jhb171achill

They only appeared on the Derry Road on special trains, and within about a 12-14 month period just before it closed. To the end, all normal routine services were ex-GNR diesel railcars on passenger work, and steam on the goods. I have an idea that an A did a trial run maybe as far as Dungannon, but I’m not sure. No C, B101, 181 or B121 ever went there.

I tried a brass kit years and years ago, when dexterity and eyesight were a lot better than now. I made a pig’s ear of it, so for me it’s a “brassmaster” every time. I still would encourage those of tenderer years to give it a go, however, but on something cheap and simple! The satisfaction gained from completing such a thing would be worth the hours put it.

Excellent! Hope to be there

Absolutely superb stuff, Eoin. Masterclass!

I’m standing on my side, Leslie. They look ok that way.........!

Your car stolen, Leslie? Absolute pond life filth who do that sort of thing - sorry to hear it. Hopefully they’ll meet 074 at a crossing...... More importantly I hope you recover physically ASAP. My own order stands; herewith another photo of the species in GSWR guise for those interested in that era. It’s possible that when brand new it was all-black, with same markings except the “G S W R” letters were then bigger. And other older GSWR stock too. Elderly though it looks, examples of all of these survived into CIE times, some as late as 1957-60.

I remember reading somewhere years and years ago that CIE buses could sometimes be seen in Britain (particularly London) in lieu of CIE Tours buses. Which is exactly what the scenes above look like! I saw a LLSR artic in Dublin in the late 1970s. It carried a number on the trailer like a wagon number; their bus conductors were still known as “guards”, and the tractor unit of the lorry was in the dark green carried by erstwhile locomotives. It looked like a throwback to the past. They can’t have had many trucks on the road, as they tended to hire them in from CIE. I travelled on several Lough Swilly bus services in the ‘70s. I regret not going up to Derry a few years ago to get one of the last ones. jhb171Senior footplated one of the big tender locos into Burtonport back in the day; I was never able to achieve THAT!!

Who are these folks? F. Sean Ryan/Philip Mc Hugh Models

I see that CIE have managed to provide a cross-channel service to the area, via Expressway bus!

Delighted to get this little gem in the post today. This is the second Jim Poots bus I’ve got, and they are absolutely superb kits, very easy to put together and very accurate.

Quite possibly - I don’t have it to hand.... Bill would remember it shunting. Which leads me to think; it’s years since I’ve seen him. Must make contact!

The "C" class is a truly mighty piece of work! Very well done!

Actually, Bill Scott is probably the greatest living authority on NCC locos. He's always delighted to assist.

Tullygrainey, if you're based in the north, your best bet might be to ask Charles Friel himself at one of the RPSI winter meetings, or on a steam train. Charles is, as I'm sure you know, one of the most respected railway historians anywhere in Ireland. If he doesn't know the answer (not all of us railway historians do!), he will at least be able to point you in the right direction.

I believe so.

A very nice and well-made model!

I stand corrected; buffer beams WERE red, on the front anyway....

I’ve one or two more somewhere...... He had an ordinary first class return from Tralee to Dingle, which I think his father used, as he always said he did the T & D (and the Schull & Skib) only once. While in that area, he did the whole West Cork, including two trips to Macroom (one in the cab and one in a brake van); though he missed the two Cork narrow gauge lines.

I know it’s s different van, Leslie, it was just to show the awful state they got into! (And the new silver locomotives didn’t take long to match them....!)

Ah yes! A truly superb job it was too.

The six wheeled coach - is that a SSM one?

.....in which case the food chain has even less use for the driver. Bring on the double headed 201s!

Couldn't believe this deliberate act. A pity a stray 201 wasn't coming along - we don't need retards like this in the food chain......

I’m getting two....... not going to miss the opportunity!

I will ask Barry Carse. He knows of the procedures there.