DiveController

That has been said repeatedly about the models and I'd say IRM's success has more than once proven that point. However, it's not going to happen with an assessment of there being 'handful' of interested 21mm gauge modelers that are seemingly those more adept at modeling. In that train of thought, they rest of us would benefit having rtr 21mm track. It's a shame really that Irish modeling will for the majority remain stuck on British outline track but I suppose that's life.

Noel, is there a series of these intended on different lines and if so which ones and over the same time period?

1972.... Incontrovertible evidence of red springs in Mk2s in as delivered condition https://www.flickr.com/photos/152343870@N07/49629548148/in/faves-77496544@N07/ @Lough Erne If you have any photos of the Cravens plea share and thanks for your post above

and the signage on the warehouse advertising asbestos slates!... another time

Normally not prowling this section of the forum too much but the Royal Scot is a smashing machine. Superb video!

You never know! Maybe a little IRM person pops out at stops to take loco measurements (but only on preserved As)

You're right and I had been looking for that to check and definitely yellow springs. SO do we dare say that there were some components on CIE coaching stock like NIR that did not specifically fit into the single under frame and bogies color rule as seemed to be the case with freight? I do love that livery and we do need at least more more example as that's 7140 again, but I expect that they did exist like this and it was lost in pictures in service tbh. The coach washes covered the area above the platform pretty well but I'm not certain how well they cleaned off the under frame areas with a mix of grease brake dust and God know what else.

Full disclosure, 7140 is 'on trial' with 188 and 7602 from Inchicore to Ballybrophy before entering service but is specially captioned as" the last of the first batch" and "the finished article" by the author Michael McMahon. All that said, it is hard to find examples of Mk3 with any colors showing on the bogies in service (if anyone has some, please post). Likewise if you look at the NIR Mk2 stock in the 1970s the known colored details are substantially muted in color within a few months of entering service When IRM first did their models I have to say that I like seeing the CADs highlighting with different colors the component feature of the wagons, sadly all gone now with no end user input wanted (or needed I suspect)

Normally we'd be asking for a pic in evidence but since its in a book, page 90 of my Rambler certainly has what appears to be springs in red if its not rust but I'm struggling with yellow on the Mk3 springs to be honest EDIT: Looks like you're right Phil. Brand new Mk3 7140 in Intercity colors p98 does indeed appear to have yellow springs

Theres a painted sign at the Ballinhassig platform now on private property, not the original, not sure what happened to that

The recent announcement of the NIR coaching stock reminded me that springs etc were painted in different colors to the bogie itself as far as back as the 70s whereas in my minds eye I see this as as a post millennium development. Probably not on CIE though where everything was pretty uniform at that time.

Actually now that I think of it I believe @Arran C-Rail was thinking of doing this container a few years ago based on a discussion on RMweb as they obviously ran in GB also. Not sure if there were/are plans to market it

may it would be legible if they turned it upside down or maybe there's a job for @jhb171achill in it? So the shipment from NZ is just stuck there? Oh JHC!

@Dhu Varren David, those drawings are EXACTLY what I was looking for and extremely detailed and helpful. I guess you used these when you did your own splendid rake of NIR MK2s in the past. Many thanks, Kevin

Does anyone have any info on the internal layout of 547 RB which was initially 21S then 22S when converted. Looks like the first 3 bays were seating but how was this laid out? Was there a full kitchen to prepare meals in the remainder and a side corridor? Incidentally what is a Restaurant Buffet coach in NIR term or is that supposed to be a Restaurant Bar coach? Iirc wasn't there in seat dining with table side service at one point or was that provided in the FO coach

Just so modelers of an earlier era don't feel like that have been left wanting for choice, here's another 'golden oldie' so to speak. There is a model but unfortunately it's HO by Walthers. Anyway, A12 heading cross border from BELFAST with an orange cement bubble and ...... (c) John McKegney on Flickr Manchester Liners switched to container traffic in the late 1960s but declined in the 70s due to competition from larger container companies and industrial disputes in the UK and was absorbed intimately into OOCL c. 1988

Did you mean a CIE MK1 generator would not fly? If anything has been learned form the MM MK2ds I would say that a loco hauled train not providing HEP always requires a generator van no matter how few coaches are being hauled even on a short branch (with a few obvious exceptions of course)

Thanks @jhb171achill. So in essence designed for Enterprise use only with one or more of the DBSOs in use as standard coaching stock when topped-n-tailed with the unused coaches in the sidings in the winter months.

Just looking at the original NIR Mk2 stock from 1970 before the addition of the Mk2c stock in 1972. A restaurant, FO, four SO but TWO DBSOs. Why 2 driving trailers in this 1970-1972 period? The composition is great for an 7* coach enterprise drawn by or double headed by the new Hunslets with a trailing DBSO which would make the second DBSO redundant except maybe for servicing? Did the second DBSO also run to strengthen the rake in any case? OR Did they run two shorter 3-5 coach trains like on the winter service either with restaurant & FO or without? This would provide purpose for the second DBSO. Was there an increased frequency of these shorter trains and was that on the Belfast-Dublin route, or did the second formation go further afield say to Derry in that early? OR Was the second DBSO acquired to just run with something else entirely (I realize 811 was converted to run with 80- class but not until 1988)

I suppose you'll be expecting a Dutch Van to go with that??

Probably with a chip off the old block

Misinterpreted the year in the late night as it does look a few decades more modern than that with the 071 in retro livery ( I have amended my original post)

Difficult angle I know but looks like a 40' box ...... Ballina to North Wall Dublin at Glasnevin (c) Darren Hall on Flickr

@iarnrod The table you posted will give you most of what your need. Something very similar in Jonathan's Allen's 35 years of the NIR 1967-2002. If you let me know your modeling era and need more info I'm happy to look it up and send to you if you PM me. Many of the 800 numbered stock disappeared fairly early either physically or were renumbered into the 900 series with newer stock

I agree. And since the bogies are part of the lighting system. I have a lot of MM coaches that I'd like to be able to reguage, which may be overshadowed shortly by IRM bogie stock and coaches. That would leave the Baby GMs of which there are many Thank God the As will be easier In order to keep the number position on the coach correct, it might be possible to obliterate the original number with a black decal over the stripe followed by the number over that. Not sure if you would need to seal between each layer of decal.