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Homer's obviously impressed with it too! I agree with him....

Well spotted, Minister - I hadn't noticed that. That definitely makes this one ex-GSWR, as the GSR used the same flat-topped wagon numberplates as CIE did later - in fact to this day CIE's are still a direct copy of the old GSR ones, as are those on a few NIR ballast wagons. The word "fuel" can also be seen painted just above it. The SLNCR railcar was indeed ion LJ - I photographed it in that exact position in 1978 and already it had been there years. It's under a tarpaulin at Downpatrick now. I got a quote for rebuilding it some years ago - let's just say that on the good side, it's not as nasty a job as it looks, but on the less good side, just think £160k sterling.... (2004 prices)!!!

Colm - yes, the blue usd is much the same as that UTA version (though it had blue above window line also, and in some cases a much narrower cream band). The GN version was much darker, as can be seen on the Fintona tram in Cultra, which has original paint. The MAK diesel, No. 800, also had this shade all over, rather than the standard (lighter) GNR steam loco blue.

How did you get the weathering SO realistic? Fantastic job.

That is a fantastic sequence!!!!!!!!!!! Looks so realistic!

Totally right, Mayner - that one's the same as the initial one, vents in side too. I believe they used ex-gunpowder vans for these gennys as they had more solid sides, which might drown the noise a bit. There is a standard "H" van preserved at Downpatrick which has a generator inside it, but that was fitted by the DCDR. When in operation it is known as "Roaring Meg" with good reason - you'd probably hear it in Australia! It's clear that CIE converted a few of them in this way, possibly as the need for taking explosives by rail diminished. I wonder, though, if CIE actually BUILT any of them new for this purpose? As Mayner says, the standard design of van went back to GSWR days, and until CIE stopped building standard vans the basic design didn't change.

Absolutely top class Hunslet -brings back memories indeed.

Ah we age less gracefully up here in "town"! ;-)

Very many thanks, gents - I'll forget the chips and try to wire it the way Mayner suggests. The loco's are indeed that type -Austrian 2091 and 2095 class mostly.

I'd dread getting to your age, Garfield! :-)

Wow! Looks amazing, just outta Inchicore paint shop!

I have a quantity of Austrian 009 gauge stuff which I intend to get operating at some stage. All but one set of points are "Electrofrog" type, the wiring for which is a mysterious mind-blank to me. The last time I wired a layout there was no such thing as individual control, chips, etc. for loco's, and all points had insulated frogs! How would I go about getting advice about wiring the track, and possibly installing whatever gadgets are necessary into locomotives so that they can be controlled individually?

Couldn't agree more, hidden agenda. Personally I think the models would be seen to better advantage if they took it in turns to run on a smaller layout. I wonder if the actual ones originally made by Cyril Fry got a run in recent times? I remember seeing 071-hauled trains on it - they wouldn't have been made by Fry!

Ok... Prob sat there a while. Looks as if by that stage it's out of traffic. Interesting. The GSWR built things like this as long ago as about 1910, but the one in the pic has more modern buffers and draw gear, so it might be a modernised GSWR one, or of GS or (less likely but possible) CIE origin.

I wonder would a more radical approach be to make a new, smaller layout (possibly also with better scenery) and rotate use of the trains. Thus, a visitor could end up seeing Enterprises of 1947 and 1970, with a Donegal train chasing a T & D one on the narrow gauge bit on one visit, and on another visit a DART, a MGWR goods train, a Causeway tram and a pair of 121s with a Craven set!

In theory it could go into the new carriage gallery, but in reality the only thing the DCDR would be in a position to take, or would possibly want, would be any BCDR models in it - and only then if the collection was going to be broken up (which would be a terrible shame).

Not sure, heir flick. The steel sides indicate that it was a gunpowder van (like the one in Cultra) used for carrying explosives to places like Lisduff quarry. However, the vents on the side and the pipes as you say would suggest that this one was converted to some sort of mobile generator possibly also for use in a railway quarry. Do we know where the pic was taken?

The top one is a gunpowder van.

Just noticed in that pic even the loco's buffer beam is silver. In silver livery they were normally red as can be seen on the adjacent A class loco. The bogies were silver too. Maybe the loco is literally straight out of the box in this photo?

One RPSI Craven carried that livery for some years, but I think it's blue now. The idea was to paint it green like the rest of the Dublin set but only the bottom half got done. RPSI Cravens were thus never in the all-green, partly because none were ever green in CIE use. Mind you they weren't blue either, but that livery came about as a result of trying to make the RPSI stock look distinctive. Some like it and some don't - it has certainly prompted debate!

I wonder (from an admittedly mischievous point of view) what their reaction would be if I told them that DCDR would take it off their hands!

Timetable on 1st is the standard one, dep. Downpatrick at 1400 1445 1530 1615 and 1700. A return journey takes just under half an hour.

Gentlemen, loco roster confirmed subject to availability on jan 1st as A39 on ECS and shunting, with O & K no. 1 on passenger trains. 146 unfortunately will be blocked in as a result of a large and necessary shunting exercise, but will of course be available to see and inspect. I am likely to be in Dublin that w/end but ask for Norman and mention my name and he'll be pleased to show you about. A39 certainly warrants close inspection!

True enough, warbonnet, though I remember years ago you used to be able to get rub-on transfers called "Letraset". I wonder if that stuff is still available... lining was easy enough to do with that providing you kept everything level.

Easy to scan the Rpsi crest... Yes, that would make an interesting model, with an 071, pair of black tan 141s or a steam loco up front!