big GAA day, must dig out.

After a period they could end up mixed in with standard sets, I've a pic somewhere of 5233 attached to the back of a Rosslare to stengthen the regular 6+van set for a hurling match. Seen them mixed into Sligo sets too. The upholstery had a sort of lilac hue (very briefly considered retrieving the seats when we stripping parts for preserved Cravens back in the day as @mphoeymight recall). I quite liked them.

Hmmm... I've been looking for an excuse to get one.