jhb171achill

It would have made a very nice branch, but no, it never existed.

Hi Sean! I'm afraid I've nothing on Tinahely or Ballinglen, or even Woodenbridge, among my dad's photos....... I do like the one above, though. In terms of books, "Rails Through the West" has just gone out of print; I've the last half-dozen or so copies here. But there are loads of "Rails through Tipperary", and for DSER enthusiasts, "Rails Through Wexford", as these are the two most recent in this series I did with Barry. For the DSER, we have included several very interesting shots of Palace East (a VERY interesting station), Macmine Junction and New Ross, as well as Wexford itself, of course. When doing this book, we did consider covering the whole DSER, but within Barry's photos alone, never mind me writing all the history of it all, and background to the photos, we'd have had enough to fill a telephone book. The DSER / DWWR was a truly unique line, with a fascinating background and history, plus probably the most scenic main line anywhere on this island - thankfully, we still have this!

Possible inspiration for a DSER-based branch line - this was taken by Senior in (I think) 1944 - the DSER branch line terminus (their only one!) at Shillelagh. Very compact and easy to model.

Lovely stuff, Leslie!

How long is it?

What gauge is that contraption at Clonakilty?

The whaaaat? Pics please - wasn't aware of this!

Senior recalled that my grandfather (who died a few years before I was born) often spoke of a series of meetings which took place between various "heads" in the engineering and draughtsmen's departments in Inchicore in the early and mid-1910s; as one who was heavily involved in the re-boilering programme of those days, he was present. Also present, of course, were representatives from the accountant's department! Presumably these meetings were chaired by the CME of the day(s). When a youthful Senior asked him was there any record of what was discussed at these meetings, he said "Of course, there were copious notes taken". I wonder if anyone is aware of where these workshop minute books are now held? They're not in the CIE archive - I've looked twice - unless I'm blind with one eye and can't see with the other - and I haven't seen them within the IRRS. Maybe Seagoebox might have some info? (As an aside, Senior himself had many a testy conversation with Amiens Street's accountant's department when trying to get a decent budget in the 1950s to upgrade the track between Dundalk and Clones. He wanted to put down concrete sleepers along it, but was only able to put down a very short test section. I have forgotten exactly where he told me, but it was somewhere between Iniskeen and Ballybay....) Back to the J15s; I love these models. I agree that it's a pity they don't come DCC-ready, but they are such an indispensible part of the railway scene just about anywhere on the southern half of this island that it's actually surprising they were never done before. Hats off to Roderick & Rebecca for both versions. I have three; tempted to get a 4th. I also had already a SSM kit made up professionally from before that. Very nice model finished, but not happy with sharper curves. A layout pre-1963, south of a line from Dublin to Galway, simply cannot be credible without J15s, in the same way you couldn't do a layout based on the West of Ireland in the 1950s without AEC railcars, or in modern times without ICRs. (Only exception for J15s being Wisht Caark where they never trod...).

That's the one. It was narrow gauge as far as Cork, but the Enniskillen bit gradually widened out along the way. Now THAT is nice. Perhaps you might send me a pic of it without the label for the Loughrea book? Looks in nice condition..... Sean Browne has another in Castlerea.

This is just outstanding.

I like that!! Would make an excellent layout!

Mine was a teenage doodle - still repeated today on the back of newspapers, envelopes and odd bits of paper..... it envisages that the one-time proposal to build the Achill line to 3ft gauge was in fact carried out. From just west of Mulrany (Mallaranny to the MGWR), at Owenduff, there was a line striking north across a long stone viaduct over Bellacragher Bay (this was indeed also proposed at one time). This headed north through Ballycroy to bangor Erris, where it joined an also-proposeed line from Ballina, via Crossmolina, to Belmullet line. It also had a 3ft gauge line running parallel with the 5 fut 3 down to Westport Quay. A large 3ft gauge system. In my idea, it's the 1960s. CIE have transferred in a motley selection of whatever dregs were left over in Ennis and Ballinamore, where they mingle with stuff acquired from the closed CDR, and whatever was left of the indigenous "West Mayo Railway" stock, the latter giving licence for scratchbuilding. Being the 1960s.... has anyone ever seen photos of 3ft gauge 121s, as operating in several places in places like Central America? They existed; may still do. So, what's running on this system were the last two ex-T&D 2.6.0Ts, as there were kits available. There's also the last West Mayo loco available as a back up - a Swilly-type 4.8.0 or something like that. Maybe a 4.6.2. The three "F" class locos and these, plus maybe three x 3ft gauge 121s share goods trains, and let's say that there is heavy turf traffic too from near Newport - again, this actually did nearly happen. Passenger services are shared by another couple of 121s hauling the West Clare railcar trailers and the rebuilt C&L coach 1L - modern stuff at the time - with perhaps a couple of old T&D coaches rescued from the C & L. Mostly, though, it will be assumed that the 4 West Clare railcars went up there in 1961, to join another 4 they already had, plus Donegal 19 & 20. There were kits avilable of these things. All in all, had history been slightly different, and Todd Andrews emigrated to Wyoming at age 15, a quite plausible set up. Sadly, life got in the way then, some fifty five years ago, as it still does; but the doodles keep being re-hashed on a slow day. Must do one now.

I think clean, fresh NCC maroon would have looked well on any loco!

Thank you, Tractionman, much appreciated. Barry and I have taken all four in this series to Colourpoint due to the standard of their production. The folks there always do an excellent job. I'll probably send my next (solo) effort to them too.

Ah, sure that’s the Jenn-you-wine Belfast, Canada & Edinburgh Rail-Road…….

Disgusting. Auction houses sometimes are accessories to fraud. This monstrosity is somewhat less genuine than a rancid cabbage posing as an Elizabethan wardrobe. Even a non-railway auctioneer will be well aware that this was 3D printed by Billy Bob in his kitchen a few Fridays ago. I'd be half inclined to contact the auctioneer and tell them that............. and of course, it has to have a "1916" in it too.

In all reality, one of these with a “snail” would be the rarest. They were only a few years old when the GNR ceased to be, and by the time most were due a repaint, the snail was history. So, the only ones to ever get snails would have to have been repainted by CIE between 1959 and early 1963. And for our kit-makers-up, yes, the GNR painted the chassis grey just as much as CIE!

Won't open here either.........

Many thanks, Leslie and Noel, much appreciated. The GNR bagged cement wagons, I can attest, did indeed survive not only into "broken wheel" times, but also the latter-day (1970-6) brown livery with broken wheel. I saw several thus - one, I recall, at Templemore, another in Rock St goods yard in Tralee. Both brown - therefore, they would obviously have also been grey before that! So, you can have GNR grey, flying snail grey, broken wheel grey and broken wheel brown, if so inclined!

Yes, you can. Pick a day when you've a maximum timetable, get the first steam down and back, then the horse tram up to Derby Castle (electric railway terminus); tram to Laxey, then return from there up to Snaefell, and tram on to Ramsey. Depending on timetable, you might have to get a bus (or even taxi!) back to Douglas, but you would have covered it all in a day. Any time I've been there, though, I have usually just taken one day on one, another day on the other. What I did the first day I was there a month ago, was hop on a Douglas-bound steam train outside the airport, headed up to Douglas, and did a return to Ramsey on the electric line (in pouring rain!). Magical, superb.......... On a 1973 trip when jhb171Senior was alive, he observed that "this is just like the Donegal"....... which he had travelled on before railcars were much of a "thing" there..........

Yes, it sold out some time ago. And following this launch, "West" will probably do so too. Last I heard, the publisher had about a dozen.

Coincidentally, I got a delivery today too, mainly for the launch, including what I think are the very last 5 copies of "Rails Through the West". So, at the launch, I will have them, plus Wexfords and Tipperarys, and some Connemaras and Achills. Hope you enjoy it, Darius!

Tis a truly fascinating railway. I went over a month ago and spent the whole day going up and down on different trains......... happy to do it all over again any time!

Wow!! That was quick!

Correct, right, accurate and true.................... Looking forward to the "Provincial" version! Saw one in Rock St yard in Tralee in the mid 1970s and you could still make out the large "G" of the "G N" under the CIE grey paint.................