IRM Latest! The High Queens of Ireland - IRM Celebrates 10th Birthday With GSR 800s

[Horsetan]

1 hour ago, ttc0169 said:

I’m meeting a queen this morning….

 

That's lovely. Broadside and overhead photos are generally difficult to find.

[GSR 800]

1 hour ago, Westcorkrailway said:

Even though the lighting dosent show it off to well, I think maebh is still in the original CIE green paint…just with GS on the tender 

She is indeed in CIE dark green, why Cultra added a G S is a complete mystery. 

[Westcorkrailway]

7 minutes ago, GSR 800 said:

She is indeed in CIE dark green, why Cultra added a G S is a complete mystery. 

They got it without anything on the tender so I assume (as they didn’t really care about the significance of the paintjob, which I can’t blame them entirely) they stuck in the GS to make it look better and call it a day. But to have something 60 years in virtually untampered paint from service is fascinating. Some of the things in cultura are getting touch ups paint wise. The longer 800 avoids this the better.
 

speaking of original paint. I was with the ITG the day 134 was being moved out of Moyasta. Some paint was naturally peeling off revealing its old liveries including the 1960s original GM Grey colour

Most interestingly of all though was a Dart Green. Part of an experimental livery only 124 wore w

 

 

probably for the best that this colour scheme never took off

[ttc0169]

2 hours ago, Horsetan said:

That's lovely. Broadside and overhead photos are generally difficult to find.

 

[cheesy_peas]

I note there's a photographic grey option now. I imagine it never ran in PG other than from paint shop to photo taking site and back to paint shop for repainting into green? It does look nice though not to everyone's taste.

[Bob229]

9 hours ago, ttc0169 said:

I’m meeting a queen this morning….

 

Nice on a Tuesday or any day, stunning a visit on my to do list

[BosKonay]

2 hours ago, cheesy_peas said:

I note there's a photographic grey option now. I imagine it never ran in PG other than from paint shop to photo taking site and back to paint shop for repainting into green? It does look nice though not to everyone's taste.

It certainly ran around multiple locations for various photos and as these things usually do, a photo of it running in anger is always possible to show up. Sales so far peg it as popular as the best selling green ones so certainly lots of you like the look of it. 

[GSR 800]

32 minutes ago, BosKonay said:

It certainly ran around multiple locations for various photos and as these things usually do, a photo of it running in anger is always possible to show up. Sales so far peg it as popular as the best selling green ones so certainly lots of you like the look of it. 

What are overall sales for the 800s like so far compared against other locos in the IRM range?

[jhb171achill]

3 hours ago, cheesy_peas said:

I note there's a photographic grey option now. I imagine it never ran in PG other than from paint shop to photo taking site and back to paint shop for repainting into green? It does look nice though not to everyone's taste.

Correct. Like all such paintings, it was for official photo purposes only. Before any locomotive went into traffic, it was painted in its "proper" livery. 

The IRM grey model certainly has novelty value, which will make it very7 popular with collectors, I would imagine. I am unaware of any manufacturer ever making any model of anything in "photographic grey".

7 hours ago, ttc0169 said:

 

Especially for a beast THIS size!

[Galteemore]

Hornby, Heljan and Lilliput have all done it….

[DiveController]

7 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

Hornby, Heljan and Lilliput have all done it….

I’m not sure that any of those are in photographic gray. The silver coronation livery certainly is a running delivery. I’m not sure about the others. Photographic gray was intended for black and white photographic purposes where the overall scheme was gray, but particular items such as the wheels or particular items to be highlighted were picked out in white 

[Galteemore]

8 minutes ago, DiveController said:

I’m not sure that any of those are in photographic gray. The silver coronation livery certainly is a running delivery. I’m not sure about the others. Photographic gray was intended for black and white photographic purposes where the overall scheme was gray, but particular items such as the wheels or particular items to be highlighted were picked out in white 

Yes I wondered that myself, but each of these catalogue listings says ‘photographic grey’ as the livery description. It’s not a ‘Coronation’ livery as that’s a W1, not an A4.

I certainly recall seeing at least one Roco or Lilliput loco in grey about 40 years ago - a large German tank loco IIRC, which would have been black in working livery. 

 

Edited October 29 by Galteemore

[DiveController]

1 minute ago, Galteemore said:

Yes I wondered that myself, but each of these catalogue listings says ‘photographic grey’ as the livery description.

 

Yes, interesting because as we all know, a silver livery for running purposes would only work for a well maintained top link service. A long time since I did British modeling so I might’ve forgotten the details.

[jhb171achill]

10 hours ago, Westcorkrailway said:

Part of an experimental livery only 124 wore w

 

 

probably for the best that this colour scheme never took off

Probably the laziest and most hideous, unartistic livery ever applied to anything in history!

[DJ Dangerous]

On 26/10/2025 at 11:55 PM, Westcorkrailway said:

Nice matching clothes, too!

 

10 hours ago, Westcorkrailway said:

They got it without anything on the tender so I assume (as they didn’t really care about the significance of the paintjob, which I can’t blame them entirely) they stuck in the GS to make it look better and call it a day. But to have something 60 years in virtually untampered paint from service is fascinating. Some of the things in cultura are getting touch ups paint wise. The longer 800 avoids this the better.
 

speaking of original paint. I was with the ITG the day 134 was being moved out of Moyasta. Some paint was naturally peeling off revealing its old liveries including the 1960s original GM Grey colour

Most interestingly of all though was a Dart Green. Part of an experimental livery only 124 wore w

 

 

probably for the best that this colour scheme never took off

Some of that peeling paint should be saved for reference in the future. What a gem 124 is, also having that green buried underneath.

 

2 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

The IRM grey model certainly has novelty value, which will make it very7 popular with collectors, I would imagine. I am unaware of any manufacturer ever making any model of anything in "photographic grey".

I’ll be running my grey one as a “What-If?” loco, hauling a rake of Provincial Wagons vans!

[jhb171achill]

One of these was not on the IRM stand….

Edited October 30 by jhb171achill

[exciecoachbuilder]

On 29/10/2025 at 1:38 PM, Westcorkrailway said:

They got it without anything on the tender so I assume (as they didn’t really care about the significance of the paintjob, which I can’t blame them entirely) they stuck in the GS to make it look better and call it a day. But to have something 60 years in virtually untampered paint from service is fascinating. Some of the things in cultura are getting touch ups paint wise. The longer 800 avoids this the better.
 

speaking of original paint. I was with the ITG the day 134 was being moved out of Moyasta. Some paint was naturally peeling off revealing its old liveries including the 1960s original GM Grey colour

Most interestingly of all though was a Dart Green. Part of an experimental livery only 124 wore w

 

 

probably for the best that this colour scheme never took off

Hi, the grey paint on loco 134 is actually anti corrosive primer/undercoat (ICI fastbuild) that was used when the new paint shop was opened, 1999- 2000, and when Irish Rail started to use 2 pack polyurethane paint. The loco would have had filler put on the body, then sanded down to an accepted level, then given  two coats, possibly three of this 'fastbuild'  primer. Loco's , and most of the other rail vehicles were never stripped down to the bare metal. There was generations of black and orange paint on the loco body and older coaches ( Craven , MK2's) so getting it back to the bare metal , while doable, would have taken too long in the eye's of the Irish rail traffic controllers, who were always screaming out for coaches and locomotives. The white stripe that you see, was one sided adhesive tape that was  stuck on the loco sides ( and coach sides ) except the front  which was handpainted with white undercoat then finished with white gloss as it wasn't possible to bend the white bands. I have only seen traces of the original paint on these 121 class loco's in the Inchicore paintshop and workshops. The grey that we see in the photo is too pristine for something that was painted in the early 1960's. 

                                                                                                                                  Paul.

[Niles]

3 hours ago, exciecoachbuilder said:

Hi, the grey paint on loco 134 is actually anti corrosive primer/undercoat (ICI fastbuild) that was used when the new paint shop was opened, 1999- 2000, and when Irish Rail started to use 2 pack polyurethane paint. The loco would have had filler put on the body, then sanded down to an accepted level, then given  two coats, possibly three of this 'fastbuild'  primer. Loco's , and most of the other rail vehicles were never stripped down to the bare metal. There was generations of black and orange paint on the loco body and older coaches ( Craven , MK2's) so getting it back to the bare metal , while doable, would have taken too long in the eye's of the Irish rail traffic controllers, who were always screaming out for coaches and locomotives. The white stripe that you see, was one sided adhesive tape that was  stuck on the loco sides ( and coach sides ) except the front  which was handpainted with white undercoat then finished with white gloss as it wasn't possible to bend the white bands. I have only seen traces of the original paint on these 121 class loco's in the Inchicore paintshop and workshops. The grey that we see in the photo is too pristine for something that was painted in the early 1960's. 

                                                                                                                                  Paul.

I remember having to remove the white stripe when I was involved with restoring the RPSI Cravens many years ago, it was... an ordeal.  

[Westcorkrailway]

11 hours ago, exciecoachbuilder said:

Hi, the grey paint on loco 134 is actually anti corrosive primer/undercoat (ICI fastbuild) that was used when the new paint shop was opened, 1999- 2000, and when Irish Rail started to use 2 pack polyurethane paint. The loco would have had filler put on the body, then sanded down to an accepted level, then given  two coats, possibly three of this 'fastbuild'  primer. Loco's , and most of the other rail vehicles were never stripped down to the bare metal. There was generations of black and orange paint on the loco body and older coaches ( Craven , MK2's) so getting it back to the bare metal , while doable, would have taken too long in the eye's of the Irish rail traffic controllers, who were always screaming out for coaches and locomotives. The white stripe that you see, was one sided adhesive tape that was  stuck on the loco sides ( and coach sides ) except the front  which was handpainted with white undercoat then finished with white gloss as it wasn't possible to bend the white bands. I have only seen traces of the original paint on these 121 class loco's in the Inchicore paintshop and workshops. The grey that we see in the photo is too pristine for something that was painted in the early 1960's. 

                                                                                                                                  Paul.

I agree with you, but in certain other places the livery does come through!

[exciecoachbuilder]

On 1/11/2025 at 7:19 PM, Westcorkrailway said:

I agree with you, but in certain other places the livery does come through!

That is true, like I said in my comment, I have only seen traces of the grey and sometimes the yellow. 

[jhb171achill]

On 3/11/2025 at 1:36 PM, exciecoachbuilder said:

That is true, like I said in my comment, I have only seen traces of the grey and sometimes the yellow. 

Let’s hope that’s not what the RPSI matched the colours for 134 with…. although, by happy coincidence, they both look much the same shade….

Very few nowadays who remember the original 121 livery. It only lasted a few years anyway - several were repainted black’n’tan within only 2 or 3 years. I certainly don’t remember it - my earliest memories of those engines were standard black’n’tan, yet I remember the older green on many another thing.

[Colin_McLeod]

On 21/11/2025 at 2:54 PM, jhb171achill said:

Very few nowadays who remember the original 121 livery. It only lasted a few years anyway

Jonathan, I have very clear menories of my Father taking me to Lisburn station to see the new 'express diesel' hauling the Dublin train.   On multiple occassions we saw a grey 121 class hauling the train.  Sometimes bonnet leading but then more often cab leading.

It's these memories that prompted me to get the RPSI grey version in OO.

[jhb171achill]

2 hours ago, Colin_McLeod said:

Jonathan, I have very clear menories of my Father taking me to Lisburn station to see the new 'express diesel' hauling the Dublin train.   On multiple occassions we saw a grey 121 class hauling the train.  Sometimes bonnet leading but then more often cab leading.

It's these memories that prompted me to get the RPSI grey version in OO.

I must have seen the grey at some stage - but if I did, I’ve no recollection of it! I do remember the last of the brown GNR coaches though.

[Mayner]

7 hours ago, Colin_McLeod said:

Jonathan, I have very clear menories of my Father taking me to Lisburn station to see the new 'express diesel' hauling the Dublin train.   On multiple occassions we saw a grey 121 class hauling the train.  Sometimes bonnet leading but then more often cab leading.

It's these memories that prompted me to get the RPSI grey version in OO.

Remember hearing at IRRS Dublin annual Slide Show many years ago that:

(a) it was originally intended to include the new 121 Class in the same power Classification as the ex-GNR(I) MAK beccuse of their lower gross horse power and TE  than the B101 Class Sulzers and use the locos on secondary main line services.

(b) the new locos were initially rostered on less demanding (slower) main line and branch line duties. One of the Links was a daily (down morning/up afternoon) Galway Mail Train working, with the 121 filling in on Galway-Tuam passenger trains.

(c) The Galway/Tuam crew apparrently operated the 121 'long hood" leading for a period turning the loco on the Galway & Tuam turntables. In the United States 'road switcher" locos were originally set up to run 'long hood" forward/leading including some classes introduced in the 1960s.

(d) The B121 seemed to prove themselves as a 'top link" main line passenger loco after successfully working CIE Enterprise services soon after their introduction.

A favourite of mine I mainly remember them in pairs working Connolly-Rosslare and Sligo passenger service and an afternoon Heuston-Westport services during the late 70s-early 80s

[Colin_McLeod]

18 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

I do remember the last of the brown GNR coaches though.

So do I.  Also at Lisburn station along with blue ex GNR(I) 4-4-0  tender locos.

[jhb171achill]

2 hours ago, Colin_McLeod said:

So do I.  Also at Lisburn station along with blue ex GNR(I) 4-4-0  tender locos.

Yes - there was one parked up in the goods shed - remember that? Dunno why it had been left there. 85, sans tender, was in there with it, just after withdrawal.

[Jonathan Allen]

24 minutes ago, jhb171achill said:

Yes - there was one parked up in the goods shed - remember that? Dunno why it had been left there. 85, sans tender, was in there with it, just after withdrawal.

According to "Forty Shades of Steam", 171 was in Lisburn goods store from 27 January 1969 until March '69 for painting. I recall seeing her there, but the "Box Brownie" would not have been capable of producing a decent photograph.

[jhb171achill]

7 minutes ago, Jonathan Allen said:

According to "Forty Shades of Steam", 171 was in Lisburn goods store from 27 January 1969 until March '69 for painting. I recall seeing her there, but the "Box Brownie" would not have been capable of producing a decent photograph.

Interesting! It was definitely a grubby 85 I saw there. I wonder what dates? I wouldn’t be sure but would guess ‘63-68?

[Galteemore]

Amazing how all that worked out. UTA considered buying 85 but went for 207 instead. Merlin disappeared to Inchicore for scrapping whilst 207 enjoyed a few more years in traffic. Interesting that it was actually 85 which survived rather than the possibly more iconic Boyne, which was the last of the big GN 4-4-0s to steam. Had I been alive and a betting man in 1965, I’ve a fair idea which of the two I’d have predicted surviving! 

Just now, jhb171achill said:

Interesting! It was definitely a grubby 85 I saw there. I wonder what dates? I wouldn’t be sure but would guess ‘63-68?

After closure of Adelaide until transfer to Witham St so 1966-69

[Mike 84C]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that EMD painted the 121's Louisville & Nashville colours. And they do look very similar. But why do that?

[jhb171achill]

26 minutes ago, Mike 84C said:

I seem to remember reading somewhere that EMD painted the 121's Louisville & Nashville colours. And they do look very similar. But why do that?

Not quite - but the grey certainly looks about right!

[leslie10646]

This thread seems to have strayed off the subject?

[jhb171achill]

On 10/3/2025 at 9:08 PM, murphaph said:

Which livery did 800 carry at withdrawal in 1962? The dark green flying snail one?

Standard CIE green, still on it in Cultra, but with incorrect GS initials (put on by Cultra) instead of a flying snail.

On 29/10/2025 at 1:15 PM, GSR 800 said:

She is indeed in CIE dark green, why Cultra added a G S is a complete mystery. 

It’s typical “Irish preservation inaccuracy”. Cultra and the RPSI have both been repeat offenders. 

Correct liveries on preservation here are all too often either not properly researched, or “anything will do, we’re not bothered”!