jhb171achill

He didn't believe the ship was what "they" said it was for????? What sort of deluded conspiracy theorist idiot was he? I hope they lock him up and throw away the key! My opinion of conspiracy theorists is, let us say, very exceptionally low......

This is a bit easier. A few locomotives for this evening. First two, Dundalk 1988/9. Next, the evening (without looking it up, about 17:20?) Rosslare - Limerick, one very hot summer evening in 1977, I think. What on earth they put on three bogies and a van (and, indeed, when I first travelled that line in 1976, FIVE bogies, I will never know. There were never more than one carriage could have accommodated, as the timetable on that line has not been an actual “service” for sixty or seventy years, so few use it....even then. I reckon there were about 25 passengers that night. Without my notes to hand, I think that was taken at Bridgetown but could be Campile. I’ve no recollection of taking pics at W Bridge that evening. E434 is on Kingsbridge pilot in 1977. 123 is at Inchicore in 1986. E405, also Inchicore, 1986. I think I took that pic the same day.

No No No It is SALLINS, junction for the Tullow branch. The shed was on the down side, just before the branch diverged to Naas. I was there twice. The other time there was no loco, but a couple of empty corrugated trucks sitting there.

No No and no! Answer will follow soon..... one more chance!

No, not Midland land!

Nope Nope

It’s on the main line, yes. Clue: lattice window, two road loco shed (room for four locomotives), two inspection pits, and large water tower. Nope

Nope

I did indeed see them - in fact I saw three, I think, including the one that was scrapped. The pic isn’t Broadstone either.... No..... The year is 1970.

Nope! Nope!

Do not try this at home.....

No......

The bogie wagon was still there the following year. I’d say it was withdrawn quite soon afterwards as newer bogies were available.

Random pics from the 1970s. 1. One of my first railway pics, and certainly not one of my better ones. Anyone like to guess where? 2. My first RPSI trip, 1970, just after I joined the Society. It’s at the NCC Waterside Station in Derry. 3. The Guinness engine, Whitehead, 1972. 4. Ex-GSWR coach 1287 at Claremorris, 1970. Used as crew coach. Now it is the “tarry” at Downpatrick. 5. B109, Inchicore, 1977, withdrawn. 6. The last Midland bogie coach in existence at North Wall Goods Yard, 1976. 7 & 8. The last Midland wagon in use, a PW rail wagon. North Wall, 1976. 9. Bagenalstown Cabin, 1977.

AHHH! That explains my disquiet about the curve and the wall..... good spot indeed! Another way of telling which tour it was, was the fact that the locomotive was spruced up and buffers painted white or silver, and smokebox door hinges likewise. As can be seen, it was also cleaned and polished within an inch of its life. By 1966, steam engines were NEVER that clean! I stand to be corrected on this, but I think that the cleaning etc. was done by, or assisted by, the youthful members of the fledgling RPSI (ex-RBAI school railway society, or Drew Donaldson Society!).

I thought Drogheda too at first, and it remains my best guess, though the platform wall didn't look quite right. The bus on the left would certainly fit the bill, though. The curve doesn't look sharp enough, yet at that stage of the game, with no Enniskillen or Clones any more, the three tracks between the platforms could hardly be anywhere else.

You can - there's a train from Killarney to Tralee & back every 2 hours or so....

It got to Warp 10.7 near the North Junction...... it was being filmed from the air by the Concorde, but it left the aeroplane behind..... that's why there are no pics of it with its 18-bogie load.

For the Derry to Londonmagherafelt service?

No. 8118, "Shergar" was scrapped many years earlier, after an unfortunate incident somewhere along the INW line......

When I was involved with the Downs of Patrick, one 1st April we put the word about that a fish had been found in the water tower, blocking the outlet, and this had been noticed by the fireman who noticed a much reduced flow when he was watering No. 3 prior to a day's shunting or something. Investigation found the fish, which it was reckoned had been dropped by a heron flying overhead which had dropped it, having caught it in the River Quoile moments earlier....! The number of people who believed it would astound you....... Then there was the new livery for E421.....

“Forgotten fields”! Along the Westport Quay line, 1978; lifting slowly in progress. And Tralee’s Rock Street goods yard in 1977. It just occurs to me now - WHY didn’t I put that in “Rails Through North Kerry”!

The 2 on the right and one at the back didn’t put hands up.....

It’s...... Wednesday!!!

More from my pile of comics..... This will be of interest to those of us who are IRRS members. I’ve always been amused at the somewhat quaint descriptions of IRRS tours or trips as “outings”, as if we’re being let out for the day!