jhb171achill

See what you mean, GSR. The 800 class "mid green with bluish tint", complete with its yellow and black lining, would probably have spread instead of the all-over unlined grey. It would also have adorned a fleet of newer-built standard classes of steam engines. Possibly, main line diesels might have been experimented with, as the LMS in England did. The narrow gauge lines then deemed worth saving (T & D, WCR, and C & L) would have been comprehensively modernised, and in the case of the WCR and T & D, we know that at least vague consideration had been given to conversion to 5ft 3.

The GSR actually did have very good publicity machinery, especially in relation to their considerable chain of railway hotels..... They had tourist buses of their own, too, in the west, and in Kerry.

When 400 / 500 classes might, in theory, have been fitted with newer or larger tenders, there was no £££ in the coffers!

Tenders were indeed swopped! Messrs Friel wouldn't have been party to it and Peter told me 30 years ago he didn't know!! Visual evidence says not 400; that's fair enough (and obvious); but visual evidence, and swopping, conceals whatever the real story is. One thing is certain: that tender, like its compatriots, would have been a "loco-swopper"! Gsr800; sneaking suspicion a Midland engine; hope so (as nothing else Midland exists - though GSR rather than MGWR tender....) but I could be totally wrong.

Thanks, Mayner - I think I'll remain as is! Certainly, installing DCC would at best be fiddly!

It could well be, GSR800..... unfortunately, no record survives!

The bit on the RPSI website about 186s tender originates in a 1970s Whitehead (not Dublin!) rumour; one glance at 186's tender confirms that it would most certainly not be from a 400, or any other loco of that size! Having said that, we don't know exactly what it DID come from!

Livery - all over navy railcar blue with GNR; what looks like a thin single red and white line along the middle. Lettering and numerals shaded red and gold. From about 1959, CIE light green, unlined, no snail; renumbered from GNR's 800 to CIE's K801. After about 1962, it obtained all over black with white lines round the tops of the bonnets. K801 in standard CIE font and size on cab sides, with CIE roundels on longer bonnet sides. Never had tan bits.

Very true, Warbonnet!

We've come a long way. In the mid 1970s, I had paper overlays on BR Mk 1's - and VERY crude they were. A BR "Hymek" class 35 was passed off as an NIR Hunslet! Yes, I had a GOOD imagination...

Are these on a private layout (if so, must be some size!) or can they be seen? A full DD set behind that loco, or 18 laden timbers, would be a sight to behold in 7mm.....

Excellent pictures - Loughrea extremely interesting!

That, Jawfin, is a REAL catch! As rare an Irish railway photograph as you'll ever find!

The photo above would have been post-1959 transfer to Bray, as she's in black (as repainted from green about 1962)...

I'm not, Garfield; all the electronic wizardry is beyond the wit of a simpleton like me - clockwork might be more suitable.... I was simply told by someone (possibly here, though I can't remember) that conversion of 1980s H0e / 009 stuff to DCC was at best problematical, and probably not feasible. Further thoughts or theories on that would, of course, be very welcome.

Any idea where I'd get one, John?

If it was Finn McCool, they must still have been in Ulster Railway locomotive maroon.....

Excellent information, gents, many thanks. It is indeed 009 that I'm looking at.

A blast from the past. I found an old Relco thing, intended at the time it was sold as so etching that would improve current pick-up for 2-rail layouts. It's about 1976-80 origin, if I remember correctly. With a layout using older equipment (locos all 1980s), is there any advantage in connecting it up, or would a modern control system be better? The locos are narrow gauge and (I am told) unsuitable for conversion to DCC.

Looks "finished" enough as opposed to undercoat.... anyone know?

Got my copy today - excellent - well done to producers. The drawings are extremely interesting!

The fitter's lot was indeed not a happy one then. All of the railcars NIR inherited from the UTA had been poorly looked after due to severe lack of Stormont funding, this in itself contributing to comparatively short lives.

Can't wait!

I've seen a pic of a train somewhere with four MPD cars hauling it..... four! Like Union Pacific or something!

I remember seeing similar elsewhere - shunters and signalmen......