jhb171achill

Mayner & Minister; correct on all counts. I have a picture somewhere of the stainless steel "demonstrator", including interior; must try to find it (now there's a challenge). Before discovering this picture on, actually, a CIE publicity leaflet, I'd never even heard of it. It can't have been in Ireland long. The tin vans and SOME (by no news all) laminates were indeed the only stuff to into traffic unpainted, unless you count the bodies, and done chassis, of the corrugated Bullied open wagons. Plus, of course, the A, C and G601 class locomotives. Park Royals were all introduced in green, with silver bogies. Without checking, I can't remember if the roofs were originally silver, but the silver bogies soon were repainted black. On account of the ribs on the sides, Park Royals never carried the "flying snail".

And Buckfast is (in Belfast) Shankill Shampagne..... (Or Falls Road!)

Someone mention Arthur? Stick one on for me too.

Yes. No snails, lining, or any other markings whatsoever. Chassis, ends, drawgear, roof, the lot.... all unpainted.

Wow! A very unusual and welcome addition to the general world of modelling!

Imagine...... "Black and Tan" "Puke" Two names with one thing in common; best avoided in their day, and best forgotten subsequently!

The silver "livery" (ie actually not a livery at all - no paint anywhere!) was a fascinating but totally impractical way to turn things out. Ends and chassis, drawgear and brake gear, all got so filthy it was impossible to tell they weren't painted a muddy brown. As for roofs - bad enough on tin vans or carriages, but worse again on diesel locomotives - they were covered in smoky deposits, thus largely obscuring the "silver" on the roofs! Incidentally, as a point of historical accuracy, it's important to remember that "silver livery" doesn't mean they were painted silver. They were just left in bare metal, unpainted entirely! So nobody need worry about lining styles, paint shades, parts picked out in other colours and so on.... A strange one, all right!

CIE green would indeed look good!

Absolutely outstanding! Very atmospheric, very realistic.

Ah! That explains it.....

It would be indeed, Broithe.

It's not a million miles off the early 1960's experimental UTA "Catherwood" livery for railcars!

Regulations in the WTT, Minister...... Yes - the model is THAT realistic......!

True, minister..... and it was the "Pale"......

Since when has a "ZO" (i.e. Dublin) number plate been Northern Ireland?

Yes, but unfortunately not likely to translate into railway traffic.....

There's certainly no political will here at all, not has there been for decades, and that's not going to change. However, international carbon-emission agreements and resultant EU rules may well overtake things at some stage; let's hope they do. What Ireland has against it, of course, is small distances. However, properly thought out, you would imagine that basic system of goods trains from Dublin to Waterford, Cork, Tralee, Limerick, Galway, Athlone, Ballina, and Belfast or Derry should be feasible.

Having seen one of these wagons in the flesh, they are absolutely fantastic and an absolutely essential addition to any mid fifties to mid 2000s layout....

Outstandingly good!

Thank you Dave, very helpful.

As my American colleagues would say, that is truly AWESOME!!!

Off railway topic I know, but I was vaguely interested in getting a drone... looks like an interesting hobby. Anyone know the best place to go for advice / start-up?

Fantastic photos, folks - many thanks, and I'm glad you enjoyed it. We'll do it again! :-)

Yes. The law has not indeed caught up; doubtless numerous issues need to be addressed there. In the meantime, and probably only for a short time - most things are probably fair game.

Looks great!