jhb171achill

If that is the case it would be interesting to see if 111,2 or 3 remain blue!

That would terrify the wits out of me. I wonder how long their commute takes, or how someone not near a door gets out?

Maybe it'll switch to a "Jeep" at Dundalk! (Runs for cover.....)

A new freight operator could easily appear, as could a new freight contract for IE. I'm not sure how the overnight Belmond accommodation will work! In theory, if Belmond paid, a new siding could be laid somewhere....

Imagine if 800 hauled it! Just dreaming.....

I really look forward to seeing this take shape. Excellent concept.

Correct, Burnthebox, though the "north" (= six counties) is not "Ulster"; it's but two thirds of it..... Anyway, it'll be interesting to see this book. I'll reserve all judgement until I see it.....

I remember serving him and his entourage on that RPSI train. His production assistant gratefully accepted a pint of Guinness but he was exhausted and all he wanted was tea and a rest!

Hopefully, that's a howler committed by a reviewer, rather than the author! Any student of even the most rudimentary or simple elements of Irish railway history will see maps of Ireland on early railway publicity and should realise that the "north" isn't even a hundred years old, even if taught little history at school, and no sign of "GSR" exists anywhere!

Just for info - point of clarification - the maroon had grey with it, rather than the silver currently used with the blue.

Quite a few of Jimmy O'Dea's photos are incorrectly captioned. I've been through the lot in the Temple Bar photo archives. Generally, like this, you get the impression that it's due to misinterpretation of someone's poor handwriting. Also, with the best will in the world, the National Photographic Archives staff are not well versed in railways.

Absolutely top class - love it!

That may be works grey undercoat. The numbers are temporary, as chalk lines can be seen under them. They definitely all entered traffic in black. The earlier trio (G601-3) entered service in silver, and before being repainted black all three were green. Livery details for G601-3 were all green, including frames. Large numerals on cab sides, cab end, and (unlike 611-7) on front too, under the radiator grille. No flying snails on either silver or green G livery.

I've only seen evidence of two in BnT and I can't recall which two; that's not to say that others weren't in that livery too. As Mayner said, they were "camera-shy". Initial painting in the early 60s from green, was often BnT, but all black would follow on many later, remaining on D, E & G classes until the late 60s / early 70s. It's interesting to think that if the West Clare had survived, the F class would have been included too...

Both may be heard (and recorded) first-hand today on the DCDR, courtesy of 146 and A39. C, G and (hopefully again some time) E sounds too.

Unusual, original, and colourful, Chevron! It's a fun engine, and I always liked UP yellow!

Yes, Hunslet, tan would be much. Most of the time, most of them were all black, at least two got the full black'n'tan in the early days. With tan added, it's white all round the sides at the top. With all black, white is ends only.

I have to say that the BR class 47 "Police" painted engine has got to be the downright silliest waste of scarce money ever.....

A "might have been" that I'd love to see was: 800 Maedb 801 Macha 802 Tailté 803 Deirdre 804 Grainne And.... A GNR blue 4.6.0...... And the completed Ulster & Connaught Railway, with dining car on the 3ft gauge from Newry to Galway. Fantasy-world as it sounds, it was actually planned and a bridge under the GNR at Keady remains to this day as the only construction ever carried out. Locomotives would have been LLSR type tender locos, possibly eight coupled as well as six coupled. The Enniskerry railway was another where construction just about started, then nothing.

Is that a kit for a station, Wrenn, or just the accessories? I had a smaller station in mind, to be honest....

As most here would know, I'm a stickler for accuracy - especially with liveries, as a poor representation of one can destroy a model. And I have been critical of Silverfox before on account of very poorly researched and highly inaccurate liveries on their repaints of BR railcars (or should that be DMUs?) into what is supposed to be GNR livery. Even the ownership details on their blurb show little understanding of what companies actually operated these AEC cars. But I'm going to come out in favour of this "D" class. The numerals are completely the wrong font, and surely to goodness they must know that it's BR who painted connecting rods red, not CIE. The white flashes on the end of the back version are entirely the wrong shape. White handrails are wrong too. Surely that's obvious. Research, folks, just a little basic research. But fixable. But these matters are easily rectified for the black version. (Red con-rods!!!!!) The green version is a different matter. The shade of green doesn't look right. Some people, to be fair, haven't the wherewithal to buy a scale model, or a hand made one, so I will poke my head above the parapet to suggest that there may still be a place for SOME BR "repaints". And if the elementary inaccuracies above are fixed by the buyer, inaccuracies notwithstanding, I'm inclined to think it's not the worst sin I've ever seen. A nice enough little thing. But - to our friends in Silverfox - really, the most basic, elementary research, like looking at a few colour photos, would eliminate this needless criticism. Otherwise, the modeller will just do his own, more accurate, "BR repaint". The above silly errors may be described as on a par with the "modelling cancer" (as far as Irish stock is concerned) of black ironwork and chassis on goods stock! Just my tuppence worth, and please be assured that despite appearances, this is meant as constructive criticism.

Got that, josefstadt, thanks!

I thin'k tha't Irish Rai'l coul'd try t'o ge't it right in th'e firs't p'l'a'c'e....

"it's servants"???? Can nobody in IE work out the waste of ink in adding in incorrect apostrophes, as instructed by the teachers of nine year old children?

Totally correct, Blaine. All too often, we as enthusiasts kept our hearts rule our heads. In active preservation, there's zero leeway for that. When practicalities suggest hard decisions, they must be made unequivocally and decisively.