jhb171achill

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.....

Leslie!!! You've gone over to the Dark Side!!!

As seen above, with the Strabane & Letterkenny Railway only opening in 1909 (one of the last; only exceeded by the Keady - Castleblaney line in 1913), it does not show on the 1907 map. Thus, prior to 1909, Strabane CDR station had no "back" platform.

As far as I can ascertain, Fry may have made at least one model for Donaldson - though I have yet been unable to identify which one, if any. It is also believed that at least of one of his OWN - possibly the tank engine 900 - was made for Donaldson. If this is correct, it may be that he made the body and painted it as Drew wanted, but then for some reason ended up retaining it, whereupon he put an electric motor in it. Drew was an extremely dogmatic person - but then so was Fry, by all accounts! In both cases, it was a brave man who contradicted them even when they were very demonstrably wrong! The colour discrepancy isn't, as such; the two greens were different. No. 501 is in GSR green - as used on 800-2 only - whereas 670 is in the post-1945 lined green used by CIE. The two were different. CIE put this green on main line passenger engines - the 500s, 400s, 800s, Woolwiches and a few others - and Dublin suburban tank engines. Everything else, of course, was unlined grey. But the GSR green was a "one night only" phenomenon, applied to the trio of 800s new, but not repated as they got CIE green at first repaint. Bit like the 121s and 071s being delivered in unique liveries, which disappeared once Inchicore got them in the same room as a paintbrush.

Yes, that beauty in Hell's Kitchen has the cream of the A & C classes, and the 121 cab has the grey seen inside the 121, 141, 181, G & E classes. The control desk was black instead of blue, of course. Never blue.

The GSR version was ONLY ever on the three 800 class, and disappeared on first repaint, which was into the CIE livery they carried for the rest of their lives. These are two of Fry’s models. He liked the GSR green, obviously, as he painted three of his locos in it (including 501 below), though none of them had it - yet his model of 800 was CIE green! GSR (“800 class”) lining was yellow and black and CIE lining was as on 800 in Cultra, black and white.

This was a one-off reprint for a special event, though it did briefly operate in traffic in it. Thus, it could be seen as an actual, if extremely short-lived "livery"; but they never carried it before. GSWR green of the 1870-1895 period was an extremely dark green, as seen on one of Fry's models or No. 90 at Downpatrick. They painted engines lined black from 1895 to about 1915-18, then grey onwards and to working steam's oblivion. A few familiar faces in that video, most now departed......

It was actually clockwork motors and rubber bands that NIR put in them...........

Today, the above three sets were in action, plus a 2-car 2700. They'll be rotated, as will locomotives from time to time. There are five sets of 0 gauge stuff made up for eventual use on the overhead track. These are from the "Castle" models - i.e. the stuff built in the 1990s for the old Malahide Castle layout. From memory (it's weeks since i put them in boxes), there is a J15 plus a couple of six-wheelers, a few wagons and a van, for a 1950s set. For the 1960s, a 141 and coaches in black'n'tan. For the 1970s an 071 and Mk 2 set. For the 1980s another 071 with a mix of bubbles, Guinness four wheelers and 4 wheel container flats. There's a "C" which can also do the 1950s or 1960s set also.

Saw the Tara going through today, and the Enterprise back in 1987.... But there was an issue with the Cork service today. Due to the less frequent service as a result of Covid-19, crews are less familiar with the route knowledge aspect of it. The crew of the 11:00 to Cork got lost today, and are shown here entering Malahide, where the driver had to stop to ask for directions. IMG_2658.MOV IMG_2658.MOV