jhb171achill

Well, I say skateboards for everyone!

Having seen the kit, and having made a first-attempt complete mess of a brass carriage kit I bought thirty years ago, I would advise very strongly indeed against using one of these kits as a first attempt at soldering.... I would very much echo the advice given by others. The 800 kit is a highly complex one which I know many experienced modellers would hesitate to attempt. Good luck, though.

It's a fantastic looking thing. I got one too, currently under construction (not by me; I'd make a pig's ear of it).... If I win the lottery, I'll get another four: 800-2 plus the two that were never built (803 Deirdre and 804 Grainne). Wouldn't a lineup of five of them outside Inchicore have made for a great photo? Photoshop anyone?

Now I've got this weekend sorted out. I'm getting a train to Kirley Junction and bringing my camera and a sandwich for the day. Do I depart from Connolly, Heuston, or Broadstone?

No probs, Mike. I'm away from early tomorrow until Wednesday afternoon, so I'll scan them then and send to you.

Quite possibly, josefstadt, though when 836 came to the DCDR I'm nearly sure it had a loo, which was removed. Both it and 837 were to the sme era as the ones you mention, so many similarities would be evident. I noticed the windows indeed, which made me think it was a third one which made it into departmental stock. It's possible it wasn't from the same batch as the other two. Several GSWR coaches of this era ended up as late as 1974 being among CIE's very last wooden rake of carriages, which I'm sure you remember well - obviously (for younger readers!) long black'n'tan by this stage! It would be interesting to know when that picture was taken.

Excellent stuff.

Excellent info, indeed. Just as CIE inherited a motley collection of stock from its constituent companies, so did the UTA. They had ex GNR stuff including ex-DNGR and even one LNWR coach which the GNR had bought, NCC stuff of Belfast construction (Irish loading gauge) and items built for the NCC in Derby to Irish loading gauge (new) and the narrower and lower British dimensions, in the case of things imported after the Blitz. Much older stock from the NCC section was the distinctive straight-sided BNCR stock, itself swallowed up by the MR(NCC) in 1905. The UTA also had ex-BCDR items of bogie and 6w variety, including a rake of bogies built at York Road to BCDR order, which owed more to NCC design than BCDR! The point here is that if you want to turn a proprietary coach into a general UTA or CIE steam era coach just by repainting, the sky's the limit. If you prefer to model something very exact, there's many a kit or model that can be "bashed" to produce a pleasing result.

Number 22 entered service in 1948 in crimson lake, whether LMS or NCC remains to be seen. The rest entered service in 1949 and 1950 in UTA green. The NCC used standard LMS maroon, so there was no difference. The differences between LMS livery (in Britain, obviously) and here, were that the NCC used either "NCC" or, more usually, "LMS NCC" instead of plain LMS; crests at the time this coach had been discontinued whereas on the LMS they were generally carried, and lining here was less common than across the pond. A coach painted in York Road as late as 1948 wouldn't have been lined.

Interesting photo, Dhu Varren. Any idea when it was taken? The livery is NCC, which differed slightly from LMS in many cases. Lining, especially on secondary stock, was often simpler or non existent, as on this, and crests were often absent especially after wartime economy kicked in. The coach number, 22, would be an NCC one - an LMS one probably had about five digits!

The photo is of a standard GSWR third of a type built 1902/3. It displays classic pre-1915 design features for that company. This one is either 836 or 837, the former being currently preserved and in traffic on the DCDR. Both survived as departmental vehicles, and I've an idea there were three. The reason I suggested a DSER prototype as more appropriate is the heights of the windows, which are too short in height for GSWR design, but look very similar to DSER. Having said that, every constituent CIE company had a wide array of carriages, many being one-offs, so a wooden coach lasting into CIE livery could to the untrained eye be from anywhere!

It's the leaves that are passing signals at danger! SPBPAT: Signals Passed by Pumpkins At Danger....

I'd say that with a side profile like that, it would look more like an ex-DSER coach than any other constituent CIE company, so you could make up a number with a "D" suffix, e.g. 87D. There would be 2 possible livery variations in CIE times for green, plus black'n'tan if you wanted it to survive to the mid sixties. From 1945-55, dark green with broad eau-de-nil lines above and below window levels. Check old black'n'white shots of old coaches in the fifties to get a feel for the thickness of these lines - they're wrong width on the oft-seen Bachmann production models. There would be a "snail" in the middle, though coaches repainted in the late 40s and early 50s sometimes had two snails - each about a third along the coach side. Post 1955, the lighter green with a single thinner light green line below window level, and one or possibly no snail, which like numerals were in the same position. Numerals were reproduced under the end windows, never in the middle. Ends and roof black in both green variants.

Yes, popeye. 26xx first of all (and green), retained numbers through orange & black era (post 1962) up to and after conversion to 61xx series push-pulls.

The first three DNGR coach designs are of vehicles taken into GNR stock, presumably bought by the GNR years before the DNGR closed. That in itself is interesting, and worthy of further investigation. Next, two brakes of MGWR origin, though the drawings are GSR. Finally, "Ivan" - without its black ironwork! If anyone is interested in proper copies of these, let me know and I will copy them for you.

On the general subject of six wheeled coaches, here are some original plans. If anyone is interested in clearer copied, PM me. The first three, interestingly, are examples of DNGR vehicles apparently taken into GNR stock, as they are GNR drawings and have had GNR running numbers allocated. That's a new one to me; I had always thought that any ex DNGR stock in GNR hands consisted only of luggage brakes..... The other two are GSR drawings, but of former MGWR vehicles.

No probs, folks. Glenderg - you'll have seen my PM by now. Chevron - could I ask you to PM me your details for the paints. ALL: All of the above items have now been spoken for; thank you all for your responses and apologies to those not quick enough! :-)

GAA one now sold, as well as one excursion one. Three more excursion ones still available.

These are originals, now extremely rare indeed, and in good condition, though obviously fragile with aged. I'm offering them for sale. In the case of the first one I have four copies. The rest are all single copies. I'll post the first two tonight and the rest depending on interest. Auction prices for things like this can get up to €100 / €200. For the first one I'll take €75 each. The GAA one, though now exceptionally rare, is in poorer condition, so a price of €45 will do.

Finally, a locomotive, working order. €25.

GNR (I) ticket press now SOLD.

ALL BELOW NOW SOLD Freightliner wagon, bogie off but easily fixed €5 Pots of point - old - free. Car carrier & cars €10 Free Free: for interest, is this firm still operating? These are authentic IE and NIR colours. The very small Humbrol pot is years old, but while not designed as such, is perfect for CIE orange.

ALL BELOW NOW SOLD In scenes reminiscent of Hamill's scrapyard, where the Tins met their fate.... The above, which requires repair though the motor bogie is I working order, is a two-coach BR thing repainted with authentic NIR paint colours, as shown and included along with authentic IE orange. Let's say €50 the lot. Southwold Railway coach kit complete, untouched. Nice narrow gauge coach, suitable for 009 or 00n3. €10. Old Hornby TPO €10 Old Pullman coach, end damage as it was going to be a donor vehicle at some stage for a long forgotten project. €5. Old crane. Chain broken €5

ALL NOW SOLD All €5 each. A few shillings discount for anyone who takes the lot.

You'd be looking at a short time round 1975 or so, in the "Greater Connolly" area, I would think.