GSR 800 Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 I have a few of Tom Ferris books and have borrowed some of the DVDs from the local library.Really a mine of information with some great film. I enjoy these films very much.I noticed that the 800s seem to have had some minor changes in the mid 50s.Why did this happen? Does anyone know any more about these books or does anyone have more film or pics? anything to help would be greatly appreciated Bigger is Better Quote
jhb171achill Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 They tried double chimneys, but reverted to single. No major modifications were carried out, such as different boilers or alternative types of motion. Externally, the livery changed from the unique GSR "mid green with a bluish tint", lined yellow and black like the GSR carriages; to the standard CIE green which may be seen on 800 in Cultra today, lined black and white as per "CIE green loco" practice. The "G S" initials on 800 in Cultra are not accurate - in that livery she should have a "flying snail". Quote
GSR 800 Posted March 12, 2015 Author Posted March 12, 2015 Achill im pretty sure only tailte got her single funnel back. i also believe their was minor improvments on the smokbox front.ie.smokebox door handle and extra hand railings Quote
jhb171achill Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 Railings / handles - yes, that's right. I was thinking of more fundamental alterations. Maedb had both double and single chimneys too. Quote
GSR 800 Posted March 13, 2015 Author Posted March 13, 2015 Does anyone have any pics of the 800s and 500s at Kingsbridge? Quote
jhb171achill Posted March 13, 2015 Posted March 13, 2015 I found an Inchicore official side-on pic of a 400 today. Must scan it.... Quote
jhb171achill Posted March 13, 2015 Posted March 13, 2015 Either is correct spelling; ask my sister and daughter, both of whom have it as a middle name! (Often wondered why....) Quote
GSR 800 Posted March 14, 2015 Author Posted March 14, 2015 Achill. My sisters FIRST name is Maeve or Maedb! Quote
heirflick Posted March 14, 2015 Posted March 14, 2015 I called my daughter Maeve....told her that she was named after the Warrior Queen of Connaught, but the truth was she was named after 800...... shes not impressed! Quote
GSR 800 Posted March 14, 2015 Author Posted March 14, 2015 white lies my friend.i be thrilled if i was named after a train;) Quote
Old Blarney Posted March 14, 2015 Posted March 14, 2015 GSR 800, "white lies my friend.i be thrilled if i was named after a train" Does this mean we may now address you as - foursixo? Old Blarney Quote
Broithe Posted March 14, 2015 Posted March 14, 2015 I went to school with a "Jinty", whose real name, I presume, was Virginia. It might have been spelt "Ginty", but names like that are rarely written down. Quote
GSR 800 Posted March 14, 2015 Author Posted March 14, 2015 Does this mean we may now address you as - foursixo? =)) Quote
GSR 800 Posted March 14, 2015 Author Posted March 14, 2015 I think we should set up a fund! Get 800 going! Quote
Old Blarney Posted March 14, 2015 Posted March 14, 2015 GSR800, "I think we should set up a fund! Get 800 going!" A lovely thought. Unfortunately, that is all it will ever be. I remember discussing this matter in Belfast many, many, years ago. The reasons why it will not happen have compounded over the years. Then, she would have been restricted to one route Dublin to Cork. The restrictions were - her weight, length and hammer-blow. At that time there was a turntable in Cork that would allow her to be turned there. This, I believe, is no longer the case as it was taken out of its pit. The Boyne Viaduct was/is, I believe, a major obstacle to her ever running between Dublin and Belfast. When she moved down to Belfast to go to the Museum there, she was separated from the B Class Locomotive taking her there by a long line of Beet Wagons whilst crossing the Boyne Viaduct. The reason being that only a single locomotive was on the bridge at any time during the crossing of it. There was no overhead knitting in the Dublin area. I'm not sure of my place here but, I imagine the height of 800 in relation to the overhead wiring might cause some problems when travelling in the Dublin area. Bridge heights along with the depth of modern ballast nowadays could also be a further problems. Cost of restoring 800 were in excess of £125,000 twenty five years ago, so I hate to think how much her restoration to running condition would cost in 2015! Add to that the cost of reinstating the Cork Turntable, and retaining the use of the only turntable capable of taking her length at, Inchiecore Works, Dublin, and you begin to realise you have a beautiful locomotive that is restricted to a single route. Far better to spend the money we have on restoring, repairing, and maintaining multiple locomotives, with multiple route availability. This allows choice of routes and variety of motive power. Please don't misunderstand my viewpoint. I would love to see her returned to working condition. Unfortunately, I have not won the lottery, nor am I aware of a lottery winner who has offered to have her restored to working condition; and to pay for all of the costs that will need to be meet her return to traffic use. Old Blarney Quote
DiveController Posted March 14, 2015 Posted March 14, 2015 I called my daughter Maeve....told her that she was named after the Warrior Queen of Connaught, but the truth was she was named after 800...... shes not impressed! Well, 800 is named for the warrior Queen of Connaught and so would your daughter, so no lie! My niece is Maedhbh...... they do love Irish names at passport control, y'know... Aoife, Siobhan etc. Quote
minister_for_hardship Posted March 14, 2015 Posted March 14, 2015 I called my daughter Maeve....told her that she was named after the Warrior Queen of Connaught, but the truth was she was named after 800...... shes not impressed! You could have done a lot worse in the naming stakes... Quote
GSR 800 Posted March 14, 2015 Author Posted March 14, 2015 Blarney i understand.But still if we could get her into the public eye..... Quote
heirflick Posted March 14, 2015 Posted March 14, 2015 You could have done a lot worse in the naming stakes...[ATTACH=CONFIG]18321[/ATTACH] Quote
leslie10646 Posted March 14, 2015 Posted March 14, 2015 No.800? Too many wheels! Engines are meant to have EIGHT, arranged 4-4-0! Given the Euromillions, it would be No.207 again and she wasn't preserved for much the same reasons Lord White mentioned earlier against No.800. That said, it WOULD be interesting to see how she really could run, as there's not a lot of info on how good they were. They were never given the chance to shine. On the names - my sons are William (not Stanier, but that was a useful second reason) and Oliver, who IS named after an Irish 'Saint', born in New Zealand. Now, I have to admit that HIS engines had TWELVE wheels and went like the wind! Leslie Quote
GSR 800 Posted March 14, 2015 Author Posted March 14, 2015 Actually their is footage of Macha pounding out of glanmire road. shed does very well by herself on a 1-68 gradient Quote
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