GSR 800

That explains the line-up at Connolly yesterday morning! Two 201s and an 071 on shed, a rare sight there these days.

Just spotted her stabled at Mullingar with loco this morning.

I've always quite liked the bubbles, even if they only squeak into my era of interest. Quite shocked she's the last one left so likewise, donated!

David, Looked at the email again and you're quite right! Don't know how I got the wires crossed with that! Post duly edited!

I swapped out the B1 wheelset for the (6'6) Princess Royal Wheelset as the loco had lost a good bit of pulling power with the smaller wheels. With Princess Royal wheels, this problem was solved. GSWR 4-4-0s had 6'7 wheels, whereas the Claud Hamiltons had 7ft drivers. 6'8 or 6'9 would be the likely choice if one felt like going for the larger GSWR machines, with 6'6 for the lower end compromise. Regarding 4-4-0s to 4-4-2s I've recently seen a 3d conversion advertised of the Bulleid conversion of a Q1 to the proposed 0-6-2 tank variant that he had proposed before moving onto proto leader designs. They've designed the bunker and faux chassis + slot for the bogie to seemingly slot onto the back of the Hornby Q1 model (and glued into place). https://mademe.co.uk/product/never-built-range-q1-tank-oo/

Has Accurascale a bit of a collab going on perhaps?

Beat me to it!

Anything outside in Mullingar has been vandalised. Many of the carriages in the shed (now at Maam) likewise, because the railway terrace is a ruin. There's a hole in the fence right before the Newbrook Road bridge you reference. A forlorn looking graffitied Palvan(?) at Mullingar. The Mk3 would be similarly graced rapido. Inchicore would be the only place, this is where the RPSI craven set is stored.

I heard it was a very mooving sermon..

There was a fella from the north, spoke fast and quiet, I was almost certain he was french at the start!

Was at loco overhaul last I'd seen her.

Very handsome model! Excellent work all around.

I'd be inclined to align quite closely, Mol! Midland represent! I think I'd go with a G2 myself, though as rebuilt. I think the crews would thank me! Regarded as the 'best' MGWR locomotives, they are surely the most fit to represent the company in preservation.

Might have said something else too.

@Mayner has mentioned similar before as a proposal under the GSR. MGWR trains would've run to Kingsbridge instead of Westland Row. The impact of this would be quite interesting, depending on where the line departed. One wonders if it would have prevented the changeover of Western services to the GSWR route to Athlone in the 70s