jhb171achill

Autumn 1958, and 472 brings the late mixed train into Castletown West, against the backdrop of a spectacular sunset.

The late afternoon branch passenger train hurries through the boglands towards Castletown West on a gloomy evening in 1974. Scenery is now ready for grass, weeds and overgrown stone wall boundaries. The gritty dirt is dried out and washed turfy, sandy soil from Achill Island.

Now that I'm back from a few days away, here are a couple more.

He told me he couldn’t be exactly sure when any of the above would be ready. He deals with up to four separate factories, so it’s in the lap’o’the gods for now.

Not sure where it is, to be honest! All I know is that he did get to Rathkenny. He did not cover Ballymena - Ballyboley for sure, and I am unaware whether or not he did Larne - Ballyclare….

Another for tonight. I believe this to be mid-1930s.

You do realise that without a wagon number, Mr Weaver will kick up hell!

More, this time the LNER area.

No we’re not…….

“Halfway” liveries rarely last long.

I had a fair oul go at the scones and KitKats, neither of which appeared to have any suitable pockets for NEM couplings, let alone a place for a DCC chip (mind you, they would have been a bit chewy). Otherwise, they looked extremely realistic.

Saw the whinging, indeed. However, I think most of us with a bit of wit realised the realities as pointed out by some club members.n It's a bit like then preservation issue "Why doesn't the ITG / RPSI / DCDR put everything at Moyasta and everywhere else into fully-restored heritage use next week....?" In the tiny market that is Ireland, we're lucky to have shows at all, and people to man them and organise them. I have started 3D printing large parcels of 500 euro notes in order to be ready for the next IRM announcement. All children, cousins, kitchen sinks, uncles, parents, siblings and neighbours are long since auctioned off. My credit card is at the doctor's this afternoon.

Well done Ken, in both your treatment and the latest developments at the port!

I knew I'd get excellent info on this one! Apparently it was built in 1932.

Nice scenery in the background (right)...Scotland, perhaps? This is again, I believe, from a visit in the 1930s.

Another 1930s view.

It is 47 years ago, today, that the closure took place of the Burma Road, Listowel - Ballingrane Junction, Ardee and Loughrea branches…. I got to Loughrea and Ardee by rail, but sadly not the other two (though I was in Foynes by rail two or three times….

As you suggested in your first post, a well-run club can cater for all. I'm not a member of one, but if asked to set one up and given sufficient budget, I'd go for a "generic" layout, which was just a bit of fun for all, but with space within the club for a rivet-counter's paradise, where a high-end strictly accurate model of something could be made up - this would double as a highly impressive exhibition layout........ tis a broad church, of course.

That I don't know - I'll see a few of the people at a private function tonight so I'll make enquiries and if anything comes of it I will tip off MRSI and others. To be honest I doubt it, but no harm in asking.

That was actually the first thing that occurred to me, but there isn't the space. The area that used to be occupied by the old "O" Gauge castle layout is now an upmarket souvenir shop and cafe, and the Model Railway Museum would struggle to provide the space for one retail stand, let alone any layouts. In addition, the whole lot are run by a company called Aramark, who even if space was available, would want dollars and dollars and dollars.............

Certainly looks like one of them! Nice find!

I'd be after the loco. €40 maybe......!

I believe this was taken by Senior about 1937 / 1938 / 1939. That's one big beast of an engine. Probably has a very hungry firebox!

Not on the back. (I’ll show meself out…..)

Strongly recommended!