jhb171achill

An "E" bumbles about Heuston. The only one I ever saw with such a big chimney. Or maybe it was just telling lies. "That crowd you saw playing in the Baggot Inn last night* whatyecallem U2, sure they'll never get anywhere" ( * and Guinness was 38p a pint..... ) A much newer cousin sets sail for Waterford. Original dark orange and unique version (and colouring) of snail. Meanwhile in Inchicore: Note, E405 has a non-standard font for its number. 409 was the same. Such variations were as good as unique - they were never on any other larger locos, and few if ANY other 401s. Not to be outdone, North Wall had an "A", as usual, on the Taras. They are still painted blue, but for modelling purposes you can see how the BLUE paint looked when weathered by the stuff they carry. The "A" class would monopolise this traffic for another to years, until it became their last.

Just as the GSWR's grey loco livery lasted beyond the GSWR, and its GSR successor, and to the end of CIE steam in 1963, so did the GSR station livery. I believe this may also have originated with the GSWR in later days, but I could be wrong on that. Green lower, standard CIE dark green that is, cream above with a one inch black line separating them. Those who watch the LUAS green line being built a few years ago will have seen this exposed on the pillars at Dundrum old station building as it was being refurbished. Here's the platform shelter on the down side at Collooney (south) station (W L & W R) in 1975, twelve years after the last passenger train called. The green is a bit faded, and the colour in the photo is no longer up to much. Needs to be photoshopped within an inch of its life. The wooden seats are green. So, think CIE preserved green, CIE preserved 800 green. [ATTACH=CONFIG]23046[/ATTACH]

When modelling the 1970/80s period, we are seeing ever better and more detailed models of trains, mainly thanks to people on this website, but all too often stations are neglected. Recently I commented on the absence of cattle docks in so many layouts, probably because it's now over forty years since any we used! So, the following to guide on colour schemes. Today, the is a degree of uniformity in station colour schemes, though exceptions occur. This was the case in the fifties and sixties, when most CIE (and UTA) stations carried green schemes, but occasionally red and cream. In the 70s and early 80s it was a great deal more uniform, with three or four (not fifty) shades of grey. A lighter shade is evident at Moate, with the darker shade in the background, while at Ardrahan the dark shade is more evident. The lighter shade was almost universal on platform awnings (though I've a notion Bray might have been dark... Craughwell first, 1976. At Attymon and Moate were the last two MGWR original enamel signs, both on the back of station platform seats. It's 1976 again. Around them is the standard CIE grey shades for stations. The MGWR used white lettering on navy enamel backgrounds for most station signs, but occasionally on smaller ones navy on white enamel. Moate cabin. Totally MGWR still. Athlone Midland (or might I suggest Athlone Proper!) Ardrahan, showing colour scheme and also the standard CIE signage of the day (plastic). Ballingrane Junction Newcastle West - recently closed, as this picture is from 1978. And Claremorris. The footbridge carries a GSR sign, as many did then , especially on the DSER. Like the MGWR, these were enamel. Almost always they had white lettering on black backgrounds, but occasionally black on white enamel.

Doesn't look impressive. No contact details, prices, talks about what they release and when; basically an entry level website with a few drawings of things..... Work in progress? Hmm, quite.

D16 time:

I'd say, though, there have been quite a few changes ("rationalisations") in this tine, which is over ten years, after all - e.g. the replacement of Waterford station by Waterford Halt!

That's got to be the best (in terms of painting skill and grey shade accuracy) GSR / CIE paint finish I've ever seen!

Absolutely stunning stuff! I love that "Castle Rackrent" layout - saw it in RM probably forty years ago when Irish stuff, let alone scratch built and to the correct gauge, was unheard of. The pre-1925 era is rarely modelled.

Brilliant actor, nice gentleman. May he rest in peace.

There was a mention on this site some time back of a (perhaps slight?) possibility of a D16 loco kit... Was it Mayners?

Can we suggest Claire Byrne for Taoiseach? A Mayo layout with D16s, and based on an Achill terminus, actually gives excellent scope for a club layout. If anyone ever does get such a thing off the ground in that neck of the woods, please do publicise it here!

That would make perfect sense.

It's highly unlikely to be Whitehead, as there's no room. Wherever it is, it would need to be indoors and we'll look after. If they were to move the 3000 sets to Adelaide, they might put it in fortwilliam tin shed. I don't see any possibility whatever for it to be stabled in the north anywhere else.

I'd say it would have to be Inchicore....

You'd have a job interrupting Vincent. When he isn't interrupting people himself or shouting over them, he's loudly coughing and creating his throat. Worst interviewer in history, though in his favour he won't take any waffle from anyone. To model railway clubs; good to see not one but potentially two new start ups above.

Throw in a few wide hand gestures....

If whingers aren't allowed, count Enda out! ;-) Very best of luck with it. Maybe a huge Achill or Clifden based layout will ensue! Drool drool drool

Absolutely. The reason it has been given a window so small is the design of the body. The inclusion of a proper observation-car-sized all round window would weaken the structure beyond acceptable H & S limits, which is why it's been done the way it is. With such design issues, it is reminiscent of the inherent design weaknesses in Mk 2 non-a/c stock, which results in these being prone to rusting more than other vehicles of their age. It's a real pity that more Cravens didn't survive - they have always appeared to be a much better carriage design than anything BR(EL) ever produced.

I'm afraid I don't, Divecontroller. The RPSI got diners 2421 and 2422, and 2419 is at the DCDR.

Correct, Garfield, that was the Melbourne - Alice Springs beet special....!

Of course - Lough Erne - I forgot you were with me! As an aside, I'm surprised nobody has taken me to task for describing those railcars as "ugly"...... ;-)

I'm sure the Health & Safety Police would find a reason to object, Popeye! There was a lovely youtube clip somewhere of an RPSI train in motion, filmed by a drone.

I don't think so, Jason, though obviously the Mk 2's did. Apart from this coach shown, I never saw any other Craven with any form of markings at all, nor am I aware of any. Naturally, this is the best forum for someone else to provide a photo like you describe. The coach shown did not carry these logos for long. I understand they were removed - possibly they were only applied as an experiment.

Thanks, Harry!