"True" Irish railway liveries

[Galteemore]

3 minutes ago, GSR 800 said:

If I ever get around to a VS class the livery will surely be a headache! 

Perhaps I should nab a Britomart to compare it against..

I take the Henry Ford approach to GN locos. Any colour you like as long as it’s black ….

[GSR 800]

10 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

I take the Henry Ford approach to GN locos. Any colour you like as long as it’s black ….

All look fabulous, the hints of red between the frames make them pop even more.

Mullingar hosted a few GN locos after the GNRB folded up, so a few in black might be in order! The QLG, with it's enormous boiler and small driving wheels, is a favourite.

I must say I'm quite partial to the UTA's lined black, it looked spectacular when they were newly outshopped.

 

Edited May 3 by GSR 800

[Galteemore]

3 minutes ago, GSR 800 said:

All look fabulous, the hints of red between the frames make them pop even more.

Mullingar hosted a few GN locos after the GNRB folded up, so a few in black might be in order!

I must say I'm quite partial to the UTA's lined black, it looked spectacular when they were newly outshopped.

 

Cheers Harry. Yes, the UTA black is rather fine and actually made the SG3s and UGs rather glamorous. One can only wonder what a VS would have looked like in that livery - possibly like a shrunken Royal Scot in LMS postwar black / livery 6115 Scots Guardsman used to carry in initial preservation. Can’t paste links for some reason but there are lots of images out there. 

[GSR 800]

1 hour ago, Galteemore said:

Cheers Harry. Yes, the UTA black is rather fine and actually made the SG3s and UGs rather glamorous. One can only wonder what a VS would have looked like in that livery - possibly like a shrunken Royal Scot in LMS postwar black / livery 6115 Scots Guardsman used to carry in initial preservation. Can’t paste links for some reason but there are lots of images out there. 

Not a million miles off being black in this photo from Ernies Archive!

 

 

[Mike 84C]

That is a fabulous photo of Lagan, the engine crew are doing something. I like the fireman damping down the coal with the pep pipe. How sad the engine looks so neglected be quite a challenge to get that finish on a model and would you want to?

Re minds me of my BR engine prep days  had a special set just for that job.  Then clean up and put the nice clean overalls on!  Well cleanish!

[jhb171achill]

On 3/5/2025 at 2:16 PM, Mike 84C said:

That is a fabulous photo of Lagan, the engine crew are doing something. I like the fireman damping down the coal with the pep pipe. How sad the engine looks so neglected be quite a challenge to get that finish on a model and would you want to?

Re minds me of my BR engine prep days  had a special set just for that job.  Then clean up and put the nice clean overalls on!  Well cleanish!

I had several locos finished in CIE grey which I wanted to have realistically weathered to look like they did at the tail end of steam. The results were very realistic - I’ll try to find pics. Dempsey of this parish did some of them; but unfortunately I can’t recall who did the others!

[DJ Dangerous]

On 22/4/2025 at 8:55 AM, Colin_McLeod said:

Colour is difficult to get right.  I thought the blue of the IRM Mk2b NIR blue and grey coaches was too dark.  Upon investigation I realise that it perfectly matches the MIR 'NIR light blue' paint which was professionally colour matched to actual NIR paint in the early 1980s.  

Despite this it still looks darker than my recollection.  Photographs don't help as there you will find a whole range of blue shades.

For my own interest I repainted two IRM coaches. One with a lighter blue stripe, and the other in NIR maroon and dark blue.

This is the result.

 

I think the repaint is closer to my memory but maybe a bit light, so further experimentation will follow.

The MM GM also looks on the light side and I may repaint that if I can get the shade right.

 

Lovely, @Colin_McLeod!

What RAL shades did you use for the NIR "Morocco" maroon and "Caribbean" blue?

P.S.: Thanks to @Robert Shrives for the names of the colours!

Edited Friday at 19:19 by DJ Dangerous

[Colin_McLeod]

On 12/9/2025 at 8:11 PM, DJ Dangerous said:

Lovely, @Colin_McLeod!

What RAL shades did you use for the NIR "Morocco" maroon and "Caribbean" blue?

Thanks DJ

I used MIR paint. "NIR Maroon" and "NIR Dark Blue"

These were colour matched to NIR paint by Precision Paints in the 80s.

 

[DJ Dangerous]

3 hours ago, Colin_McLeod said:

Thanks DJ

I used MIR paint. "NIR Maroon" and "NIR Dark Blue"

These were colour matched to NIR paint by Precision Paints in the 80s.

 

 

Thanks, @Colin_McLeod!

Found the Phoenix Precision Paints NIR range of colours HERE, for anybody who needs them:

NIR Light Blue:

https://www.phoenix-paints.co.uk/products/paint-products/precisionrailway/irish/14p894

NIR Intercity Blue:

https://www.phoenix-paints.co.uk/products/paint-products/precisionrailway/irish/14p886

NIR Dark "Caribbean" Blue:

https://www.phoenix-paints.co.uk/products/paint-products/precisionrailway/irish/14p889

NIR "Morocco" Maroon:

https://www.phoenix-paints.co.uk/products/paint-products/precisionrailway/irish/14p890

They also have a range of Irish colours which may be of interest to some.

Donegal colours, cement wagon colours, Dublin Bus colours, very handy.

Thanks again to @Colin_McLeod and @Robert Shrives for the info!

Edited 1 hour ago by DJ Dangerous
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