Sprite and Fairy, the pay trains

[Colonel]

At some point this year, I want to build one of the above. Both were 0-4-2Ts, each with a four wheel coach semi permanently attached. The two Green Bibles both give some information, though far from definitive. For example, the GSWR version has an outline drawing, supposedly of Sprite, but photos in both books suggest it is Fairy because of the shape of the cab cut out and height of the coach.

 My own outline interpretations are shown below.

 So, there are a fair few gaps to fill, such as:

• Livery - presumably the loco would have been in lined GSWR black in the early 1900s, so would the coach have similarly been the dark purple lake of the time?
• The coach interior - the locos and pay coach were on the road six days a week, with Sprite covering over 1.2 million miles from 1873 to 1927 and presumably the inner half of the coach was partitioned from the more open rear?

 Am guessing much has been lost, not least because both units were withdrawn in 1927, but the Forum has an enviable reputation for digging up all sorts of gems, so I live in hope. Any information greatly appreciated.

 The models will certainly need to be scratchbuilt and will be in 7mm scale and 36.75mm gauge. The working timetable of 1901 suggests one of them would have called in at Northport Quay every other Wednesday or Thursday, which would make a nice feature, so here's hoping!I

David Holman

[Mol_PMB]

Oh, I wish you had asked a week ago. I've just completed another trawl through tens of thousands of photos on Flickr and in hundreds of books, and I have definitely seen some photos of these on my way through. But I wasn't looking for them, so didn't record the links/reference.

This is the only one I could find again quickly:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53813564175

I'm pretty sure there are lots of photos of a short carriage portion surviving at Inchicore. But it's easy to get confused with these pesky beasts:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53813564520

 

[Mol_PMB]

This is the carriage body at Inchicore. 
https://flic.kr/p/2pvxjSk

I think there are several photos of this in the IRRS archive, by different gricers. 

 

Also this?

https://flic.kr/p/2pw8RWP

 

[Killian Keane]

Scanned from a Casserley print in my collection, at Inchicore 24/4/53;

From the relevant volume of Locomotive and train working in the latter part of the 19th Century by Ahrons;

Then theres this elusive creature, seemingly an earlier iteration of the same, source unknown but found posted on facebook some years ago;

[Colonel]

Many thanks everyone. Interesting question - was Fairy's caqn lower, or Sprite's coach taller? Fairy had 5'2 drivers, whereas Sprites were 5'.

 Great to see lamp tops and vents on the coach; likewise the end detail of it.

Can't see any lining on loco or coach, apart from that very early picture above and wonder what that curious box affair was behind the driving wheel?

Am guessing that might be a toilet compartment at the front end of the coach?

Given it carried a lot of cash, wonder what security arrangements there were?

Edited December 27, 2025 by Colonel

[Mol_PMB]

I've had another quick scan through the Broadstone and Inchicore images on Flickr and can offer the following photos of the carriage portion(s?):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53499188535/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/54253429865/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53508937548/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53505926887/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53508519491/

And I got wrong-footed by one of these again!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53509066394/

 

[Mayner]

It might be worth checking with Roger/Alphagraphix whether he produced a 7mm model of Sprite.

I have a sneaking suspicion that he first released an etched kit for a GSWR paycar and MGW 2-2-2T Bee/Elf before going on to produce more mainstream loco such as his range of "West Cork" tanks.

[Galteemore]

Yes that rings a bell with me John - pretty sure he had this in his range about 6 years ago 

 

[Colonel]

Many thanks for the Flickr links, Paul but I can't access them, even though I have an account. Comes up as being private. Any idea what I need to do, please?

[Mol_PMB]

24 minutes ago, Colonel said:

Many thanks for the Flickr links, Paul but I can't access them, even though I have an account. Comes up as being private. Any idea what I need to do, please?

If you are an IRRS member and have a flickr account you can gain access by following this process:

https://irrs.ie/photographic-archive/

If you have already done that and still can't see them, then I don't know what's wrong but would suggest you might contact Ciaran.

[Colonel]

Looks like I need to renew my subscription...

Many thanks for all your efforts - at least the links will still be on the thread!

[Mol_PMB]

Have you got this one?

[Mol_PMB]

Here’s another:

[Colonel]

Yes both, but thanks nonetheless. Have actually made a start on the coach section, for which I seem to have enough bits in store. However, it may turn out to be a bit of a hybrid - partly because I didn't fancy doing the rounded beading (so have just used microstrip instead), while Sister's do not have correct pattern drivers it seems. Size ok, but not enough spokes.

 Given there were noticeable differences between Sprite and Fairy - cab opening, driving wheel diameter and tank height to name but three - am hoping I can get away with an 'approximation'. Did also consider doing a MGWR version using the Alphagraphix single wheeler tank engine kit. Not sure the prototype would have been up to the 1.2 million miles that Sprite covered though!

 Am thinking that the second photo shows a toilet compartment at the loco end - or maybe this was a 'strong room', where they kept the money for staff wages? Would have been a very tempting target, especially in the early 1900s...

[Mol_PMB]

The camera-shy Fairy

[Galteemore]

On 20/1/2026 at 7:52 AM, Colonel said:

Yes both, but thanks nonetheless. Have actually made a start on the coach section, for which I seem to have enough bits in store. However, it may turn out to be a bit of a hybrid - partly because I didn't fancy doing the rounded beading (so have just used microstrip instead), while Sister's do not have correct pattern drivers it seems. Size ok, but not enough spokes.

 Given there were noticeable differences between Sprite and Fairy - cab opening, driving wheel diameter and tank height to name but three - am hoping I can get away with an 'approximation'. Did also consider doing a MGWR version using the Alphagraphix single wheeler tank engine kit. Not sure the prototype would have been up to the 1.2 million miles that Sprite covered though!

 Am thinking that the second photo shows a toilet compartment at the loco end - or maybe this was a 'strong room', where they kept the money for staff wages? Would have been a very tempting target, especially in the early 1900s...

Wouldn’t surprise me if they carried an RIC constable or two …,

[Tullygrainey]

On 20/1/2026 at 7:52 AM, Colonel said:

Sister's do not have correct pattern drivers it seems. Size ok, but not enough spokes.

 

Intrigued to know more about this new supplier of 7mm wheels seeking Slater's share of the market

[seagoebox]

From "The Locomotive" May 1903

[Colonel]

6 hours ago, Tullygrainey said:

Intrigued to know more about this new supplier of 7mm wheels seeking Slater's share of the market

A Pox upon spell checkers!

[Mol_PMB]

Are these of any interest?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/336449892953

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/336449844845 (what is this? doesn't look right to me, maybe miscaptioned?)

 

[Mol_PMB]

Another one for the collection:

[Rob R]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/336449844845

This one is one of the ex DSER railcar locomotives as converted to an 0-4-0t (Imp and Elf)