DiveController

Is there any possibility you could post up the pages on the parcel vans and the TPOs &tenders from that era please? @jhb171achill

Get that 121!

The 201s may be 'trash' now given how much things have moved on (in terms of running quality, DCC, sound etc). People have a tendency to forget the era in which things became available. The iPhone has only been around for a decade but it feels like they have always been there. Nope, remember that junk flip phone or PDAs that were the ultimate thing at the time (versus the call box and rolodex). The fetched very high prices at one time for that reason. As for the prices, once again, no one here very likely to be interested in this auction and if so I'm sure they have a search saved on eBay

That's a shame to have a repository that large that's only available to those within reasonable geographical striking distance. The online folder is restricted to IRRS members only

The author appears to be Michael Patterson, although the book does not have an ISBN and seems to be a print and publish as indicated above. Any new material on the closed railways is better in print than lost and although the photos are a little small and the book is maybe not of a completely similar standard to that produced by a larger professional printer, it has merit especially to those who might be familiar with that area. There is nothing wrong with my copy. One could argue that Colm Creedon's books are kind of a mess but it doesn't mean I don't have a copy of those too. Its a collection of reminiscences of the locals near the end of the railway https://beneathesummergrowth.wordpress.com I don't know if it is still in stock. This may be where I go try copy at some point ( I don't recall) https://www.modelvillage.ie/product/the-railways-of-west-cork-reflections-reminiscences/ The NLI has copy http://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000735162

I should have posted this in Photos & Videos of the prototype: If it could be moved easily by a moderator that would be appreciated: When CIE began its coaching stock replacement program in the early 1950s, it continued the traditional wooden coach building employed by the GSR and its predecessors. Over the decades, the length of coaches built by these companies had gradually increased from 4w to 6w coaches, then bogie stock on 45', 50', 57' and eventually 60' underframes by the 1940s. Other than the earliest composites built in 1951, the standard length chassis was then increased to 61'6" and remained at that length for decades to follow. The GSR style under frame and bogies were still used, until Bulleid's triangulated underframe and laminated panel construction began with the construction of a large fleet of Park Royal coaches in 1955. This continued with the Cravens fleet that followed. For years compartment/corridor coaches had dominated coach building until 1953 when the first centre open coaches for half a century were built as intermediates for the AEC railcars introduced in 1951. These 64 seat centre aisle open coaches had tables and a window shared by 4 seats. This is a nice 3/4 shot from a Flickr member whom photographed a fair number of important CIE coaches in the early 80s near the end of their working lives. 1356-71 series CIE Open Standard No. 1361 (1953) originally turned out by Inchicore in pre-1955 CIE green but after 30 years of service is seen in post 1963 BnT with single white stripe below the cantrail, Cork 1982 CIE 1356-71 series Standard Class Open (1953) No. 1368, Tralee, 1984 (note vertically extended lap window arrangement)

Another lovely view of 2550 but no help with regards to the dimensional issues 2549-58 series luggage van 2550 at Thurles Feb 1960, I think this is the one attached to the rear of 2554 above http://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000304885

I like your logic, John, regarding the lookout and the doors. What were the actual maximum dimensions of the Irish loading gauge? Regardless of the discrepancy, thanks to all who replied. I realize that your contributions take time to research and post.

I would be most interested in two of a full kit for the 2549-2558 series vans which were the widest vans at 10' wide the others being 9'6" or less at 9'3" @Mayner. This profile best represent the 1950s prototypical look. Interestingly when I looked at Doyle and Hirsch's book on rolling stock I was surprised to find the the 2549 series are on 60' frame even though we had talked about the new 616 vans above! Can anyone confirm from another source(s)

Full Luggage/Parcel van (rtr needed) Cravens (available (ish)) Side Corridor Composite (desperately needed, one of my favorites!) 1950s 64s open Standard (also desperately needed) Another laminate (but running out of pixels) Fewer pixels but with with running boards A freaking CAD geeks paradise if you're running short of inspiration ( I know you're probably short of time) PS there's a separate thread for luggage parcel brakes above, any more info on TPOS? (Yes, I know I introduced the subject above)

You need to be careful when you're using The (Parcel) Force. Had you used The Force correctly you would have know how to e-Vader

Apparently it's a freebie when you purchase 2 or more rolling stock in an orange livery

Took me a few minutes to figure out why it referred to them as the new 616 vans in the O' Dea collection, the new 61'6" chassis length 2562-2591 series (1973) bogie full Luggage/Brake Van 2583 at Dublin Connolly in 1986. Twenty-three were built from earlier passenger coaches (maybe 1449 laminates looking the window configuration and rebuild required but that's just a guess). Introduced in 1973 presumably to carry the Fastrak traffic referred to by John (above)

Amazing job, @flange lubricator, it's the same van! And here's another, the 2559-2561 trio were modified from GSR built coaches of the 1930s and put into traffic in 1971, same capacity as the others "6 tons evenly distributed", GSR boxes (cf. the O' Dea photo with Commonwealth bogies) 2560, Cork 1982

While discussing the bogie TPOs of the 1950-90 period on another thread, it seemed appropriate that the full bogie luggage vans that often ran with them (and in many other train formation) should have their own thread. No doubt they have discussed many times and in many places on the fora over the years 2549-58 series bogie full Luggage/Brake Van 2554 (1960) Dublin Connolly, 1988 with side lookout

You were able to defend your product there without the help of anyone in the audience but more importantly, who the lad making off with the beer keg?

Thanks to both of you, please post if you have any further info/photos. And since you mentioned the 2549 series luggage vans, sure, may as well post that too! (.... incidentally the TPO at the end is a 2979-81) Luggage Brake Van 2549 (1960 Inchicore) at Connolly , 1988 ....looks like one of the windows may have been sheeted over unless it just that light. There were several other converted from 1930s GSR-built coaches in the early seventies (.... I should really start a different thread shouldn't I?)

The only problem with that photo is that the second coach (in lined green) is not a TPO to my mind but if you've seen the green paint as you said above (duly noted the first iteration) please do post that photo if you have one when able. TIA I'm not sure if this is the 2952-2954 45' Bogie TPO 2954 (1950 Ex-GSWR non-corridor gas-lit conversion) Athenry c.1961 (it's not mine, Ernie's if I remember correctly)

You're right @BSGSV. When I spoke above about some obviously being green at some point, I was thinking of the trailing coach in that train which is NOT a 2972-8 series TPO and more likely a full brake which often ran with them. So now having established they ran in the silver livery I'm in search of a photo showing them (bogie TPOs) in green. Some older 6w TPOs ran in green but it's hard to find color pictures of them in either livery in the usual books or online. Search now continues for green.

Where the work happened in 2977... Roof lights replaced by fluorescent lighting

So what do you think of this O Dea Picture of 2974, last of the 'silver' (if they were introduced in 1958 in silver) in 1962? @jhb171achill @Mayner http://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000305952 (Struggling find anything in color from that era anywhere on the net) Another 1959, definitely no EDN stripe http://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000304426

That's right , they were obviously green at some point. Those ones would normally have had an EDN stripe. Were there any that didn't? In all probability I'm thinking this one probably is in silver, albeit probably in less than pristine condition, not as bright as the line side silver signal post but definitely no stripe, Galway Mail, Mullingar 1962 http://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000305952 We know two 4w sorting vans were in silver but sure and I'm wondering id the bogie TPOs were the same for a period

So was enamel the problem as JasonB suggested? On the up side there are many examples of stock where the lettering is faded overall or individual letters are faded or missing!

That's interesting that you said that @BSGSV as I considered the O' Dea photos might be in silver livery but looked dull relative to lineside silver signal posts etc. I didn't notice an eau-de-nil stripe though and if they were the P&T signage is even lighter than the vans. I would be good if anyone could clarify that TPO liveries at that time. When 2977 was delivered to NI it came in green as the property of An Post but quite possible that livery was a promotional livery added only after the BnT era