jhb171achill

Yes, as you suspect, the diesel era put paid to all of that. As you say, certain locos were in steam days very much associated with certain lines, although classes like J15s could end up all over the place. In diesel days, Inchicore was Planet Central. Even the G611's got about - all but one of the seven were to be found in Loughrea from time to time (the missing one, G614, probably DID go there too, but I haven't seen a pic of it). E's were probably more static, though, as all here will know, while they're primarily associated with dublin, they did turn up at other places, sometimes (like Fenit, Shelton Abbey at al) not where you'd expect to have found them. (I personally saw them in Cork and Limerick - the latter, I think, E425 in the mid-70s).

That is a very exceptionally rare beast indeed. I wonder was it the only one they had? Is it the same one seen at Fenit? I am unaware of a solitary example, anywhere else in Ireland, at any time, of a wagon even remotely similar. And I have been intently poring over every photo I can get my hands on for almost sixty years by now. In this pic it has "G S W R" on it, rather than Fenit Pier markings, so obviously it was taken into GSW stock. I suspect that most of the time it simply shuttled coal between Fenit and Tralee, which doubtless will be why we never see or hear much of it. An excellent find. Note the rust on the ironwork of the right-hand wagon, appearing so much darker, and faded grey paintwork on the timber bits. GSWR wagons were painted a very much darker shade of grey (I have a sample) than this photo would suggest; as seen on the bogie, and the four-wheeler on the left, of course!

Wonder what that tank loco is............

Wow! Very many thanks for that - I’ll email you this evening.

The only difference in the original DART livery was lining and logo. Both shades of green have always been the same. Dublin buses were the same green(s) in the early 1980s.

Yes, you have. Only full brakes, though, or mail vehicles. The 800 class would never have pulled passenger-carrying six-wheelers, as these were gone from main line expresses by 1939.

Will do next week!

Didn’t know that! But it certainly looks the part!

And me!

Hope you're recovered OK!

Brings back memories. My introduction to model railways was the 160 foot circuit in the attic of our stable, on Senior’s 1930s tinplate layout. I was about 11. Big clockwork engines rattling round a barn with un-insulated track on wooden boards, and clattering coaches clicketty-clacking behind them….. to do one full circuit, you’d wind the loco fully, and it would just about coast to a halt at the right spot. Heavy trains, as in real life, had to be double-headed. The best option was an old 0.4.0 tender loco which was an absolute flying machine and could haul pretty much anything you put behind it….

The stuff you meet on the roads these days….. where’s the traffic gardaí, I’m wondering?

Big time, yes! Great to see this and one of the 071s at Ballina, like a throwback to the 1990s.... Now we await an ICR set in 1950s dark green with flying snails! Or one of the new Dart Pluses in GSR Drumm Train livery........???

IMG_1193.mov

IMG_1196.mov IMG_1192.mov

I have to say I never liked that livery - didn't think the yellow suited the orange and black - but there's no denying that looks really well.

A terrible shame, but you’re a million percent right. A relative of mine regularly uses the ferry as a foot passenger (through necessity - long story) and it’s an absolute ordeal.

If they haven’t withdrawn them. It seems there’s nothing for them to do any more.

Good thinking….. it’s something I hadn’t thought of. No idea, but yes, those and the D’s did seem to often carry oil lamps….

Last week’s operations IMG_1195.mov

“Oi! You can’t park that here!” IMG_1196.mov

Had a closer look. Yes, that’s a bit more to the point. The other picture didn’t show as much detail. In the absence of much else, in CIE green they’re a good idea.

I thought they looked smooth-sided, no? Meant to add, the six-wheeler on the right of that picture is ex-MGWR six-wheel 3rd, No. 13M. Its chassis survives at Downpatrick.

Those two were wooden-panelled, too. The one on the left was one of only three surviving coaches at the time from the Waterford, Limerick & Western - l think it was 934 or 935. Only one survives today - the unrestored 6-wheel family saloon No. 900 at Belturbet. On the right is GSWR 1110, also long gone.

Unfortunately very unlike anything that ran here…. The right livery, though, and it’s a convenient thing!