minister_for_hardship

14 hours ago, Rapid130RS said:

More importantly will the seat reservation system work, and will there be a snack trolley 

They will have as standard an 00 scale awkward passenger in your booked seat who pretends not to understand the notion of seat reservations and will refuse to vacate.

Sets have optional figures involved in unchallenged anti social behaviour 

On 12/10/2022 at 10:33 PM, jhb171achill said:

This precisely why I witter on about such things as liveries. When a museum restores an artefact of any sort, the public have an expectation that how it appears on display is how it looked in real life.

It's easy to say "sure, you can always repaint it", or "the survival of the thing is what's important, not the colour" - or that tired old canard, "different people see different colours". But if we look at things we're familiar with today, like a DART, imagine, if in 70 years' time, there's one in a museum somewhere, and through lazy lack of research it's painted up in black and tan - those of us who SEE these things every day have very justifiable reason to rasie our eyes heavenward and say "WHY could they not have just got it right"! The other thing often heard, and when a volunteer on carriages 45 years ago I said it myself "If you don't like it, roll your own sleeves up and give a hand!" just doesn't wash in this case.

When we see the magnificent job done by the RPSI with 131, 85 and 171, and NCC No. 4, it is both easy and justifiable to point out not one, but two repainted Donegal engiens with black domes instead of red - SO easy to get right; and with the single exception of the grey currently worn by 186, never once an authentic livery on an ex-GSR loco - neither it, 184 or 461, or the Derry shunter "Harvey" as, well, unfortunate. Not to mention the "Ivan"; an eye-confusing assault on the senses of black lines, as all the ironwork is thus picked out, or the DCDR's equally unfortunate run of incorrect livery on every goods item it has ever restored, plus a green G611.

Cultra is not exempt. The BCDR tank, No. 30, is in an Isle of Man-esque apple green. Attractive though it is, the green is many shades too light; colour photos as well as personal memories will show that the BCDR green was so dark it almost looked black. They've added black paint to the metal parts of an otherwise-original Donegal open wagon, and let's not go into the C & L and Castlederg coaches, with modern plastic stick-on lettering.

I am always impressed by the great lengths that most preservation organisations - museums especially - go to in Brexitstan to get such easy-to-research details spot-on correct; maybe we, over here, just don't care!

Yes, yes, yes, I know - not everyone cares. But does anyone want to see a yellow, brown and red ICR in a museum in 2077?

Now, of course, the disclaimer: I've been the volunteer with the paint pot, when money dictates nothing else is available. But that ain't the above case. So I always respect volunteers, let me make that VERY clear. But please, research liveries - it is VERY easy.

Rant over. I need me cocoa.

I've noticed the infamous Clonakilty Model Village has turned out reasonably accurate models of Cork and Muskerry and Passage locos...but one NG Passage loco turned out in GREEN. Oh dear.

I hope to God they won't run these on the layout, causing even further confusion. But as usual here, some Nuala working in PR thinks they'd look "lovely" all running together. 

6 minutes ago, connollystn said:

You have to remember that Enda Kenny was involved and, look at the state he left the country in.......

To be fair to Inda, he was reading off a script given to him by 'researchers' who should have done their jobs properly.

I very much doubt Mr Kenny's general knowledge on railways would go far beyond 'Thomas' and 'choo-choo' trains.

Good to see the record set straight after that travesty of a tv series!

2 hours ago, Horsetan said:

I'm only surprised it hasn't had rainbows painted all over it already.

Needs "Thomas" paint scheme, face and fake chimney.

Something new for teens to take their angst out on.

On 5/10/2022 at 4:36 PM, Westcorkrailway said:

A LOT of foreign loco power was used on the CBSC. The F6, J26 ect. Along with foreign vehicles. From midland coaches to GNR open wagons. I think the very last bandon coaches were withdrawn in the late 50s. Maybe even 1960 and they were only kept for the courtmacsherry excursions as the curves were challenging 

 

I know the CMDR purchased a tank engine of the the DSER. This had the funny effect of 2 identical locos being designated DIFFERENT classes under amalgamation. 
 

If you go further back the west cork purchased a lot of GSWR stock 2nd hand in the early days. An Ex L&LSR 5’3 engine was converted from 0-6-0 to 2-4-0 for the kinsale branch. 
 

on the opposite end of the spectrum. A few bandon tanks had a vacation on Dublin commuter trains. 1 or two never returning. This is when we got a Bandon tank in Green livery…something I’d love to see modelled accurately 

 

 

The Macroom purchased Ex GS&WR 266, which was inherited from the WL&WR (their No 13 Derry Castle)

Saw a pic of it once in C&MDR days, the numberplate (6) looked suspiciously like a GSWR plate with the '2' and the second '6' ground off!

6 was in turn renumbered GSR 491 and singleton of Class 491 but its erstwhile WL&WR classmate No 14 Lough Derg/GSR 267 became the sole member of Class 267.

4 minutes ago, Westcorkrailway said:

I understand people buying some of these….others I can’t. There was a C&BR one going around which actually is an abreviation for an Irish railway….and I think that wagon plate could fool somone too 
 

this sign is clearly meant to have been a one off commission to commemorate where something WAS!

Something something old timey choo choo train engine is all most people understand!

1 hour ago, Westcorkrailway said:

Honestly the one at the car boot sale looks like it’s been outside for years……I wonder if that’s the one that’s gone missing 

Looks like it spent a few months in the open, it's not heavily rusted.

I doubt it, there's hundreds of these things doing the rounds, even a mini version if you dont have space for a full size one.

3 hours ago, Mayner said:

it looks like the commemorative plaque from the water tower at Castlegregory Junction that was installed following road widening during the 1970s

Looks like it but has been duplicated and sold at every car boot in the country. The original disappeared some years back.

1 hour ago, jhb171achill said:

Barry Carse's Metrovick book has C234 becoming B234 in December 1965, so I'd go for 1966. J15 130 was one of the last steam locos on CIE's books, only OFFICIALLY withdrawn in 1965, though no steam locos at all operated* after March 1963, including 130.

(*Other than as stationary boilers).

What were stationary boilers supposed to do?

Lots of fakes in that particular auctioneers, even their apple isnt real!

1 hour ago, Westcorkrailway said:

When I did the Waterford greenway, I asked the folks in one of the bike rental shops if he cycles the greenway. He cycles often from Dungarvan to Waterford but still never uses the greenway 

 

turns out some of the Pro’s won’t use the greenway as it isn't seen as the same as cycling the road. It is the view of some cycles that greenways are a recreational space hence they need to constantly overtake slow recreational cyclists (how ironic is that!) particularly….if time can be saved by using the roads 

 

In my part of the world, this is a bit worrying as the road to kinsale is often a cyclist magnet and proposed greenway is not as direct as the road. There would be 3kms of a difference. It would make some difference but obviously the hardcore guys mightn’t use it….

This is the issue here, they're planned by people who haven't cycled since they were in short pants and who expect ALL cyclists to flock to them. Urban routes especially begin and end at random and are more of a box-ticking exercise for councils. Like fast walkers and slow walkers on narrow footpaths, team lycra and the non lycra clad cyclists cannot coexist peacefully, with each other or with other users...walkers, dog walkers, runner, joggers, kids, and now scooters. The room simply isn't there for all comers to freely do as they wish. 

Whatever about motorist vs cyclist hate, I think we can agree on the fact that electric scooters are hated by pretty much everyone else.

I haven't seen a GSR/CIE cast D wagon plate with M suffix, yet. Have seen A (departmental stock), N (ex GNRI) and C (West Clare section) 

Thousands upon thousands of wagons went to the scrappers without anyone salvaging anything from them. A small number may have been sold off privately for sheds and the like so may be a source of surviving material.

Identical Mgwr D plates from 1319 and 1428 appear to have survived. All 10 tons which may be a clue as to what they may be off of.

13 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

It does LOOK genuine; if it's a dud it's a very good one.

Yes, the Midland could have had numbers that high  - but my concern is the "(I)" bit after "MGWR".  The OFFICIAL name of the company was, note order of wording, the "Midland Great Western of Ireland Railway Company"; not the "Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland". Thus, strictly, if the "I" is to be included, one would be inclined to think it would translate into initials as "MGW(I)R".

It was normal on MGWR carriage plates and other notices, trespass signs and the like to use simply "MGWR". I would prefer to see this thing in the flesh, as it were, in order to deremine its authenticity or lack thereof; as of now, the jury's out.

It is possible it was off one of those imported Belgian wagons - like General Motors' 1976 livery for the 071s, which was arong in several ways from the actual CIE livery of the day, and the "flying snail" on the control desk of NIR's three 071s, it's possible that a "foreign" manufacturer got the details wrong - but that's on the assumption that it was they, rather than Broadstone, who cast these plates in the first instance.

Any MGWR or even a later wagon list with M suffix available?

I think there was just a carriage list on the Shepherd MGWR book, the wagons would have numbered into the low 1000s at least. The GSWR had up to 5 digit wagon numbers.

If it were fake, we'd see a lot more than one (or two) on the market.

The only(?) Ng Irish line with a subway between platforms instead of a footbridge or barrow crossing at Carrigaline.

On 16/8/2022 at 10:16 AM, Horsetan said:

The thing that strikes me about the CB&P engines is the triangular, almost minimal, buffer beam...

Easier access to cylinders I guess. Less rural than the C&L or T&D, no need for a hulking great buffer beam and cowcatcher. Only one ungated crossing at Passage.

12 hours ago, Westcorkrailway said:

My dad said my generation will be living in container homes….

 

I wonder in 20 years times will I be living in a mark 4

People lived in Ford Motor Company boxes at one point, and old buses and railway coaches. 'Glamping' before that term was invented.

On 14/7/2022 at 5:30 PM, DSERetc said:

C

 

Could someone who is knows about steam locomotive valve gear, identify what is on the Bassett-Lowke CIE Woolwich 2-6-0?  Is it Stephenson's,  Walschaert's, Caprotti, Bulleid's or Franklin's?   The same valve gear is on all the Bassett-Lowke 2-6-0s.    The other B-L locomotives seem to have Walschaert's gears as on the originals.   It seems to me that it is an in-house Bassett-Lowke gear and that it takes away from an otherwise very good model.  What do you think?

I was about to buy one that was in Mark's Models window about the year 2000.

DSERetc

I imagine it's a simplified valve gear, it does make it look more like a toy than a proper model.

It looks like a company cottage rather than a 'station'.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1091856854755068/?ref=facebook_story_share

Happened to hear mention on the radio of an Animals of Dublin exhibition in the Little Museum of Dublin and cute story, the BnT livery was inspired by artist Patrick Scott's orange/black/white cat.

My go-to book On The Move (O'Riain) does not say how it came about and my other go-to book Railway Heraldry (George Dow) mentioned that the change from green to BnT was "on the advice of Scandinavian industrial consultants". So anyone know the definitive answer?

Jhb looking at you.

Fully grown adult MEN, not kids, who you'd think would have sense.

This activity appears to be tolerated on the continent, there should be severely fined here to make an example of them.