jhb171achill

Corrugateds and flats now ordered. There's going to have to be a car dealer somewhere near Dugort Harbour which will keep the flats busy with incoming Ford Populars all the way from Caark, boy. Interesting point; as referred to before, and also in connection with the NCC's two second hand "jintys"*, it is seeming clearer and clearer that a wagon (or loco or presumably coach) does not at all have to be "mainstream" to warrant production. Thus, the idea that "you'd never sell those" takes a big hit in many an example. Mainstream items sorely missing now are timber-bodied bogies - many of which were very long lived into the 1970s - and tin vans and AEC railcars. I'm saving up.

1. The view of E429 - where exactly is that? 2. "....linked to the old Cork & Blackrock railway..." - No! While it's close to where the original broad gauge City Quay terminus of the BROAD gauge Cork, Blackrock & Passage line was, it was never "linked" to it; what I suspect they mean is that it's linked to the former Cork and BANDON railway line. Newspapers, eh...........!

The “snail” era was up to 1963 but many, many wagons of this type wouldn’t have had a repaint until long after that. All wagons were grey then and well into the “roundel” era. The “broken wheel” roundel started appearing in 1963, and the brown livery after 1970, by which time the “black’n’tan” era was in its end days! With the “supertrain” livery first appearing in 1972, they’re fine for that purpose on a 1970s layout as well!

Now THIS has me looking at the Oxford Diecast (1960s) cars website!

I like your train of thought!

…..and one of those very early multi-coloured sixties excursions on the northern line, in which certainly no two coaches were alike. As well as ex-GNR stock, both steel and timber panelled, you could get a number of types of old GSWR vehicles - low and high roof, corridor and non-corridor; Bredins, Park Royals, brand new tin vans… and within one train, CIE green, black & tan, GNR navy & cream, GNR brown, and (very dirty) silver! And this, boys and girls, is the reason why if the black’n’tan era was more varied and interesting than (post 1972) “modern image”, the pre-1962 grey’n’green era is more interesting still! Plus of course, both steam and diesel working side by side.

“Anyone for the last few choc ices?”

Excellent news! Well done IRM - again!

Indeed; with the rise of mid-right-wing, never mind wacko hard right in many countries, I think the age of decent properly funded public transport may be entering its last days, unfortunately - along with all manner of other public services. That would lead to an American-style model for society in general; the first significant step backwards in overall society in the history of mankind. But a big debate for another forum, another day. Regarding Irish public transport, expect to see cans kicked further and further down longer roads.

Very true. Adare at the very least. Mind you, as a regular traveller on the Killarney to Limerick road, I can see the same congestion as far back as Newcastle West. Arguably a case for reinstating it back there too. I can well see that being an excuse; but they manage it at Killarney without any difficulty..... so there IS precedent.

The place never quite recovered from the 1919 nuclear bomb, when Mission Control Kilgarvan was attacked by the Black and Tans...........! Good news is I've got a grass applicator now....

Darius, your output is amazing, as are your models. I'm assuming you've found the secret of how to include 32 hours in a day, nine days in one week, and 18 months in a year!

At exhibitions I've seen the concept of a small shunting layout - coupled with a double-ended railcar or railbus going back and forth on an automatic shuttle - deployed very successfully. So, shunt away with the loco and a few trucks, while continuous interest is shown by an arriving and departing short passenger train - railbus, 2-car railcar set, or some sort of push-pull contraption. A CIE era one - easy. 2-car AEC goes back and forth - call it a "mini-Bantry" while a shunter potters about with vans. I'm actually considering one of the above shunters for Dugort Harbour, on the basis that its owned by the harbour commissioners, not CIE. Another option is to have it pottering about Castletown West, on the basis that there's an Allmans-type brewery somewhere in the fiddle yard, and this thing appears once a day to meet the (CIE) goods, to swop vans for the distillery, then it toddles off into the background. Mind you, a "G" is probably a better option, though Silverfox apparently don't make them any more. Question - are these locos suitable for DCC?

Excellent idea. And - being originally an industrial, it was delivered looking as above, i.e. in manufacturers livery, not a railway livery. And it stayed that way - the GSR just put numberplates on it and never painted it grey - it wasn’t “important” enough! Mind you, it seems never to have been cleaned either - spent its life so filthy it could have been pink for all anyone knew! Perfect loco, in terms of both affordability, practicality and authenticity, for a small Albert Quay-to-dockside shunting layout. One of these and a dozen Provincial Leslie goods vans, and away ye go!

You can do pre-immigration checks quite conveniently online at Www.Murphys.ie True

NOW ye're talking!

....and theirein lies the problem. Modern governments have every incentive to think short-term, and no incentive to think long-term; and even that's assuming that the gobdaws and gombeen men we elect are even capable of rational, intelligent thought.

2042???? Are they seriously having a laugh? Any other country would have built 200km of track between now and then. Well, any that the (UK) Conservatives weren't involved with, anyway - or Fine Gael Fail. TWENTY YEARS to deliver a few miles of track largely along an existing alignment!!!

Very good thinking!

Probably depends what era you want. For the modern era, various British railcars re-liveried to resemble something Irish. A British 66 repainted as a 201. Some sort of generic railcar iof it can be got cheap, reliveried in ICR livery. Just about any container flats painted brown. For the black'n'tan era, old BR Mk 1 or Mk 2 repainted black'n'tan. A locomotive would be a challenge, as nothing outside Ireland that's available at all, let alone cheap, even begins to resemble an Irish diesel loco - but there are always old Tri-ang 101 class British railcars which can be repainted - these were common on omain lines in the 60s (and before, but we'll come to that). Again, various BR box vans and open wagons, remove decals, paint chassis and body grey or brown, and away ye go. Container flats too. For the grey'n'green (steam) era, there are now repaints of British steam locos available. There's a common and inexpensive 0.6.oT which bears a good resemblance to a MGWR "E" / GSR J26; and any amount of old British 4.4.0s or 0.6.0s which given a lick of paint can pass for Irish. If repainting a British one to look Irish, essential the livery is right, as if it isn't, becvause the original thing isn't Irish, it won't look Irish! If grey, dark grey not light, and grey smokebox and chimney too; green flying snail on tender, yellow cabside number. Tank engines never had snails. Anything bigger than a 2.6.0 maybe in lined green or unlined black. Snails always green - never yellow or white! For coaching stock, the good news is that the hattons six wheelers are on their way and they won't be expensive. But if even cheaper is wanted, go for old BR Mk 1s or LMS stock and repaint them green to resemble then-new laminates. Wagons - easy - any old opens or vans or cattle trucks - all grey prior to 1970. Hopefully that's a brief summary. Always good to start off small, and no two of us have the same level of budget, so there has to be something for everyone! Good luck!

Never knew of LNER connection! Any more details? I've a vague recollction of seeing it derelict somewhere......

…..and the answer there would be yes, but very rarely, and probably one-offs. As I mentioned, Loughrea saw one at least once being used to strengthen the branch set (of one coach!), plus on mystery trains occasionally. Normally, strengthening that set meant an old laminate.

..... Now I need my smelling salts!

Not the right shade of blue, and the lining isn't quite right.................................. nicely weathered, though........

GM's are always a pleasure. Not like Crossleys.