“Jeeps” in 1947

[jhb171achill]

From a 1947 Meccano magazine.

The first of these useful engines had entered traffic the year before, and the last of them in 1950, well into UTA times.

The last few would become Ireland’s last operational company-service steam engines in 1970, with the very last one not officially withdrawn until 1971. 

[Mike 84C]

Thanks for posting John, my first reaction to the young man on the milling machine was where is the eye protection! Different times! When Britain made things. How times have changed from the year I was born . The Meccano Magazine kept me quiet for hours!

[jhb171achill]

1 hour ago, Mike 84C said:

Thanks for posting John, my first reaction to the young man on the milling machine was where is the eye protection! Different times! When Britain made things. How times have changed from the year I was born . The Meccano Magazine kept me quiet for hours!

When I was about 8, Senior gave me all his OWN Meccanno, which was actual original stuff from the late 1920s. Original wooden box too. Wish I’d kept it - probably with a fortune now!

[David Holman]

Note too that the Bassett Lowke advert states its products were new year gifts for boys. Girls too busy playing with dolls and doing housework presumably....

[GSR 800]

17 minutes ago, David Holman said:

Note too that the Bassett Lowke advert states its products were new year gifts for boys. Girls too busy playing with dolls and doing housework presumably....

A different time indeed!

Good thing the mill isnt on, otherwise your man is lined up nicely for an eyeful of swarf! 

 

 

 

[Galteemore]

It’s so long ago, that the VS never mind the Sligo tanks had never even touched Irish metals yet. But what a design the Jeep was. Still the RPSI’s most operationally effective loco - even if 171 is the most attractive! 

[Irishswissernie]

Derby Works had already worked out how to transport new locos to Ireland. This is a view of one of the 1933 built Class W 2-6-0's being prepared for shipment. I think this was an HC Casserley negative so I can probably find the exact date. EDIT. Not a Casserley Negative, Its a glass one I acquired in 2021 but I can't remember where it came from. 

 

Edited September 23 by Irishswissernie

[airfixfan]

The LMS sent most of the Moguls over to be assembled at York Road. They sent thr Jeeps over from Heysham as a kit of parts to be assembled under the control of a top man from Derby works

[Irishswissernie]

In the photo the loco is already loaded onto the bogie Well wagon for transfer to the port. The tender body has been detached and is on another well wagon whilst the tender chassis awaits another wagon and there are timber frames to put round the cab. Its a small tender which were fitted to numbers  90 to 98 when these were  built in small numbers over the years 1933 to 1937.

Edited September 23 by Irishswissernie

[GSWR 90]

All great snaps. There are some fantastic pictures in Mark Kennedy’s book “The LMS in Ireland” of the Moguls being lifted – tender and loco at the same time – by floating crane over to Queen’s Island for overhaul by H&W

[jhb171achill]

6 hours ago, Galteemore said:

It’s so long ago, that the VS never mind the Sligo tanks had never even touched Irish metals yet. But what a design the Jeep was. Still the RPSI’s most operationally effective loco - even if 171 is the most attractive! 

Always my view, yes. No. 4 was always to me the least attractive preserved engine, but there's no doubt that they were a truly excellent design in most ways (though the injectors often had a preference to water the ballast rather than inject water into the boilere!). Fair to say No. 4 saved the society's bacon several times.

[Horsetan]

On 23/9/2025 at 7:41 AM, Galteemore said:

It’s so long ago, that the VS never mind the Sligo tanks had never even touched Irish metals yet. But what a design the Jeep was. Still the RPSI’s most operationally effective loco - even if 171 is the most attractive! 

....and note the "open" footplate in front of the cylinders, adopted (it is said) from Charles Fairburn's 1945 2-6-4T design for the LMS.

Fairburn was an electrical engineer by training, but is best remembered for that single mixed-traffic/suburban tank.

[airfixfan]

Jeeps designed by Tom Coleman at Derby