jhb171achill

Correct, Boskonay.... The Hamburg thing looks amazing. And while we all have our opinions on this (above) actual layout, and the concept of "cheque book modelling", I would be the greatest believer in "each to their own". Anyone here who knows me would be aware that I find accuracy in the appearance of model locos and rolling stock to be the most important thing, but others would differ. I know of at least two modellers for whom accuracy of track layout in a model of a specific location is paramount. Others go for an overall "look", or none at all. At the end if the day, it's our layout, and if we want to run a set of hopelessly inaccurately painted De Dietrichs round a model of a German station, hauled by an out-of-scale Donegal 2.6.4T painted in GNR blue, and with a NCC "brown van" attached to the back along with a fertiliser bogie in lined LMS livery, nobody can tell us not to! So, again, hats off to the creator of this huge behemoth of a layout. He has put his heart and soul into something he enjoys, and wants to share it. All of that is good - very good - and if it attracts just one five year old to the hobby, he's done us all a service. It's just not MY thing at all...!

I have to say I commend him for time and effort, but the result doesn't justify it. Even "chequebook" modelling can sometimes look fine, if perhaps occasionally soulless, but I say each to their own; like others though, I just don't like it at all. There are "28 trains" - few if any are visible in the pics, though given the overall effect, they would add little to it. And "28 trains" are a very small number for a layout this size, anyway. It's like a huge Lego toy. However... good luck to him.... If he ever logs into IRM, he will have his eyes well opened.... The standards of modelling on so much seen here, made by members here, both layouts and stock, have to be seen to be believed. The only thing that must have to be seen to be believed on yer man's layout is the hole in his bank account.....

Correct, Hunslet. The most I ever saw together after the spoil contract was 2 or 3 max.

There ye go! Were you on it, Blaine? It's one I unfortunately missed.....

Love it! Here's my party manifesto: "Free Guinness for EVERYONE!" Can I count on your vote?

I just did. And he had my 5c in his pocket......

Well, that's another issue too, Blu. Closure of loss making railways will certainly not eliminate the cost of repairing and maintaining (equally loss making!) roads.... Verdict: keep railways open and put Leo in charge of tree conservation.

I'm not sure, UP, I didn't hear of it. There was an ITG spin which had 102 just from GVS to Central - that might have been it. I think, but am not certain, that it used RPSI coaches and was part of a bigger tour with other locos round the NIR system.

I can almost see that 5c coin I lost in that mud somewhere....

Correct, some of the NIR "C"'s had them occasionally. I'm not sure which locos it was, though.

Answer to first: yes, there was even a double headed Hunslet working of a fert out of Derry one time. It wasn't common, though, for them to do fert at all, but it did happen at the time they were in blue, not maroon afaik. Regarding the reinstatement of 102; confined to Adelaide yard shunting.

Never CIE, Heirflick. I've an idea they werent allowed past Dundalk. They very rarely strayed onto the GNR at all, though it have seen at least one photo of one in a ballast train at Portadown.

I suspect it was only a very few, Hunslet, as such conversions were deemed unsatisfactory due to the inherent instability of those wagons. They were only ever intended as a stop gap measure anyway.

Railways do not make money, nor have they for decades, nor will they. They must be seen as a social service, not a corner shop business. That type of reasoning went out of the window ninety years ago. Governments throughout the western world would do well to bear in mind that while a railway will always COST money, not make it, the alternatives will often cost as much, and in a few cases more, both for environmental and other social reasons. So, we play Leo's game and shut the lot. We do indeed have good motorways. They could indeed cope. But Leo isn't taking into account the redundancy and dole payments for several thousand workers, the greater cost of motorway maintenance, the possible greater environmental charges from Europe, and so on etc. Privatise Bus Eireann - same scenario. If all that politicians can see is the stark yes or no: does it make money or not; can you imagine how they might view the gardai, Coastguards, health service, courts, prisons, social services? None of them "make money", Leo. So here's a way to get us all out of the recession and rid us of costs. Let's abolish the defence forces and gardai to start with. Then, we close all the schools and hospitals. Surely we could save if we abolished courts and prisons - think of all the fat legal fees we would save. And then - paradise! All tax intake can be spent on roads and politician's expenses! (I should be elected. I really should.)

Of course, Garfield! I was referring to Irish stock (not narrow gauge LNER). ;-)

Absolutely top class, Popeye. The weathering on the metal strapping looks particularly realistic - beginning to rust in most places, and dirty. The unpainted planks on the UTA van bring back memories too! Just one thing - could you drop me off one of those kegs?

Great to see such a varied (and superbly made) selection of goods stock.

I should have added - Nelson - that is an absolutely superb job you've done - excellent stuff, keep it coming!

A few comments.... the lime wash used was deemed to have antiseptic properties, hence it's use. As Leslie says, it's use ceased - I'm not sure when in Ireland, but later than 1927 anyway. In latter times, wagons were hosed out. For. A modeller, a light whitish wash round the lower body sides, perhaps showing as leaking out through the doors as well, and the same whitish stuff splattered all over the chassis as well. Regarding the wagon grey, the LNER shade is not unlike what the GNR used, but perhaps a little light for LMS or GSR, or early CIE. For those, LMS grey is better. Later, post-1960 CIE tended to use a much lighter shade on newer wagons like the then-production-lined "H" vans. While a little off topic, recollection suggests that the cement bubbles when brand new were a shade not unlike the LNER grey above. It was certainly very slightly darker than the then current "H" vans. Don't forget, in all cases, grey chassis, not "Hornby" black. Mainstream Irish standard wagons never had black chassis or body ironwork although certain specialised types had exceptions. Example - some bubbles had black chassis (while ammonia bogies had dark green, and acrylonitrile four wheelers had red!). Proprietary model manufacturers brought up three generations of us modellers on standard black chassis for all goods stock, just like passenger stock, and this seems to have become the single (and, I suppose, given circumstances) understandable error in model liveries.....

I'd paint the chassis grey, Riversuir.... It would just take the "Hornby" look off it (I know it's not Hornby!)... and increase existing very good realism....

At least its easier to track than the many variations of railcar intermediates and trailers, some one-offs, which ran with both UTA and CIE AEC sets, with 70 class cars, MPDs and MEDs!

For some reason, most models of 80 class cars never seem to look quite right.... But there's the proof that there's an exception to every rule! Absolutely superb job....

Josefstadt, one at least was used, I think; possibly the other wasn't. One was in steam, though not doing anything, at Inchicore one time.... I think it was the 1996 open day. The DCDR wouldn't have been in a position to take another steam crane at the time they were being scrapped due to severe space constraints - thankfully somewhat eased these days! In preservation, as both DCDR and RPSI have found, it's hard to justify exoenditure on steam cranes when apart from money always being tight, the day to day issues of loco, coach and track maintenance must always take priority.... Unfortunately, in over a quarter century of dealing with finances of both outfits, I can't recall a single occasion when it might have been possible to allow a budget for anything other than a quick lick of paint for a crane!

Exactly, Mayner....

Saw one yesterday on the DSER. Looks better in the flesh, though still somewhat dark....