Newtoncork

Love that photo of the Clones shed. We're lucky it has survived.

Saw that yesterday. Never thought I'd see the day when a British magazine is putting forward a case for an Irish locomotive! It certainly raises the profile of Irish modelling.

Ok, being controversial here. I lived in Scotland for 15 years. We had some great heritage railways who relied on people from England. There is now way we can repeat that here. However, when I lived in Scotland, they pushed the boat out with the Riverside Museum. Cost £74m with an anticipated 1m visitors. More than that now and a lot would be from abroad. It became a place to visit, on the waterfront, amazing architecture, easy to get to etc. If we were commercial here, would it succeed? I think it would, iconic building, our transport heritage and like in the case of the Riverside, lots of models of boats and locomotives. IRM has been a success story (due to the guys hard work, attention to detail and sheer vision) but I remember being skeptical putting the money down for the first ballast wagons. I didn't think it would succeed. But it did, as the guys thought outside the box as to how it could be funded. So, more controversial, is there a way that we can, as a group, protect our heritage? I, for one, would be willing to give it a go. How could we do it? Put it forward as a business opportunity? Lottery? Any ideas?

Great to see these Jonathan. Be great for the kids at the weekend! Actually more for the dads........

It's really great to see that Marks Models have these in stock. Would have been very easy for IRM to just stock online. Having Marks as a supplier is a great way of ensuring our local model shops stay above water. Have to be honest, I bought the MM Mk2's from them recently, just for that reason.

Mine arrived yesterday, both the RPSI and NIR. Beautiful models. Placated The Boss by showing her the wand! She was impressed.

Took the two eldest kids (19 & 20) to the Fry yesterday. Great to see it very busy, lots of families. My eldest did metalwork at school and one thing did come up. How Cyril Fry actually made his models? I know there is a display of his workbench, but how he actually made those CDR railcars from metal is amazing. I think there is a whole category of second level students doing engineering and metalwork who would be very interested in how he did curves, cut out windows etc. Leaving Cert students could be very inspired by his work and, of course, it's getting a new generation interested in the hobby. For Leaving Cert engineering, they need to work on a metalwork project, maybe taking them to the Fry and explaining how he did it, would help enthuse them. Any thoughts?

So a lovely red bow with 'Happy Valentines Day' wrapped around the boxes should do the trick? I have been 'grooming' her for a few months, saying how beautiful they are and the lights work, close coupling etc etc. Note I told her the coaches were beautiful and not her. I did also hint that the five NIR loco's I have need something to pull!

Oh God, I bought three packs while The Boss was out. Not sure what I'm going to tell her when she comes back. The usual stuff of 'it's an investment' or 'what else would I spend it on?' is wearing thin........

Rail crane in siding at Cork this afternoon. Pretty impressive. Didn't realise it weights 116 tonnes!

Great shot of the railcar!

Never seen a photo of Monkstown railway station. Excellent collection.

Did Fry ever model the MPD's and MED's? He modelled all the CIE models of the same time and I'm sure he was very aware of the developments in the North.

This is an interesting one. There is an article in The Echo which talks about a rail link to the port of Cork in the plan. Seeing there is no way in hell that Marino Point will ever become part of the port, it will be interesting as to what happens to Ringaskiddy. It looks like it's increasingly becoming a white elephant as there is no chance of a rail link ever. https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/arid-41298397.html

Great pictures as ever. What's the history of Met'Ganz Railcar No 5? It looks very futuristic for its time! Have never seen a photo of it before.

End of an era. I know it was just a matter of time, but there's no mention of how many trucks were required to replace the cement trains. I remember seeing 171 and 177 idling in Mallow with the bubbles. Must have been about 2003. I wonder what are the realistic chances of freight ever returning to Cork? https://www.corkbeo.ie/news/local-news/long-standing-cork-train-station-27867105

Went to the Fry collection on Monday. Really loved it, it's my first time seeing his models up close and the attention to detail is amazing. Staff were enthusiastic and more than willing to help. I can see how it can appeal to both adults and kids. Few suggestions. Some more info on what happened to the original layout would be helpful, not sure if any of it exists in a state where it could be displayed. Secondly, I bet a lot of visitors are from the UK. even having one cabinet specifically for UK models he did would be great. At the end of the day, all his models are amazing!

He was my neighbour when I lived in Armagh, had his layout in the garage and we used to run my Silverfox Mk3 push-pull on it. Was an amazing font of knowledge on railways. Told me he once had lunch with Rev Awdry in London and all they talked about was trains!

Very interesting! https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/news/iarnrod-eireann-and-latvia-s-digas-to-trial-europe

Did the six wheelers ever run with Cravens? Could they?

What a great photo of Rocksavage. I used to cycle over that bridge in the early 80's. as a kid. Now a service station but some arches are still in-situ. Bet the people using the service station have no idea of the history of the site. Thanks!

What a wonderful atmospheric shot of Glanmire Road, feels like a 'Diesel Dawn' photo with the old and the new.

What's even worse, is that most of the annual 330,000 TEU's need to go through the Jack Lynch Tunnel. They've kept that one quiet.

I was lucky enough that my dad took me to the last transfer in 1976, I remember being scared about the cutting near Kent Station and if a train came along when I was in it! I was also lucky to be young enough to see the whole of Albert Quay from the old wrought iron bridge when it was a storage yard for all sorts of stuff, I remember ESB trucks and lots of pallets It was all gone by the early 1980's. My dad worked near the snotty bridge and told me about the teatime railcars and the beet specials.