jhb171achill

The "three pin plug" logo..... what aspect of its history are you interested in? It was IE's second logo, after the "set of points" logo introduced in 1987. It was current until the last 071 was repainted black and silver a few years ago.

The CIE laminates were all derivitaves of the GSR designs introduced 1933-7. Early CIE builds (1950-4) were very much like them. None were LMS or BR, though similar to the former. The livery the GSR used on these was almost exactly the same as the LMS, with same lining pattern.

Absolutely too class, superb. Brings back so many memories of travelling in those and having breakfast complete with dribble teapot..... Congratulations for bringing alive yet another once commonplace item for modellers.

The all-white CIE logo on the as-delivered 071's was also a different size. The "roundel" was of a larger diameter, and the letters were marginally bigger too.

You could even remove Athenry to collooney and the new ross line, and kingscourt and Youghal as they are long since not passable..... The South Wexford is technically open and is passable, but that's not going to operate again. Fast forward not too far and will nenagh also be re-coloured blue?

CDRJC: light green on paintwork timber, eg window frames; walks Indian red and deep cream. MGWR: red and cream GSR: dark green and dark cream, often separated by a black line about an inch thick CIE: until the 1960s, generally much the same as GSR, but as mentioned from the very early 60s red and cream schemes appeared here and there, including West Cork. Amiens Street got light blue at one stage, and various one-offs were to be seen around Dublin. After that, two-tone grey and white was universal, as also mentioned above. IE days brought a dark green with a bluish tint, also the two tone blue and red referred to; latterly the grey and cream (which I must say I personally think us awful, but that's only my opinion!)... GNR: very similar to GSR internally (green and cream), but externally shades of browns and red on occasion; also green like GSR. The GNR painted station signs variously in red on a white background, black on a yellow background (this being continued by the UTA and spread to ex-NCC and Bangor line), and white on a black background. White lettering on black backgrounds seems to have been standard on a lot of railways. The GNR had it in early says, and the GSR used it mostly, though Fenit at least was black on white. The MGWR had navy blue signs with white lettering, as did the WLWR. The BCDR had stations painted as now accurately reproduced on the DCDR. Fencing was often silver looking as it was painted (even if wooden) with the same sort of galvanised silvery grey paint as used on bridges!

I'd say that's about right. Obviously, it didn't happen to all of them overnight so there'd be a bit of leeway

I would say that the RPSI will be very much to the forefront of any future whole-train hire. Their Cravens and Whitehead Mk 2's will probably be adequate.

....and the muffins are ghastly......

Unbelievably good! My recollections of early ones certainly had a power car at each end, but as others have mentioned, not for long. Driving Trailer 713 ended up at Downpatrick but was destroyed by scumbag vandals in the Boxing Day fire about 10 years ago. It had most recently been in use as a "Santa's Grotto", but was burned completely. Driving trailer 728 survives, though, and is currently in traffic in its earlier version as a UTA coach.

The RPSI is very likely the way ahead for any private train / special train venture.

37 indeed - the 181's were another later series, outwardly similar but unrelated.

Interesting, Heirflick! My sister and daughter are also possessors of (middle names) of Maedb after the great 800..... Your daughter is obviously a well-brought-up girl!

I notice a "2" on the carriage door. I'd forgotten that detail on Cravens....

Interesting, flange..... But surely not a/c as we know it today - more like fan systems, possibly? Hard to see how a/c could have functioned with opening quarter lights.....?

Correct, Killucan. As for the Craven pair, they wouldn't have been air conditioned; the 1972 Mk 2 were the first.

Nelson, those are absolutely stunning - in every tiny detail. Well done!

I love the American stuff - a secret little interest of mine!

33lima, I'm certain no GNR railcar stuff ever got the "Catherwood blue", and equally no MED. I do think, though, that at least one or two loco-hauled coaches (GNR? NCC?) might have got it, and this would account for the "turquoise train" on the Bangor line. Alternatively, it could indeed have been an MPD set on trial. At least one MED set run in the line green without red patches, but these sector liveries were so short lived that few might have seen it. I don't know which car number was like thick but once my resources are unpacked when my house move is complete, I'll be able to find out. The GNR section livery had the same shade of blue - similar to GNR locos - for both "main line" and "suburban" sector liveries. Variations in pictures would be due to photographic variations. The GNR used a much darker shade and at least one set made it into the sixties in original GNR livery, but with UTA red-hand crests and UTA-style numerals.

The 4th pic is in Australia.....l. :-)

Again, Hunslet, absolutely superb job! All you need is a drunk from across the road in the "Crown" being refused entry at the ticket barrier.....

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....