jhb171achill

There were tank containers all right - but I never recall seeing any with Bell markings on them. Having said that, I don't remember what else they might have had. Overall, "normal" containers comprised most goods traffic, just as "H" vans had a few years earlier.

Stunning! Must dig out me own stuff....

I believe the crane at Mallow is one of the ex-BR ones bought by CIE to replace the last old GSWR one. Thus, the only "Irish" steam cranes in existence are the old NCC one at Downpatrick, and the former GNR one at Whitehead.

Whole thing looks very well indeed!

Is that an orange windscreen wiper on 071, same as orange and black window frame on NIR's 112? (or 8888888112 or whatever they call it!)

There is clearly no truth in the oft-trotted-out official line here that the Irish Mk 3's were clapped out.... They would be FAR better (refurbished, of course) with well-maintained 201s and possibly PP working, than the "flying frogs" on the Cork line and the DD's on the Belfast line.

Yes, it would. With Downpatrick increasingly being ITG's operating base, this could well happen. But: how to save 6111 first!? Nobody denies it SHOULD be saved, but when CIE and the UFTM have failed to come to an arrangement over many years, it's almost as if they depend on, or hope for, interest from ITG, DCDR or RPSI. Nobody should be under any illusion that for any of these three organisations, preservation of this vehicle presents serious challenges. To paraphrase another thread on IRN, it's just a pity the scheme proposed for a NRM-like "state" transport museum at Mullingar some 20 years ago was not acted upon; as usual, certain politicians sabotaged it due to petty local interests of their own.

Sadly, this is totally out of date, and totally off the wall for the times they live in now!

I would have thought any main post office in the north. I'm going to try to get some in Belfast tomorrow.

It depends whether its firstloco acquired by a preservation society, or first preserved loco operated on CIE / NIR, or first preserved loco operated anywhere else (i.e., by default, DCDR). Westrail operated the first privately owned diesel on CIE lines using E428, now at Dunsandle. E421 was the first loco to operate in Downpatrick. The RPSI's 141 / 142 were the first "main line" diesels to operate on the national network, while A39 was the first main line diesel to operate on the DCDR. All good stuff, of course, irrespective of first-dates and the year in which it happened. There is now an agreement between ITG and DCDR which will see an operational "C" at Downpatrick as soon as this can be arranged. In the meantime, the guys at Carrick-on-Suir are the very epitome of what preservation is all about. They have slaved away, often with little recognition or thanks by the broad enthusiast world, for what pretty much amounts to all of the adult lives of some of them; this is a truly fantastic achievement for such a small band of people in a relatively out of the way place. They deserve the highest accolades that the enthusiast / preservationist world can give. Well done, folks. Keep 'er lit!

It's an experience that you can still have at Downpatrick any time 146 is running. DCDR sells footplate passes for the day. Usually it's steam on the public services, but 146 or A39 (and occasionally a "G") are regulars on the 12:30 empty stock to Inch Abbey, and the 17:30 equivalent.

It would be better to refurbish them and dump the De Dietrichs!!!

I see Anthony's scenery is just as realistic as his weathering! Have to say when I first saw a pic of the (real) 077, and despite the fact that I am a well known advocate of the all-over grey in GSR/CIE days for steam engines, I thought it looked ghastly, it's ghastliness only exceeded by the new logo. But now I like both..... and naturally, ghastly or not, Anthony's replication of it was always guaranteed to be superb...

Wow! Anthony, your weathering jobs look absolutely realistic. It doesn't take just skill with a brush to do that, it takes an extremely finely tuned artistic eye; well done as always.

Typical. Politicians interfering; good old Irish brown envelopes..... Related note: they say that democracy is the worst form of government in the world (apart from the alternatives); or that voters deserve what they vote for. In the above example, as many others, the latter is the case..... Now that you mention it, I do indeed remember talk of the Athlone scheme. While I can't remember the details, those close to it in the enthusiast world back then did take the view that it was pie in the sky, and the Mullingar one would have been far better.

You could model one with "Grange Castle" on the destination display!

Quite right, Mayner; given the circumstances at the time, it was very far sighted. The Mullingar project you mention was put to the RPSI at the time, and they expressed a wish to co-operate with whatever came of it. Unfortunately, nothing did! One of the projected plans in relation to this was the operation of heritage trains over the old Midland line to Athlone... one of life's "what-ifs"...

To be fair to all: 1. CIE. As said elsewhere, their remit is to get people from A to B; their holding of the post of heritage officer, for example, has more to do with the practicalities of how to compromise listed building status with the need to alter a heritage building for modern use. They are not a museum, and consequently have no related responsibilities. In addition, they have always been approachable by reputable heritage groups for acquisition of "threatened" historic vehicles. By their offices, A39, 141, 142, 800 and 90 were preserved, along with the SLNCR railcar and at least two MGWR 6 wheelers, which are variously in the care of ITG, RPSI, DCDR & UFTM. Add to that the numerous other diesels they hav e made available to the ITG, and carriages for the RPSI. 2. Preservation Groups. The UFTM, RPSI and DCDR have all had discussions at some stage in the past with Inchicore with regard to 6111. Thus far, nothing has arisen from these discussions - but never say never, I suppose. Each of the above (with UFTM's exception) is a voluntary group with limited space, money and manpower, and with the best will in the world cannot acquire something simply because it's important - as 6111 doubtless is. There has to be somewhere to put it, several thousand euros to transport it, and so on, even without a long term plan to fix it up. In terms of setting up a transport museum, it isn't CIE's responsibility. In addition, they are constrained by railway disposal laws in terms of how, when and to whom they can offer disused routes; apparently they can only offer to a local authority, who will then have a choice of spending ratepayer's money on acquiring land to be given for nothing to a heritage group, or sold to them for market price. Few heritage groups will have this, and access to grant aid is limited for a "start-up" group, as they will be applying for money to develop something they don't yet own. (This has been a stumblin block to a number of heritage set-ups over the years). So who, and where, can we lay blame at for the lack of a museum in the 26 counties? The Government. If there is to be a NATIONAL transport museum, one would expect it to be like York. Who funds that? The British Government, not Network Rail or any voluntary preservation society. Until and unless those in charge of the country (God help us!!) take such an initiative, nothing will be done. And by now it's purely academic - there's nothing left to put in it bar 6111. No MGWR locos, no West Cork locos, no this, no that.... A forward looking administration in 1960 would have had the pick of what was still there. The most luxurious passenger carriage ever to run on this island - the MGWR 12 wheel saloon... numerous narrow gauge things... and so on.

Absolutely superb!

Interesting to see the teams! Still in grey and yellow, pre-green.....

A 141 or 121 at speed would shake the teeth out of your head - I remember from numerous cab runs both on the main line and secondary routes.

I'd go for that myself!

We have Cultra, soon-to-be revamped whitehead, existing Downpatrick and also Sean browne's stuff in Castlerea....

Good thinking, Warbonnet. You'll be made welcome at the Downs of Patrick.........

Excellent, Broithe!!!