jhb171achill

I think someone did a brass kit for the PR - maybe Worsley?

Tis the Tooth Fairy, Garfield.

Well, environmental taxes on cars can only rise in the coming decades; fuel, at any rate, will probably be dearer. Also, Ireland's population, currently 6.2 million, is expected to reach pre-famine levels (about 8.5m) within twenty years, and continue rising to exceed it for the first time. All the above should feed more and more passengers (sorry, "customers") into the railway, (who can load and unload them at "train stations", our latest definition borne of the illiterate....)

That's the official reason, Horsetan. The other is that it was the favourite loco of the designer of that crest!

And the "artists" are a waste of perfectly good space....

Talking of might-have-beens and double track, there are many, many Irish railways which were built single track, and remained single track throughout their lives, but bridges and cuttings were designed initially with room for a second track...

Years ago, I got copies of drawings for Indonesian locomotives which I was writing an article about. These had been built by Sharp, Stewart & Company, while they were in Manchester; this museum has all SS's stuff. There shouldn't be a problem. I would have thought....

Down with this sort of thing! Going back to 171, anyone know why this loco is the one which features on the RPSI's crest?

Exactly, minister. Policing resources are thinly spread in all western democracies these days as the citizens vote for any party that drops tax, without any thought of the consequences of a smaller public purse. So these idiotic morons will continue to flourish. It's good that these particular wastes of space have been apprehended; hopefully an empty DART will run over the rest of them.

I have to say I see graffiti as exceptionally ugly in absolutely all circumstances. The "banksy" character, and all his empty headed aerosol-fuelled moronic followers are all of the one ilk; they should have their arms cut off. The two idiots caught at Inchicore should have been made to clean graffiti all over the icy for a month. The scumbag who kicked the security guard should face a sentence - that's assault. And they have the gall to try to pass it off as an "art project"!!!!!!

Ahh Lower Ormo. The hub of the universe.... COYBIG!!!!!!! Allez allez (That's Ulster Scots for c'mon ya boyzngreen!!!)

Had Ireland not been divided, two scenarios present themselves. First, we remain under British rule, in which case any or all of the above could have happened. One thing though - either Beeching or Thatcher would have seen off much mileage, given that we have one twelfth the population of our neighbouring island, spread out over up to half its area. Blue and grey would certainly have trod through Limerick Junction and Portadown, probably Omagh too. And I'd say the GWR and LMS would have taken in all but the Midland Great Western and a few minor lines. I suggest the DSER and BCDR might have remained on their own too until BR. The other scenario is that the provisions of the Home Rule Bill were carried out in full, with Ireland becoming entirely independent in 1921. In that case, a GSR style amalgamation of all companies would give been all but certain, with the NCC, CDRJC, BCDR and GNR entering GSR / CIE ownership. Donegal tank engines, GNR 171 and 85 in unlined grey just wouldn't be the same!

Another tram, Mr Wanderer! :-)

I knew it. Stick on the REAL 207 - a blue 4.4.0, and some brown wooden carriages with a GNR crest on them. That'll do the trick. Never mind these tin tubes in gaudy colours......

Ah, Garfield! Now I've got it. It was you who stole the original line!

Here's a very obscure one for ye. The erstwhile Parsonstown & Portumna Railway,which diverged from the terminus of the Birr branch might have end up going to Loughrea! Had this happened, an interesting through backwater route would have opened up. This would have run from Attymon Junction to Roscrea, and on to Ballybrophy, albeit with a Newcastle West style reversal at Birr (Parsonstown). Joint Midland / GSWR operation, possibly.

That is a serious improvement. Guess I'll have to try it!

Ah! I misread it, Harry, apologies....

No Enterprise ever to Limerick.......! Thanks for comments re the model - truly a masterpiece of David's!

Limerick? That would have been a special train of some sort, maybe a GAA or pilgrimage train...

Ah! Sorry, can't help!

Any particular livery you're looking for? I've a couple in black'n'tan, though I haven't made up my mind to sell at this stage....

Brilliant progress so far. The factory could be at the end of a Tegral-type spur.....

The shade of green for CIE locos was standard, and the thirty nine other shades were on plants and women's clothes! Often, as in GNR blue, lack of information leads to rumours that there was no standard. For CIE standard green, there are several accurately paint preserved buses, plus 800 in Cultra, and the mounted "flying snail" in Headhunters railway museum in Enniskillen. The latter two are actually painted with "real" paint Inchicore. I can't comment, though, on reference numbers or the like. If the above real examples can be matched, that's the correct way to go.

They are indeed pricey, however - - - Ireland, and Irish railway enthusiasts are an extremely small market. R & D costs become ever higher when the "print run" is lower. If the producer was knocking out 10,000 of these a week they'd be €6 each, but in our hobby, our numbers of people, specifically Irish things are always going to be dear. While agreeing they're dear, I would still encourage and congratulate the producer.