GSR 800

Same as myself!

I wouldn't surprise me in the slightest regarding poor paint prep. I've seen a freshly painted 071 in its nice freight grey livery. Upon closer inspection, the paint had certainly covered everything, including lumps of dirt and filth which hadn't even been cleaned off the bogies!

Update from Roger: I'm making progress on downscaling the 7mm artwork to the smaller scale ready for the etchers. Bending allowances, hole sizes and support tag sizes have all to be altered for the smaller scale so you'll have to bear with me a little longer so that we get everything absolutely correct. The etches will be in .012" brass and hopefully we shall be able to release the J18/19, the Brake/Third and the all-Third together.

No.68 made it as far as Mullingar in 1988...

I think its there, if you look behind the centre wheel you'll see the far one in shadow on its left

I wonder which one it is? Personally, being one of the younger modellers here (mid 20s) I do find the current pace of releases to be somewhat overwhelming. I suppose some of that is down to delays on certain projects, meaning the land closer to others, and ofc IRM does have payment options that lessen the burden, but I digress. For me, with 800s and PRs landing in the same year as ICRs, Hunslets, maroon Mk2s, etc. The priority is going to be the models in my period of interest. If it were more spaced out, I'd be more inclined to buy one of them all. Ditto with the MM Dart + if it comes this year. I'm aware how mad it sounds to complain about the wealth of Irish models coming online in short order, something we never thought would happen, but it does seem to be supply outstripping demand rn. So a slowdown might give the market some breathing space to absorb the supply. I wonder what the comparison of tooling cost of railcars against locomotives and regular coaches? I've no real issue with the price increase tbh, as mentioned before, the prices are extremely good value against continental models, and are the most highly detailed ones you can get on the market.

One of those cows seems to be affected by the Portal Dolman, perhaps Glas Ghaibhleann?

Made up something quickly of kits with more than two confirmed expressions of interest. If I've missed anyone lmk. Brake Third is one away from being across the line, otherwise only the J18 and Standard MGWR Third are across the threshold Please email Roger, sirberkeley@outlook.com to confirm interest. NWD Tony FS PMB SB HT AB JHB JM KK HK IR Total confirmed Theshold passed (6) MGWR Standard 3rd 1 1 1 1 3 1 2? 8 Yes CIE/GSR J18 1? 2 3-4 6 Yes MGWR Brake 3rd 1 1 1 1 ? 1 5 No CIE/GSR J30 1? 1 1 No MGWR Elf 1 1 1 3 No GNRI JT 1 1 2 No MGWR ‘The Hearse’ 1 2 3 No

These look absolutely fabulous. I believe they are holders for some sort of cabling (from train to cab?) See here, Mikemorant collection All three are probably more accurately described as 'Deities', with both Maedbh and Tailte are considered representations of Goddesses themselves.

Constitution Hill Shed has a nice ring to it...or perhaps Broadstone Low Level? Connaught Street perhaps?

Seems like 'AIRR meets the Department of Finance' in terms of scaling back to a more realistic policy. Maintained commitment to reopening the Derry Road is probably the highlight here, along with the commitment to electrification throughout much of the network. The near-complete lack of any attention whatsoever to the Sligo line and absence of any commitment to the reopening of the Mullingar to Athlone section is quite the letdown. The Sligo is begging to be double-tracked out to Longford. It looks like Enfield might be getting a 'station enhancement ' though? This would go some way to improve services between Mullingar and Maynooth. Usually, trains have to cross at either Mullingar, Killucan, or Maynooth, often with significant delays knocked on throughout. Enfield is an obvious point for crossovers, but it is avoided at all costs, as it only has a single platform in use, even though the other is sitting right across from it, meaning trains have to reverse back into the loop. Just reinstating platform 2 and getting a footbridge would do a great deal for services here. Still pretty crazy to see the Sligo line basically get ignored compared to the rest of the network. The trains are incredibly overcrowded; only today, someone fainted on the packed morning Longford commuter. Not the first time I've seen it on a jam-packed 29.

We've enough orders for the J18 and MGWR Third to begin, but both the J30 and JT have forms of models in 3d print, which may be limiting demand somewhat. If either got to five, I'd be happy to put in a sixth to get it across the line.

Reply from Roger this morning: "All such reductions from our 7mm scale artwork would be suitable for 00 gauge (16.5mm track) and we would, of course, be able to mail these to the Irish Republic. As I indicated previously, we could only proceed with production against firm pre-ordering of a minimum of six etches of each model. And have you given consideration to the manufacture of suitable cast parts - we have nothing suitable in 4mm scale to complete the models. If you can confirm the level of interest there's likely to be, we can work out some costings for individual sets of etches."

Considering what looks like a bogie TPO behind (What's behind the TPO?), this is almost certainly the Day Down Galway Mail, hence the DSER 6-wheeler. Another picture of 58M that I've come across is at Dun Laoghaire, so quite likely they were used on the Mails as parcel vans. https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53505927307/in/photolist-2pZjzJC-2pBSwtg-2pwq5Ez-2psSuR3-2pwDaP5-2pwDaMX-2qEc2YJ-2qE9Shu-2qEb3Ce-2pwxJ7s-2pwqE1Z-2pw8S54-2qE5gB1-2qEb3Cj-2qEb7ui-2qE9RYJ-2qEb3zZ-2qEb3Cz-2qE9Sh4-2qEb7d1-2qEb7tb-2qEb7sp-2qEb7sz-2qEc35v-2pwhEwX-2pwDWU6-2pvqF9J-2pvGAQ2-2pvqF9D-2pworPQ-2psKGyC-2pvvcXt-2qUMPJb-2pqXpd1-2pwqDdm-2pqVXnZ-2pwo4GF-2pw8S4c-2pvFNZ7-2pvFNZc-2pvHn8b-2pworPV-2pwqDdg-2pBRPZ9-2pBT3Pn-2qEc2YZ-2pwnd8i-2pwDWUb-2qE5gv9-2qEb7pP

Some more work done today. The clerestory and the Bredin Mk2 got some lining, decals and detail picked out. Once again picking out the windows in silver on the Bredin Mk2 was a tedious process! And with that they now join the train! Longterm I'd like to change the roof vents on the Bredin mk2 to something smaller, the dapol ones are enormously overscale.

Still kicking about on the Midland in 1956 then!

Could that be 58M behind the A?

58M at Kingsbridge, one spoked wheelset, one disc! https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53509203665/in/photolist-2pwqE1Z-2pwphLQ-2pwqDUX-2pwpiNK-2pwiUt7-2qEvdvs-2pwqDXX-2pBQBck-2pwiU75-2pwphPf-2pBQBry-2pwiUa6-2pwncSt-2qEvdsS-2qEvduf-2pwf1xG-2qE5gXG-2qUMPG2-2pBSRdw-2pvHn98-2qEb7c4-2qEptXL-2pwxwPC-2pwq57W-2pwDCzX-2pwx5h4-2pwDaMX-2pwvVkt-2pwnd7B-2pwiTxE-2pBSgsz-2qEvdua-2pwiT3b-2pwiU2k-2pBLdEv-2psQmkk-2qEvdty-2qEvgfg-2qUUe8B-2pwosFV-2pwBDfg-2py3sZq-2pBLdFs-2pvwMcf-2pwot7e-2pwpjic-2pw8S54-2pwphVN-2qE5gB1-2pBQBag

Dart can't deliver to the Republic though.

I'd be willing to take two, with Mols one its enough to get an MGWR 3rd across the line. Any thoughts for the MGWR 4 wheel parcels van, 'The Hearse'?

Indeed, I was thinking of using it for exactly that, buying up multiples of everything MGWR!

Didn't seem to stop them applying snails directly over a double row of rivets

Yours is a fine model indeed! They are a lovely prototype. The J18 isn't much better in terms of footplate, though at least it lacks side tanks! If Roger confirms suitability for 00, may bite the bullet and go for three J18s to get it across the line. Somewhat surprised at the lack of attention to other rolling stock also. Roger has mentioned the card kits are all available in 4mm, I'll be getting the MGWR TPO.

I do agree it'd be market saturation, especially for the likes of the Bandon Tank and the J26, which have not only brass kits in 4mm but also 3d printed consideration in the near future. That said, what seems to be most popular so far is J18 (4/5) Elf (3) J30 (2/3) Only the J30 has any form of model in 4mm, that being a 3d print. Somewhat surprised the Ivatt F6 hasn't received any love!

the coat of arms was on a raised escutcheon, ie a piece of metal (rivetted?) onto the tender. This lasted into early CIE days, with a small snail even painted onto the escutcheon. Removed early enough into CIE all the same, seemingly gone by 48 or so