jhb171achill

Every time I receive something via relatives who live in the United Kingdom of Brexitstan, the resultant deprivation of Mr Johnston’s coffers of a few cents makes my day……

I had considered this in the past and two possibilities came to mind. 1. A branch from Athenry to somewhere not far away - maybe Loughrea if the Midland branch hadn’t been built? - owned by one company with the other having operational rights. Not beyond the wit of mankind, as at one time the MGWR had permission to operate from Athenry to Limerick. 2. The Birr - Portumna line is reopened as part of a Loughrea - Portumna - Birr line - this was actually proposed.

Don’t let him near it or he might burn it down when he’s killed a few more teenage brides!!! Seriously, excellent work.

I think diesels always look amazingly great when sidelined in favour of shteam…..!

Steam is the answer. Must be a few J15s, D16s and K2s in the depths of the loco shed. Now where’s the IRM six-wheelers & tin vans….

Will it include the sounds of swearing drivers & fitters, and have a tiny mechanism to spew oil and diesel fuel out of cracked pipes?

I’ve only one recollection of travelling on those 207-hauled excursions, and the highlight being Senior getting sticky buns for myself and sister-the-elder en route….. and the old side corridor first we were in….

Couldn’t agree more!

Outstanding stuff, Paddy! Captures the era perfectly! Question for the assembled company - I have several of those carriages too, which I bought for half of nothing on fleabay a while back, but they have old, coarse-sized wheels, which just bump over the sleepers of fine scale code 75 track. Does anyone know what would be suitable wheelsets to get for them?

He must do, yes, that makes sense.

We didn’t have to……!

Just as hard to believe when he took a pic of it, it was brand new!

Pity we all can't go on B145!

By way of completely random "lucky dip", from Senior's stuff: Tank loco on an Albert Quay - Glanmire transfer, and a Dublin & Blessington wagon body in a field outside Blessington in the 1930s, still with D & BST markings. Interesting pointwork in Albert Quay in 1950 or thereabouts, and some nice signals as a backdrop to an equally nice BCDR 4.4.2T in 1947.

Yes, it is Clipperstown. I think he renewed that bridge.

Plus a few random C & L ones from about 1935. He saw No. 1 "Isobel" still sporting very badly worn-out C & L lined green livery. I think she was the last C & L loco to be painted grey.

In response to a request, I dug out some of my father's pics on the Derry Central area of the NCC (plus a few other random NCC shots!). I believe these were all taken between 1944 and 1947, but there could be exceptions. He went to Draperstown in the 1930s, but I'm unaware of photos of that trip. More locos and stock than stations, but he a has a panoramic of Magherafelt (I think) somewhere. The one of No. 9 is obviously later than 1947.

I think I posted some before…. Must check!

The Maghera goods shed survives today as the loco shed at Downpatrick, while its canopy now graces the passenger platform there.

Must have been a lovely line. Senior took a few pics along it, but black'n'white, and to be honest not of great quality!

Excellent stuff indeed, Ernie. That's the only picture of Toome that I can remember seeing - certainly the only colour one. Perfect little station for modelling.

Love those London Underground models! Hand-built?

No criticism taken, Angus; you raise an interesting issue. And if anything significant in relation to it does ever come my way I’ll post it here….

Hi Angus It seems that the Midland's signalling equipment was mostly fairly standard stuff, although some lines (Loughrea, Ballinrobe and Ballaghadereen as some) certainly had some oddball stuff, like antiquated "slot post" signals, and the well-known double-sided one at Island Road station. The only references I came across while researching Clifden and Achill were in the boardroom minute books of the Midland, where mention was made of ordering material from the likes of the Railway Signal Company. Padraig's baronial book provides some interesting detail about signalling on the Loughrea and Ballinrobe branches, but also leaves a number of questions unanswered. I am currently interested in researching this further. I tend to include something if I can access reliable first-hand "chapter and verse" on it, but not so much otherwise, as I personally dislike reading "half a story" about something when I'm reading any book myself! If I come across anything definitive at any stage I will post it here, but apart from headcodes, whistle codes and the like, which are covered in half a dozen MGWR working timetables I have before GSR days, I have no information regarding the actual equipment - beyond what was pretty standard. I think the late Padraig took the same view as me, as when I discussed several other plans we both had with him, he mentioned a few bits and pieces (though not regarding signalling) which he had heard of, or half suspected - but could not verify; so he left it out (of the baronial book). He and I considered doing a joint job on the Killala branch, but so little ever happened there, and it was open such a short time, and had such sparse service, and only one station - that we both concluded that an article in the IRRS journal would be as far as that could go. Sadly, he passed away within six months of that conversation, and I haven't even begun to get around to that one yet..............

Excellent concept; flexibility without compromising an accurate "look". Just what i'm trying to recreate, albeit in a period about twenty five years earlier.