jhb171achill

He’ll expose himself, I’m sure, at some stage! Eh, what I meant was, ehhh…. Up Mayo!

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Some operations today, as we also watched Mayo’s historic win! IMG_3239.mov D class in “0” scale by Brendan Kelly.

In the wake of Mayo's truly historic win today, it got me wondering what specials were on the last time they won it 75 years ago..... probably Woolwiches and old MGWR and GSWR flat-roofed bogies - put me in mind of the 50 footer that Mol has been scratchbuilding! Probably some old stock taken out and the odd one still in faded GSR maroon.... If there was enough stock for even one Mayo special today, only an ICR, presumably.....

This really is a masterclass, the likes of which is RARELY seen, either here or anywhere else. Absolutely stunning work. After today, one painted green and red on a Mayo branch line has to be a must................

What's needed is someone with a van to order a pile of them to an address in the north and go up and get them. I'd volunteer to assist. In the near future, there's a SLIGHT possibility I may be able to access an address in Wales too. A relative of mine is in Wales every month and could bring them back free. And to hell with customs, brexit charges, trump tarriffs, postal charges, "supply chain issues" and exorbitant private courier charges.

Worry not, Mol, it looks amazing!

This is true, and has caught out many a modeller over the years. Paint two vehicles from the same pot of paint in the same day, use one on a steam-operated inland midlands branch line, and the other hauled by diesels on an exposed coastal line, and in only a couple of years you’d swear they were ORIGINALLY painted differently. Here, I’m well aware that Mol_pb has carried out a truly exceptional level of research in advance. To those in doubt, or seeking enlightenment, read the Mol chronicles here, and chapter and verse will become apparent. The proof of the pudding is not so much the notoriously unreliable tones apparently seen in 1950s / 1960s colour slides, but in the comments and memories of those who SAW the real thing day in, day out; and were also blessed with a very good eye for colour, which not everyone has. The research Mol has done, and conclusions drawn, and noted in these posts, align with the many tales I’ve been told over the years by people who were there at the time, plus my own (few and late) memories of things green.

I think the idea was for a coffee shop.

Wonder how much they want for it…..

An interesting one, seemingly coming out of the blue. IF they carry it out, and within a timescale before 8 tracks are needed, it will be a truly excellent plan, though it will inevitably lead to a major and difficult re-configuration of Connolly Station. One presumes that a central pair of tracks will take Enterprises, semi-fasts to Drogheda and Dundalk, and any goods trains if they ever bring them back. As many will know, it's an open secret that there is a substantial anti-freight lobby within IE.... but that, of course, could change or be forced to change. Therefore, the "outer" lines would serve the suburban halts. How to do it? In reality, a very large amount of it is perfectly feasible. The GNR line was built in cuttings and on embankments. Make the sides of cutting vertical (with stout concrete retaining walls) and it's surprising how much extra space would be made. Similarly, build similar up from the outer lower boundaries of embankments, same result. The big thing will be stations - including any that are listed. Looking at my own local area, the inland side (down line) of Malahide and Donabate will require listed structures and private land to be eaten, but the price is well worth paying. The Malahide Estuary line will need to be widened - this will be easy. Several road bridges (that in Malahide over the railway is a main road and a busy one) will need to be widened - major job in itself. Even without encroaching on much existing road space, huge disruption will be necessary - but again, worth it overall. The idea has been mentioned before (by a highly qualified and experienced railway engineer who I know, for one), that a double track line built in a tunnel UNDER the existing line would be another solution - if so, this could link with an underground system - although in reality our politicians will uselessly kick THIS ball down the road for another 150 years... Such a scheme would be executed with much less disruption, though it might cost a lot more. Either way, this is good news, and about time too! Let's hope they follow the words with action.

Each company had their own design. Several of the railway books over the years show those of the major companies. That one is one of two types used by the GSWR. I think West Cork ones were not that different. MGWR, GNR & NCC were different again - will try to find images. Not sure of BCDR or CDRJC. Smaller companies often had those similar to main line companies adjacent to them. The Loughrea & Attymon company had wooden posts with numbers painted on them, though these were replaced by standard MGWR ones some years later, even though the L&A remained technically a separate company until 1925.

They'd be regulars at Croker!

100%. And "AI" is all too often "Artificial Idiocy"!

Only recently, I had a conversation with a well-known member in the model railway world who put me in touch with one of these "influencers". I have yet to read a single post on any subject from an online influencer. If the subject matter is something that interests me, I will already have read up on it and made up my own mind. If the subject matter doesn't interest me, I wouldn't be looking at it in the first place. Thus, as far as influencers are concerned, I'm innocent of views of any of them. My thoughts had been to invite this person / blogger / influencer / poster to do a post, or blog, or whatever they call it, about the Malahide Model Railway Museum. However, having been notified of this particular one, I then became aware that they had apparently issued posts with some unwarranted criticism of a well-trusted manufacturer of Irish stuff; consequently, I did not contact them and won't. I have yet to read any of their content....... As an aside, on behalf of the same museum, our marketing officer contacted another well-known "bourgeois" blogger with a view to an appearance at Malahide. He wanted £15,000 sterling, his flights from Britain, meals, taxis and two nights' hotel accommodation in Dublin, for a single HALF-hour public question-and-answer session. Stick to your class 47s in Britain, Francie......!

100%; sums it up perfectly.

Roof, chassis & ends black; that's the easy bit! Body newly grey - but it looks quite light. I suspect a one-off, maybe using the lighter paint they started painting new wagons in at the same time. But if it's 1064. the "snail" has been replaced a year or more earlier. which suggests paintwork possibly older than it looks. As for what colour that snail is, it's anyone's guess. It looks darker than the darker shade of green (still then in use on some buses and trucks). The writing on the left may be eau-de-nil. I wonder if it could be red?

Thought so - just curious!

I'd be equally wary of such a small job paint-wise, but possibly a fine-pointed permanent marker might assist? All it needs now is a giant Translink logo and website address on the tender.....!

Looks fantastic - con-rods were black anyway rather than yellow so it looks realistic enough. Question, though - how come the windows are blocked up - is this just during painting? I would consider this myself to get Mr. Grandson interested; Enda's wagons are absolutely fantastic and a great start for anyone in "0" gauge. An "0" scale "G" class would be a great thing to have too.

That’s actually as good as I’ve seen. Now I’m tempted again. So it’s SSM?

In a case like that, it’s as good as certain the SLNCR would have been eaten by the bigger company. It was never profitable. Cattle traffic just about kept it afloat, otherwise it would have closed by about 1930. The NWR, or whatever it would become, would have re-routed cattle via Cavan if it didn’t agree to a takeover, and it would have surrendered within months. Either way, this new company would probably have incorporated its services into a twice or three times daily Sligo to Omagh service.

That looks VERY well.

Now THAT looks like a brass kit - I thought the SSM one had a resin body? Is that wrong?