jhb171achill

I wouldn't have the paint numbers as such, NIRCLASS80, but I'm wondering which livery you would be thinking in terms of with "fawn".... They had an inter-city blue and grey (with yellow, black & white lines) and a "suburban" red and cream..... When new, the "Castle" class had maroon (as oppose to red) and cream, with a dull orange line.

Hunslet - yes, there was considerable variety. Bear in mind that within the period 1960-7, all of the following were to be seen: - Standard UTA green with plain green ends (mostly GNR area) - Above with part white on ends (mostly NCC) - Above with yellow panel and "wasp" stripes - thus was a post-1962 replacement for both above, but didn't happen to all cars overnight! - "Catherwood Blue" or actually light turquoise. Occasionally referred to nowadays as "eau-de-nil", but this description was more accurately given to the light green CIE used for lining their darker green pre-1955 carriage livery, their bus lining, and the colour of the "snails" on loco tenders. - "sectional" liveries: there were SEVEN in just two or three years!!! The first: all over maroon, unlined, for main line loco hauled coaches, though very few ever wore it. The UTA crest was not carried. - 2nd: lime green with narrow cream band across windowsill Bangor line - 3rd: above with broader cream band - 4th: above with red patch on the front - 5th: NCC area maroon with broad light grey (NOT white or cream!) band across windows, for railcars as opposed to all-maroon loco hailed stock. These did not carry the UTA crest. - 6th: GNR area "riviera blue" with narrow cream band across windows, no crest. - 7th: same with broader band, no crest. Once NIR came into being, main line coaches retained the maroon, but with the introduction of a 3 inch wide grey line below window level, and a strong smell of damp mustiness inside. Railcars all started being repainted in NIR's maroon and grey.

Yes, abbadon, it was...

Seems like yesterday...... Pity the vandalised ones stored at Fairview never hot a chance to stretch their legs....

Just preference, Blu. The loco was undergoing a partial repaint anyway following repairs to rusted areas on both cabs, which have been substantially rebuilt as new by DCDR / ITG members.

That logo is now on 146 at Downpatrick.....

Somewhere or other I have a slide of an AEC set in Lisburn in 1968 or 9 with one car in blue and cream (111, I think), one in green and one in maroon and grey. Must try and find it!

Couldn't agree more - that layout is very atmospheric - captures a rarely modelled prototype beautifully.

Just been talking again to Elderly Relative; he again says that shade is absolutely spot on.

And a steam-powered satnav at that, Leslie!

And then there were the dreadful plastic seats on the old AEC railcars in their end-days as dilapidated push-pull trailers.....

Looks stunning!

It is indeed, Heirflick. I have an actual sample in my possession. The model shows the dirt associated with use very convincingly too - important to note the unusual feature (for Britain and Ireland anyway) of grey (ie body colour) on motion, wheels, smokebox and chimney too. My elderly relative also confirms accuracy. In use, the grey tended to darken slightly with "cleaning" with oily rags, thus a very slightly darker shade would leo be acceptable, but that model is extremely well done.

Nice enough looking models, if they weren't painted like ducks eggs!

That's 73.4% of the entire staff, right?

Cg, many congratulations. That's superb stuff all round.

I'd go for that too, Warbonnet. I knew a rugby player who some fifty years ago got an injury on the pitch as a result of what some euphemistically call "handbags", which left him in a wheelchair for life. The perpetrator got off scot free. Not good, not right.

A biter should be permanently banned.

Excellent! Alan, Pat, gimme a shout....

Probably depends what parts you want to re-use....?

The level of activity there simply reminds me of the past. Properly run, there's no reason why similar scenes shouldn't be seen today in Derry, Belfast, Sligo, Galway Limerick, Tralee, Cork, possibly Wexford, and Dublin......

I think they might have done, Kirley. On the GVS to Dundalk section, the UTA used both AEC and BUT sets.

In the mid sixties the UTA used three or four car AEC sets of GNR origin, just before the 70 class sets made an appearance. By that time the CIE sets were all diesel loco hauled.

CIE diesels to Dundalk normally, with UTA steam north of there - this was normal set that stage. However, "international" would then (and now) be a very controversial way of describing them! ;-)

There are a couple of people in the IRRS who might know.....I must ask... If I find anything out I'll post it here.