jhb171achill

Maybe someone will make model customs officers to stand beside model "Enterprise" DD sets....!! Like the scenes on platforms at Strabane and Castlefinn back in the day....

I think overall, Broithe. We are all well aware of how, PRE-Brexit, certain retail multiples charge more for the same goods in Dundalk than they do a few miles up the road in Newry, in circumstamces where their costs are demonstrably NOT higher. Pure and cynical profiteering. As you say, watchfulness will be required for a long time. For once, I hope that people here all club together to send a message to anyone trying to rip us off that we will boycott them and spread the word. Maybe, possibly, opportunities for one of our model shops to do a Hattons-type set-up? Possibly, possibly not; we have an extremely small market compared with the 60+ million of the UK. We'll see.

Beautiful photo, Broithe.

It's worth going to the area, db1969, as not only will you see the buildings, you'll get a feel for the countryside and setting. Be sure to look at the beautifully restored Glenfarne and Belcoo stations in particular. Naturally, you can't do it by rail any more; but bus services in the area are also very sparse, so a car is necessary to explore properly. Incidentally, this September will mark the 60th anniversary of the closure of the SLNCR (and much of the GN).

But I wonder, WILL UK suppliers deduct the British VAT? Any that don't - boycott them!

Superb!!!

A4mallard, whatever way things are going for you, I wish you all the very best in the future.

So Conor McGregor's driving a train?

He played characters like that to perfection, Des! Another great - but underrated - comic genius. Too few of them nowadays.

Oh hoooo we're going somewhere now! looking great, David!

Funds permitting, the recent "U" and "UG" locos would be perfect, and I think there's a kit of an "S" class? Kits are also available of AEC railcars.... Two or three locos would provide more than adequate interest for a shunting-only type of layout.....

The free-flowing curves look very well - makes for great realism.

Website seems not to work at all......

True, indeed.... maybe originating from the likes of Nenagh it's more towards Limerick....

Well done, Mayner..... that's how to get young interest going. A circle of O gauge tinplate track and a "locomotive" made out of a painted wooden block on an old wagon chassis, towing another bent tinplate open wagon, is what started my own interest......

Over twenty going Ballybrophy to Nenagh and back? That in itself is interesting, as I assume that the few that DO use the woeful service on the branch were probably mostly going to Limerick.

Interesting.....just goes to show that rural station can have a busy life if a decent service is provided.

The folks who use Ballybrophy as a commuter station - are they from quite a number of surrounding towns, does anyone know out of interest? And - are they typically going to Dublin, Cork or elsewhere?

VERY good planning. No. (5) in particular is one that I wish I had observed with a past (long defunct) layout.

The GSR used white on wagons entirely. The light green was introduced by CIE in 1945. The GSR white, and white used by CIE from mid fifties onwards tended to "weather" (or fade) to an off-white, which is why stark clear pristine white never looks right on models. Brake dust, coal smoke and general wear and tear saw to that. The light green of earlier CIE also faded and weathered to a nondescript colour! So plenty of variety there.... Prior to about 1956-ish, all wagon snails were complete rather than unfilled-in stencils. After that almost all wagon logos were stencil like the photo above.

Looking good...... fantastic shed too!

The beauty about that one detail is that personal preference of either is prototypical! Especially pre-1965-ish! Incidentally, prior to roughly 1954 or so - not sure exactly - snails and numbers were painted in light green, not white. White seems to have started early to mid 50s, at which time the occasional faded "G S" was still about. I saw a colour pic somewhere of a light green version still (very work-worn though) about 1959.

There's an interesting thing above. On wagons, but on nothing else, the flying snail was painted on initially. In the late 1950s they started using a stencil for both snail and numerals, but painted snails were to be seen around well into the sixties, just like stencilled snails lasted well into roundel times! Above, we have a stencil on the photo, and the equivalent of a painted one on the model. Both ran together (as above). It would be good, given especially the advent of Leslie's "H" van, if a run on transfer of the stencilled flying snail was available. Anyone? I love this layout!

And, if I may say so, Nelson, especially the likes of yourself, with your extremely impressive collection of hand made wagons / UTA stuff!

Interviewing that gentleman is a superb idea, Mayner. You might consider passing the info on, also, to Selwyn Johnston of Enniskillen's railway museum who has spent 20 years building up a very impressive collection of ex-GNR men's recollections in that area in particular.