jhb171achill

The GNR used the telegraph pole types alongside "square" ones, in many locations. Mostly, telegraph pole ones were out'n'about, with "square" ones mostly in stations - but this was not exclusive.

Very much so. In the 32 counties, square (and the occasional lattice) were absolutely the norm always. CIE introduces the round versions which started becoming common on the CIE network in the 1960s, when (also) the reflective surfaces started replacing red (NOT orange) and white paint on homes, and yellow and black paint on distants. Lower quadrant signals were universal (whereas upper were in Britain usually), with the NCC alone using lower quadrant “Somersault” types.

Correct, and I agree totally. If there’s some way of contacting them I can give them some old timetables of the line.

Are we talking about bolster type bogies here, or short wheelbase flat trucks? I was referring to the former.

As with other wagons, anything brown would have been a post-1970 repaint. And cattle ended in 1975.

I'm unaware of any on 5'3" or narrow gauge...... I doubt it very much. There never was a huge forestry industry here, as far as rail was concerned, until comparatively recently.

Probably a quarter of the fleet, maybe more, got the all-brown livery, but most stayed grey till the end. I saw a line of them in Cork about 1975/6 and a few still had flying snail stencils. Naturally, none ever had the dreaded black chassis or white roof!

First pic: in the far right distance, I wonder what is that contraption of a road (?) vehicle? Second pic: there's one of those gunpowder vans in Cultra..... (incorrectly painted, of course!) Excellent pics, most interesting. That long wheelbase "accommodation van" was still in use on lifting trains in the early 1960s.

I'll definitely take ten, maybe more.

Correct!

Would you believe, NIR, in the past ladders and even more so, gantries, were not considered completely necessary! When I started volunteering at Whitehead in the mid 70s, I used them to climb into roofs to repair leaks (by painting tar sealant over them) or paint them. The health & safety police would have kittens today, followed by nausea, fits of the collywobbles, multiple conniptions, and advanced heebie-jeebies.... Water (toilet) tanks had to be attended to as well.

Any idea exactly when, or how long they lasted, ttc?

Pretty rough now. In places an inspection car could probably get along, but in others doubtful. More stuff in the media, I see, about reopening it between Athenry and Tuam at least, and possibly Claremorris. Limerick - Galway has been a success by any standard. A service from Galway - Westport (or Ballina) would be the next stage. Yes, sadly. After 25 years heavily involved in the RPSI and DCDR, and having acted as consultant to several other proposed schemes, NONE of which generated anything like the interest necessary, this has always been depressingly obvious to me. Better, I suppose, to concentrate on consolidating the successes of the DCDR and the several narrow gauge concerns like the C & L, Moyasta and Finntown....

The Cravens with logos were indeed an experimental idea. I don’t know how many had them - possibly only one - and it was short-lived.

This coming Sunday is 9th??

By basing it pre-1915 you can avoid grey entirely, as GSWR locos are lined black. Midland engines had been green for yonks, but as you know a few became lined royal blue 1905/10. From about 1918, most Midland loco repaints were lined black, while the carriage brown gave way to a very deep maroon. So, round 1915-18, you could have a Midland loco in black, one blue and one green, alongside a black GSWR one, and possibly a WLWR one still (just about) carrying lines maroon..... Colourful!

Aaaargh! £30 is dear enough.....

I'd like a copy of that, but according to the publisher's website, it's sold out.

I never knew that. Will ensure I visit next time I'm chasing narrow gauge over there.....

"Closing time" is far too early in most parts of Brexitland!

And then there's the Cavan man who takes his glasses off when he's not looking at anything.....

Alan was also the author of one of the two books on the North Kerry Railway, and a truly excellent job he did with it too.

The Bala Lake Railway is on my to-do list....

Things of beauty; that was a very attractive livery.

They were all scrapped, other than the few preserved and one or two in Inchicore earmarked for the RPSI.