Hunslet 102

Many thanks pH, an impressive sight on the incline!

Thanks for sharing the video ColinK, a good enjoyable watch

Thanks Bill for the confirmation and information

Many thanks again Jeremy C, most informative. I can imagine the whole operation must have been quite complex and challenging at times! A WTT of the time would be an intriguing read! Great photo of the stock at the buffers, the post from billywizz using the locomotives as a banker makes sense, although it is not something I would have even thought of!

Many thanks for taking the time to write your detailed reply Jeremy C, great information and very much appreciated. The class 20 operating single is very interesting. Once released from the buffers, would it have headed bonnet first somewhere to be turned? was there a turntable at/near the station still in use? Also, was there runaround facilities at the buffers to release the locomotives or was there a designated shunter to haul the coaches out to release the locomotives? Again, any information greatly appreciated. Andy

Hi all Looking for information on what locomotives and dmu’s would have been in charge of services in and out of Glasgow Queen Street in the early 1970s era. I am assuming that Classes 24, 26, 27 and 29 along with 101 dmu’s would have been quite regular?, but would there have been many other variants, either regular or irregular. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Great job Kieran, look forward to seeing its development

An unidentified A class powers through Adelaide heading south with a CIE mixed goods. This would be the end of an era for many things in the early 70s period in this area. Grosvenor freight yard was closing, with a new freight yard at Adelaide replacing it. Adelaide station itself would soon become soulless concrete platforms in line with NIR modernisation and the mixed goods themselves were soon to be replaced. The joy of running up and down the wooden platforms and the noise it made with the smell of creosote filling the air was soon to be no more!

Like the traditional bike on the GNR loco!

Haha, I know, I can relate!! I remember travelling south from Belfast, to meet up with some work friends in a small village outside Dublin. As the evening drew to a close, I asked “what time do the pubs shut at down here “. The reply came “sure the gard’s will be along soon “. I said “oh, do the police close the pubs down here”, with the reply coming back of “no, they ensure the doors are locked and we can stay in with them as long as we want “ !!!

A scene from 50 years ago- aka 1973! A 3 car MED set, which had been transferred to the GNR metals as the old AEC sets had become unreliable and were being withdrawn, trundles into Adelaide with an all stations from Lisburn to Great Victoria Street. Heading in the opposite direction, is a CIE A class, at the head of a mixed rake of coaches with the Enterprise to Dublin. These old coach sets were reintroduced by CIE on the Enterprise, replacing the newer AC stock that had been introduced earlier, due to the increased terrorist activity the railway was sustaining at the time.

Some great pictures and great story telling! You can just imagine the truth behind the stories, rural Ireland at its best captured in picture and dialogue

Nice work Kieran, a lot involved to get there, but certainly worth it

Very nice work, lovely detail in all aspects, from the locomotive naturally to the stock, track and sleepers and the typical Irish halt with its rural scenery. Catches the imagination of how these lines once were

Nice review of your modelling year Kieran, look forward to what you have on the go for next year

Nice transformation Kieran

Really like the rural aspect of this layout, so it will be great to see how the bigger Castletown West blends in with Dugort Harbour. Great models of the mainstay rolling stock of the era, tin vans and brake vans

Interesting Kieran, not a very noticeable flaw that would be quite acceptable to most modellers, but the plasticard is an easy fix. Nice to get a bargain, although that wheel squealing is quite pronounced!

Looking forward to seeing these builds. The sides are on Worsley Works site already!

Nice job Kieran and an impressive freight fleet. Good to see a bit of Kirley Junction again

Great photos of a stunning layout, with what looks like a lot more to come

That is a really superb build that captures the prototype to perfection. Great job, well done

The first meaningful progress on the GVST station building area has finally begun, with a new backscene added an the appropriately named Victoria Mills, as Belfast was famous for its mills, as a backdrop to the station. The running lines have received ballast also. Once the station and its canopy are back in place, the mill will only be able to be viewed from a tight angle from the right hand side!

Yep they were a tad unsteady, especially on bends! Although a friend reminded me that the owners of them had the privilege of a great view at football matches as you would see them parked around the perimeter!

While growing up near Adelaide, in one of the streets that backed down onto the GNR main line, Marlborough Avenue, there was a workshop that done work/repairs to the invacars. I used to go round to the workshop to check out these unique vehicles, as I was always intrigued by them. Having waited a year on the release of these iconic cars, they are now proudly sitting in their new home at the factory! The late 60s/early 70s scene is complimented by unrebuilt CIE A class A15 heading to Dundalk with a heavy mixed goods, while CIE B class B181 heads to Grosvenor yard with a cement and Guinness train.