IRRS Manchester

[Mol_PMB]

I'll be at the Waldorf tonight for this month's IRRS Manchester talk:

Ken Grainger presents “Rhapsody in Blue”. As the name suggests the talk is all about the GNRI, more importantly the famous blue engines of that railway concern, along with other forms of blue liveried stock, road transport also gets a look in. Ken will use slides, all his own and all in glorious Colour, if you were lucky enough to witness Ken's previous talk to the branch in March 2024 on the CDRJC, then this talk, like that on the County Donegal Railway, is one “Not to be Missed”. 

Might see some of you there; hopefully the GNR enthusiasts on the forum will be able to join online if not in person. And IRM might get some inspiration for their next steam loco?

 

[Mol_PMB]

An excellent talk this evening by @airfixfan of this parish - many thanks!

Two for the price of one really - a fascinating review of the effect of partition on all the cross-border lines and communities, followed by a focus on Strabane. 

Thanks again!

The IRRS has branches in Manchester and Cork as well as the better-known Dublin and London centres. Talks are available online too. See the IRRS website for details of the local programmes. 

[airfixfan]

Was great to meet you tonight you shared some interesting observations

[Mol_PMB]

A reminder of the IRRS Manchester meeting tonight, in person and online:

“Railways of the IOM” by Alistair Renfrew - Irish Railway Record Society

It's a Manx theme this time - of course there was much in common between the Irish and Manx narrow gauge steam-worked lines, but they were both pioneers of electric railways too. I think the talk will cover all the rail-borne Manx transport systems over the years. 

I'm intending to be there, should be a good show.

 

[Mol_PMB]

A little display of models at the IRRS Manchester Christmas meet:

Mine in the background, Richard’s in the foreground.
He’s got some lovely models!
 

[Richard EH]

On 4/12/2025 at 5:52 PM, Mol_PMB said:

A little display of models at the IRRS Manchester Christmas meet:

Mine in the background, Richard’s in the foreground.
He’s got some lovely models!
 

Thanks Paul! Likewise, that E class is fab!

As a reminder, all IRRS Manchester branch events are detailed online here: 

https://irrs.ie/branches/manchester/

Drop me a PM or email IRRSManchester@gmail.com for further details.

 

Richard.

[Mol_PMB]

Tonight’s topic online or in a cosy central Manchester pub:

February 12th : DISCOVERING THE MGWR” BY RICHARD MACLACHLAN

 

 

We will welcome back our old friend, Richard Maclachlan for a talk on the Midland and Great Western Railway (MGWR), based on the extensive research carried out by Richard at the IRRS Dublin Headquarters. We do hope you will join us for a talk like no other, Richard is the expert on the MGWR.

However you plan to join us, you're very welcome.

Venue and Programme Details

As is usual, our talks take place at the Waldorf Public House on Gore Street, Manchester. The room will be available from 18:00, the talk commencing at 18-30 hours and concluding by 21-30 hours. The Waldorf is located within a 5-minute walk of Piccadilly Railway Station, the nearest Metrolink stop is Piccadilly Gardens and the venue is served by most major bus routes commencing or terminating at Piccadilly Gardens.

The weblink can be found here. 

At each of our speaker events, the society sales stand will be open for the sale of second-hand Irish and Non-Irish subjects. (cash only sales, please) The Waldorf now offer meals, until 8 pm and the bar has a well-stocked range of beers, lagers, ciders, wines and spirits, plus soft drinks and snacks.

Non IRRS members will be made very welcome, at any of our talks or events. A charge of £3.00 applies for both IRRS Members and for non IRRS Members, please pay in cash on the door. if you are attending in person. An online payment link is here for those planning to watch online. 

 

 

[Horsetan]

2 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

Tonight’s topic online or in a cosy central Manchester pub:

February 12th : DISCOVERING THE MGWR” BY RICHARD MACLACHLAN

 

 

We will welcome back our old friend, Richard Maclachlan for a talk on the Midland and Great Western Railway (MGWR), based on the extensive research carried out by Richard at the IRRS Dublin Headquarters. We do hope you will join us for a talk like no other, Richard is the expert on the MGWR.

However you plan to join us, you're very welcome.

Venue and Programme Details

As is usual, our talks take place at the Waldorf Public House on Gore Street, Manchester. The room will be available from 18:00, the talk commencing at 18-30 hours and concluding by 21-30 hours. The Waldorf is located within a 5-minute walk of Piccadilly Railway Station, the nearest Metrolink stop is Piccadilly Gardens and the venue is served by most major bus routes commencing or terminating at Piccadilly Gardens.

The weblink can be found here. 

At each of our speaker events, the society sales stand will be open for the sale of second-hand Irish and Non-Irish subjects. (cash only sales, please) The Waldorf now offer meals, until 8 pm and the bar has a well-stocked range of beers, lagers, ciders, wines and spirits, plus soft drinks and snacks.

Non IRRS members will be made very welcome, at any of our talks or events. A charge of £3.00 applies for both IRRS Members and for non IRRS Members, please pay in cash on the door. if you are attending in person. An online payment link is here for those planning to watch online. 

 

 

This was very good. I've been listening in during dinner 🍽 

[Mol_PMB]

Some super drawings and early photos of MGWR stock in the second half. 

[Richard EH]

Hi all,

Our final talk of the season is this coming Thursday, the IRRS Manchester branch will be joined by Alan O'Rourke with his presentation: ' Who was Tom Cochrane: A look at irish railways in the 1950's'. Alan has written extensively on irish railways, he was born in Redhill, Surrey of Irish parents. Summer holidays were spent in Ireland visiting relatives with rail travel to Roscrea, Castlerea, Athenry and one memorable trip to Loughrea, a few months before the branch closed. First used  a Rambler ticket in 1978 to cover the rest of the CIE passenger network; more excursions in the 1980s, including goods only sections using footplate permits. A 1984 student elective in Belfast allowed a four-week exploration of Northern Ireland Railways, ending with a Sunday evening run to Dublin on a CIE 071 class.

 

He is Author of The North Kerry Line; co-author with Stephen Johnson of Modelling Irish Railways; and with Jeremy Clements and Michael McMahon of Locomotives of the GSWR. Also contributed numerous articles to the Journal of the IRRS, Five Foot Three and the Historical Model Railway Society Journal. He is an active modeller in 4 mm scale and has edited New Irish Lines since 1999. When not modelling or researching Irish railways, can be found on his allotment.

However you plan to join us, you're very welcome for what promises to be an excellent season finale to our 2025/26 speaker programme. 

Venue and Programme Details

As is usual, our talks take place at the Waldorf Public House on Gore Street, Manchester. The room will be available from 18:00, the talk commencing at 18-30 hours and concluding by 21-30 hours. The Waldorf is located within a 5-minute walk of Piccadilly Railway Station, the nearest Metrolink stop is Piccadilly Gardens and the venue is served by most major bus routes commencing or terminating at Piccadilly Gardens.

At each of our speaker events, the society sales stand will be open for the sale of second-hand Irish and Non-Irish subjects. (cash only sales, please), there may even be a few models on display as I will have my under construction C class and UG with me.

The Waldorf now offer meals, until 8 pm and the bar has a well-stocked range of beers, lagers, ciders, wines and spirits, plus soft drinks and snacks.

Non IRRS members will be made very welcome, at any of our talks or events. A charge of £3.00 applies for both IRRS Members and for non IRRS Members, please pay in cash on the door. if you are attending in person.

If you've any queries, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Kind Regards

 

Richard E-H.

[Mol_PMB]

I'm looking forward to this!

[Tullygrainey]

6 hours ago, Richard EH said:

Hi all,

 

Our final talk of the season is this coming Thursday, the IRRS Manchester branch will be joined by Alan O'Rourke with his presentation: ' Who was Tom Cochrane: A look at irish railways in the 1950's'. Alan has written extensively on irish railways, he was born in Redhill, Surrey of Irish parents. Summer holidays were spent in Ireland visiting relatives with rail travel to Roscrea, Castlerea, Athenry and one memorable trip to Loughrea, a few months before the branch closed. First used  a Rambler ticket in 1978 to cover the rest of the CIE passenger network; more excursions in the 1980s, including goods only sections using footplate permits. A 1984 student elective in Belfast allowed a four-week exploration of Northern Ireland Railways, ending with a Sunday evening run to Dublin on a CIE 071 class.

 

He is Author of The North Kerry Line; co-author with Stephen Johnson of Modelling Irish Railways; and with Jeremy Clements and Michael McMahon of Locomotives of the GSWR. Also contributed numerous articles to the Journal of the IRRS, Five Foot Three and the Historical Model Railway Society Journal. He is an active modeller in 4 mm scale and has edited New Irish Lines since 1999. When not modelling or researching Irish railways, can be found on his allotment.

However you plan to join us, you're very welcome for what promises to be an excellent season finale to our 2025/26 speaker programme. 

Venue and Programme Details

As is usual, our talks take place at the Waldorf Public House on Gore Street, Manchester. The room will be available from 18:00, the talk commencing at 18-30 hours and concluding by 21-30 hours. The Waldorf is located within a 5-minute walk of Piccadilly Railway Station, the nearest Metrolink stop is Piccadilly Gardens and the venue is served by most major bus routes commencing or terminating at Piccadilly Gardens.

At each of our speaker events, the society sales stand will be open for the sale of second-hand Irish and Non-Irish subjects. (cash only sales, please), there may even be a few models on display as I will have my under construction C class and UG with me.

The Waldorf now offer meals, until 8 pm and the bar has a well-stocked range of beers, lagers, ciders, wines and spirits, plus soft drinks and snacks.

Non IRRS members will be made very welcome, at any of our talks or events. A charge of £3.00 applies for both IRRS Members and for non IRRS Members, please pay in cash on the door. if you are attending in person.

If you've any queries, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Kind Regards

 

Richard E-H.

Quick question. Can I join this one as a non-member on Zoom and if so, how do I do so or where can I find a link?

Alan

[Mol_PMB]

2 minutes ago, Tullygrainey said:

Quick question. Can I join this one as a non-member on Zoom and if so, how do I do so or where can I find a link?

Alan

You should be able to. I don't think the link has been sent out yet - it's normally a couple of days before.

Hopefully @Richard EH will post it here when it's available, if not I'll copy it here once I have it.

[Richard EH]

3 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

You should be able to. I don't think the link has been sent out yet - it's normally a couple of days before.

Hopefully @Richard EH will post it here when it's available, if not I'll copy it here once I have it.

Yep, of course. Drop me a PM with your email address and I'll add you to the cc list.

[Mol_PMB]

 

Message from Richard with the Zoom link for tonight. I’ll be there in person.
 

Dear all,

 

We hope that you're looking forward to Alan's talk this evening.

 

As a reminder, full details are below. For reference, the zoom link to dial into the talk is here and will be live from 18:15 in good time for a start at 18:30 and the payment link, should you wish to make a contribution to branch funds, is here.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82713772388?pwd=wlSH5iJK5nMpkr6nX0eabqHX3vV2Xc.1

https://www.paypal.com/pool/9nKeaPT1BL?sr=accr

We're really looking forward to the talk, and hope that you are too.

 

Kind Regards

 

Richard Ellis-Hobbs

On behalf of the IRRS Manchester Commitee