IRM Latest! Goddess Is In The Making - GSR 800 Update

[Warbonnet]

Let's face it, there is nothing more splendid when it comes to Irish steam than the GSR 800s, the Edgar Bredin masterpiece designed and built in Inchicore. 

The mighty 800 Class has occupied legendary status for almost 90 years. Despite a remarkably short working life, the 800s has transcended her time in service to become an icon of Irish railway history, with generations of enthusiasts wondering what it must have been like to witness her storming towards Cork with an express train in tow.

Well, we can't quite recreate that. We can, however, recreate her in miniature to a standard worthy of her legendary status.

We're delighted to announce that our all-new GSR 800 Class locomotives are now in full production, with completion scheduled before the end of this year before beginning their journey from China and onwards to layouts and display cabinets across the world.

It's always an exciting milestone when a project reaches this stage. After countless hours of research, CAD development, tooling revisions, testing and refinement, there's something immensely satisfying about seeing thousands of individual components finally coming together on the production line.

It's fair to say that the 800 Class has been one of our most eagerly anticipated projects. We've been inundated with orders and messages from modellers asking when they'll arrive, demanding sneak peeks and politely requesting updates. 

First up, we're finally ready to let the mighty 800 speak for herself.

We've been working away on the sound project for these locomotives and we're delighted to confirm that we'll be unveiling it for the very first time in the coming weeks. Capturing the unmistakable character of this Irish icon has been a hugely enjoyable challenge and we're very much looking forward to sharing the results with you. 

We'll also be unveiling decorated samples which have yet to make their public debut. These latest samples represent our best look yet at the finished models and we're tremendously excited to finally pull back the curtain on them. We know many of you have been waiting patiently to see these locomotives wearing their finery and we don't think you'll be disappointed.

Then there's the matter of that model.

From the moment we announced No. 800 in her stunning photographic grey livery, we knew she deserved something a little special. After all, if ever there was a locomotive worthy of being treated like royalty, surely Maedb must be somewhere near the front of the queue.

So, we're delighted to reveal that we'll also be showcasing the bespoke wooden presentation box created exclusively for No. 800 in photographic grey. This isn't merely packaging; it's a fitting tribute to one of the most significant locomotives in Irish railway history and provides a suitably luxurious home for what is sure to become one of the centrepieces of many collections.

As production continues over the coming months, we'll be bringing you plenty more updates as we reach new milestones. Seeing Ireland's most famous steam locomotive move from announcement to production has been incredibly rewarding for the whole team and we can't wait to finally get these models into your hands.

Before we go, we'd like to leave you with one final tease.

No, we haven't forgotten about the Class 22000 InterCity Railcars. In fact, we've been keeping rather busy behind the scenes. We've got a very special and exciting update planned for the end of August which we're dying to share with you.

In the meantime, we'll have plenty more 800 Class goodness coming your way over the next few weeks.

Not ordered one? Are you mad? Order All 3 below!

Pre-Order Your 800 Class Locomotive Here!

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[Bob229]

Excellent news, stunning samples of the GSR800, looking forward to the updates

[85 Merlin]

Whoo-hoo! They look great, Fran @Warbonnet — thanks for sharing the update.

I can’t wait to hear the new sound files, as I have three on order! These are going to be something special, I just know it.

— 85 Merlin

[jhb171achill]

The drooling continues!

These will surely be the event of the DECADE, bar nothing!

Having seen samples, even by IRM’s extremely lofty standards, these raise the bar again. 

And now we’re also starting to see pre-1960 rolling stock to run with them! 

 

[murphaph]

I won't be able to run mine as I suspect it will be impossible to convert sympathetically to 21mm but you've just got to support this venture. Mine will be displayed int he case  Can't wait.

[jhb171achill]

50 minutes ago, murphaph said:

I won't be able to run mine as I suspect it will be impossible to convert sympathetically to 21mm but you've just got to support this venture. Mine will be displayed int he case  Can't wait.

I will need to contrive an excuse for it to turn up in a remote west Kerry branch line terminus!

Actually, I suspect that with the “Cultra livery” (CIE livery but with “G S” on the tender) being one available option, a “preserved” one hauling IRM RPSI Cravens or Mk 2 stock will be a credible option for many. 

The option I’ll be using is “Rule 1”! 

[85 Merlin]

Hi everyone, Here is my photo of No. 800 Maedbh at The Transport Museum in Northern Ireland a few years back. I can't wait to run this beauty on my layout, hopefully very soon, my account says September 30th due so here's hoping - 85 Merlin 

[DJ Dangerous]

Two threads on the same project so copying and pasting my post from the main thread:

Which of the various 800 Class models being released would have seen the highest mileage and had the longest lives?

On the other end of the spectrum, like the grey version, which of the models would have had the shortest lives?

Talking about the models being released, more than the prototypes themselves.

Thanks!

[leslie10646]

5 hours ago, DJ Dangerous said:

Two threads on the same project so copying and pasting my post from the main thread:

Which of the various 800 Class models being released would have seen the highest mileage and had the longest lives?

On the other end of the spectrum, like the grey version, which of the models would have had the shortest lives?

Talking about the models being released, more than the prototypes themselves.

Thanks!

802 was withdrawn in 1955, 801 in 1957, but was used from Cork to Mallow on a leg of the 1961 "Grand Tour".

@seagoebox is the man to answer this!

[seagoebox]

801 appeared very briefly on the 1961 "Grand Tour"... Monday 5th June 1961 departing Cork at 8.15am, including a photo stop at Blarney (8.32-8.35) arriving at Mallow at 8.57.

There the train headed by J15 no 131 departed at 9.10 and travelled the Kerry Road to Newmarket, Kanturk, Castleisland,  Tralee & Fenit, arriving at Limerick that evening, 12 hours later at 8.30pm

The post-railtour blurb published by the IRRS/ RCTS and SLS  very briefly described 801's run as....  "This was a soft morning, No. 801 starting up the bank from Glanmire Road shrouded in rain and steam. The view of this large 4-6-0 entering Blarney shows clearly the extent to which she outstripped all the other locomotives in size and apparent power. At Mallow she was replaced by J15 No. 131..."

[leslie10646]

Thanks, @seagoebox.

The Grand Tour is well covered by my "Lance King in the South" talk, which was the first of a series of four talks which I put together. To illustrate No.801 in colour on the Tour I had to rely on David Soggee's one colour slide of it - he was chasing the tour by car with a few friends one of whom was David Lawrence, whose photo you have shown - Davis must have been standing beside his namesake!  David Soggee's input greatly added to Lance's shots, as he, Lance, was on the train!

Lance only took black and white that morning, as the light was so poor. The IRRS collection may have them, I must look them up. While we have catalogued a lot of the colour, the B&W is a job still to do!

Can you offer an answer to Dave's question as to which "800" did the highest mileage?

 

Edited Friday at 07:55 by leslie10646

[seagoebox]

Leslie, I have a draft copy of Great Southern Steam by Peter Rowledge,(unpublished 1983?), Bob Clements and Peter worked very closely together for years.

I quote...

 

"The coming of the diesels quickly displaced the 800's from the top link jobs. As early as March 1954 there was some doubt about repairing 801 when it was shopped after failing with an over-heated big end. However the repairs were made and eventually this was the last of the three to run. The boiler of 802 was in poor condition by this time and the engine last ran in  early 1956; some parts were then used to repair 801, but the boiler went to Spain as scrap. Amongst the engine men No. 800 was considered to be the strongest of the three, No. 801 the fastest, and No. 802 the most reliable. The latter was the hardest worked of the three and about 1950 the mileages (according to adverts issued by the manufacturers of the roller bearings) were 372,000, 351, 000 and 428,000 respectively. The final mileage for No. 802 was 641,000 and neither of the other two are likely to have exceeded that mileage by any great amount as their work after 1956 became more limited. No 800 was held as a spare for seasonal passenger trains and in May 1958 it was exhibited at Inchicore for a visit by the Institution of Locomotive Engineers, afterwards returning to traffic. During Christmas 1958 No. 800 failed with leaking tubes at Ballybrophy when working the 3.40pm down. After being taken off the train this engine was put onto the front of the following down perishables itself headed by No. 801 and loaded to only seven vans! This was in all probability the only time that a train had two of the 800 class. The former was then dumped at Thurles shed and stayed there for a long time.

No 801 continued to work a variety of tasks, menial for such a fine express engine. Very often these were cattle specials or empty wagons, but on 5th June 1961 the very last passenger duty of the class took place when this engine worked the IRRS/SLS/RCTS Grand Tour from Cork to Mallow. This engine was the only one to stray away from the Dublin- Cork main line, visiting Limerick in September 1961 as a light engine, and three times in January 1962 with overload wagons (ie, wagons left from previous trains) after a strike of engine men at Cork.

Soon afterwards No. 801 joined its sister at Thurles. Then on 25th August 1962 both were towed away to Inchicore, although there was a prolonged wait in a siding at Portarlington because of the failure of the hauling diesel locomotive. No 801 was cut up very soon after arrival at Inchicore."

[seagoebox]

Further exploration of my files produced the following... make your own conclusions but things were not working out so well with the classes  

Make your own minds up, but things appeared not to be bright and rosy with the "Premier Engines" in 1951 !

[seagoebox]

Coal and oil consumption sheets for 1941, locomotives are summarised into districts, Northern GSWR/ DSER, MGWR, Southern, Eastern and Western. No 800 is not mentioned anywhere, answers on a postcard pleas !

[jhb171achill]

Most interesting!