minister_for_hardship

Had heard about it over the bush telegraph, but kept schtumm, not out of any sense of smugness but just in case it was some sort of cruel hoax!

Not a very taxing build, not many curves! http://photogallery.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/albums/userpics/10001/normal_P-19-002.jpg And this http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_303Dv_Vkry0/ScFTdvtYhGI/AAAAAAAADBg/H3zqj-opSiQ/s400/GWP3+-%3E+Lanica+Armoured+Truck.jpg is not a million miles from this...http://forum.irishmilitaryonline.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=5043&d=1267465560

It is a beaut. The red board instead of a tail lamp comes as a bit of a surprise to me. Didn't know they used boards other than on ng gauge lines. Was thinking, given the general interest in matters military, a WOI or Civil War era layout would be an interesting subject.

Thankfully a (very) few survive. A heavy car with a sewing machine sized engine and not blessed in the appearance dept.

Hardly surprising. Big difference in the scale of what was/is here vs the huge network that covered the uk. Plus the heaps and heaps of mechandise, T-shirts, bits and bobs and reproduction stuff that is for the massive uk market. Also a goodly proportion of stuff here went into landfill or melted down rather than being saved.

Wouldn't mind a pre-1925 layout, before pretty much every loco got plastered with battleship grey. Since many rural Irish stations changed very little between the 1900's and 1980's with a few subtle changes one could have a bit of scope. A station serving 2 or 3 companies would have been rather colourful places back in the day, think WL&WR locos were the best looking things on wheels, plenty brass and spit-and-polish.

Commer Garda Van, by Oxford diecast, seems to be a new release. http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDA5WDUxMw==/z/tjoAAOSwfcVUHVoy/$_35.JPG

Most likely in two tiny bunkers either side of the firebox.

An old guy near me whose father used work on the railway had GS&WR rail chairs holding down the sheeting in the shed in case the wind would catch it, a signal ladder acting as a fence for cattle and a wrought iron handle that probably was either the handle of a steam loco long handled cleaning shovel/scraper or dart at one time. Another place had a couple of CIE branded loco oil cans used for keeping a horse drawn mowing machine lubricated after they had finished railway service and axlebox covers and part of a loco grate as a drain covers.

What about when York Road got bombed during WW2, did anything go south then or did the GNR take care of anything that needed mending?

Probably no space for gas tanks in the normal place for them under the carriage and/or they'd be uncomfortably close to the heat from the firebox! Not much point in electric lighting so illumination is either going to be oil 'pot lamps' or in this case, gas. Notice she has two sets of brake hoses as well.

Don't know about an entire train...Must get the exact reference but recall reading that a wagon (think it was an MRNCC one) from Belfast containing seed potatoes and the like was set abaze at Limerick Jct during the Civil War, so single wagons were definitely not unknown...and the GSR Appendix had sets of instructions about working locos,wagons etc from other companies over its metals. Maybe looking at things like rugby/football/GAA/pilgrimage specials might be an idea?

The WCR would be better off investing in appropriate ng items.

Banteer was one location that had a short platform that reminders were given about.

It was the way of telling the signalman that it was oil fired and didn't have to stop to bail out anywhere, unlike coal fired locos at that time. Quality of coal were very bad for a few years post War (or 'Emergency' if you will) Locos that weren't converted to oil firing burnt any old rubbish that was going, leading to lengthy delays in cleaning out fires and re-making them.

The ESB brought out a commemorative booklet a few years ago, there was a piece in it when one of the first Drumm sets was demonstrated to Dev and govt big-wigs, the meet and greet was cut short, hence the batteries didn't get enough time to recharge fully. The technicians weren't 100% sure whether the unit would make it back to Dublin or stall before reaching its destination. In the event it got back (just about) rolling in under gravity alone for the last few yards. Interesting mentioning sabotage and conspiracy theories, the big GSWR compound Sir William Goulding was alledged to have been tampered with, performance-wise, to make the so-so new 400 class look better.

I suspect they're O scale-ish. I will be getting some shortly so I'll know then.

Certainly. I haven't got the foggiest,

Yes, but the 4mm scale 'Harrassed Workers' and 'Assorted Protesters with Placards' packs are sold separately....

Some more ESB related trucks/vans. https://www.facebook.com/#!/Code3Models/photos/pcb.532681520170677/532681413504021/?type=1&theater https://www.facebook.com/#!/Code3Models/photos/pcb.532681520170677/532681406837355/?type=1&theater https://www.facebook.com/#!/Code3Models/photos/pcb.532681520170677/532681410170688/?type=1&theater

It isn't Art Deco, that pattern of Hunslet plate does exist from that era. Maybe whoever had it shouldn't have painted the back of it and cleaned it so much and buffed out all the scratches and dings. Say it could be the real deal alright.

Some components look a little tank engine like to me...

The bachmann coaches were based on LMS compartment stock, think they're supposed to 'represent' pre GSR stock. CIE did not have anything quite like them, but likely the NCC did. Don't know what the Dapol one was originally meant to be. They look ok, the eau de nil waistband annoys me though. Far too wide.

Looks like they originally had a little cap to stop rain going down the flue, probably they rusted and broke off or bashed off trees or other overhanging things leaving a stubbier chimney.

It's called a ducket, with little windows the guard can look out of to keep tabs on what's going on outside.