ERNIE's Irish Railway Archive, photos from ca 1900 to the 2000's

[jhb171achill]

On 25/5/2025 at 8:44 AM, David Holman said:

Absolutely!

That is one enormous cattle train.

Over 30 wagons..... some main line cattle specials were allowed to load to 45 plus van!

8 minutes ago, Irishswissernie said:

Usually but then you could in those days although you would need some time. I think he must have used the vehicle below to get from Waterford station to the Goods Yard. 

I think its Waterford Goods yard entrance , I have been up that lane over the road a few times in the 2000's and then climbed the hill to the Golf Course on the top which gave you a panoramic view of the yard and line west. The house is no longer there though. HCC didn'r record much information about this view so I'm left wondering what was the horse's name, and the driver's , what brand of cigarette is he smoking but most of all is that a light  on the horse's neck or is it a street lamp on the road

GSR 1929-09-14 Waterford Goods yard , Jaunting cart HCC glass 6189 Cas25024.

 

Tis a special breed of horse that was bred specifically for this use; they were born with lamps attached. 

 

[commerlad]

6 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

Over 30 wagons..... some main line cattle specials were allowed to load to 45 plus van!

Tis a special breed of horse that was bred specifically for this use; they were born with lamps attached. 

 

Ok But where do you insert the batteries.

[jhb171achill]

58 minutes ago, commerlad said:

Ok But where do you insert the batteries.

In the narrowest gauge place.

[David Holman]

Is that the one where the sun doesn't shine?

[Irishswissernie]

CIE 1955-04-20  Ballina 599 RMC83486 Cas25179.

Limerick Junction 147 ca 2000.

GNRI 1950-05-17 Ballyhaise 156 HCC 72971 Cas25051.

GNRI 1929-09-19 Fintona Junction, Horse & Tram from ground HCC glass 6308 Cas25021.

 

[Galteemore]

Lovely shot of a QL - possibly the Cinderella of the GN 4-4-0s classes. Interesting to see the tram before its blue and cream days 

[Mol_PMB]

Great contrasts of new and old in the first shot.

The train has a brand-new coach but ancient 6-wheel brake and vac-fitted ventilated van behind the loco (meat/fish/fruit van?). The loco is probably older still!

The brand-new H vans in the sidings also contrast with GSWR vans dating back to the early 1900s.

[jhb171achill]

14 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

Great contrasts of new and old in the first shot.

The train has a brand-new coach but ancient 6-wheel brake and vac-fitted ventilated van behind the loco (meat/fish/fruit van?). The loco is probably older still!

The brand-new H vans in the sidings also contrast with GSWR vans dating back to the early 1900s.

This is the beauty of that era - the contrast of old and new, steam and diesel. The loco is 1880s, the vehicle behind it is a MGWR ventilated van, then (as you say) a "modern" coach - laminate or 1951-3 series; followed by an 1880s / 1890s ex-GSWR full passenger brake, as the recent Hattons Genesis model, then the wagons. Unclear what's at the end - possibly a MGWR six-wheel passenger brake.

[derek]

Poor old horse.............

Edited Monday at 18:43 by derek

[Mol_PMB]

2 minutes ago, derek said:

Poor old horse.............

Is that ‘Dick’ the mare?

When DCC horses are eventually available I rather fancy modelling the Shannon Vale Mill operation, also wonderfully illustrated in Ernie’s archive. 

 

[Irishswissernie]

CIE 1967ca Mullingar 25j+076.

GNRI 1929-09-19 Fintona Junction, Horse Tram HCC Glass 6312 Cas25016.

CIE 1955-04-26 Rosslare Strand 314 10.05 ex Westland Row, RMC83665 Cas25197.

CIE 1955-04-21 Tuam 54 RMC53507 Cas25187

 

[Patrick Davey]

Lovely selection Ernie!  Amazing early view of Fintona Junction with what looks like the familiar tram car in pre-blue & cream livery.

[Horsetan]

On 2/6/2025 at 7:53 PM, Mol_PMB said:

Is that ‘Dick’ the mare?

When DCC horses are eventually available I rather fancy modelling the Shannon Vale Mill operation, also wonderfully illustrated in Ernie’s archive. 

 

I think it will take developments in nanotechnology to filter through to modelling before we can have moving figures, working horses and other animals, bicycles, etc.

[Mol_PMB]

25 minutes ago, Horsetan said:

I think it will take developments in nanotechnology to filter through to modelling before we can have moving figures, working horses and other animals, bicycles, etc.

As long as the horse remained attached to a goods van full of gubbins, I reckon it could be done in 7mm scale. Especially if the layout was lit so that links between the van and the horse were partly in shadow, just like this (also one of Ernie's):

 

[Horsetan]

8 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

As long as the horse remained attached to a goods van full of gubbins, I reckon it could be done in 7mm scale. ...

Horses walk in a specific way, so the correct order in which each hoof contacts the ground still needs to be reproduced. And if you want the model horse to trot, that's a whole different arrangement.

[Flying Snail]

The Magnorail system models cyclists' legs turning the peddles with transparent perspex/acrylic wheels. Perhaps something like that could work with the horse's feet while a motorised van pushes the whole contraption along???

 

 

[commerlad]

A walking horse has been done in 00 before. 

Isle of Man, Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Think it was Simon? Hamlyn, His Dad made Clip Clop sounds with a couple of coconut shells.

The tram was motorised but the leading axle was internally cranked, with thin wires then protruding forwards to the hinged horses legs.

I know I have copies of the photos somewhere.

Edited yesterday at 03:55 by commerlad