DiveController

The newly purchased GM EMD B129 in its original grey and yellow livery is unlikely to have been the 'station pilot'. The quality isn't perfect as you say, but I think that's a TPO behind the loco so maybe Galway Up Mail. Second looks like Gleensk Viaduct on the ring of Kerry (Farranfore to Valencia Line)

They probably just wandered in, attracted to bobbys-bits

Popular as these were there are some folks looking for ORANGE bubbles now

1979 https://www.flickr.com/photos/126254131@N05/32490822426/in/album-72157675871216914/ The following 3101-series 4w heating vans were still in traffic in 1979: 3104, 3114, 3116, 3118, 3123 ...although all were gone by 1981

And who said they weren't as popular. Maybe they'll do a re-run of three more with new numbers! good luck

Just some info regarding Marks Models exporting outside the EU. I have purchased from them before and they WILL (or did) refund the VAT if you email them (better in advance). Yes they SHOULD be able to do that automatically so that you know what you're paying up front but c'st la vie

Yes, please and thank you

Maybe some photos of the Guinness keg wagon for those who can't make the show?

The coach in the third photos is one of the 2972-2978 series TPOs built c. 1958 so maybe the up Galway mail train. Last shot shows the vacuum pipe and the multiple unit working cables plugging in by the double marker lights on each loco. Mayner's J15 has the original double smokebox doors

This thread is Bargain Watch. I suggest we have one called Wallet Watch for stuff like this?

A bunch of pallet vans of different varieties would enhance that even more

Like this era and before

Same era as Edo 1950-1980 south. I''ll commit to at least 6

That will fit in my preferred era very nicely That would certainly add to the appeal of these van, different ends and doors types. I might need a few more of them if those are options!! Doors open, would be fantastic nears the goods shed/yard with a fork lift which is how they were loaded with pallets as I recall

What would have been the motive power on those? MGWR cattle engine? Did they ever need an udder loco, i.e. double headed cattle?

The older livery with the broad white stripe is the better of the two liveries IMO

No one else doing this era Leslie so I'll take a short rakes as usual. When did they Palvans first come into traffic?

The class 52 has fairly long lives maybe not to the end of southern steam but certainly into the late 50s. Not sure if I missed the announcement but I'd take a Class 52 also. The L class had pleasing distinctive look with that flyaway cab.

@RailerA copy of Carse's book is essential reading so to speak. Copy the ISBN and occasionally stick it into google. Amazon can occasionally be a good source but I have sometimes found Book Depository or more likely Abebooks to be a better source. You can create a 'Want' if they don't have what you're after. I misplaced my copy of Locomotives of the GSR (acquired on eBay at a very reasonable cost, well, I thought so anyway) and it had been driving me demented. Best offerings were at $965 or some such price on Amazon. Placed a 'Want' on Abebooks and was lucky to get an email within a week for an excellent copy for $40 including tax (no idea why I had to pay that but very acceptable under the circumstances). Winging its way from the UK. Botts booksellers has a lot of old transport material but they like to charge a bit over the odds in some circumstances but nothing like that referred to above.

Slow and steady it has to be without a banking engine

The lack of suitable track remains an impediment to building any thing in 21mm. I think modelers would be inclined to do loco and stock conversions (and even that can be a little tedious), but building your own track is mostly for smaller layouts for all except a few modelers I expect

I also have no personal experience of these locomotives but Hirsch & Doyle's 1979 book quotes that tractive efforts of the A class as only 46,000 lb/f with the EMD 12-645 when downrated to 1325hp from 1650hp to improve reliability of the associated auxiliary components. This suggest they pulled well regardless of the installed engine (when operative). The C class of course were vey underpowered with the original engine but actually would have been very decent locos when re-engined and upgraded to Class B (800-1100 hp) locomotives

I'm not sure if I misunderstood you, Leslie. You're saying the Metrovick A class were poor pullers with a tractive effort of 55,000 lb/f? I believe that was with the original Crossley HSTV8 (reliability aside) but open to correction if that that was subsequently with the EMD re-engine.

Conclusion may be flawed: surely to stop the hand from slipping and spilling any adjacent pints of Guinness! (I can just imagine some of the replies now...... , like this poor guy whose hand has slipped)

Wouldn't be so bad if the CBSCR 'model' railway was still outside your window, but alas!