800 Maedb by Ian Rathbone & Mike Edge

[Mayner]

A good example of what can be achieved in 4mm from an etched brass kit.

Ian Rathbone & Mike Edge's 4mm model of 800 in GSR lined green livery from a SSM kit.

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/152458-gsr-800-class/page/2/

Edited May 15, 2020 by Mayner

[David Holman]

Quite a combination, must be two of our finest. Mike is of course the craftsman behind Judith Edge Kits, while Ian Rathbone is a master painter. His book on loco painting and lining sits alongside Martyn Welch's Art of Weathering as two of my most referred to books, not least because both are easy to read and apply.

 Wonder if Martyn will eventually get to do a bit of weathering on Maedh?

Edited May 17, 2020 by David Holman

[Midland Man]

Hope the pare build more Irish models like 461 or even a midland engine the Meadh used on Tony Raggs layout quite close to GSR color.

[mphoey]

goes to show how good the kit is now could you imagine a rtr version

 

[Mayner]

On 5/17/2020 at 9:51 PM, Midland Man said:

Hope the pare build more Irish models like 461 or even a midland engine the Meadh used on Tony Raggs layout quite close to GSR color.

Check out some of DeSelbys builds on RM Web https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/profile/3024-de-selby/content/page/2/&type=forums_topic_post 

Alan has a liking for little and large GN & NCC engines there is content on a GNR S,Vs, U and am NCC Mogul & a Whippet

[David Holman]

Some fabulous stuff on show here!

[Noel]

On 5/15/2020 at 2:49 AM, Mayner said:

A good example of what can be achieved in 4mm from an etched brass kit.

Ian Rathbone & Mike Edge's 4mm model of 800 in GSR lined green livery from a SSM kit.

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/152458-gsr-800-class/page/2/

[DiveController]

That's a fantastic model and very few capable of achieving that quality. I imagine it must be very expensive to complete. I imagine that a model or a trio of 800 Class locos would walk off the shelves (if they ever even hit them )!

[jhb171achill]

The big girl herself (Cyril Fry’s) in Malahide.

 

Edited June 17, 2020 by jhb171achill

[Midland Man]

Sadly both of the Meadhs  will never run again.

Edited June 18, 2020 by Midland Man

[jhb171achill]

In theory, it's more likely the one in Cultra would; there's no impediment other than money and time to getting her out again.

However, Cyril Fry's will stipulated an absolute condition that none of his models were ever to operate again!

But, of course, in reality, pigs will fly and do algebra, Donald will behave rationally, Michelle will join the DUP and Arlene will become a Shinner before 800 will ever be steamed again!

[DoctorPan]

9 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

In theory, it's more likely the one in Cultra would; there's no impediment other than money and time to getting her out again.

 

 

That and complete rebuidling of the network to take her size and weight....

[jhb171achill]

3 hours ago, DoctorPan said:

That and complete rebuidling of the network to take her size and weight....

Great way to drop the unemployment Q!

[Midland Man]

To be fair Meadh is 84 tons while the 071 class is 99 tons. Height would be the only one of many small problem for getting the system ready if Meadh was ever restored. Restoring here would be a b@$!x. I have heard that the....

Boiler is cracked in a dozen places.

Outside cylinders are messed up.

Frames are cracked.

Chasis is messed up

Brakes are all bad and need replacing ever just to move her.

Piping in the boiler need replacing.

This is only a few of many problems this engines gives and even if you over came all this stuff it would be...

Millions of money spent on a engine

People will dislike it as very little of the original will have survived.

The engine will only be in use for about 3 years before overhaul so CIE may change restitution making   her unable to run. I would spend my money on something practical like a 402 and even then you will need turn tables.

MM

 

Edited June 18, 2020 by Midland Man

[DoctorPan]

27 minutes ago, Midland Man said:

To be fair Meadh is 84 tons while the 071 class is 99 tons. Height would be the only one of many small problem for getting the system ready if Meadh was ever restored. Restoring here would be a b@$!x. I have heard that the....

I question that as I remember 4 fully loaded is about that. Plus diesel weight is evenly distributed over the axles vs on Meave. Then there is the whole loading gauge clearances under the DART and structural clearances on platforms.

[jhb171achill]

In reality, axle load is unlikely to be that much of a problem today, but her height would be the issue.

She's not in too bad mechanical condition, and though a new boiler might be necessary, it's not cracked. The chassis is OK. However, even if (by steam restoration terms) a minimum of work would be necessary, where it would be done, by whom, how long it would take and where the cash would come from - THAT is the REAL issue.

It would almost certainly have to go to England. It wouldn't fit in Whitehead. Realistically, it is quite beyond the ability of any preservation group in Ireland at this time, and if done in Ireland, could only be done in Inchicore, with specialist people brought in for the duration of the project. Several years and a few million would pass before a fire was lit in her.

Providing bridge and electric wires clearances were deemed OK, she could probably do Dublin - Cork and Dublin - Drogheda; but these issues probably would NOT be OK.

If she was restored to full working order by a magic fairy overnight, and presented to the RPSI in the morning, she would be a Treasurer's nightmare, given her likely appetite for coal. While for her size she was very efficient and comparatively economical, she's still a big loco. When I was RPSI Treasurer, I used to groan at Operations meetings when someone suggested that a forthcoming train was to be hauled by 85 instead of 171; the bigger compound had very significantly higher coal bills. Maedb would be worse, and of little use.

Then there is the issue that she is the property of a state-owned museum in the north. With the north now out of the EU, it is possible that a loan agreement for the loco to go to operate in a separate political jurisdiction within the EU, would take ages to get ready. When I was involved in the enquiries into getting Dunluce Castle out of Cultra about 20 years ago for main line restoration, the outline legal agreement took almost two years to get ready. Meanwhile, the very generous RPSI member who had offered to fund the whole thing had fallen upon ill health and was no longer in a position to do so.

"Maedb" would do her ten year ticket, probably having at most half a dozen outings a year, and then go back into Cultra.

What treasurer could justify allocating a budget for a mid-term overhaul for a beast like this? As always, cold hard practicalities must carry the day; not impractical enthusiast dreams and emotions - mine included!

An SSM kit is the only show in town. Several of our readers here have very fine models of them, as have I.

Edited June 18, 2020 by jhb171achill

[Patrick Davey]

JB's summary above surely has to be the last word on the subject!

It is nice to dream though....imagine her blasting out of Cork tunnel.............

[jhb171achill]

I’ve imagined that many a time, Patrick!

Senior mentioned a trip one time on the footplate in absolutely lashing, torrential rain - and she held her feet ok. 

On that subject, he also did the Barnesmore Gap in heavy rain on a 5A with the goods. I can only imagine attacking the Barnesmore Gap with wet rails, bad Donegal weather, and 40 loose-coupled laden trucks on the back......

[Irishswissernie]

She looked a bit "out of gauge" on this trailer back in a gloomy day 10 October 1964 being moved in Belfast.

Photos Mike Shannon/DR Dunn Collection

[Georgeconna]

Massive Pics there!

[leslie10646]

Thanks for showing us those, Ernie. I had completely forgotten that she was moved by road to Witham Street (the then museum) - of course, there was no other way!

Well done to Mike for, obviously (looking at the general lack of traffic), getting up early to get the photo.

I was at Adelaide along with many of my generation of enthusiasts to welcome her. On the Saturday, Sam Mehaffey, the shed foreman, entered into the spirit of the occasion by having a gleaming No.207 "Boyne" in steam. The big VS Class worked the worked the 1235 all-stations local to Lisburn and its return - all three coaches of it - much nicer than a CAFs unit!

That Saturday was unique in another way - it was the 29th of February (1964).

Not the engines only meeting, for they met at Thurles on the IRRS St Pat's Day tour in 1962.

 

Edited June 26, 2020 by leslie10646