jhb171achill

I think that's the best livery yet for the Enterprise (not that the other two were anything to write home about!) Who'll be first to photoshop it onto a pic of an A class or an 071?

That would equate to two short stretches of line which jointly held the steepest in Ireland for 5ft 3 in the past. One was a short stretch just beyond King Magnus' Grave at Downpatrick, and the last quarter-mile approaching Hillsborough from the Knockmore Junction direction. They were, I think, about 1:65.

And here's exact Inchicore paint to give you the colour! See my post on liveries of GSR / CIE locos.... this is a model made at Inchicore and painted in their actual paint about 1920.

Sounds about right, Minister.

Not sure, Weshty, without seeing the actual Humbrol paints. The colour currently carried by 186 was seen as absolutely spot-on by those few surviving who witnessed the real thing newly done in Inchicore (jhb171 senior being one). I've compared this model to it and it's fine. AB0032 Dark Grey Matt would appear to be by far the best of those you identified above. None of the others look right.

Attached are some pictures of a model "O" gauge locomotive made by my grandfather when in Inchicore, as a toy for my father. The interest for modellers here, and indeed preservationists who will ever have anything to do with 90, 184, 186 and 461, is that it is painted with actual GSWR (or GSR / CIE) standard loco grey. You can see where the original description comes from of having "a bluish tinge" when clean. You can also see that in certain lighting conditions it looks much more like black, which has frequently given rise to assumptions that the locos actually were black. In order to illustrate that point, I have photographed it from a number of angles, both in daylight and artificial light. If anyone's interested in seeing the thing, ping me privately. Some engines had the cab interior painted this colour, but the majority had plain grey there too.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that locomen in general were happy enough with the 670s, though (like in many a locomotive class) some were deemed better than others. The 820 class were the thing that never appeared, the "design that got away". Based on the B1a 800 class, they were a fast 4.6.2 tank engine. One can only wonder! I have no idea what loco men thought of 850...... interesting....

Hahahahahahahahahaha excellent

I must look that up, Weshty. I thought that when I was posting it. Again, without checking anything yet, I wonder (aloud!) if the GSWR rebuilt and 2.4.0's as 4.4.0's like the Midland did...

This is a photograph of a model locomotive made by apprentices in Inchicore in the 1880s. It is on display in the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in London and may be viewed by prior appointment. The model stands about a metre high. The livery is the correct pre-1895 lined green, as displayed nowadays on No. 90 in Downpatrick. I would make one qualification: due to a misleading instruction of mine, the running board is lined brown on 90 but as you can see it should be lined maroon. Mea Culpa.... The only missing detail is the numberplate, as this model doesn't have one. If it did, the background would be black, with polished numerals. The GSWR painted numberplate backgrounds black until about 1895, thereafter they were red for a short period, and grey from the mid-1910s to the end of steam, matching the all-grey body. Contrary to some sources, plates were never black against a grey-painted background. The paintwork on this model was done in Inchicore's paint shop.

Excellent work! They look fantastic. In answer, the gangways were generally day-glo.

Absolutely, Garfield. It's a terrible shame a MGW D class or A class weren't preserved - even a J18, to compare it with 186. This might determine whether the Broadstone men or the Inchicore men were right. Each, in my grandfather's time, took the view that the "other" engines were scrap metal, and the DSER - well, it was seen as irrelevant. Little seemed to figure in conversation at Inchicore about the antics of the GNR and Dundalk, though my grandfather paid a number of official visits there, which were reciprocated by GNR men visiting Inchicore.

I believe there were some of those (Ozzieland had quite a few) still in traffic well into the 1980s. At least one preserved in full working order. Technically, as well as outwardly, they are indeed exactly that: a cross between the CDR and the SLNCR. They could even have been 4ft 1.5 inches gauge..... (half way between 5 ft 3 and 3ft....all right, I'll go home now.)

"......My bubbles always used to fall off the track......" I'd see a doctor about that, Islandbridge.....

I posted "photos of prototypes" elsewhere; this was probably the more appropriate place. Moderator - I plea the Slow Learner card. Firstly, on a freezing December day about 1946, the Glenties - Stranorlar train comes in. One of the original (world's first*) diesel railcars heads an ex-Dublin and Blessington tram and an ex-Clogher Valley luggage / guard's van! ( * none o'yer ICRs and 80 class!) And, a symphony in grey: this trio were pictured outside the paint shop in Inchicore one day about 1935 - eventually, I'll be able to confirm exact dates for all the stuff I'm posting. Can you smell the new grey paint? In June 1956, the veteran No. 100 was in charge of the Courtmacsherry - Ballinascarthy Jct. goods.

It's yours, Dunluce. PM received, reply sent.

I have three annual accounts / rolling stock return / financial statistics reports for 1952/3/4. Free to whoever will cover the postage. Also,

If anyone would like to take this off my hands, it's for sale for the price of zero euros. I can deliver to the IRRS some Tuesday night, leave it in the general greater Belfast area, or post it to you. I would just ask that you cover postal costs if posting. It covers the period from 18.6.1925 to 3.2.1926. Some entries include the Derry Central and the Ballyclare branch of the Ballymena & Larne narrow gauge.

This is nothing more than the relevant pages from the IE circular about the first Railtours "Emerald Isle Express". If anyone wants it out of interest, ping me and I'll stick it in the post to you.

GSR poster timetable And some close-ups from it And to the GNR:

GNR splashed crest - original. Mounted on "works grey" background in Dundalk in 1942. And a GSR poster...

Well said, DiveController, I don't think I've ever read a single post I agree with more!

You are correct, Derailed, regarding 900's history. It is therefore the solitary WLWR vehicle left following the unwelcome attention given by vandals to 935 some thirty years ago. You are also correct re it's importance - but that's obvious! - and its current whereabouts (Belturbet). At least it's under over, as like the Midland coach at Clifden or its sisters at Whitehead or Downpatrick, external storage now - given its age - would result in it scrapping itself in one winter.

Looks excellent, as do its surroundings.

Depressing to know that stuff's still alive and well.....