jhb171achill

The gombeen men are alive and well! Thank you, FF.............

That was a damp cold day - last ever passenger run of a B101. It was the only run I ever had in the cab of a 101.... there seemed to be more people crammed into the cab than in the train!

Interesting to note that in the silver and that particular version of the green livery, they had no red buffer beams. That was as far as I know unique among steam OR diesel until modern times.

Very long, though! Yes - Norman Johnston’s little book about the line had one. I could post it here except my stuff is in storage right now. If I remember I’ll post a copy of it here in a few weeks.

Looks like the “unboxing vid” will need to be a boxed set!

Mr Bracken, aka Wrenneire, will be able to help.

Indeed - here’s hoping!

My own comments are based on what has come from the "horse's mouth", so to speak, and thus I cannot comment further. Suffice to say, I was party to the contents of certain discussions from "within". While I personally may well fir into the mound of "yearning" for the railway of the past, this applies only to my enthusiast leanings. Obviously, modernisation is essential. Given the latest figures on our economy, it is clear that with government commitment - IF there was sufficient commitment - they might find funding for at least some of the various schemes that have been proposed in recent years by people in the haulage world, as opposed to the certainly impractical ideas of many others. Jim Meade is a good, professional, practical railwayman, but has to work within the constraints he has from above.

Your "nitpicks" are correct. I know it's not everyone's thing, but surely the least a manufacturer can do is to provide models in the right livery. If the grey 121 of Murphy's had been made with blue numerals, or red bogies, there would be uproar. Silverfox's "D" class shunters ALL have red connecting rods. None of the G or D class livery variants are correct, and "grey roof syndrome" seems to afflict much of their stuff. But credit where it is due - their production methods are well suited to supplying things the way the customer wants - red and purple "C" classes an'all - and they are to be congratulated on that. I want to emphasise that I have bought several things from them and am very happy with them. Regarding the mid-bodyside line on "C" (and, for that matter, "A") class locos in green livery, they ran both with and without the line. It goes without saying, of course, that on both green diesels and green carriages, the numerals, "flying snails" and this mid-waist lining should be light(er) green, not white.

Regrettably, I feel that this is what will happen, or probably already is. The Greens are a junior partner in government. The anti-railway credentials of FFG, the National Transport Authority, AND the management of Irish Rail are, according to people I know who are "in the know" within it, as VEHEMENTLY anti-rail as the Stormont government and the UTA were in the 1950s. I wish I could say otherwise, as I can't be bothered with negativity for the sake of it; we get this type of whinging on various message boards all the time - but: 1. The closer the greens get to reopening ANY railway, the quicker they'll turn it over to a greenway. 2. Tracks lifted as soon as they can be. 3. Infrastructure placed in the way of reopening, e.g. maybe blocking Rossbrien crossing in Limerick to stymie a Foynes line, building a customs declaration office block slap-bang in the middle of the only place where sidings could be put at Rosslare, cutting off access by rail to ports in Cork and Waterford, and possibly shrinking the North Wall facility further. 4. An announcement that rail freight is a priority, with nothing EVER done. Rehash it each election time, getting some gombeen-man local TD down in Ballygobackwards to cut a tape somewhere. 5. Pat the Greens on the head and tell them that they can include the words "substantial funding for rail!" in their next manifesto, and claim credit for the modernisation expenditure already approved for the odd bridge replacement. 6. Greenways....QUICK! Before the EU notices that we actually have any railways. Plus, sure it's healthy, all that lime green lycra. 7. Now, we need MORE motorways! More! More! Rant over.

I'm presuming you can DCC-chip them...... I will await their re-introduction. I'll need a green one - but I'll have to tell yer man not to put a light grey roof on it!

Any idea if he's still doing the tin vans in green? When I got a couple some time ago he (at that time) only had the black'n'tan ones.

Was just refreshing myself on their website - seems they still have a good few RTR 1950s CIE coaches, which are a good starter and alternative for those who don't relish making up kits..... They also do a heating van, which of course is essential for anything 1960s, especially with grey and black'n'tan 121s out now, plus forthcoming IRM "A"s.

Just when I was half-considering ordering one! Now, a "bells & whistles" one WOULD be nice. I could be wrong, but I think Silverfox models are of a type that can be produced if necessary in smaller numbers - could the reason be difficulty in sourcing a suitable chassis?

It's located where it is due to thus beingclose to the vehicular entrance to the station; incidentally, I don't know why the photographer calls it "Rosbercon" station; its New Ross, fer gawddsakes.... probably the former is the name of the townland, but I think still wasn't "Rosbercon STATION"...... The crane in this location could probably lift stuff on and off horse-drawn trailers or lorries somewhat handier than if same had to trudge down to the other end of the station.

I'd say it's off a loading crane - was it near where the goods platform would have been? (West side of station).

NEVER was a truer word spoken! (or typed......)

One of the things I’ve always been highly impressed with - excellent backup and customer service with IRM. Maybe banks and insurance companies could copy this, please?

I had actually contacted them recently, and will send them some stuff once I can get my archive stuff unpacked again. I've been in the middle of a house move of late (Dublin city to Malahide) and most of my stuff is still stored. My top two (of very many, in theory) would be a Midland 6-wheel third, the staple of many 1950s excursions on CIE, and a GSWR bogie compo - staple of same PLUS main lines, as late as 1974 on Dublin locals.

FINTONA - the PERFECT location for a small shunting layout. You'd get a good representation of it even in 0 gauge track on a 6ft x 2ft 6" board. In 00, you could manage, if pushed, with a 3ft x 2ft board, to be shoved in the cupboard when finished operating. Add one GNR 0.6.0, a Provincial GN Guard's Van and a dozen trucks, and you're done. Dunno about a motorised horse; but had it survived much longer, Senior was of the opinion that the old Gardner railcar which did the Derry - Strabane locals would have probably ended up there.

That was lucky.......... The reality is that delivery companies REALLY need to step up to the mark. They are in the lucky position for them, and disastrous position for everyone else, of having a monopoly - and they know it, so they don't give a toss how damaged customers' good are. There are numerous stories all over the place of workers in depots and delivery men just flinging stuff about.

I have outline drawings, but I will be unable to access them until mid January (probably well within "time enough", anyway). The thing most needed is a GSWR bogie - ideally a composite but other variations too. They were to be seen on branch lines and main lines well into the 1960s, many lasting well within the "black'n'tan" era. In fact, for a grey 121 or many of the forthcoming livery variations for the IRM "A" class locos, at least SOME wooden stock in a train is almost as obligatory as the (VERY obligatory) "tin van". If he's prepared to do that, a Midland 6-wheeler will also be right for other "early diesels", especially a "C" class.

Yes, the GSWR ones had clerestories, so the kits would need these added. If you were modelling 1950s, no need for the actual windows in these - they were just canvassed and painted over, as was 861 when I first set eyes on it at Whitehead in the late 70s.............. These kits have a good GSWR "look" about them, but window spacings and numbers of doors aren't exactly right. So, for the "two-foot rule" these kits are fine in a coat of CIE green, but for strict accuracy no.

I wouldn't DREAM of such a thing. (See ye in the usual place - I've butter, women's stockings, dyed diesel, dodgy cigarettes, Craven coaches and 141s).............say nathin'.......

They're not at all unlike them side-on, indeed! i hadn't seen these - are they new? Not all of the Rosslare set were twelve- wheeled, though. Might get one of these myself.... is there any way of seeing a made-up model anywhere? A side view is one thing, but the side profile is another. I suspect, though, from my limited knowledge of pre-1925 Scottish coaches, that these might be OK though. The GSWR's 861 & 863 survived well into CIE days.