jhb171achill

I would just like to add that if any re-run of the Cravens is ever done, they have dark coloured seats, not bright blue. They were never bright blue, and in original livery generally a dark grey, almost black..... Anyone here ever put themselves through this ordeal?

The one time I ever travelled in one of these tubular pressure cookers it was a three car set on the Limerick - LJ shuttle, with a 121 at the Limerick end. As far as I know, it wasn't long before the railcars took over.

That is correct. Within a week, she was to be steamed for her boiler test. She was lit up, and after many hours couldn't raise enough steam to complete the test. Thus, she failed it and that was that. She is evidently so far beyond restoration that a total rebuild would be necessary - and THAT verdict was made thirty years ago! So it's now almost half a century since she was steamed - and then only as described above.

It's the wrong shade of grey, though.

How do you put a DCC chip in the horse?

VERY poor photos, amongst the earliest I took of railway subjects with a cheap camera. 1. Whitehead Open Day, 1972; my first and last experience of “Lough Erne” in steam. 2 & 3. The RPSI’s Coolnamona tour, about the same time, 1971/2? Someone will know. This is 186 in the Curragh Siding.

S E R I O U S L Y good!!

When it closed in 1976, it and Ardrahan still had one. I'm not sure about Craughwell. Mallow retained GSR signs quite late on, and GSR enamel footbridge signs were certainly in Carrick-on-Suir until the last couple of years at least. A painted-on version at Cherryville Junction was also still extant until quite recently. Though closed to passenger traffic, the first time I traversed the Foynes branch, probably about 1978, Patrickswell and Ballingrane still had GSR enamel station nameboards, and possibly a few other places - despite not seeing a passenger train since 1963. I've a vague notion that there were a few on the Sligo line well into the 1970s, but I could be wrong.

I deliberately took that top pic in 1975 (I think) exactly for that purpose - modelling GSR enamel signs! From memory of walking on that very platform (when I was taking pics of the sign!), the gravel was about an inch diameter. Gravel platforms were very common in rural locations.

I know! I don't know what became of it, but ebay wasn't in existence in those days!

Believe it or not................ There was one of those, years ago, kicking about in one of the RPSI dining cars, long before the RPSI had any interest in diesels. As far as I know, it went into the rubbish at one stage, as nobody knew what it was!

It would be - Tuam was on the GSWR system after they took over the WLWR........

Poxit?

Cattle trains would have beaten those hands down at one time, as would regular goods, with well upwards of 40 wagons & van. The Dublin - Cork line could have a dozen bogies plus vans well into the 1970s too. I saw 13 once plus two tin vans....

THAT IS OUTSTANDING!!!!!

Yes, and I know it’s true, because it said so in the Daily Mail, and Qnewsmax.

There WAS no horse! That’s a conspiracy theory!

There had to be at least one for the guard, plus heating and lighting. 1. You had 4-wheeled guards / parcel vans with no genny - they were first. These were the ones initially known semi-officially as “hooded vans”, later less officially as “tin vans”. In official parlance they were abbreviated to “LV” (= “Luggage Van”). 2. Then the same but with generators, a little luggage space, and of course, the guard. These were known as “HV”, or “heating van” to some, “GSV” (generating steam van) to others, and “hot water bottles” to enthusiasts. Both of these were used on most trains from the late 50s, but all trains in the 60s, bar the odd rare exception like the solitary and unique Loughrea coach. In grey 121 days, or black’n’tan days, tin vans of both types above are quite simply essential. Then, 3. The mail vans. There were a small number built for use on mail trains. These had neither heating boiler nor brake, but at least one was subsequently rebuilt as a brake vehicle, despite retaining its TPO appearance. I think that’s the one now at Downpatrick, following its later career in the weedspray. 4. The later 6-wheeled vans (in 1964/5) were heating / guard only - none were built as LVs only. These were only ever in black’n’tan. 1, 2, and 3 started silver, but most were eventually painted green, especially the “hot water bottles”. Some made it to black’n’tan days still in extremely filthy “silver”.

Yes, but ye daren’t mention it!

So, Brexit!

I would get it delivered to a relative, who would then bring it over in the car when visiting.....

Looks like I'm OK, then - Bachmann "Woolwiches" and MM locos are the oldest I'd have.

Must have a look...the top one looks better for GSR enamels....

MOST regrettably, I unavoidably missed it.....

Which fonts? I found one which looks OK, called "Bunchlo". Of your two, the top one looks most accurate, and of course the English-language name would all be in capitals.