GSR 800

206 is spare in Connolly

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Four confirmed then with my two, halfway there.

Using the B1 drivers unfortunately caused the loco to be a poorer puller than she had been. I replaced these with a Princess Royals 6'6 wheelset, which while less accurate, solved the issue. With the Woolwich door complete, the A class is now next up.

After the MGWR A class, I'm considering commissioning a 400 class. This would be the split footplate version, meaning 401 (after 1949) 403, 405, 407 and 409 could be modelled. 402 had a flush footplate and 500 cab, whereas 406 had caprotti valve gear. 401 also had this until fitted with walschearts in 1949. So these two would be the only two the model wouldn't cover in the 1950s. 401 survived until 1961. In terms of chassis, I may look to see if the Hornby Royal Scot would work with these. Alternatives would probably be B17s or King Arthurs. The Scot would be ideal as Killian has the chassis block modelled for it. They can also still be found for under 100 quid. You would receive the loco body and tender, and the smokebox door handle. Killian offers to print the buffers AFAIK. Killian supplied nuts and bolts to fit the shells to chassis. Handrail fittings, handrails, whistle, safety valves, would likely be separate parts though some of these could probably be printed if necessary. My intention for these would be to purchase two, possibly three. To justify making Killian endure the torture of designing something absolutely littered with snaphead rivets again, I'd be looking for a minimal order of 8 before going ahead and commissioning these. With my two that'd be six other required before going ahead with these after the MGWR A class. So if you're interested in a 400, do let us know! "Those of us who saw the last agonies of steam felt deeply with Charlie Maguire, when, his voice breaking with emotion, bewailed the passing of many 'fine engines' Charlie was thinking primarily of the 400 class, and of all engines I personally miss them the most." Drew Donaldson, A Decade of Steam.

Certainly the modern era is horrendously boring and sterile. For a bit of interest, you'd need a dcc sound decoder of some yahoo shouting abuse at security guards before buggering off on a scooter with the gear. My interest is early 1950s CIE. Dieselisation is already making inroads through the AEC railcars, but steam still dominates, with the Enterprise connecting Cork, Dublin, and Belfast hauled by the apogees of CIE and GNRI steam. Within a few years, it would all be gone forever.

It is truly fascinating that many of our generation of modellers have turned toward a much earlier period to model after. In many ways it makes sense, locomotives and rolling stock are smaller, making layout building somewhat more manageable. Many very obscure prototypes with all the elegance of victorian and edwardian design, and in some cases absolutely no elegance whatsoever! I must confess I'm very partial indeed to the GNR Park J class 4-4-0s and JS singles of 1885, some of the most handsome locomotives to have ever run in this country.

I think anything post-1914 is modern! I've considered commissioning 400s or 500s, but I'm sure Killian hopes I will start looking towards something like the old MGWR Grendon engine instead! With the Woolwich smokebox door complete, the MGWR A class is now next in line.

Makes sense, surprised they didn't have it in Drogheda. They've a few in Connolly iirc, almost certainly in Belfast also.

at least the front didn't fall off

Idk what the longterm plan is for North Wall but at least Dublin ports rail link will be reinstated after improvement works. I'm not very optimistic, but considering the likes of the foynes and the purchase of new wagons upcoming there must be something. What I did not consider when I wrote that post is that they could always run freight at night on busier sections to avoid clashing with the commuter services. That'd be a return to form! I recall looking at the WTT for Mullingar back in the early to mid 20th century, the earliest train landed in at about 3am!

PM sent

Very unfortunate news, they were an excellent service. Will be gone in less than a week!

If ever the 29ks were given a nickname,maybe other than 'cheap as fuck' I think donkeys or mules would be apt Workhorses of the railway, do everything and anything. Not at all 'glamorous' like the Mark 4s, DDs or ICRs, but usually show up when one of the latter two fails. And of course they roar like donkeys! A bit smelly too, just to add.

Usually I see it like this, initially the price minus vat shows up then after a few seconds refreshes to full price

Put me down for one of each type of coach, one of each horsebox, fish/meat and two tin vans John.

It is, of course, possible that it was a case of the same colouring wearing differently, i.e., the tender wearing into a yellowish green, the loco into a bluish green, but I digress. The difference is very stark, and lasted a full decade! AFAIK, there were four tenders for the three locos; Maedbh carried the last one, IIRC.

Might be a different now, what with a Minister in Mullingar, rather than a Minister for Athlone

May send some emails..

I wonder if there had been a plan in the 1990s to run steam along the Mullingar-Athlone route when the plan for the railway museum was taking shape. All came to nought due to the interference of a certain politician who was loath to see Mullingar get tuppence for anything. I'd like to do something with the buildings and infrastructure in Mullingar, before it is condemned to be destroyed.

Great shot of a BUT leaving Connolly. Shows the change in the last 60 years! One thing I wish was retained was the old footbridge. The station lost a lot of its old GNRI character with its demolition. It'd save a lot of running around too!

All three were painted in the dark green initially, AFAIK, contrary to the IRM blog (open to correction ofc). I believe these photos in 1953 show Tailte in the light green (looking very fresh indeed) with single chimney (note the apparent lighter shade, the black chassis + wheels and the lack of lining on splashers, etc other than the black overline) Note that the IRM Tailte in light green has a smokebox dart rather than smokebox wheel in her light green livery. I'm unsure of the accuracy of this. Here's a photo of Tailte, apparently dated to the early 1950s. (Must be IRRS member to access) https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53511646188/in/photolist-2pwEo2r-2qE3ho8-2pwDb6s-2pwDXcF-2pwocf4-2pwCjhY-2pwr81F-2pwDJzH-2pvxfo5-2pwq2HM Single chimney, lacking any modifications to her smokebox door at all! Photos from Tailte tours show 802 in her prime, with the Enterprise at Amiens street. This can be dated therefore between 1950 and 53, shows her with 2 handrails, single chimney, no vertical brackets and a dart instead of a wheel. The site says 51 was when she received her single chimney, this certainly appears to be the case. Quite possible that the heavy overhaul in 1952 is when she received her experimental light green also. @Niles may have further insight. https://www.tailtetours.com/post/ta-ilte-dublins-last-express-steam-locomotive She certainly had a smokebox wheel by her last few years; she did not retain the dart until withdrawal. v this photo of her earlier in the late 40s (need to be an IRRS member to access) https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53508723371/in/photolist-2pwEo2r-2qE3ho8-2pwDb6s-2pwDXcF-2pwocf4-2pwCjhY-2pwr81F-2pwDJzH-2pvxfo5-2pwq2HM Undated photo of her, with single chimney and smokebox wheel, lacking(!) the ugly brackets on the smokebox door. Difficult to tell what her livery is here. Photo of her at Inchicore, apparently in 1955. This looks like she's in the lighter shade still, but really it's impossible to tell. Regardless, this is Tailte at the end. In terms of liveries GS green for all three first CIE (FS) dark green for all three with double chimeys (Maedbh until 1958 at least, Tailte until 1951, Macha apparently a good bit later, at least 1953 if the date of this photo of her at Inchicore is accurate (have to be an IRRS member to access) All three would've initially had intact smokebox doors from the GSR days, so really the FS models are most accurate to the early 1950s, when they would've hauled the Enterprise. My guess is the upper horizontal handrail was added so those fitting the upper Belfast-Dublin-Cork Headboard had something to hold onto. The timeline for it certainly lines up. https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53507111189/in/photolist-2py3qti-2psSqf4-2qUT9q6-2pww8RF-2pwByN5-2pwD4Sa-2qEaXBZ-2pwxCpW-2pwD4Ry-2pwDR8b-2pwocgX-2pwEqtW-2qEaTMP-2pwBqBU-2pwfvPU-2pww552-2pwEqXS-2pwEqXm-2pw8Mso-2pwEqXb-2pwEqXG-2pwxCpa-2pwhz5z-2pwEqu2-2pwDQDa-2pwdkNB-2pweVZJ-2pweVZP-2pwDR81-2pvFDkH-2pwCd6K-2pwp3t1-2pwD4RZ-2pwDR7z-2pvxfov-2pwCm5t-2pwoch3-2pvqy2T-2pvxfoq-2pwxCpR-2pwCd83-2pwCd7X-2pwD47J-2pwCNtw-2pwqA3u Quite possible she would receive her single chimney while at Inchicore at the time. My guess for Macha therefore, would be 1953/54. Following this, single chimney, red numberplates are accurate until withdrawal. IRM states that both she and Tailte only had red number and namplates before reverting to blue. Macha though, definitely had red in her last years of service. Tailte in experimental light green is likely accurate from 1952 or so, although she gained a smokebox wheel at some point. The vertical brackets came on and off from what I've seen in photos. I do not know when she received red numberpleates and when (or if) they were reverted back to blue. I'm unsure if she carried the light green until withdrawal. Maedbh as preserved is only accurate after her move to Cultra, prior to that she lacked the completely inaccurate G S on her tender sides. She was spruced up for the official handover of the A class diesels in 1958, and may have been repainted again in the early 60s prior to being sent up North. Certainly by the time she was laid up at Thurles she lacked a flying snail. So if one wants to model Maedbh from 1958 until her move up to Cultra in the 1990s (for whatever reason), both the FS and Preserved versions will required snail or G S removed. Otherwise accurate. I have a hunch that Macha started hauling around Tailte's tender at some point. Several photos of her with a tender that looks considerably lighter than the locomotive. https://www.accurascale.com/en-ie/blogs/irish-railway-news/the-gaelic-goddesses-of-the-great-southern-railway https://www.historicalpicturearchive.com/shop/pictures/the-macha-at-inchicore-dublin-co-dublin-ireland-old-irish-photograph-il-01218/

Great photos of the PRs as new!

Good news then?

I'd be interested in two + a horsebox van