jhb171achill

Yes, far from a firing squad, given the lack of many other suitable items which can approximate as Irish with little (or nothing) more than a repaint, and subjected to the "two-foot rule", the L1 is actually one I had thought of years ago when I saw a second-hand one somewhere. Very much so, yes. And recently someone posted up a very nice conversion of a SR Adams Radial Tank" (4.4.2T), which can be persuaded to resemble both a BCDR tank loco and also a GSWR (WLWR) type. But they, of course, are not Midland! The MGWR had very unique designs, which in many cases was very unlike any other company anywhere - either in Ireland or the big island. The BNCR and West Cork systems likewise. Thus, we are indeed limited. Even a half decent G2 would have to be scratchbuilt (or a JM Design kit). Much of the MGWR was operated largely, if not entirely, by the standard 0.6.0s, the J18s. Like the GSWR's equivalent J15s, over time many variations appeared. Some sort of standard generic 0.6.0 (though not the LMS type often seen) would pass a three-foot rule given a dollop in a bucket of dark grey paint - there's a very nice Caledonian Railway 0.6.0 which might fit this bill. The Killala, Clifden, Ballinrobe and Kingscourt lines rarely saw anything but J18s; as far as Clifden is concerned, seeminlg never, apart from a few years at the start. So 0.6.0s would be a "go-to" for anything Midland. As far as carriages are concerned, unfortunately there is nothing on the market which even comes close to a five-foot rule approximation for the MGWR, as its carriage designs were so unique. Neither the Hornby nor Hattons "Genesis" 6-wheel coaches are even remotely suitable for an MGWR scene - however, they ARE very GSWR-esque. To this end, when i had initially planned the "Dugort Harbour" layout, it was initially either going to be a pretty exact representation of Westport Quay, or based on an Achill line that had managed to survive to the 1975 closures. At this point, even the JM Design MGWR 2.4.0 kit had not yet seen the light of day. So, I thought, get a couple of 141s for modern times, and a couple of Studio Scale Models J26 kits. But - carriages. That was the problem. There are KITS of GSWR types (SSM & Worsley), but nothing else. One or two Hornby standard types (that clerestorey-roofed thing that's two a penny on fleabay) could be made to look like a very passable GSWR vehicle of WLWR origin. That would do for a small branch. Thus, I switched areas to an imaginary area in the south-west somewhere - and then along came the 00 Works J15 locos ready to run - so I've abandoned a Midland background now, and Dugort Harbour is now some random backwater down in the Republic of Pat Spillane and Healy-Rae somewhere.

The good folk of Culcavey, Annahilt & Ravarnet will also need transport - or to they go by UTA?

Belfast and Dublin with harbour lines. Harbour lines which were technically on public roads at Killybegs, Ardglass, Schull and Fenit….

Yes, it is 53. In the pic of Mallow, note the GNR(I) open wagon......

Couldn’t agree more - and also, let’s admire the financial risks they’ve been prepared to take in order to accomplish it!

That’s rivers for ya…

I want to go there in a leaky-roofed, clattery, cheap plastic-seated old AEC, reluctantly shoved along litter-strewn track by a filthy B201!

A rare picture of a 1:76 scale airfix aircraft spawning Z gauge clones.

There was indeed talk about that, but the 2007/8 recession put paid to the redevelopment that had been considered. By this stage the ITG were making their own arrangements to move, hence some stuff stored at Moyasta now. The RPSI's heritage set is quietly decomposing there still, albeit following a sojourn in the old valeting plant at Heuston a few years ago.

MIGHTY stuff! Very well done! Pure Achill line.....................!

Very well done, BR!

Wow!! Truly amazing stuff as always!

Love the dinosaur!

Numbers allocated at the amalgamation in 1925 by the GSR remained unchanged throughout CIE times. Ex-GSWR carriages, numbered from 1 to 1290-something retained their numbers unaltered. Former Waterford, Limerick & Western Railway stock had already been taken into GSWR following that earlier amalgamation in 1901; all ex-WLWR stock was renumbered by the GSWR in the 900 to low 1000s series. Thus, a WLWR coach numbered, say, 98, might become GSWR 904 (numbers made up!), which would still be 904 as a "GSWR" vehicle after the 1925 amalgamation, and would retain that number up to scrapping in a weedy siding in Mullingar in 1962! Since four wheeled carriages like the long-wheelbase British ones never ran here at all, numbers for any ration 4w kits can be anything you'd prefer. Shorter wheelbase four wheelers on all lines here died out by 1890, bar about a dozen on the Midland which survived into the first decade of the 20th century; I believe a single one lasted until the 1920s - however, these were of a design no more like anything you can get in kits as ICRs are to an Australian coal wagon! However, I would give a 4-wheeler a random low number. If it is the Ration kit you're thinking of - and that's simply an assumption of mine - it is of a GWR prototype with bowed-in ends, like many Midland of England / LMS carriages, and more than a few on the Somerset & Dorset. While curved-in ends were commonplace in Britain, especially on the GWR & LMS, they were entirely unknown in Ireland apart from the WLWR - so if you're getting something like that, I'd be inclined to take it as a former WLWR coach, thus no letter suffix as it would have become GSWR stock in 1901. Number it 900-something....913, 908, 922, etc. Ex-MGWR carriages also retained their numbers, with "M" added; thus a MGWR coach numbered 67 became 67M. the MGWR had a separate numbering system for each TYPE of coach, unlike the other companies. Therefore, there could be two carriages with the same number in a train, one being first class coach No. 14 (say), and next to it third no. 14. Ex-CBSCR stock gained the suffix "B" (for "Bandon"). Railwaymen in those days referred to the lengthily-titled Cork, Bandon & South Coast Railway simply as "the Bandon", as they called the Great Southern & Western the "Southern", and the Midland Great Western Railway the "Midland". Former Dublin & South Eastern stock had "D" added - again, what the DWWR / DSER had as coach no. 34 was now 34D. In the offchance you're doing the Waterford & Tramore, the suffix is "W" - but little or nothing of W & T origin remained on that line following an influx of second hand GSR & GSWR stuff....... Hope that helps!

It's eaten several wagon axlebox bearings of mine in recent times...........

For a more unusual approach, 1950's CIE wasn't the only world with weed-grown branch lines, which only came to life in the beet, pilgrimage or GAA season - or the monthly cattle fair. In the 1940s and 1950s many rural NCC locations were the same. The above idea can be adopted to contain the very unique designs of traditional NCC wagon stock, with a repainted LMS 4.4.0 and two standard LMS coaches as ready to run loco & passenger stock. Some years ago, Nelson Jackson posted here some truly excellent scratch-built NCC wagons....... We've had places like the SLNCR and BCDR covered by several of our luminaries here - anyone fancy a mini-Dungiven or Draperstown?

In terms of design overall, especially for a small or cramped space, the attached serves well. Apart from Dugort Harbour, one of my long term plans is a small portable shunting layout based on one of my other interests, the South African Railways. One diesel loco, one steam, two carriages, two brake vans and seven wagons, and that's it. It's meant represent the sort of meandering very rural line seen across the southern part of the African continent, mostly built in the 1910-25 period, and lasting until the 1990s still with mostly or entirely steam haulage. The most minimalistic train service imaginable - three mixed trains a week, with a loco, coach and a few wagons. This same concept can be used for a Fenit, Castleisland or Ardee style operation, using an "A", a 141, a brake van and some "H" vans, or include a Loughrea-style one-coach passenger train. When planning the South African terminus with space as an absolute premium, I opted for this design. It's actually all you need. Loco and train arrives from fiddle yard, and one siding is all that's needed to shunt two or three trucks in and take away a similar number, while possibly also changing locos. For a portable thing, even for an exhibition, little more is strictly necessary. This plan is actually reminiscent of a number of termini, as per many of the plans shown above; it works as well for very rural dust-road South Africa as it does rainy stone-walled west of Ireland; albeit with drastically different scenery!

Very true, with, for variety a “stray” MGWR, GNR & WLWR goods van in amongst everything…… I believe J15s ruled the roost in that area, including the whole Waterford - Macmine route after the amalgamation.

Ye need to hurry up then, only three triple-packs left!

Several Brazilian variants also!

Forgot to add, note also the short workings Palace East - Ballywilliam (wonder if passenger numbers ever exceeded single figures?) and Palace East - Bagenalstown. Another example of an "old" company's trains operating over the lines of a different company, as per a recent discussion in a separate thread.

The second one is from a DWWR WTT from 1894, when they issued a new one every month! (I have all 12). Note that neither the New Ross - Waterford line, nor the (separate company) South Wexford line have been built - and look where the DWWR trains over the North Wexford end up!

Not at all a bad excuse!

Many thanks, Mark, and it does indeed look well!

DSER / DWWR MATERIAL While searching for something unrelated, I came across the following, which I thought might be of interest given a recent “uptick” in interests of a south-eastern nature. The first is the October 1923 DSER Working Timetable, introduced after a period of severe political unrest in that area. Remember to get your DWWR / DSER wagons from KMCE (No, I’m not on the payroll, just a satisfied customer!). I have omitted Bray to Amiens St., and Harcourt St. - Bray, as it runs to many pages!