jhb171achill

Have to say I always used meths too.... seemed to work ok....

........? (Maybe I'm a bit slow!)

Could happen - the price differential then was not what it was in recent years. On at least one occasion I saw a brand new car on a flat wagon in a northbound goods going through lisburn - though arguably it could have been loaded in Portadown. For weathering enthusiasts; that guards van is GREY; a shade only slightly darker than CIE used on those vans, the adjacent one being a GSR example. Shows what neglect and brake dust can do.

H0 scale, with more authentic 12mm gauge (H0m / TT) gauge track. Its close to scale, and while I did have 009 in the past, I find that just a bit small now. I think that to me, H0 scale on H0 track, to represent "Cape" gauge, looks even worse than Irish 00 stuff on 00 gauge track instead of 21mm! The SAR stuff will be Scalecraft, Precision / DJH, and SARM stuff. For a branch, all I need is a 6J, maybe two, a brake composite and a V brake van, a handful of bogie opens, and vans to carry grain, cattle and fruit traffic. Maybe a water tanker or two. Long term a DJH 19D if the money's ok.....

It's been three years since me last confession...... Dugort Harbour has remained in Baseboard Dave's pending completion of this attic; this also following a house move. This has caused a rethink. The initial layout was designed to be nothing more than a small shunting terminus, with a track plan loosely based on Westport Quay, albeit with a passenger service. It would be operated by two 00 Works J15s, a "Mayner" G2, and as things progressed, other steam engines in 1950s mode, with some nasty diseasels appearing in the form of a couple of "C"s and "A"s, and if ever a high-quality B101 appears, mayyyyyybe. In 1960s mode it would be operated, as such a prototype would in real life, almost totally with 141s, the odd 121 appearing. However, now it has a larger room following a house move over the winter, but a sharp curve at one end which was necessary to fit into its old house in Dublin south, but unnecessary here, so extension is possible as will be seen from attached video. The carpet went in today, so I can tell Dave that it's all systems go now! I had devised a design which would have had the original (already built) terminus, with a second station, then a larger fiddle yard; thus two trains could cross at the interim place. However, elements elsewhere have revived my long-standing interest in things 3'6" gauge, be they Indonesian or South African, and a very nice kit of a SAR 6J may be had; my colleague in things South African is putting this together for me now. Thus, I am tempted to have two smaller layouts instead of one bigger one. One would be Dugort Harbour, the other being somethings-Dorp or somethings-Fontein! Like Dugort, it would be a small rural terminus and fiddle yard. The jury's out; meantime I look forward to the arrival of Dugort Harbour! I will post more in due course. Meanwhile, here's the "man-cave": IMG_7709.MOV

Those cars are 1950/1 Ford Prefects, which dates THAT picture. Yes, car transport by rail actually lasted (just about) into the 1970s!

Dublin - Cork initially. The GSWR's No. 343 was built in 1898, and very probably DID operate the WDLR route at times; it survived into the early 1960s, even running with AEC railcars as a catering-car intermediate, despite its very antiquated appearance. The MGWR had their first dining car, No. 1, in 1902. The GNR(I) were also early off the mark. Not so sure about the BNCR. Neither the CBSCR or BCDR ever had any dining cars.

No, though it was early enough. The GSWR had several earlier.

The green? Spare a thought for the many GSWR wooden bogies (and a small handful of MGWR ones) which ended up in black’n’tan....

A vehicle of beauty!

I remember at school we were all asked to do some sort of science project - can’t remember for the life of me what it was about - something to do with ions.... two out of the whole class truly cracked it and were able to stand up and explain the concept simply and coherently. I picked up on one detail which seemed at variance with what the teacher had told us. Suffice to say that it became evident that the teacher didn’t fully grasp the issue, and awarded first prize to another student on the basis of excellent presentation! And this student was one of the majority who, due to inadequate teaching, hadn’t grasped it either!

Dang! It should be in British Rail blue!

Would not surprise me in the slightest. That actually REALLY annoys me; when so-called researchers don't do an OUNCE of research, and cobble together any old "steam train engine" stuff of a "train" running into a "train station" on "train tracks" - and yes, a Scottish equivalent of an ICR built in 1998 is fine to show the Cavan & Leitrim in 1900.......... If any history is to be recorded, it MUST be done accurately. Even if it's a "chat-show"-standard programme starring a culchie with wild hair. Jayyyysus...... I'm off to get me shmelling salts................!

Correct. Categorically not Inchicore, and categorically yes a Mogul!

I knew it. I was put in touch with one of the research team for this, and I sent them off some info. From the get-go, I realised I was dealing with people with zero knowledge of railways, Ireland or both. I absolutely dread to think what will be in the others.

Very much looks like it, yes. Superb stuff, Ernie!!!! Jim, PM me about CDR stuff.

Indeed it is! A real beauty. Interesting! First time me I'm aware of one of those going over there. I wonder was it just stored, or was it ever used on the system. A journey to Baltimore in that vehicle would have been worth a lifetime's travel.

This perfectly shows the two shades of green. These railcars were delivered in the older dark green, and some bits (power unit or trailer) got mixed up from time to time. Here we have the passenger trailer in the original dark green, and the power unit in the later lighter green.

Correct. Sure that's not Glanmire? That coach was used a lot on the Cobh branch at that time. It was 66ft long - it's hard to imagine it going across the tramway, and I've never seen any evidence of it working in West Cork.....

I’m even worse.

My understanding is that as you imply, it actually WAS a non-railway building; highly unusually for Ireland (perhaps uniquely?) it pre-dated the railway entirely. I believe it was a large house, thus the small concourse probably had its origins in a hallway! The UTA do indeed seem to have used it for a while for bus passengers after the railway closed.

No, I always duck when she takes a swing at me......

Wonder how long 216 will retain the Belmond livery now that it's bitten the dust................. There's make-up IN the container, and matching nail varnish. Boxes of it.

Yiz not doing one in Castlederg & Victoria Bridge livery? They looked so tatty that the management were embarrassed to use them latterly and would either borrow old wooden bogies from the GNR, or six-wheelers from CIE, if there was a busy day! jhbSenior said they smelled very damp and musty inside..........

Wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest..... Even a commuter line to Bandon would do!