jhb171achill

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!

Excellent stuff. Pity at least some of it didn't survive, though today it would probably have a single two-car 2800 doing two daily return trips to Bantry and nothing else! Still, I'd rather see that than nothing....

Very much appreciated, Broadstone. Thank you.

Superb. Sixty years ago yesterday.......!

Thank you, m'lud. On behalf of my client, Mr. Holman, I would like to submit that he has done a superb and accurate job here, and one with which this court may not reasonably find fault. Thus, I submit that the jury must find him not guilty of any wrongdoing.......... Seriously, you've nailed it. From observation of only two very tiny samples of original brown paint that I am aware of, that's perfect. You're going for a slightly older look; gold lining up to approximately 1910, with pale yellow gradually replacing it until the all-over very dark maroon of 1918. I'm not 100% sure that the "VR" logo was used by the MGWR - some companies here used it and others didn't! It probably depended on the political affiliations of the relevant managements, and would possibly have been influenced by the clientele and general public to be found in the vicinity! If you've evidence of this, fair enough; I'm just unaware of it. I have seen a pic of a coach in blue and white (1902-5) with what appears to be some sort of intertwined letters on the mail coach, but this would have been Edwardian rather than Victorian, as that livery only appeared in 1902. But other mail vehicles don't seem to show anything like this - but it possible I just haven't noticed it. In any event, a brake third would not have had anything like that - only specifically dedicated mail vans if anything. In Belmullet, mail bags would have been just thrown in the van of the brake coach. Excellent job, and that coach build is superb, your carriages are perfect companions for the loco. A train like this could have left Belmullet with just those two coaches, picked up two more at Westport, another at Claremorris, and off we go to Athlone, where our D16 remains, and its collection of carriages join the up Galway - Broadstone Mail. The make-up of a mixed train, as at Achill in the illustration you refer to, was ALWAYS in this order: Loco Vacuum braked stock (usually coaches, with passenger (vacuum) brake vehicle like yours last, but it COULD be ahead, maybe right behind the loco); then - Loose coupled stock Goods brake at the end. The only way you'd have a trailing truck without a goods brake would be if it was fitted, or (unofficially) maybe only one. So, when your train leaves, if it's passenger / mail only, the two carriages above are enough. If it's a "mixed mail", you'll have your two coaches (the brake will be a brake third and the other a 1st / 3rd or 1st / 2nd), and then any wagons, and at the end a goods brake to control them. As an aside, this is why it is essential for any modeller to have brake vehicles on EVERY train pre-approx-1970, no matter what it is, or where it is. So, as I've often said, we need the tin vans, goods brakes, and full brake carriages for steam days.

You'd actually be surprised what a Giant's Causeway one could throw up! A line with a fascinating and very unique history......

An 0.2.0 "train engine"!

Ah sure that'll never happen...........!

This one's a Tralee & Dingle coach.........

Let's hope when he gets to Achill he doesn't trot out the old "first and last train carried the dead" myth...........I almost dread watching that episode!