jhb171achill

On holiday in Majorca in the mid or late 90s, and bored with sun, sea and sand, I went off walkabout on the island's excellent bus and train network. At the time, the line just extended from Palma to Inca, with work just commencing on reopening the line onwards towards Sa Pobla, previously closed in 1981. So there was a construction train parked in a siding there; just a couple of four wheel ballast wagons headed by an absolute clone of a G class loco. Exact same design, same Deutz builders plate, with building date about 1980! Other than that it was metre gauge, rather than 5'3", it could have been Downpatrick or Loughrea. The thing was yellow all over, but this did not detract. Anyone ever seen it? IRM tends to concentrate almost entirely on 5'3", rather than our wealth of narrow gauge lines. If anyone out there is modelling narrow gauge, clearly a G lookalike would / could have been a feature on a West Clare or Donegal system that might have survived longer. And what if the three F's had ended up on a surviving Donegal line?

You'd think an 80 would look an easy enough thing to build. Yet I have rarely seen a convincing model of one. It begs for Murphy Models treatment, maybe? However, there's an exception to every rule, and this is it - even at this stage, this model looks very good indeed!

I think, but am not certain... The same A55 as in Hells Kitchen in Castlerea. Coaches were, as far as I recall, non corridor ex-GSWR bogie stock in CIE green. Leading couple of coaches were, anyway. In GNR days, a UTA-owned ex-NCC "U2" class 4.4.0 was a regular there for a short time when the GNR had it on trial on Belfast - Cavan trains. GNR stock was used, of course; usually 2-3 coaches and a few vans. The GN also tried out an AEC set on Cavan trains briefly, though later they rarely ventured beyond Clones.

I remember some years ago watching a packed 70 class set, diner included, leaving York Road for Derry. By the mid 90s, a two car 80 class set, ie one and a half coaches of actual seating, set forth on the same run. Now, it's double that in the form of three car CAFs. If the railway matches demand accurately, well and good. But two car sets smell of serious congestion on at least SOME services.....

Looking great!

Mayner, I understand that the one goods train on reaching Ballyhaise, ran up to Belturbet and back, before going on to Cavan. Right at the very end, it was just Cavan, the Belturbet branch having just closed. Josefstadt and others; a GAA special from Monaghan headed by an "A" passed through just before the line closed. Coaching stock was of CIE rather than GN origin. Symphony in green, deep in GN land.

I saw a very satisfactory job done a few years back by a certain member here, which involved using a type of corrugated cardboard which was just the right "look". I'd say light plastic would do the job well.

Afterthought: artistic licence plays an interesting part on many layouts. Had the Dundalk - Clones - Cavan - Mullingar section remained in use until the 1967 closures, old ex GNR stuff, now mostly re liveried in green or occasional new black'n'tan, would have mingled with classes A, C, and AEC railcars of both GN and CIE parentage....

Quiz question: what resulted in the visitation of a green "A" class + train to Ballyhaise? (It didn't stop, just passed through...)

Excellent job!

That first pic shows it in pre closure state with platform road on right lifted; ie in CIE days.

I have seen one somewhere, must delve. One of the Colourpoint "Irish Railways in Pictures" had enough pics of the place to provide a wealth of detail for a modeller. It would indeed make a fascinating subject for a model. Towards the end, in the 1957-9 period when it lost its passenger service and came under CIE ownership, the track was lifted at the main platform and the daily parcels / goods workings both used just the island platform, though with state ownership being so short-lived, it very much retained its GNR atmosphere to the end.

That is one beauty of a layout. Takes me right back to the 70s!

Interesting to see them in their original " duck egg light blue"... But for sure the most accurate way to model them is after a lengthy soak in the great weathering / mud-adding factory in Newry!

Indeed, also he did articles in the RPSI's Five Foot Three. Quite a character, I first met him in the mid 70s...

Absolutely stunning model, great to follow its progress from inception.

Good thinking, sir! And having touched it, we then say there's nothing as boring as watching it dry.....

I did have it mind that they weren't connected, but obviously a transfer could have been effected, albeit awkwardly, using rollers and adjacent tracks! Nothing as awkward as the Waterford and Tramore, though, where a wall had to be knocked down and rebuilt for stock transfer purposes...

It's the entire staff of the nations public transport queuing for their pay, post recession year 2030..... One burger a week, whether they are hungry or not......

Minister correct, Mayner's answer an interesting one too. Another short lived one was the Northern Railway, in between the Ulster Railway / INW and the GNR (I)....

Now that's one I didn't know, Minister....

Shortest lived Irish railway company or administrative body?

They weren't used for a very long time, but would make a very interesting addition to a layout. Don't forget the weathering... any time I saw them they seemed very tatty!

Excellent work! Keep us updated!

Yes, it was used with hat wicks but was of Mk 2 enterprise origin.