1960s and 1970s Containers in Ireland - Scans from Jane's and data/images from elsewhere too

[Mol_PMB]

Of the old wooden containers, the common larger types were classified 'B', or for those with side doors, 'BD'. Again, there were many variants on BR, and more on CIE.

The BR container diagram book can be found here:

http://www.barrowmoremrg.co.uk/BRBDocuments/BRContainerIssueB.pdf

These were quite common in Ireland and can be seen in some of the photos linked above, and a few more here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53511462788/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53511606818

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53511583540

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53511614184

Models of BR (and 'Big 4') types available include a vertically-planked type B originally by Airfix, now seen in the Hornby range but there's also a near-identical one by Dapol:

Also a horizontally-planked type B with broad planks, in the Dapol Range. This is very similar to one of the CIE types as detailed a few posts back up this thread:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53500993248

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54255303079

The one in the background here is slightly different but an attractive livery of 2-tone green:

Bachmann have one of the most common BR types also often seen in Ireland, the BD with narrow planking and side doors:

Parkside also make a kit for something very similar, some subtle differences in the door strapping:

Parkside also make the FM container, which was a bit smaller than the BD and was fitted with some insulation (though not heavily insulated like the AF). These were used for meat.

The Parkside FM kit is for the planked version; the ply-sided version can be seen in Ireland here:

https://www.kennellyarchive.com/media/39c56ad9-d5c2-4fcd-953e-c6112f4cf106

 

The CIE containers of the 'B' and 'BD' types were mostly made of alloy-faced ply rather than planks, as seen on this example which survived long enough to get a roundel:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53498764321

(There's a rarer BR insulated container in the background of this shot too, but we can't quite see enough of it)

A few more in the backgound here in 1970, again these look to have roundels:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53511639484

The grey ones in these two images:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53570643358

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53570648873

And the three with yellow plastic sheets over them here, again at least one of these has a roundel:

These CIE containers don't seem to have a direct equivalent in model form, all the model ones are planked. This is a pity because BR did have ply-sided ones and they would be a good match to the CIE ones.

 

Some of the Irish planked containers had diagonal planks, either all in the same orientation or in a Vee pattern. I haven't seen any commercially available models with this arrangement of planks. Some real examples:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54255495975

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54255299053

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54255303904

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54255072361

 

I'd imagine that these would be fairly straightforward as 3D prints but I'm afraid I don't have that expertise.

 

 

 

I also found a laser-cut kit for a BM container; I've not seen any of these in Ireland:

Peco used to do some OO card kits for containers. Not

Modelscene produce this, but probably not an improvement on the ones shown above:

This thread on RMweb shows some different 3D printed examples, all GB prototypes:

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/182716-big-4-pre-nationalization-container-diagrams

 

However, it may not be too hard to scratchbuild, kitbash or simply repaint CIE examples from what's available. Many of the BR types are pretty close as shown above.

33 minutes ago, commerlad said:

OK Not Irish I admit but The Bachman or Cambrian versions are close enough (for me at least)

http://www.island-images.co.uk/Rail/Railstock/SteamStock/Q290739.jpg

 

The livery, Simple DIY transfers.

https://us.docworkspace.com/d/sIMm70cYj54j_vAY

Help yourself to the design if you want a couple.

 

Very nice! There were and still are some interesting container services to/from IoM. Ronagency was one I was looking at a while back.

[Mol_PMB]

I found one more traditional container option - made by Replica Railways. I don't think these are in production any more but are available secondhand.

This has the diagonal timbers in a vee pattern, which (with a repaint) would be ideal for those wanting to model a GNR furniture removals container, as seen at Broadstone in the links below. They had a very attractive livery.

DSL_GNR_163_Broadstone_Dec_1960 (2) | [Photographer: Des Sca… | Flickr

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54255495975

Edit, still available here, new and unlettered, for a fiver:

Spares

Edited February 3 by Mol_PMB

[leslie10646]

Re the Dapol one. This was one of my original quartet of wagons in 2007.

I did these flats, similarly lettered, for No.4 Furniture container also. I think I have seen such containers as high as No.6! You can find them in various books.

The CIE one would be easy enough to do but Dapol don't just do containers painted to order - I think I have to do a flat as well! They sell them unpainted as a pair.

If anyone is interested in a "pretend" CIE Flat (lettering can be researched) with the white container - speak up!

I've been looking at ways of doing a GNR / CIE / CDRJC half container of the type which was to be fou8nd latterly on the narrow gauge. Maybe a 3D print.

[Mol_PMB]

Very nice! Sorry, they were a bit before my time and I hadn’t realised you had done them already. 
I have seen GNR numbers up to 12 I think, certainly into double figures. 
 

[Ironroad]

Given the direction this thread is taking it is worth mentioning that Some of the postings in the thread "We Got a Flat" -Announcing the Bullied & PWD Flat Wagons" are relevant to this conversation for example;

 https://igg.org.uk/rail/5-unit/unitload1.htm

 

Fig ___ Standard closed containers

 

[Mol_PMB]

27 minutes ago, Ironroad said:

Given the direction this thread is taking it is worth mentioning that Some of the postings in the thread "We Got a Flat" -Announcing the Bullied & PWD Flat Wagons" are relevant to this conversation for example;

 https://igg.org.uk/rail/5-unit/unitload1.htm

 

Fig ___ Standard closed containers

 

Many thanks!

It's strange, but to date I haven't found any photos of the Bulleid triangulated flats (as modelled by IRM) carrying enclosed containers of A / B / BD types or equivalent.

Loads of photos of them carrying road vehicles, acting as runner wagons for overhanging loads, one pic with an open container, and a few other niche applications. 

Containers are much more often seen in open wagons (wooden or corrugated), or on GNR or CDR flats, or on the later type vac-fitted flat wagons such as the 25201 and 25436 series.

 

[DJ Dangerous]

49 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said:

Many thanks!

It's strange, but to date I haven't found any photos of the Bulleid triangulated flats (as modelled by IRM) carrying enclosed containers of A / B / BD types or equivalent.

Loads of photos of them carrying road vehicles, acting as runner wagons for overhanging loads, one pic with an open container, and a few other niche applications. 

Containers are much more often seen in open wagons (wooden or corrugated), or on GNR or CDR flats, or on the later type vac-fitted flat wagons such as the 25201 and 25436 series.

 

 

Somebody posted previously, possibly @DiveController but not completely sure, that the IRM Bulleid Flats never carried containers, only vehicles and loose loads.

Edited February 3 by DJ Dangerous

[Mol_PMB]

There’s always an exception to prove the rule, and this photo has a couple of good ones. 
https://flic.kr/p/2qE13Mk

 

Lurking behind the grey H van with a black underframe, is a Bulleid flat carrying a container. But it’s an open container not a closed one, and it looks like it’s incomplete and here for repair, so not actually in traffic. 
This is the only example I’ve found of a container on one of these wagons. 
 

[Mol_PMB]

A photo newly uploaded by Ernie has some items of pre-ISO container interest, though only in the background.

This is Galway in 1967:

Just to the right of the loco, a 'Lancashire Flat' on a 20' fitted flat wagon, probably 25201 series.

And to the left of the loco, a couple of CIE road division's livestock swap-bodies, painted dark green.

 

I am also exploring the potential of one of these for a CIE container. It has the advantage of no planking, and I think it won't need much surgery to fit in a corrugated open wagon. Despite being a very old model the moulding detail is quite good:

[Mol_PMB]

A very fine selection of CIE container images have recently been uploaded to the IRRS Archive on Flickr - many thanks Ciaran! These are all from around 1975:

CIE 40' with side doors CIEU 060138:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54403834639

CIE 20' bitumen tank CIEU 060442, a very nice set of detail views:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54403662801

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54403834634

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54403662786

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54404027845

CIE 20' half-height open top CIEU 060018:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54402779127

CIE 20' double side door container CIEU 060750:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54403893218

CIE 20' side door container CIEU 060510 (?):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54403834674

CIE 20' tiltainer CIEU 060234:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54403893223

CIE barley hopper container CIE 480:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54403893248

CIE 20' insulated container CIE IRL 2071:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54402779217

Small non-standard tank container, informal number only:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54403893098

CIE 10' bulk glucose containers, one of each type (the cylindrical tank and the cuboidal version CIEU 060144)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54402779167

This shows the opposite side and end of CIEU 060144, and beyond is the end of a cylindrical one:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54403834694

 

There are also a selection of CIE swapbodies, some of which may come under the 'Lancashire Flat' designation:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54403834579

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54404027740

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54403893238

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54403662761

It's also worth looking in the background of these photos for other container and wagon types.

 

Excellent inspiration for some intermodal modelling!

 

[commerlad]

On 2/2/2025 at 7:50 PM, Mol_PMB said:

Very nice! There were and still are some interesting container services to/from IoM. Ronagency was one I was looking at a while back.

Do you have a link to a photo at all?

[Patrick Davey]

Interesting thread, with cracking photos!

[Mol_PMB]

8 minutes ago, commerlad said:

Do you have a link to a photo at all?

My previous model railway was/is based on the Manchester Ship Canal and I looked at the Manchester Liners containers in great detail.

In the late 1960s they leased containers from CFC, and I wrote a little document to collate my information on CFC. Why is this relevant to your question? Because CFC also leased containers to Ronagency, as well as some of the Irish Sea operators like Greenore Ferry Services.

So the attached pdf may be of interest, although it's a bit tangential.

 

Ronagency served Castletown and this shows one of their ships there, with containers in the background:

https://www.shipsnostalgia.com/media/m-v-tower-duchess.134401/

CFC_Commercial Finance.pdf