jhb171achill

When the 071s were brand new the shade of orange was very distinctly browner, the CIE roundel was larger than usual and had a white (instead of tan) surround. The new loco heads from Heuston to Waterford one day in 1977.

So now you know Australian trains are identical to CIE ones. Here's Inchicore in the mid 70s. G's in varying states of undress were to be seen about the place, particularly after the Loughrea branch closed.

I can't make them the right way up!!!! Help!!!! Recent posts on IRM have concerned tankers. This example was in North Wall, 1977 or 1978. If anyone's interested in exact locations or dates for any of the pics I'm going to post, just ask.

Bubbles were standard wagon grey when delivered but from the early 70s were painted orange, with stencilled lettering and grey chassis. The black chassis / cream body with "Irish Cement" was to appear many years later, and quickly get covered in a thick coat of cement. In "orange" days, a dusting of "icing sugar" on top was more often the case. This example was at Heuston goods sidings in 1977.

Folks I've found a few pictures I took in the mid / late 70s. None are publishable quality as I had an old steam-powered camera then, and I've copied them in poor light with an iPad. However, the point is to show some sort of snapshot of what things were like then. Train make-ups, liveries and lineside / station details are worth noting for modellers interested in this period. I'll post more as time allows. Now, this one won't go the right way up, so it must be Australian. It's a local leaving Limerick for the junction in June 1978. Note the variety of coaching stock; no two were the same. On occasion, due to a shortage of stock, catering cars were included in local train consists. Needless to say, they were for seating only and Mk catering service was provided.

That is excellent news indeed. On their website there's a pic of the planked CIE brake van - absolutely superb looking (though the ducket should be black and yellow stripes, not black and white)... But RTR laminates are a dream gone true, and their Park Royals really are the business. Well done Irish Freight Models!

Santa's been busy in the USA as well as here!

Correct, Horsetan. In my grandfather's day at Inchicore, they would whinge if the drawing office used too many pencils! True!

Wow! If a pic of that appeared in a future book, I'd be getting emails saying "I know I recognise that place - where exactly is it?" ...or... "I'm sure I took a picture of that very train some time about '73...."

Greetings; an enquiry. I'm hoping to put together a small 009 gauge layout this coming year. The entire thing will probably have about 26 sets of points, all of the "Electrofrog" variety; a species of wiring which is light years beyond my comprehension! The whole thing will probably have an out and back loop and a couple of termini branching off it - exact layout of track dependent upon space, which is currently under negotiation with the Ministry of Domestic Policy. My question is - do any of our colleagues here offer advice on such matters, or indeed provide a building service for same that doesn't require a mortgage? PM me, anyone interested....?

An "A" class could have seven liveries, with three variations on the all black one!

I'm not sure if they still bore D & K lettering. It's possible they were repainted green under new ownership, but much more likely they never saw a paintbrush again! They might have been touched up here and there - as recently as late NCC and late GSR days, coaches could go into traffic with one newly painted door on one side, a recently repainted panel on the other, the rest untouched. In UTA days, only 60 years ago, make do and mend paintwork was almost the norm on goods stock!

Just thinking aloud... I saw that layout and thoroughly enjoyed watching it. The operator (at some exhibition I can't remember) was carrying out slow shunting manoeuvres, very realistic. It had occurred to me at the time that it would lend itself very well to an Irish setting - an imaginary Great Victoria Street or Dublin / Cork quays type of site. It's a layout that would suit a British situation, as it is, but substitute what's running on it for a few black'n'tan GMs and rakes of fertiliser or oil wagons, or endless strings of H vans......

Mayner's post reminds me of another livery nickname of sorts. Long after the DWWR had taken over the Dublin & Kingstown, they kept in reserve a handful of very old open 4 wheel coaches got many years. At least two survived in occasional traffic as late as the very early years of the 20th century. Despite years having obviously passed since the classes had been colour coded, these carriages remained green, the D & K colour for third class. They ended their life in green, never having received DWWR standard deep maroon. Railwaymen had always referred to them as "the Greens".

They certainly will, Heirflick.... Having been involved in the Grand Atlantic Tour, I can confirm that the clientele who would book on tours like this are used to the very highest standards world wide. If IE supply them with a dirty loco, Mr Franks would get a very loud flea in his ear! For the Grand Atlantic, a beautifully clean newly painted 071 was at the head of it - excellent!

The DSER was the "dirty, slow and easy" in Senior's day. The LLSR was reputed to have been mentioned in the Bible: "On the sixth Day, The Lord created all creeping things"....

I remember hitching a cab ride in one, I think it was 233, on a ballast train from Clonsilla to North Wall, about 1979. Excellent stuff.

Imagine..... a blue or blue and cream 071 on the Railtours train with RPSI Cravens and a green and cream 071 with Belmond....

I just saw it as GSWR livery!

Most 071s are also grey ghosts now!

Waterford & Tramore?

My own preference was the black'n'tan...

UP, it was BNCR - however, BCDR green was very dark as well. BCDR also used a lighter (almost Isle of Man style) green at some stage - I think it was pre-war; this is what's on No. 30 in Cultra.

Excellent stuff, Happy Christmas!

GSWR post 1915 / GSR / CIE locos in "battleship grey". The shade was technically slightly darker that used on battleships!