jhb171achill

In these PC days, we're not allowed to say "leprechauns" any more. We have to say "custodians of pots of gold". Besides, they've mostly moved to Abohill and Glenfarne.

Think I'll crop it, or possibly do it like the covers of the "Rails Through....." series - with a top and bottom photo. The other would have to be either steam, or a G!

That's a leprechaun container. There was a colony of them near Belcoo.

Update; off to the publisher now. just the captions for the illustrations to do (a tiresome task, if truth be told!). Possible cover picture:

Thanks, GSR! Please PM me with details.

I think I may already know the answer to this one, but just in case; I have a number of brass coach kits, unmade. Mostly SSM stuff. My eyesight is simply not up to putting these together, let alone detailed lining on them. I am not getting any younger. Like most of us here, I'm aware of a number of folks who will make these up for a suitable cost - but all that I have asked are either too busy to take on any more, or no longer taking on commissions. I had been in touch with someone in England too, who seems no longer available either. I am also aware that for those who can take on such commissions, the lead-in times run into years and years..... as these folks have other lives to lead too, no doubt! So, my question is - does anyone know a builder of these types of kits who might be in a position to complete about half a dozen carriages for me, in a realistic timescale?

Only seeing this now. The only diesels which regularly needed turntables were, of course, the 121s. A 45 foot table is more than adequate for these, plus the majority of Irish steam locos. Many rural stations had turntables of standard 40 foot or 45 foot diameter. In my current meandering researches on Loughrea and Kenmare, I note that tables of this sort of dimension were the norm in Loughrea, Attymon, Headford Junction, Kenmare - and, for that matter, many other places like them. If you plan to make one I will also be interested.

True!

Only €45,000. Buyer collects. €5,876.12 in brexit charges added.

Nope!

Dark green 1945-55, with some examples remaining longer. Light green 1955-62. Black’n’tan 1962 onwards. Most six-wheelers in traffic by 1960 were repainted light green. ALL passenger-carrying six wheelers were withdrawn by 1963, so none got B’n’T. However, a few six-wheeled full vans (3 or at most 4) survived into the late 60s, gaining BnT. This is why only the van is offered in this livery.

And there was me offering €25,000 for it because a man told me it was a genuine ancient Egyptian Ming dynasty Victorian Snail-Splicer, almost 4,000 years old.

It would have had a departmental number ending in “A”. I’ve a note of it somewhere, it’s in the form of something like 543A.

Also a good base for low-lying scenery, if it's moulded into shape and covered in grass.

PM sent

With the layout inoperable at the moment due to a large amount of stuff stored temporarily in the layout room, I have to content myself with a few posed shots. Over two ten-year gaps, we see the quieter midday train from Dugort Harbour to Castletown West. First, a clean 170 departs one summer day in 1954. Next, in summer 1964 we see the same service stabled a few hours before departure at the old cattle bank. The coach and van have yet to be repainted black’n’tan, but at least there’s a brand new 141 up front. By 1974, it’s a single 121, brake standard and van. Here, the driver prepares to shunt the set to the platform.

My understanding is that he has other commitments and will reply as he gets a chance. I last got stuff from him about 18 months ago and he replied thre and then when I emailed him.

Shows the all-over grey being relatively clean....!

Well done - richly deserved! I daresay they will do a 2nd edition, so worth contacting them in case you had any new info you'd want to add if they were to be doing a 2nd print run.

All of those coaches were full compartment, i.e. no walk through at all anywhere - full width matchboarded partitions, like the vast majority of 6 wheelers elsewhere also.

Yes, as I explored one long-defunct one. The woodwork of the interior was painted a brownish colour up to roof height, with ceiling in off-white. If it's a third, upholstery - such as it was - seems to have been a dark browny-red colour. if second - I could be wrong on tghis but I think it was dark blue or somethiong of that sort. First was a dark flowery pattern, with greens and black predominant. Third class compartments had a mstchboarded interior, and probably seconds the same. First may have had better panelling, not sure. I doubt very much if the UTA ever re-upholstered any of them. The vast majority were scrapped some 18 months after gaining the privilege of UTA ownership. However, never say never; IF any were re-upholstered by the UTA, the cushions would have been dark green.

I hope so. In truth, every single thing on railway wheels which had succeeded them (and apologies for being an ancient bore), interests me somewhat (ok, a lot) less than a 1979 washing machine which doesn’t work….. So, while I prefer 141/121s, B101s, and (better still) steam; 071s appeared in my late teens, so I still see them as “new” engines…….

If powered by hydrogen, brocolli juice, fairy dust or eco-friendly, zero emissions, organic and vegan pigeon eyelashes, or powered by zen-approved spirituality or PC-friendly, and fully inclusive interpretative dance; these locomotives have OTHER components which are, ehh, entering the twilight of their lives.

It worked on a different computer, so was able to see it!

OUTSTANDING stuff!!!