jhb171achill

I've a notion that one of these was painted black instead of grey in very late days. I'll investigate which one (or if I'm even right on that one!).

The only one I ever saw was plain standard grey, naturally chassis / drawgear included, with white lettering. Like Taras, it's possible they were something else when new, but I can't be certain. I will investigate and report back as I should be able to find out original details.

David, from the photos posted, it looks red for a start rather than maroon. Decent photos of SLNCR coaches ex-works are red, as few saw a paintbrush in the 50s at all! They weathered to a russet browny red. You might get a reasonable approximation by heavy weathering of that kit. Eye witnesses described new paint as a shade or two darker than that used by (latterly) GSR, or NCC. That would have been the opinion of jhb171senior, who saw them every day in the 50s. No lining was used, and numerals / lettering was gold or possibly creamy yellow.

Interesting - didn't know that.

Actually, what GSR probably means is the several 141s stored out of traffic at Inchicore. Forgot about that.... So some Expressway buses are the last "tan" in service!

Plus 146 on the DCDR. I was thinking more of what IE still have, rather than preservation, but there's also black'n'tan genny van on the DCDR, if we count preservation, and another grounded one in England.

Is that 1897? :-)

Saw an Expressway bus yesterday which was in the recently replaced red, white and orange livery. It recalled to mind the original "Expressway" branding in the 70s, when CIE simply replaced the cream on the upper panels with what looked like standard railway orange - perhaps to make the bus look more "main line". So, public transport orange is not yet dead. It's still on some service buses, and still on the stored 201s in Inchicore, as well as the odd window frame on a grey 071!

Incidentally, the operation of the Enterprise locos in unfinished livery is not a new phenomenon. From IE's inception in 1987 for several years it was possible to see locomotives with the new "set of points" logo, but still no white "tippex" lines. One 141 had CIE badges on the ends, and IE logos on the sides!

Presumably any 201 can be hitched up now that HEP is no longer needed?

Ernie and I got that from the same source! :-)

Black, GSR, for GSWR locos. The GSWR green (as now on the DCDR's 90) was discontinued after about 1895. Lined black from then until about 1918. Plain grey from then on, and into GSR days, then CIE. The MGWR had lined green, though by the time the GSR came along, some MGWR engines were also lined black.

I remember interviewing the late Billy Lohan, former GSWR fireman and later GSR driver. I asked him what his first memory was of the railway. "There were six J15 in Tuam", he told me, "and I had to polish them until the lining shone". I thought he's old, he's confusing it with something else. Then I realised - he's talking about 1914! The all-grey appeared some time after 1918 and stayed until the end of steam.

Those locos were by far the main power on the Achill line from opening (1895) until the D16s took over about 1905. They were also used on the Killeshandra, Athboy and Kingscourt branches a lot. In GSR / CIE days, I'd say a bit of plasticard might suffice for the Tramore "extension" to the cab. 560 retained its cast GSR number plates to the end. The others all had painted numerals in CIE days. No issues with fancy lining if that's your era, of course! Plain grey all round.....

Correct, Noel.

Inteesting photo of the double slip - I'd forgotten about that! The story about running out of track, the line being built with bends etc., as well as the version of possible extensions, is utter nonsense from start to finish, as IRM readers would gather, I am sure!

".....Some of the UK enthusiasts/photographers may have recorded the Killala Branch as part of their haj. to Achill, Dingle and other threatened lines during the early 30s....." Neither Camwell or Casserley managed it. I'm pretty sure J I C Boyd (who I knew) didn't either....

Looks good..... Is there a model railway in "the house"?!?!?

Final post for the moment, finishing 1926 off down south in Caark, boyo! This is a re-post of the one above, as the images don't seem to have come out. Narrow gauge heaven.....

And of course the Achill line as the excellent Great Western Greenway... Bits of the Clifden line are now pathways and parts of the widened road.

I carried out a good bit of research on the line some years ago, with the intention of doing a follow up book to "Rails to Achill". There's nothing much to tell! Certainly not enough to fill a booklet, let alone a book! But it would make a good branch line model. I'll do a resume on it when I get home this evening and post it here. The service was mostly two mixed trains, or a mixed and a passenger, per day with no Sunday service. Motive power was whatever was on the Ballina line - generally a J18 0.6.0 or a G2 2.4.0, and the branch set was the Ballina train. This was usually one or two six wheelers with a six wheeled passenger brake. The line closed in 1934.

For me, a grey / yellow and a black'n'tan..... the rest's too modern for me!

Here's one for ye all. I had a dream. I was talking to someone who told me that they were going to make 0 gauge models of the 800 class and paint them black..... Thankfully, I woke up.....! Psychologists: make of that what you will.

An interesting comparison might be how many B101 kits were produced / sold. Not quite the same, of course, as it's a kit - but - a kit can sometimes sell more because it's cheaper, but less because it's not RTR! There were 16 x B101, they were shorter lived, and travelled much less widely. A Mallow - Waterford based layout (long overdue!) would need 121 and B101 classes, as these were the mainstays in the 1960s. Probably the only line where 141 and A classes were LESS common than these classes. A good selection of goods vans, particularly the H, would also be needed. Passenger stock was generally laminates in the 60s, with a few old Bredins and the odd wooden bogie. While I'm sure PRs went there, though no recollection as such, has anyone ever seen a picture of a Craven in a train consist on that line? Cravens appeared in 1963, and the line closed in 1967.

I missed this! Truly excellent model, right shade of grey and very realistic weathering. Superb.