A Derry Central Diorama

[Patrick Davey]

 

 

[Northroader]

So, your next move would be having the RH extension able to access the goods shed, and do a bit of shunting? I do really like the look of this. It’s a layout, not a diorama.

[Patrick Davey]

57 minutes ago, Northroader said:

So, your next move would be having the RH extension able to access the goods shed, and do a bit of shunting? I do really like the look of this. It’s a layout, not a diorama.

I decided to model the station in the final years of the line, and the goods shed was disused by then. The siding was actually lifted too but I left it in to add a bit of interest.  In fact, the whole station was actually closed

I don’t feel justified in calling it a layout, more a ‘working’ diorama

[Patrick Davey]

[Patrick Davey]

[Galteemore]

Now that’s really good 

Edited January 24 by Galteemore

[leslie10646]

Nice wagons on your train, Patrick! I wonder where you got them from?

(I won't wind you up with the thought that those wagons weren't painted like that until long after the closure of the station!).

Lovely model, as others have rightly said.

[The Derry Road]

Excellent work Patrick well done

TDR

 

[Patrick Davey]

Final details - I actually believe this very enjoyable little project is complete! Time now to indulge in some creative videography…….. watch this space

[Patrick Davey]

Christmas 1958, and The Irish Railway Record Society organises a railtour to the last operating section of the former Derry Central line, from Magherafelt to Kilrea.  The train left Dublin at 8:00am with CIÉ A class A30 hauling 4 ancient 6-wheeled carriages.  It was a long day for the tour participants, in what was maybe not the most luxurious of vehicles, but nobody complained.  A30 ran around her train at Lisburn and headed on to the Antrim branch, passing Antrim at 10:02am then taking the Cookstown line at Cookstown Junction a few minutes later.  A comfort stop was made at Magherafelt at 10:50am before the train departed at 11:09am and ventured onto the former Derry Central line.  The speed limit was just 20mph and Kilrea wasn't reached until well past midday.  Lunch was taken in a nearby hostelry before the train departed at 2:30pm.  A stop was made at Knockloughrim on the return journey, because the UTA pilotman's fiancée lived nearby and nobody was bothered that the CIÉ crew were left to make the journey back to Lisburn on their own.  The driver was an ex-GNR man anyway so they were fine from Antrim.

Lisburn was reached at 3:58pm, A30 ran around for the final time that day, and the train left for Dublin at 4:12pm, arriving at 5:58pm.  Those ancient six-wheelers weren't allowed to rush.

Edited March 24 by Patrick Davey

[Galteemore]

Fabulous stuff Patrick. I think the RBAI railway society ran a tour shortly afterwards with an ex GNRI U class. Hint hint….

[Patrick Davey]

January 1953, and U2 class No. 80 'Dunseverick Castle' brings the Kilrea goods through Knockloughrim.

 

 

[Tullygrainey]

A masterpiece Patrick. You've excelled yourself with this one!

[Patrick Davey]

Well, hats off to David @Galteemore for the tip off about the RBAI railtour to Kilrea many Januarys ago!!  You were spot on David and I spoke to a contact at the school who was able to unearth some very rare footage of the trip, and you’ll never guess where it was filmed…….

The tour did indeed feature an ex-GNR U class and there was also a second outing, the following week, which featured an ex-GNR UG…..

Coincidental or what!!

~~~

And yes folks I know both locomotives could do with being lubricated, and yes @leslie10646 there’s one of your GN passenger vans!

 

Very rare footage from the aforementioned RBAI railtours:

   

 

 

Edited January 27 by Patrick Davey

[Galteemore]

Fabulous - I figured someone must have had pics of the event !  

[Galteemore]

There’s also historical backing for peripatetic Us. 197 Lough Neagh made it as far as Mountmellick in 1960. Pic on IRRS Flickr 

[Patrick Davey]

7 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

There’s also historical backing for peripatetic Us. 197 Lough Neagh made it as far as Mountmellick in 1960. Pic on IRRS Flickr 

Yes I suppose ‘U’ could have seen them anywhere

“Taxi…….”

[Galteemore]

Taxi? join the Q!!! 

[Patrick Davey]

8 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

Taxi? join the Q!!! 

S please!

[Galteemore]

It’s you VS me, Davey…..

[Patrick Davey]

Well, before things get out of hand, I’m going to have a hot beverage.

Would you like some T2?

[Galteemore]

Please, with milk and SG 

Edited January 27 by Galteemore

[Patrick Davey]

3 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

Please, with milk and SG 

Mmmmm nice!  Has it been the victim of a rough shunt though…….?

[Galteemore]

That’s how she came off eBay. Thankfully I have spares. She also needs a few other things but I won’t derail your thread. Did I glimpse Mr Weaver at one point? 

[Tullygrainey]

17 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

Did I glimpse Mr Weaver at one point? 

Well spotted! You'd think a man in his position could afford a new suit. Sure that oul thing is out at the knees. And the elbows.

[Horsetan]

36 minutes ago, Patrick Davey said:

...Would you like some T2?

I see what you did there.

[Patrick Davey]

25 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

That’s how she came off eBay. Thankfully I have spares. She also needs a few other things but I won’t derail your thread. Did I glimpse Mr Weaver at one point? 

Yes, he’s not very happy, he hates the NCC and his mother insisted that he bring her to a retreat in Cookstown, and she had him so demented that he ended up going to the wrong station for the journey home…..fell asleep and only woke up after Magherafelt

[Patrick Davey]

1 hour ago, Tullygrainey said:

Well spotted! You'd think a man in his position could afford a new suit. Sure that oul thing is out at the knees. And the elbows.

The waistcoat and tie are ok - they were painted with enamels

Edited January 27 by Patrick Davey

[Tullygrainey]

2 hours ago, Patrick Davey said:

The waistcoat and tie are ok - they were painted with enamels

Aye!  Ye can't trust them oul synthetic fabrics. That acrylic stuff isn't a patch on a good wool worsted. Yer man was sold a pup when he bought thon suit. I suppose they told him it was linen.

Edited January 27 by Tullygrainey

[Galteemore]

Yet another reason to distrust the NCC - that Courtaulds place in Carrick is turning out artificial fabric by the ton. With its own sidings and two tank engines too!!!

[leslie10646]

On 25/1/2025 at 11:03 PM, Galteemore said:

Fabulous stuff Patrick. I think the RBAI railway society ran a tour shortly afterwards with an ex GNRI U class. Hint hint….

Shame on you @Galteemore telling fibs! The line was closed and lifted before the "Inst" Railway Society was even thought of!

[Patrick Davey]

Big shout out to Alan Nixon @Tullygrainey for giving U2 4-4-0 No. 80 'Dunseverick Castle' a bit of TLC for me, with a good clean and lubrication.  She's running like a dream!

 

Edited February 1 by Patrick Davey

[Patrick Davey]

Knockloughrim had a very special visitor today, BCDR 2-4-0 No. 6, recently built by Alan Nixon @Tullygrainey

This really is an exquisite locomotive which definitely needs to be seen to be fully appreciated!!  And it runs like a dream too, even on DC!  A pleasant surprise was that the sound chip worked!!

 

 

 

 

No. 6 confidently steaming through Knockloughrim earlier this afternoon:

Edited February 1 by Patrick Davey

[Tullygrainey]

Thanks for a great day Patrick. And who knew we could get sound out of No6 on DC! Really chuffed

Edited February 1 by Tullygrainey

[Signal Post]

Wonderful stuff, very enjoyable to look at. Just wondering about the 25 ton brake van, firstly would I be correct in thinking that this is an NCC van, is this also the type that featured (sometimes) on the spoil trains to Magheramorne? Secondly is this from a kit or scratch built?