jhb171achill

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.....

Absolutely superb looking!

To stick to my original point, rather than appearing to concentrate on Silverfox themselves (which I didn't intend to), with regard to colours, yes, the option is always there to repaint. The thing I generally try to concentrate on is purely to share information re what is a correct appearance for something, what's a not-too-bad compromise, and what is not prototypical. The "12 ins to the foot scale" preservation world and the model world, unfortunately, abound with liveries which are not accurate, or ones that were never carried, or both. That's fine in two senses: (a) if it's full size, no bystander has any right to just criticise the efforts of volunteers who give up their free time to restore something, and (b) the modeller - who, at the end of the day, is entitled to do exactly what he wants with his own layout, which is none of anyone else's business! Personally, I've been in both camps. But I think it's important that all concerned at least know what something actually did look like in use, otherwise incorrect versions seen on preserved things and models enter folklore as the assumption of what things did look like..... I would reiterate my support for any manufacturer who enters the Irish market. Anyway; onwards and upwards!

You can still see quite a few of the GSR solid concrete block type here and there.

Ok, Dive...! Their reference to CIE / NIR "2600 class" is not right - the GNR, UTA and NIR never numbered them, or called them that.... Ok - first off - the UTA ones. Light grey roofs should be dark grey and valances at bottom were black, not green; though the UTA like NIR ran them without, ie with the engine showing. CIE green - the shade is wrong and the roofs are light grey again - should be black, though some might have the very front bit in green as discussed earlier. GNR - the blue is way too light, more like what they had on locomotives. It should be very dark blue, verging on navy; actual example may be seen on the Fintona Tram at Cultra. The lettering is the wrong colour and style. The black'n'tan version is fine, though lacking CIE logos on the sides. I know that for economy's sake, it's a "repaint" of a British railcar - fine - not everybody, unfortunately, can afford the more high class models, and it's good that Silverfox recognise this. But for any manufacturer, it's a shame to see something as absolutely elementary as the colour of something, poorly researched.... I'll trawl and post some photos later (just out of books - any "real" ones I can put my hand to are black and white). I'm truly and genuinely not on a rant about silverfox - I completely respect and support any manufacturer who enters the Irish market - hardly a business decision guaranteed to make them rich. In my day, Irish modelling meant paper overlays on Hornby Mk 1's! But just looking again at their site, their "G" class have livery errors too. Green G601: should have green chassis, not black. Silver version: silver roof, not black. Black, and black'n'tan versions: the white band is way too thick, and there should be a silver or white colour on the small strip of beading round the front of the bonnet. Overall, "tan" looks too orangey and probably is closer to the post-1990 shade. Having said that, I'll qualify it by saying that I haven't seen one of these "in the flesh".

Incidentally, on busy days railcars on the Letterkenny line took a well-earned rest and locomotives would be out in force. I'd love to see a pic behind the photographer that day to show what was on shed.....

Thanks, Broithe! Indeed, Minister! Up to 20 years ago, pictures taken from the top of signal post ladders by people without PTS, steel-capped boots or head-to-toe day-glo clothing were common. Not a single enthusiast ever appears to have died that way, therefore, irrespective of what current laws and H & S police say, in actual terms of fact, the practice was statistically as good as 100% safe; unlike actual travel by train, which despite being the safest form of travel there is, occasionally it has been known for passengers to die in an accident..... Now there's a statistic for ye!

Indeed, Broithe, but I'm too poor to afford one! Meanwhile, it was a busy day in Letterkenny (CDR) one fine day back in 1947..... (LLSR goods stock on right, nearest van lettered "L & B E R" for the Burtonport extension.

Above: GSR postcard. 1930s equivalent of "This is an auto-response for information only. Please do not reply to this email".... Below: both sides of what I think is an internal bus transfer. Finally, another unused transfer...... I think it's of DUTC origin.

I have four of these - they are original. The size can be ascertained from the flip-flop sandals at the bottom corners! Unused GSR coach transfer; the same would have been mounted on a board on the tenders of the 800 class.