jhb171achill

I think 00 Works are using a new type of motor this time....?

Indeed - so have I. I would always recommend them.

More good news for steam fans; a new batch of J15s with larger boiler and tender, a la 186. £315 + P+P. He's offering them in both grey and black, with a choice of two numbers each. I see he's also offering grey with black smokebox - but nothing ever ran like that except just one loco, and only for a matter of months in 1962! (That was 193, painted uniquely that way in Cork or Limerick, along with an old MGWR 0.6.0). It will be good to have the older ones, plus these. I've placed my order, anyway! And these locos will be PERFECT for the forthcoming Hattons 6-wheel coaches.

Livery variations for the 800 class are basically two which apply to all three locos, but several other "wild cards". The GSR "blue-green" was replaced by standard CIE green (same as on pre-1955 carriages, road vehicles and buses) in 1945. In the same time, the GSR crest and "G S" gave way to the "snail". Name and number plates had a blue background as acurately seen on Maedb today. However, about 1951/2, either 801 or 802 (I'd have to look it up) was repainted in a significantly lighter green, apparently like a half-way house between standard CIE green and the later shade which would be applied to co0aches and diesel locos after 1955. The OTHER two remained standard green. During the 1950s, both 801 and 802 got a red background to their name and number plates, but 800 remained blue. Thus, two livery variations for 800, and three for the other two - but different between them; one lighter green with red plates, the other standard green with red plates. Regarding the "Cultra" livery, this is only me personally, but I strongly disapprove of models being produced in fictitious liveries, as it encourages a belief or assumption that they ran like that. In the same regard, for the same reason, I remain greatly disappointed by museums and preservation bodies who turn out preserved locos, coaches and wagons in incorrect, or lazily researched livery details. Cultra added the "G S" on 800; they SHOULD have added a "flying snail". If it's GSR livery they want, they need a totally different shade of green, and yellow / black lining, not black / white; plus, a GSR crest between the great big "G" and "S".

Correct. For anyone modelling a green CIE steam loco, 800 is in absolutely standard CIE green, lined accordingly. However the “G S” on the tender is wrong for this livery, as in that green they only ever had the flying snail. Regarding 803 and 804, thete were rumours at the time of these being planned, and tentatively named “Deirdre”” and “Grainné” (not Aoife, though). However, both official sources and memory of people who would have been involved, e.g. my grandfather, fail to show any hard evidence of this. At the very least, though, there was likely to have been talk of it in high places, as well as of the large 820 class tank engines which got to the drawing board but no further.

A thing like that would become THE sought-after loco of all time!

That is some SERIOUS work-rate! Very well done indeed!

I’m n’ot su’re t’hat, I’d want’ t,o, g’o in’to That’ sh’op%

Steam era

Indeed. 200 years ago Ireland and the USA both had 8.5 million. Today we have 7 million, and the USA has about 337 million!

I wonder if its listed? They’d have to rebuild it if so.

Indeed - I’ve been thinking that if Port Laoise and IRM collaborate to install a time machine in an ICR, or pass Dr Who out as a driver, an IRM ICR may well end up at Dugort Harbour in 1958!

I did indeed think he had it. You could tell by the look of him. You see, he’s too arrogant to admit that he needs ointment for cincinnatus. It can turn nasty if untreated.

Highly encouraging news, and a good strategy. Everyone here is familiar with threads that go on for years and years with "Any news on the model of XYZ which was announced in 2016?"............ The thought of the "grey'n'green" era getting the attention it richly deserves is particularly encouraging; it's equivalent in peruiod in Brexitstan not only gets attention, but seems to be the long-standing mainstay of the hobby for many. With the excellent development work of the likes of KMCE and early DSER / DWWR goods stock, and Hatton's Irish six-wheelers, and 00 Works several Irish steam engines, we're not far away from looking at the "Grey'n'maroon" era - the GSR period 1925-45.

Mr Wrenneire, of this parish, should be able to assist also. They are doing several variations, too! Excellent news. I'll be after a BnT No. B147.........

Airfixfan - have you seen this?

Apologies; only seeing this now. Sorry, I do not know the answer.

Or in many others!

I ordered stuff from Silverfox recently myself. Pleased overall with what I've got, as I have been before, however, for some reason they WILL not produce models in the correct livery. Grey roofs on green coaches, black roofs and chassis on silver stock, and white lines and snails on green stock. I specifically mentioned in my order that the roof of the green vehicles (a coach and a van) that I was ordering must be black, as per prototype, but they arrived grey. It's not rocket science. As they arrive, they look as ridiculous as an 071 painted red and yellow - but a part-repaint is always possible. I note from their website that they offer a railcar set in green too - but grey roof again; plus all variations offered of their G class loco are wrong. It would be so easy to get these details right, as these vehicles are a good addition to layouts without the even greater expense of getting many specialist kits made up.

I got stuff from Silverfox recently, but had it posted to a friend in the north....... best way if possible for those with family or friends in north or Britain.

And the MED cars, "Might Expire at Dunmurry"............., though the AEC cars were "All Expired Completely", and the BUT sets were "Banjaxed Underneath and Throughout"

Not me, but a good friend. Being a Donegal man, he was a mad yoke with the drink. HE was on a night out in Ballyshannon and got separated from his friends after the night club they were in had closed; it's about 02:45 by now or later. Ballyshannon being Ballyshannon, it was of course collapsing down out of the heavens. Yer man has lost his jacket (par for the course) and is trying to get a taxi home to.....Castlefinn!!!! That's an hour's drive through the Barnesmore Gap. Lashing rain, wind whipping it all round totally deserted streets by now. He sees a taxi sitting with the engine running. Hops into the back, soaked to the skin, in just shirtsleeves and by now freezing cold. "Can ye take me to Cyastlefannn, hi!", sez he to the driver. Drivers turns round and looks at him. "You get yourself OUTTA THIS CAR NOW! Or the ONLY place you're going tonight is a CELL!" He had got into a garda car. So I asked him, "So, how DID you get home that night?" Answer: "Sure ah dunno, hi!" Don't ye love Donegal, hi.

It had just had its regular cleaning. Come rain or shine, it got one every 22 years throughout its life. Next would have been due in 1978.

Sounds like something I must have done at some stage!

Left-handed or right?