jhb171achill

That's the Saturday that some of us will be in Limerick on the RPSI tour - what about Friday 5th?

So - a "meetup"? Suitable dates - anyone?

Interesting, John, I didn't know that. The markings below the number look like (possibly) the weight markings of tons, hundredweights and quarters: "T C Q" (Was it "quarters"? The "Q" doesn't seem to download into the grey memory....)

Yes, Dive, it was the post-1955 green (as seen on A & C class locos, laminates, etc). The lettering below the number I am not sure about - but it may be something like "only to run between Mallow (or Cork?) and Tralee" or "7 tons" or something like that. The P&T logo or initials would probably be more likely to appear on an actual TPO.

Those look absolutely fantastic! Good to see the (absolutely) correct shade of brown rather than the oft-seen unrealistically reddish which seems to appear quite often these days. When I started modelling (about 1969!) in order to achieve anything Irish simply meant repainting a BR class 33 in orange and black, or a "Hymek" in NIR maroon; and repainting BR Mk. 1's in orange / black or maroon / blue. Wagons....forget it. Now, we see purpose built locomotives and carriages forst and foremost. But freight vehicles on so many otherwise excellent layouts are still in 1970s mode, with (what seems to be) most goods trains on most layouts consisting of repainted (or not even repainted) standard BR stuff from messrs Hornby, Dapol or Bachmann. This is partly due to a lesser level of knowledge among most enthusiasts about non passenger vehicles, but mostly to the almost total lack of anything prototypical until very recent years. Now we have Leslie's stiff as well as the above; we have Irish Freight Models and many others who are producing absolutely superb stuff, and it has to be said at financial risk to themselves in covering costs. We see the result: greater accuracy. In the past, a purist might have scoffed at a crudely repainted BR "33" hauling BR Mk 1's in hand-painted CIE livery - but there were no other options. Now we see Mayner's carriages, those of Worsley and others, as well as the mighty Murphy stuff, with scale UGs, 141s, 121s, 201s, etc etc etc, but in the adjacent siding British Rail banana vans with CIE logos, "sharks", "walruses" and whatever sit awaiting their 141. No other options until now, but here we go! Hats off to Glenderg & Co, but not forgetting those others who are pioneering the final stage in a process which will make reversion to non-Irish types unnecessary. You all deserve our fullest support.

No probs, John - it's the tin van (luggage van) I'm primarily interested in. Maybe you might PM me in due course.

If the forum wants to do a "meetup" type table at some event in the Dublin area, I would be delighted to attend and meet some of our expert modellers here...it would also serve to bring more people on here, in order to increase the "pool of expertise"; and who might learn from the existing top-class modellers already here.

I'd probably be interested in a Mayner one if anyone has a 2nd hand one.....

A beautiful job overall!

What sort of price, post included?

Well, if that's the work of a "complete novice"........ fair play to ye! Excellent stuff!

Being plain grey, it could well be something Irish - but - not with outside springs and a cab like that. Stick a GSR-style cab on it and hide the springs and it will look a lot more "Irish"!

Dhu Varren, your analysis is exactly correct.

Absolutely brilliant, Ernie, a great find. Such instances were exceptionally rare indeed. In terms of generators, such trains had the converted Dutch vans.

It's always easy to forget these days that the vast majority of GNR locos were in fact black, not blue!

Cravens didn't do any vans at all - the vans that ran with them were originally six wheeled " hot water bottles", then after late 60s the "Dutch Vans" and ex-BR Mk 1 "genny vans". All three of these types also worked with other stock other than Mk 2 or Mk 3, which had their own vans. Cravens also worked with laminate conversion brake generator standards. Cravens and other non air conditioned types never ran in service with "supertrain" types, though a very small number of instances of older types being towed out of service behind a Mk 2 (but not Mk 3) set did occur.

I'm out on a five day tour, Dive!! Next time....... Gnash gnash.

Fantastic models!

Many thanks, folks. Yes, photos show them in front of very heavy loads - this can't have helped their unenviable reliability record!

You were dealing with cattle specials at Arigna Road, David, so that's OK; Maysfields advised via Enniskillen that you need to get the laden wagons to Enniskillen by 19:30..... "Lissadell" is in steam and ready.......

I've seen quite a few of David's pictures. They are absolutely stunning.

What's the best chassis to use for a "C"? Also, even if not best as such, what's the cheapest and easiest?

For general interest's sake, and of use to our colleagues building a layout based on Bantry, it may be of interest to know the regular C's on the West Cork system: these were - C202 C210 C217 C220 (Lined green after 1960) C224 C230 (Unlined green after July 1960) C231 (Lined green by November 1960) C232 C234 (Unlined green by mid 1960) All others thoroughly filthy "silver". In 1963, when they started painting them black'n'tan, a few were still silver - never went green. For our Bantry friends, (mods - is it possible to post this with Bantry as well?) the black Bandon Tank (No. 464) and green "C" class locos would bring in new interest if the layout is based about 1960/1, just before it closed, instead of in the fifties. It also allows railcars after 1954 - these would obviously not be accurate for, say, early fifties. This is all for the record, for those wanting accuracy. If I had a West Cork layout, I would also be happy to have black'n'tan 141s heading a couple of Cravens and a Dutch Van towards Skibbereen......!

I remember most of it, Noel! Oul Father Time......!! (And there are an increasing number of days when i feel it.........!)

You too Noel, and all here....