jhb171achill

Dingle, I checked my own records. CVR coaches were all the same, as were C & L ones, in terms of overall dimensions and other details. Those of each line were ordered at the same time, from the same firm (Metropolitan Railway Carriage and Wagon Co., Birmingham), and were even delivered painted the same colour - a reddish-brown, which apart dfrom obvious differences in lettering etc., therefore bore the same livery. Another uncanny similarity is that a proposal was made by the directors of each company in the early years of the 20th Century to acquire further coaching stock to cope with heavy traffic, but in each case other directors voted the proposal down on grounds of finance! C & L coaches were 40ft long and had 14 windows, while CVR ones had indeed two lengths. First class coaches were 24ft long, and thirds were 29ft 6ins. In all cases, the length refers to the chassis, the body obviously being shorter in all cases by the width of the balconies, i.e. bodies themselves were 5ft 6ins shorter. The circular seats you see were not loose chairs, but fixed swivel chairs, but they proved unsatisfactory on at least the C & L line and were later replaced with fixed seats. They were covered in black leather. The CVR used a crest in the earlier days, but possibly not right at the outset. This was certainly in use after 1903, but later a gold leaf "CVR" monogram was used, and later still the initials "C V R". The C & L didn not have a crest, but used well spaced out lettering, but after 1925 this was replaced by GSR maroon, unlines, but with full crest and standard pattern shaded numerals, as on other C & L stock, broad and narrow gauge. The GSR painted the carriage roofs light grey. I believe the CVR used a mid grey. On both lines the carriage chassis were black as one would expect. Hope this helps.

Certainly the longer one is what the C & L had; but I would be reasonably confident in saying the CVR had just the one length of coach. I am not familiar with the right hand design at all but it could well be OK. I wonder is the left hand one actually the C & L one, and the right hand one the CVR type?

I knew of a driver who witnessed a teenager taking a short cut in front of his train, which hit them and killed them. He had a similar aged younger sister himself, and as a result of the shock he handed in his resignation and left the railway straight away.

They didn't have a Director's Saloon, Dingle - what you're looking at is a first class coach. Apert from being slightly shorter, CVR carriages were virtually identical inside and out to those on the Cavan & Leitrim. There's one in Cultra Museum.

If they are putting that thing on rolling stock, maybe they could apply it to the underneath of the floor covering only? Or the back of one of the wheels?

I just can't believe that's a MODEL!!!! Excellent

Indeed, Glenderg.... sigh!

The economic situation? Green, grey and orange! Green for the green fields far away, grey for the colour of the inside of an empty wallet, and orange for the only thing in 2013's christmas stocking! :-)

(Or Defiled Tricolour!)

Excellent, Minister! Flying Snail, Broken Wheel, Set o'points, Three Pin Plug, Wiggly Worm!!! Remember where you heard it first; Mr. Hardship, take a bow!

Every little helps!!! :-)

Superb effort Kev - very atmospheric! Yes, a white line above window level is all you need. And you just can't beat 141's in black'n'tan!

No probs Hunslet gimme a shout when you are! If DCDR is closed I can still make arrangements for you to visit.

Hunslet, this might help, and if you want to get a chance to see it close up it will be in traffic at Downpatrick on 17th March. http://www.downrail.co.uk/gallery1/harveycathedral08.jpg http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3336 http://www.downrail.co.uk/gallery1/inchcurve.jpg

The reason they didn't launch it in a blaze of publicity is probably that they're ashamed of it!

Hard to believe all that was TWENTY years ago!

Excellent, Broithe! We can all picket Heuston Station with banners containing flying snails and broken wheels!!!

The coach on that was identical to Downpatrick's 836; in fact I think that one may be 837. Built 1902, GSWR.

Rare visitors to shunt there were not only the "E" class, but at least one "G"!

With sinking feeling I see, yes, it IS on the downloadable timetables. the good news is they'll probably touch the taxpayer's wallets to "re-brand" again in what, 8 months? A year?

If they put it on the "Enterprise" it will probably attract unwelcome attention from stones in Portadown!

AHHH! Folks, look at the original post. It was done in April!!! Hmmm. !!

Richie, that's good. Now I can sleep. !!

No problem John we can march through the tunnel around the M50 and hang the snail on all the lamp post,s but some how i think a meeting in a good pub would be nicer given the weather. A truly Excellent idea, sir.

Very good point, Mayner. Goods traffic didn't end when they stopped putting a broken wheel emblem on wagons!