IRM Latest! Our Green (And Grey!) Goddesses Revealed In All Their Finery!

[Warbonnet]

We’re delighted to report that our GSR / CIE 800 class has now reached the decoration stage, and we’ve been taking a close look at the latest samples.

We just had to share them with you all!

This stage is all about fine-tuning — confirming what’s working well and making sure anything that needs improvement is picked up early, before we move towards production.

Overall, the models are in very good shape, but there are a few areas we've identified where refinement is needed. This is all part of the production process! 

To improve overall fit and consistency, we’ll be adjusting the painting process so that parts are painted as sub-assemblies rather than as individual components. This should result in cleaner joins and a more robust final assembly. Along similar lines, the fit of the handrails will be improved so they sit more naturally on the finished models.

We’ve also noted that the running gear is currently a little too loose for our liking. This will be tightened up to give a more accurate and solid feel. In performance testing, the motor and gearbox behave exactly as intended in most situations, but when hauling a very heavy load — around ten bogie coaches — there is a small drop in performance. We’re targeting roughly a ten per cent improvement here to fully meet our specification.

On the decoration side, the cab and tender etched plates were fitted to these samples in error. On the production models, cab side and tender numbers and crests will be tampo printed as intended, with separate etched plates supplied in the accessory bag where applicable. We’ve also identified a few areas where paint coverage and accuracy can be improved, and the quality of the boiler lining will be further refined to give a crisper finish.

Our Project Manager is looking afresh at historical evidence and the livery carried by 801 on ACC-1302/ACC-1310 during its single chimney period of 1954 - 1961, when the tender was devoid of its ‘Flying Snail’. This may lead to the lining being removed completely.

A couple of detail points have also been flagged. The orientation of the drain cocks is incorrect on several samples, which has been noted and will be corrected. In addition, metal parts such as axle ends and wheel pickups have not yet received chemical blackening — this will be applied to improve realism.

The tender’s rear NEM pocket also needs a little fettling to increase the range of movement, and the bright tension lock couplings will be replaced with black or dark grey versions. We may also supply alternative transparent ABS couplings, which is still to be confirmed.

Just as importantly, there’s a lot of positive news to report.

The decoration samples have met, and in some areas exceeded, the original artwork specifications, with colour matching in particular proving to be spot on. Each model has also been fitted with the correct variations of chimney, smokebox, and smokebox door — something that isn’t always guaranteed at this stage, but very welcome to see.

From a running perspective, aside from the slight loss of performance under very heavy loading, the motor performs to specification and the gearing is exactly where it should be.

The transition from a slow crawl through to express speeds is smooth and convincing. Initial generic DCC and sound testing has also gone exactly as expected, allowing us to move confidently towards the development of the fully tuned DCC and sound-fitted versions.

All of this feedback has now gone back to the factory, and we’ll be keeping a close eye on the next stage as these refinements are implemented. We’re very encouraged by how the 800 class is shaping up and look forward to sharing further updates as the project continues.

We're still on track at this moment to meet our expected delivery date of Q3 2026. Just look at this detail and quality, on a model of a locomotive designed and built in Ireland. All of this replicated in miniature for the first time in high quality, ready-to-run format, and possibly never to be repeated.

PRE-ORDER YOUR 800 CLASS HERE! 

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[John-r]

Man, they really have the WOW factor, fantastic looking locos, now which one to Get .

[Georgeconna]

Cripes the darker green GS might have won me over despite the double chimney, Just lovely.

curious to know what the little yellow items are on the tender sides? tarp ties downs? Lifting Lugs?

[Westcorkrailway]

These aren’t out yet I’m aware. And it’s a big thing to say. But these should be the best Irish RTR models ever made. I’ve never anticipated a model more in my albeit short life

[leslie10646]

It being the Season of Goodwill, I will say that the CIE version of the 800s looks very nice and is tempting.

I am unsure of your reference to these ladies as "Goddesses", my understanding was that they were ladies from Irish history?

I'm sure that our resident Gaelic-speaker @WRENNEIRE can give me the Chapter and Verse?

[jhb171achill]

They're neither "Queens" nor "goddesses". They were all different. Maedb was a queen. Macha was a goddess. Tailté was the wife of a High King of Ireland.

The dark green with "G S" is the livery she carries now, since 1994 or so. She arrived in the north in standard CIE lined green, which she still carries, but without any markings. In her thirty-year stay in Belfast, she remained without markings. It was only once she entered the UFTM in Cultra that she acquired the "G S"; this variation of the livery was never, of course, carried in traffic - in fact she has never so much as turned a wheel carrying this lettering! So, IRM are simply giving another "fun" option in providing the model in what might be called its "Museum livery", in the same way they're offering it in the works grey it carried simply to have a photo taken when new. 

With the real thing only every having two operational liveries, it's a nice - and unique - additional option.

Edited 2 hours ago by jhb171achill

[GSR 800]

These look absolutely fabulous.

On 19/12/2025 at 11:46 AM, Georgeconna said:

Cripes the darker green GS might have won me over despite the double chimney, Just lovely.

curious to know what the little yellow items are on the tender sides? tarp ties downs? Lifting Lugs?

I believe they are holders for some sort of cabling (from train to cab?) 

See here, Mikemorant collection

 

4 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

They're neither "Queens" nor "goddesses". They were all different. Maedb was a queen. Macha was a goddess. Tailté was the wife of a High King of Ireland.

The dark green with "G S" is the livery she carries now, since 1994 or so. She arrived in the north in standard CIE lined green, which she still carries, but without any markings. In her thirty-year stay in Belfast, she remained without markings. It was only once she entered the UFTM in Cultra that she acquired the "G S"; this variation o0f the livery was never, of course, carried in traffic - in fact she has never so much as turned a wheel carrying this lettering! So, IRM are simply giving another "fun" option in providing the model in what might be called its "Museum livery", in the same way they're offering it in the works grey it carried simply to have a photo taken when new. 

With the real thing only every having two operational liveries, it's a nice - and unique - additional option.

All three are probably more accurately described as 'Deities', with both Maedbh and Tailte are considered representations of Goddesses themselves. 

[jhb171achill]

29 minutes ago, GSR 800 said:

These look absolutely fabulous.

I believe they are holders for some sort of cabling (from train to cab?) 

See here, Mikemorant collection

 

All three are probably more accurately described as 'Deities', with both Maedbh and Tailte are considered representations of Goddesses themselves. 

I'm happy enough to call them 800s!  (B1a class sounds a bit nerdy!)

[GSWR 90]

This update is the worst-case scenario: they all look great. Now I have no idea whether to go for 800 in GSR, CIÉ, or as-preserved livery...