121 nose-first running

[Garfield]

There doesn't seem to be many photos out there of 121s running nose-first, but I just remembered this photo from Eiretrains' website taken on the Barrack St Branch... one of the only lines in the country where the locos were allowed to operate this way:

 

http://eiretrains.com/Photo_Gallery/Railway%20Stations%20B/Barrack%20Street/slides/Barrack%20Street_20100102_0012_CC.html

[Robert Davies]

Having enjoyed immensely the feature on the Barrack Street Branch on the Eiretrains site, I became curious about the anomaly that allowed the 121s to run bonnet first (or long hood first for any Americans with us today). Where there any other lines or circumstances where this was allowed?

 

-Rob

Edited November 20, 2012 by Robert Davies

[Eiretrains]

That's right regarding the chap on the front, acting as a pilotman because of the limited visibility. The 121s could also run light engine nose-first between Connolly-Inchicore, and while performing pilot work in the North Wall yards.

The O'Dea Collection in the National Library contains two photos of the 121s operating nose-first, on trial at Cherryville and on the Sligo line near Nesbitt Jct, the image references are ODEA 23/25 and ODEA 23/63 respectively.

[RedRich]

That's a great if rare photo of 135 nose first. It would make a nice little modelling project especially with 40 foot Bells on the horizon. It has me aching all the more for a 121 model.

 

Rich,

[heirflick]

That's a great if rare photo of 135 nose first. It would make a nice little modelling project especially with 40 foot Bells on the horizon. It has me aching all the more for a 121 model.

 

Rich,

 

aye....imagine 2 of them doubleheadding a bells container train......what a sight!

[RedRich]

aye....imagine 2 of them doubleheadding a bells container train......what a sight![ATTACH=CONFIG]4053[/ATTACH]

 

Seamus it would be heaven for me. Even one double headed with a 141-181 would look superb. I'd love to see 124 and 134 released in their last guise with the two cab windows blanked out at the nose end. I'm almost sure that 131 was also given this treatment.

 

There's a great ground swell of support for Murphy Models so hopefully enough current models find homes and the 121 project may be resurrected.

 

Rich,

[heirflick]

we need a lot of this..

[RedRich]

we need a lot of this..

 

I think Paddy Murphy know's his business very well, and he knows the market for Irish Model Railways better than anyone. I am confident that we will see a rtr one in the future. The prayers will of course be a great help, and I've just said one after the Angelus.

 

Rich,

[Robert Davies]

Regarding a Murphy's 121, it may be best when one of us has Paddy's ear next, to enquire what it would take to get the 121 project back on track (sorry unintentional pun!).

 

Already we've had the almost indefinite postponement of the NIR and early Enterprise Livery 201s for which the tooling already exists.

 

Prayer, whilst useful, may not be enough, remember the Lord helps those that help themselves, so we need to be sure that we as a community are doing what is required of us to make those things that we wish for 'happen'.

 

 

Ah! I see Rich posted as I was writing

Edited November 21, 2012 by Robert Davies
observation

[BosKonay]

:praying::praying:

[Broithe]

I feel sure that prayers to St Patrick will be answered in the fullness of time.

[minister_for_hardship]

Recently saw what appeared to be an early GA drawing of a 121 with what looked like 2 little apertures at the top rhs and top lhs of the nose.

Looked like they were intended for Yankee style 'road numbers'.

[FrankS]

I'll certainly be praying to St. Patrick, Patron Saint of Railway Modellers, for a RTR 121 - Hopefully, the 071s will sell well enough to allow this to happen.

:praying:

[heirflick]

Recently saw what appeared to be an early GA drawing of a 121 with what looked like 2 little apertures at the top rhs and top lhs of the nose.

Looked like they were intended for Yankee style 'road numbers'.

 

hi minister...could you explain whay you mean by 'road runners'?

[ttc0169]

Recently saw what appeared to be an early GA drawing of a 121 with what looked like 2 little apertures at the top rhs and top lhs of the nose.

Looked like they were intended for Yankee style 'road numbers'.

 

Sand filler pipes,were never used and removed after a few years.

[Robert Davies]

Has there been a kit of the 121 released in the recent-ish past - If so what was the recommended chassis?

 

-Rob

[Garfield]

Model Irish Railways produced a whitemetal kit, and later a resin version of the 121, but it's no longer available. The recommended chassis was an Athearn SW1500. Murphy Models have tentative plans to produce a RTR version.

[enniscorthyman]

I did mention the 121 class to Paddy back in August,and

He did say it will be a few years as He suggested the 071s

had taken a number of years to get to the production stage.

As regards the MIR version,I have a resin version with a

unpowered SW 1500 athearn underneath.

Gerry Byrne has a lovely collection of 121s that I must get

good photos of.I do remember a single 121 running nose first

at Edermine LC near Enniscorthy many years ago.I don't know

what the story was,perhaps a breakdown.

[Robert Davies]

Hello Eamonn!

 

It was probably your pics of Gerry Byrne's 121s running on his layout that jogged my memory in conjunction with the Barrack Street pics.

 

Any time you get to do a feature on any of those model 121s, it would be appreciated

 

-Rob

[Flying Scotsman 4472]

Here are some of my 121's to keep you going in the meantime

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Robert Davies]

Words fail me Anto - but you know me, I'll have a go anyway

 

First, I know that I've seen your layout by proxy on Youtube many times, but I've got to say that is one gorgeous layout, that just looks 'right'.

 

Second you run some wonderful stock, did I see, a Supertrain Mk3 set (wouldn't mind knowing the story of the construction/make-up of those sometime!), An A class (or a 001 class if you prefer), Mk1 and Dutch gen vans? (again I wouldn't mind knowing the story of those some time too), as well as those rather nice looking, and running 121s.

 

I know you didn't really do it to gloat, but it didn't half make me envious - but also gave me something to aim at too.

 

Thanks again Anto!

 

-Rob

[enniscorthyman]

Lovly stuff there Ant.

Robert,I will do some photos soon on Gerrys 121.

Worth looking for is the june 2011 IRRS journal with a good

feature by Brian Solomon on the 121 class with a nice photo of 125

running bonnet first in black and tan livery near Booterstown.

Brian also does the 141/181 locos in the june 2010 journal.

Here is my own baby 135-

[heirflick]

eamonn - thats the best loking 121 i have seen....shes a real beaut! sicken me amd say that you hace a sound chip in her!!!

[enniscorthyman]

eamonn - thats the best loking 121 i have seen....shes a real beaut! sicken me amd say that you hace a sound chip in her!!!

Thanks Shem,but no sound chip as there is no room what so

ever for a speaker and chip.This loco was hand painted by me

with MIR 201 orange.Close up the paint job is not great but

I am happy enough with it.I know you have a soft spot for

the 121s.

[Flying Scotsman 4472]

Words fail me Anto - but you know me, I'll have a go anyway

 

First, I know that I've seen your layout by proxy on Youtube many times, but I've got to say that is one gorgeous layout, that just looks 'right'.

 

Second you run some wonderful stock, did I see, a Supertrain Mk3 set (wouldn't mind knowing the story of the construction/make-up of those sometime!), An A class (or a 001 class if you prefer), Mk1 and Dutch gen vans? (again I wouldn't mind knowing the story of those some time too), as well as those rather nice looking, and running 121s.

 

I know you didn't really do it to gloat, but it didn't half make me envious - but also gave me something to aim at too.

 

Thanks again Anto!

 

-Rob

 

 

 

The 121's are MIR white metal kits running on Proto 2000 1500 chassis

The Supertrain liveried A class is a Q kits white metal kit running on a Hornby 55 chassis. She's nearly 25 and is one of my prized locos along with the Sulzer Hiddenagenda built for me.

All 50 odd irish Mk3's I own are repainted by me.

Dutch van/Mk1 Steam heating van/and Mk3 Driving coach are Silver Fox RTR stripped down and rebuilt and repainted by me.

 

As for the layout what you see in the videos the background wall banking etc etc behind the signal box is all going to make way for the fabulous Ballykay buildings built by Richie there will also be a couple of sidings which will allow me to have some different scenes ie old coaches awaiting the cutters torch or auto ballasters been filled with a digger etc etc

[heirflick]

was hand painted by me

with MIR 201 orange.but

I am happy enough with it.I know you have a soft spot for

the 121s.

 

eamonn get gerry to fit marker lights on her...then she'd be the dogs!

[gm171 kk]

Eamonn, I remember you uploaded a picture of a line of 121s in almost all the liveries it ran in on the old site. I think they were Gerry Byrnes. I remember being amazed as they looked like ready to run models. Any chance you could dig it up as I can't seem to find it on the old site?

[scahalane]

Anto that layout is just mesmerizing, that a-class with cement bubbles is just the dogs.

[enniscorthyman]

Eamonn, I remember you uploaded a picture of a line of 121s in almost all the liveries it ran in on the old site. I think they were Gerry Byrnes. I remember being amazed as they looked like ready to run models. Any chance you could dig it up as I can't seem to find it on the old site?

Yes I remember that photo,but it was not good quality,

so I hope that next week Ill be down to Gerry and get

better shots of his 121s.

[Robert Davies]

Thanks Eamon for the pics of your 121 too, It's a mighty fine looking wee beastie

[h gricer]

That's a great if rare photo of 135 nose first.

Rich,

It actually wasn't that rare, infact if you go into Eiretrains, theres 3 different photos taken on 3 different days with the 121s working bonnet first, it was a local arrangment in the Dundalk area and happened at least twice a week at the time.

I remember watching for the 9.45 North Wall liner to Belfast in the 1990s and if it was a mixed pair, particular if the 121 was facing south then Id be in for a treat the next day, the liner locos would be split in Adelaide the following day which ment that the 121class would work the 11.35ex Adelaide, on arriving into Dundalk, it would work bonnet first down to Barrack St to pick up the cigarette containers from Carrolls which arrived under Garda escort, then working back up to the station with its containers and on to North Wall, maybe dropping off cement bubbles at Drogheda for Platin.

Another area where they worked bonnet first regularly was between NW and Inchicore, after arriving into NW off a liner, 126 regularly worked the Cork TPO from Heuston to Connolly for the down night mail, then returned to Inchicore bonnet first where it was turned on the turntable to work the 5.50 down day cork mail the following morning. It wasn't rare as such but you did have to be on hand with a camera to record it. 126 gained the name ''de Cork mail loco''

1 evening in September 1991 126 worked the TPOs bonnet first Heuston to Connolly, ekkkkkkk on that occasion, sadly but foolishly I left the camera at home.

Regards

h.gricer