jhb171achill

You're absolutely right, Colin. "Lough Erne" and, appropriately, BCDR No. 30, would be operationally suitable, but would eat more than a smaller loco, and would thus be uneconomic on all but the St Pats & Santa trains. A Jinty or J26 would be better, if available. There is one very severe gradient in the cutting just south of Downpatrick - in fact, short as it is, one of Ireland's most severe, as the line south of DP was very cheaply built. However, given a decent run, its shortness is such that even a Sugar loco can get three bogies over it.

That's absolutely spot on!

If a new-build was to be a likelihood, like the RPSI's talk of another Jeep -v- a mogul, practicality would have to not just be more important than emotional preferences, but would have to oblitarate such thoughts. In practical terms, the best options for a new build would be just about big enough to take the DCDR's maximum likely load (three to four bogies) over a distance of maybe 6 miles (9km), with least coal consumption. We're looking at a Jinty perhaps, a GNR 2.4.2T, a MGWR J26 (ideally; simple reliable machines), or the West Cork "Argadeen" 2.6.0T. Pretty much all else else either would eat too much coal or would be too light (e.g. 90!). 90, of course, or the sugar locos, are perfect for current operation, the shortness of which makes even a Jinty of a J16 an unnecessary extravangance. The RPSI's No. 3 "R H Smyth" was also an absolutely ideal locomotive for Downpatrick.

A shade lighter, perhaps? - to blend in with the local mud washed off the beet!

Welcome, Colin. As you will know, kits of various CDRJC stuff is available. It's pricey and time consuming to make, but so is much else. For Strabane's main line, recent ready to run models of the GNR "U" and "UG" classes are already "out of print", but might crop up 2nd hand. The line through Ballyglunin was populated in post-1921 times almost entirely by the GSWR "60" class 4.4.0s on passenger trains, and the standard J15 on goods, mixed and oddball other stuff. Kits of J15s can be had from Studio Scale Models, though it's pricey to get them made up if like me you don't have the skills. You'll find all the help and encouragement you want here.

In reality, with the border, it is likely that Enniskillen would have ended up cut off anyway. My own prediction on what would be left if the UTA had been more pro-rail would simply be the derry Road operated exactly like the NCC; 70 and 80 class railcars, then eventually CAFs. Goods would have been probably routed via Omagh instead of coleraine, and would probably have suffered the same fate as today in almost all 32 counties; gone. If there was any likelihood of goods today, it would be timber from Derry or Strabane. This would probably be worked by NIR's trio of 071s to Portadown, with 00-887665543-009.071 taking over after that. As to the station, I'd be thinking the buildings much the same, with modern NIR signage and the goods yard long gone, possibly one remaining siding occasionally housing a yellow machine. And the whole surrounded by modern fencing.

I think they sound more shrill when painted black'n'tan..... :-) (I'll just get me coat...)

I know this is off topic..... I never discerned much difference between the old and later 121 engines, but I remember A & C well, and the unique-sounding "whistle" of the NIR Hunslets. What I DON'T remember, but would love to hear, is the B101 sound, which I have no recollection of although I footplated one! And the old Bollinder engines of CIE's Grand Canal barges....

That 184 plate is interesting, in that it's one of the ones specially cast for her to appear in a special livery for filming about 1959/60-ish. It is thus unique. Naturally, she had carried a painted number for some years before, and the original Inchicore plate would have disappeared some time in the late 49s / early 50s. I'm presuming the DSER one is off a wagon. No coach or loco had anything like that. As far as I am aware, full lists of DSER wagons haven't survived, so finding out exactly what it came off might be difficult.

Indeed.....and as I often tell tourists, when explaining the implications of actually seeing, rather than just hearing, the banshee, "most Irishmen meet her in person when we get home from the pub on a Saturday night"......

Wow!!!!

Outstanding. One of my favourite layouts. More please!

For a model J15, there were a number of variations, not to mention different tenders used at various times. With the SSM kit showing one variation, perhaps the larger (later) boilered variety, like 186, would be best. If modelling the grey/green era, a decent RTR six wheeler is a must. I'd be in the market for a good few.

With a liberal coating of South Wexford mud from the beet, they weathered to a greyish brown colour, to such an extent that the original brown (and yes, that's way too red) was completely obscured. So much so, that operating them in a pristine state would be akin to a "wrong livery", same as an all silver A or C class loco, or tin van! So the solution is to very heavily weather them, and all will look good.

"Costs"? €136 to the auctioneer? !!!!!!! No way I would have paid that.

Excellent buy, excellent cleaning job. It's better to clean up, as obviously a repaint - even if absolutely correctly done - decreases value. I notice that not only this, but other wagon / coach / tender numberplates too, were described inaccurately by the auctioneers as being off locomotives! Surely they must realise that the DSER never had 913 engines in their sheds.....!

"Steam Train's" with an apostrophe? Map of Ireland? Hmmmmmmm..... EXCELLENT content, though.

I wonder where 532's number plate went?

Absolutely top class job.

It's off a tram. I suspect British.

Those on 186 and 184 are replicas made (accurately) by Whitehead. When the society got them, they had painted numbers.

00n3 would be better as its closer to 3ft gauge. 009 better for scale 2ft gauge and wouldn't look right.

It'll be 00 scale push bikes and Lycra next....! Bring on the grey 121s!

Correct - Inchicore removed them about 1955-ish

This is the late Johnny O'Meara's stuff. Among it is a cabside plate of D16 "Achill Bogie" No. 532! I might bid. Or I might not.