jhb171achill

Had a look at their website - interesting. They show a truly superb model of a Donegal tank in original lined black livery. Wonder what gauge it is or who has it!

....................and "Maedb"!

I suppose we all have to start somewhere! The too one, No. 7, was one of a pair which as far as can be ascertained were the first DIESEL-powered passenger carrying rail vehicles in the world..... Indeed, odd they looked, and even odder to the people of Donegal in 1931! But they are arguably the ancestors of every diesel railcar (or DMU, as our cross-channel neighbours would have it) in the world. Meanwhile, the Tara passed Malahide today, and a Mk 4 set likewise (again, he’s got lost and is asking the Enterprise driver for directions to Limerick Junction, where the once-annually Limerick Junction to Waterford train awaits.....)

Donegal “Phoenix” and railcars repose in retirement as the “Enterprise” passes through Malahide this afternoon.

We have morons interfering with the railway today, and 126 years ago their grandparents were at it.....

Might as well post a bit more, then!

We’re in Co Tyrone and it’s 1892....

Indeed - it was make do and mend a long time ago, a bit like the current policy on providing a "service" on Limerick - Waterford red the Nenagh branch. One only has to look at the clapped out rolling stock that ran in West Cork from even mid-GSR days until the railcar set arrived, and then it was only on the Bantry line, and ran but twice a day. I misread the original post, which referred to a "3" on the loco, not the door of the coach. You can just about make it out - it's got worn off.

I would very much hope so. Minister - anything that a "great deal of thought went into", and ended up like that, wouldn't say a lot about the imaginations of whoever did the "thinking"! I never liked the livery that much, personally - I think it's very drab - but of course I am very interested in it from a historical perspective, plus the fact that if I want a 121 to operate within the timescale I prefer on my layout, then it's the only show in town!

I have not come across that story, however, what i might add is as follows. Firstly, the initial experiment with "black'n'tan" was experimental. Had it not worn well (it did!) or had there been some other issue it is likely they'd have "gone back to the drawing board". So, there was a concerted effort back then to completely try to re-invent the railway system in the public eye as something dynamic, modern clean and speedy, once steam was finally eliminated at around the same time. Secondly, the grey and yellow livery was almost certainly another experimental livery, as the 121s were NOT the only things to carry it! The tour buses for CIE tours also wore it. Notwithstanding earlier discussions, once in use for a while, the grey became scruffy, as had the "silver" of the late 1950s (though even more so!), and at first repaint they became black'n'tan. Thus, it is doubtful - though certainly possible - that it originated in the USA. After all, the one-off "brown" 071 livery when new, and that with non-standard CIE emblem, was indeed an American "interpretation" of the CORRECT livery details that they had been given. Again, first repaint was into "proper" CIE livery.

The West Cork branchlines did indeed seem weedy even then. Low speeds co tributes to its closure, as the track was for many years not as well kept as one might expect even on the main line. I’ve seen a picture taken near Skibbereen of a train in late GSR days even, out on the line, and the track looks like the Loughrea branch in 1975. Senior’s opinion of the track on the whole West Cork system was that not much of it was fit for much more than 45 / 50 mph - and that’s before were talking about axle-loading. No less than seven miles of the CLIFDEN line’s track was used in West Cork, second hand, after it was lifted in 1938. That doesn’t say much for what was there before. Acetylene contraptions which looked a bit like that were used on some of the northern narrow gauge stock. The missing “3” on the door - that was an old Bandon carriage, with (County Donegal style) just one compartment at each end. The door without a “3” is one of the central double doors into the van part.

Indeed - the all-time record for filth must be the A & C classes, “silver” tin vans, and a few of the last steam engines!

I was thinking not so much of them as brand new, folks, but more like you’ll see in pics of them in 1965/7 on the Malliw-Waterford line. l agree, of course, they looked gleaming when new - especially compared to most of what surrounded them! You’re both totally right on that score.

The "Milo" livery!

Sadly, though, they didn't stay that way long! I will have one pristine and one weathered - I hope!

My dilemma will be getting one of these silver beauties and getting it professionally weathered within an inch of its life to a state of absolute filth!

Well said!

Not at all! Senior watched someone walk straight into a hole in the ground at dusk in a railway yard in England when he was District Engineer in the LMS. Checklist: 1. Barrier round the hole: no 2. Signage near the hole: no 3. Lighting: no 4. Notice to railwaymen working in the yard: no 5. Verbal warnings by supervisory staff, or the men digging the hole: no 6. Staff on hand to guard hole, or warn unsuspecting other staff: no 7. Advance circular to yard staff and shunters regarding the digging of said hole: no As for the man who fell into it and injured his leg: 1. PTS: no 2. Torch: no 3. Day-glo or otherwise bright clothing: no 4. Steel-capped boots: no 5. Advance safety briefing: no ........to our younger readers, be very, very aware of this; you live in an age where the concept of trade unions is increasingly, and very wrongly, a dirty word. Without such, people would still be expected to work in these conditions.

Acetylene lighting thingy, I believe

From Senior’s archives: In the GNR’s early years, boardroom minutes made as dry and dusty reading as a telephone directory, just as they do today; having sat through interminable RPSI and DCDR (and other non-railway) committees, boards, and other assemblies, I know this only too well. ”Oh, give me your pity I’m on a committee Which means that from morning to night We confer and demur And debate until late And we never get anything done.....” However, while the glacial machinations of the GNR’s Engineering and Permanent Way Departments were never intended to be read like a blockbuster novel, the minutes give a fascinating insight into the operation of our railways in their first half century. I’ll post a few random items over the next week or two, but first of course is the cover, in this case of the 1875-1905 volume. You will note that it refers to one area, which is the former Ulster Railway area. An Ulster Railway one will follow next week, but the grass needs to be cut first.....

For hunting dogs. Too low for hay. And the groom travelled in the little compartment on the right originally.

It might be added that many hunts were still carrying horses into the early 1960s. As late as perhaps 1962, large numbers of horseboxes were still on CIE's books. Lord and Lady Dunraven loaded them on trains on the North Kerry, while Ballsbridge siding, Fairyhouse, Curragh, Naas and various other places saw trains of them. Martin, I think you should pay Ernie compensation of £5000, and he should pay you compensation of £5000. That would sort it all out.

Tis true, Edo! Someone I know told me that a friend's acquaintance told him that IRM & Murphy Models will have RTR thyristor-controlled, DCC-ready, models available from noon on Tuesday. There is a small heating element inside them which emits a real turf smell. It will sell for €365 / £500, and will be available in every livery carried by anything ever in Ireland - plus LNWR yellow. Good weed, this.....

Looks like I missed out! Must go next time.....

John A very desperately belated answer; some two years and a bit! Further info has come to light since then, and I can now advise that from 1945 until the early 1950s, MUCH of the first wagon stock had light green snails and numbers - possibly all for a while. On the main lines, this was almost all in white by the late 50s, with all new wagons after at least 1954 having off-white-painted snails and numbers. But the C & L wagon stock almost never met with a paintbrush! Thus even at closure, the extremely heavily worn, faded, battered and weathered remnants of a wagon livery contained many with badly faded light green markings. Naturally, all carriage stock always had light green markings and lining, although one coach had a badly faded version of same.....