jhb171achill

Exactly! Yes, I think it ŵas summer '62, and it was indeed a publicity shot, in which, it will noted that "A6" is displayed in an experimental font which was nor perpetrated, and the white line is also not what became standard. First applications of Black and Tan in traffic did indeed tend to be more AEC railcard than anything else as they were the ICRs of the day, on most lines taking the most important passenger services. While a handful of vehicles were painted in the new livery in late 1962 to see what they looked like, it would be another year before they were commonplace. Thus, 1963 may be taken as the year when black'n'tan actually became the actual livery in practice. Any layout based in 1963-6 will still have many green coaches as well, though.

I found a photo on the smugmug site which I'd like a copy of, and publishing permission if possible. The site says that copyright is held by a number of different people. Having identified this one specific image, does anyone know how I can find out who holds the copyright and, ideally, their contact details?

They were also known as "hooded" vans by some railwaymen - jhbSenior and, for what it's worth, one old Kildare signalman who he knew, used to refer to them as such. I think the term came from an idea of a distinction between them - with internal "main line" dimensions and the older wooden framed vans, very often with lower roofs. Not certain of that, though.

I think Barry has exact dates for this. I will check. If Barry doesn't, I know someone else who should know this.

“….the carriage? I think they’re putting a storage heater in it like the one at Loughrea. Saves a heating van…..” ”Gimme a hand with these sacks. My back’s done in.”

It’s 1964. Every year, the Far North Antrim Pigeon Botherers & Greyhound Worriers Club have an event which involves a special train containing “pigeon men” and their birds, down to West Cork. The birds are released and the club’s passengers have lunch in a local hotel (no alcohol is served). Here, we see the returning train with A55 up front. Crossley sludge in your eye if you open the window…. Here, there are four full vans of pigeon crates. Not since the All-Ireland has Dugort Harbour seen a five-coach train…. This train never runs on the “Sabbath”, of course. Inspired by watching pigeons being loaded into CIE “tin vans” in Lisburn, some time in the early 60s….. . The following day, a grimy B141 shunts several wagons to the goods siding after arriving with the mid-day mixed train. A new pair of level crossing gates for the nearest crossing up the line have been delivered. That’s Tim Pat and his damn tractor again. Second gate he’s run into in the last eighteen months.

Yes, I do know him.....indeed! In the 1980s he and i used to do sales stands for the RPSI all over Ireland. Whitehead, Larne, Donegal, Carlow and even Wishht Caaark! (Upton)...

Ah! I see. No, don't know him, but looks impressive. What Irish stuff does he have?

N scale Irish? Pray tell us more.......

Couldn’t agree more! Very well said.

Mystery solved?

I knew Wilson, yes K9, years ago and I always found him to be reasonable to deal with - perhaps PM him? He’s very much interested in things UTA and NIR…. He collects photos too.

Nice - well done, Ken - great to see yet another home-grown maker of home-grown wagons. I've put my order in, folks, and I am very satisfied with what the postman brought to me!

Correct. There were very few TPOs, and while I have seen a bogie TPO in green I can't recall a 4-wheeled one. That is not to say there was no green 4-wheeled TPO - there may well have been. The "tin vans" (LV) and heating vans were certainly green as shown in those pics - but some of those two types went straight from "silver" to black'n'tan. Livery note for silver: roof and chassis and ends silver too, not grey or black - though weathering made them look almost that way.....

Ah, I see….. odd. I’ve no answer…… did you try shutting it down entirely and reopening it?

If you set it up, it's possible for you to vet - or to confirm or refuse - permission for others to post. Some FB pages will show a message to the effect that if you or i post something, it won't show up until or unless the mods approve it.

Which one, Tony?

Not as such, no, though very occasionally (e.g. 12th July) excursions ran from the BCDR onto GNR lines. One must presume that a GNR loco took over in such a case, but there was never anything regular.

Yes, they did. Not all, though - some went directly from the filthy "silver" straight to black'n'tan. The green used on those which did wear it, was the post-1955 lighter green, with a pale green waistline but no flying snail.

“….THREE wagons they’ve sent? Sure John Pat O’Sullivan was telling me last night he’ll have ten or twelve beasts himself! We need to telephone for at least two more…..is the telephone fixed?”

The Christmas parcels are beginning to arrive now; three vans on the branch train today….. . “…… yes, it only came here last week. Only two months old. It’s one of the new ones from England. You’re better sitting in it - the lights still aren’t working in the other one…..”

That is a SERIOUSLY excellent weathering job.

I’ve been posting books to people in Ireland, U.K. and further afield. One got lost in post (to USA), and two were delivered in England with (British) charges whereas others went OK ; one was sent back to me from England.

It's on UTV Player, but it seems that not everyone can get that - I can't seem to.....

That’s one of the Studio Scale Models kits, Fiacra, professionally built - light years beyond my skill set! Very excellent job it was, as you say.