Old railway modelling magazines

[jhb171achill]

I have got several old magazines with articles by or about Cyril Fry’s models.

Growing evidence is emerging over collaborations between himself and the equally well-known Drew Donaldson. It is very likely that two in the Fry collection were made by Fry FOR Donaldson, but for some reason remained with their maker, and that at least one in Malahide was made by Donaldson, with an equivalent in one in Cultra being made by Fry.

As of now, the jury’s out. If clear evidence arises, I will post it. 

Meantime, the GNR had an exhibition in 1947, at which some of Fry’s models were displayed. Here are the details.

I will post more here in the coming days.

Plus a 1956 Dublin bus ticket, of course.

[jhb171achill]

More from same article - AMAZING stuff - this is 74 years ago!

[jhb171achill]

From “Modern Tramway”, January 1940.

Mention is made of his model of 800, which then was only weeks fully in traffic. 801 and 802 were not fully completed.

Clearly, Fry had friends in the Drawing Office in Inchicore..... this, itself, is an emerging story.....!

The building seen below as the main terminus at “New City” has survived. I am hopeful that space may be found to display it.

[jhb171achill]

The April 1956 “Railway Modeller” had a rare colour picture of the Churchtown layout on the cover.

The Peco ad shows wagons for 7 shillings and 6 pence. To those of us who were not au fait with money prior to 1971, that’s €0.47.....

Eat you heart out, Fleabay, where they would now be £237 each, plus £55 postage each....... 

[Galteemore]

And a rather nice retro Sligo Leitrim train it is too! Strange to think that the real thing was still running then ...

[Midland Man]

Two questions 

1. What happened to frustrating original layout?(not the castle one)

2. Is the Inchicore model in Cultra made by Drew Donaldson?

You were saying that fry built engines for Donaldson It may be frys 0-6-2 tank engine as it is in green

[Galteemore]

Question 2 - the Inchicore scene was made by a professional model maker - from Enniskillen I think. Drew did not do scenery - operation was his thing.  

[jhb171achill]

2 hours ago, Galteemore said:

And a rather nice retro Sligo Leitrim train it is too! Strange to think that the real thing was still running then ...

Indeed! And much other stuff too...

1 hour ago, Midland Man said:

Two questions 

1. What happened to frustrating original layout? (not the castle one)

2. Is the Inchicore model in Cultra made by Drew Donaldson?

You were saying that Fry built engines for Donaldson?  It may be Frys' 0-6-2 tank engine as it is in green

Fry's models of a 500 class, and GSR 900 appear to have built for Drew, as they bear the non-authentic GSR (800 class) green. They were never anything but grey in real life (or CIE green after about 1947). 

Your questions....

1. The Fry Churchtown layout was disposed of after 1972, when he died. Like the 1980s "Castle" one, there seemed to be few takers - or warehouses - in which to put it, though as others here will attest, strenuous were made by some people to try to persuade the "powers that be" at the time to do so. A few buildings and scenic items off it have survived, as have some of the road vehicles. Not all the models have survived in the collection, as I am now discovering that the family retained a few and gave several as presents to relatives and friends. The layout is gone....

2. I don't know who made the Cultra model of Inchicore shed. I don't think it was Drew, though, but I stand to be corrected. Anyone?

Which 0.6.2 do you refer to?

 

[Midland Man]

Forgot the classes name but they are DSER 0-6-2 and were used on the bray line

[minister_for_hardship]

3 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

From “Modern Tramway”, January 1940.

The "Phony War" was still ongoing, before all hell broke loose.

[Midland Man]

51 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

Question 2 - the Inchicore scene was made by a professional model maker - from Enniskillen I think. Drew did not do scenery - operation was his thing.  

I wonder if he is still alive? One of Frys engines must be there sure of it. First time I went there I must of counted 8-9 4-6-0s and about 4 of them look like a 800 class.

[Galteemore]

I think he was simply contracted to build various display cases for the museum c1994. I don’t think the models were ever in his custody.

[jhb171achill]

40 minutes ago, Midland Man said:

Forgot the classes name but they are DSER 0-6-2 and were used on the bray line

Ah, 670 class.... The Dublin suburban tanks got the main line CIE green too, so for this engine it is authentic, though i don't know if all of them got the green.

 

[Galteemore]

One of the most helpful aspects of the ‘Big Green Book of Glorious GSR Greatness’ is the gazetteer at the end listing known models of GS locos. There is a 670 listed as a Fry loco  - no 670 herself of the I3 class. Along with B3 no 362, it is simply listed as ‘not on display at time of writing’. As they also list Drew’s Cultra collection, the clear implication is that the I3 was still somehow attached to the Fry collection proper. 

Edited April 8, 2020 by Galteemore

[jhb171achill]

17 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

One of the most helpful aspects of the ‘Big Green Book of Glorious GSR Greatness’ is the gazetteer at the end listing known models of GS locos. There is a 670 listed as a Fry loco  - no 670 herself of the I3 class. Along with B3 no 362, it is simply listed as ‘not on display at time of writing’. As they also list Drew’s Cultra collection, the clear implication is that the I3 was still somehow attached to the Fry collection proper. 

For that particular locomotive, that is my understanding of it.

[murrayec]

1 hour ago, Midland Man said:

I wonder if he is still alive? One of Frys engines must be there sure of it. First time I went there I must of counted 8-9 4-6-0s and about 4 of them look like a 800 class.

@Midland Man

If its Drew your wondering about- he has passed away.

Fry signed the locos he built so next time your in Cultra look out for this, generally he signed and dated on the back of the cab or tender;-

Eoin

 

[jhb171achill]

More regarding Fry.
 

 

[DiveController]

Some very interesting stuff Jon, thanks for posting!