Glover

I mentioned in my previous post that the original Hornby Dublo solid cast chassis didn't go to waste. I am though slightly hesitant about putting this up as some might say I am dragging modelling back to the Stone Age but other magpie modellers might approve! First, a little background. On retirement from the Southern Railway in England, Oliver Bullied was appointed CME by the newly nationalised Irish transport company, CIE. He held this position until retiring in 1957. There he pursued his interest in " new improved steam engines", but this time designed to run on Ireland's only native fuel, turf ( or peat to others). Let's just say it didn't represent the future. He did however oversee the widespread introduction of diesel to CIE although the order for the A and C class Metro-Vicks, with their Crossley engines ( think Class 28 on BR....) might be seen as a stain on his career but then the advice to 'Buy American' was ignored by a Government short of Dollars. Anyway, he introduced a new wagon chassis, triangular in form which I imagine was intended to reduce materials and weight. This chassis was used under new construction vans and an open wagon whose body was made from corrugated metal. I have built a small fleet of these over the years, to run in a ballast train, although the chassis cannot be said to represent the triangulated prototype. I should say that a model is now available, both RTR and a kit, from Provincial Wagons and it is mounted on a proper Bullied chassis. Regards, Glover

Irish goods trains were predominately composed of covered vans; a consequence I suppose of the virtual absence of minerals in this country. Still, we can justify a few. This one is based on the old Hornby Dublo wagon which I bought at a toy fair in Dublin for about €2 or €3. It was mounted on the old solid cast chassis (although that didn't go to waste.....). While it must be at least 50 years old, I've always felt that the body moulding could stand comparison with anything produced today. It's mounted on a Parkside Dundas chassis, buffers by MJT while the brake gear (always very basic on Irish wagons) is from an etch produced by Studio Scale Models (SSM), who produce quite a range of items, including full kits, for Irish modellers. Decals are also from SSM. I subjected the body to a bit of bruising and battering; basically just hit it with whatever is to hand; very high tech.

Thanks Kirley, I've modelled Pettigo Co Donegal, on the Bundoran branch. Hence the corrugated shelters to protect the faithful on their journey to and from Lough Derg! I'll put up something on the layout itself in the near future, although it is quite simple really. Cheers, Glover

That's a lot of good work there Kirley. Is that actually a mix of 900 and 600 units? The 600s had smaller windows at the cab end, in the first class section. Not showing my (limited) knowledge! Cheers, Glover

Many thanks Colm, I'm (almost New Year) honoured! I draw inspiration from yourself and others on this forum, in particular Ben Alder with his marvellous recreation of 1950s Scottish Highlands railways. The background to this exercise in cutting and shutting is as follows: in June 1964, the Irish Railway Record Society, the Stephenson Locomotive Society and the Railway Correspondence & Travel Society ( do either of the latter two exist I wonder?) organised a week long steam hauled tour of Ireland. As you might expect, many rolls of film were exposed. The train, on the CIE/ Rep of Ireland part of the tour was composed of five bogie coaches with a guards luggage van at either end. One of these was a 6 wheel wooden van, built I suspect by the Great Southern & Western Railway Ireland in the early 1900s. Building a representation of this is relatively straightforward, using the sides from two Ratio GWR 4 wheel brake thirds. Leaving out one guards look out gives you sides approx 30 foot in length. Mount on the Ratio under frame, adding a middle axel guard cut from the spare frame ( the middle wheel is dummy) and that's about it. In 1964, the van was painted in the then new "black and tan" livery but my layout is set a year earlier - 1963. Therefore, I've taken the opportunity to paint it in light CIE green on one side. If I were doing it again, and in this case I might, I would widen it to c. 8 foot 6 inches or a bit more - the kit scales out at 8 foot. This would more closely resemble the wider look of Irish stock but that then raises the question of track gauge....... Not going there!

Many thanks Kirley; much appreciated. I have a fair number of projects to show, of varying quality it has to be said. As you might guess, the Ratio GWR brake 3rd sides weren't wasted. One lesson I have learned is that the camera is cruel! Think I'll stand further away when taking photos.... Cheers, Glover

Modelling Irish railways requires a certain level of ingenuity or, if you prefer, a willingness to accept "near enough" as an outcome. This project is based on the Great Northern Railway Ireland ( GNRI) W1 luggage brake vans. The only hard information I have is a good side on view in Desmond Coakhams' book, Irish Railway Carriages, A Pictorial Introduction ( Midland Publishing 2004). The GNRI built three of them in 1904/5 for the main Dublin-Belfast (or Belfast-Dublin if you prefer). The photo was taken in 1959 and describes the van as being "...out to grass...". I have assumed number 247 survived until the summer of 1963 in service on the Bundoran branch, which I have also assumed somehow managed to survive the massive cull of the GNRI in 1957. I have used elements from two kits plus the left over clear storey roof from the Triang GWR conversion detailed in the first post. The sides are from the Chivers Finecast LNER Pigeon van much cut about; about five or six. I also cut out some additional windows. It carries a different livery on each side; lighter CIE green and darker UTA ( Ulster Transport Authority) on the other. When the then Northern Ireland Government in 1957 withdrew from the cross border support arrangement for the GNRI, the rollong stock was split 50:50 between CIE and UTA. Therefore, I have backed the horse both ways! The UTA side is, in my opinion better; I made it after the CIE side. I cut out the full array of windows and also removed the small row of windows on the kit and replaced them with a strip of Evergreen plastic, also adding a bit of extra height to the side. However, the CIE side has a guards lookout; Coakham says one side had been removed by 1959. The ends are reprofiled (posh word for hacked out) to match the Triang roof profile. In the original photo, it looks like the roof had been recovered in a slightly slap dash fashion. I have reproduced this by applying sticky post labels.......you wouldn't get this class of modelling in the Model Railway Journal! The chassis is from the Ratio GWR 4 wheel brake third (of which, more anon) because it is the correct 30 foot length and also, to my eyes, looks a bit more old fashioned than the LNER one. The middle wheel is actually a dummy; a plastic wheel with the flange cut off. If I were doing it again (and I won't!), I would cut out the full range of windows on the CIE side, remove the original top rather than try to fill in and mount the UTA logo higher on the body side. Anyway, I reckon it's near enough for me.

........"print a roof.....". Thanks Richard, I was thinking of knitting one! Seriously, I'm sure you are right but, in terms of ability, a little above my pay grade. There is I am sure, a ( small) market for Irish coach roof's- something fairly generic and which can be cut to the appropriate length. Cheers ( just in from the pub ), Glover

At the outset, I should say that I would describe myself as an "impressionist" modeller. While the supply of items suitable for modelling Irish railways is increasing, a willingness to have a go/accept a reasonable likeness is still a core requirement. With those caveats, I offer you my humble efforts. In August 1966 (50 years ago!), a near legendary series of articles started in the Railway Modeller. They dealt with the conversion of the original Triang GWR clearestory coaches into Southern Railway (England) and its constituent companies. The series was written by Terry Gough. The results looked similar to those built by the Irish company, the Great Southern& Western Railway. I promised myself I would build at least one of these. Fifty years later I did: no rush! As so often happens, I didn't quite follow Terry's procedures. For one, Terry built to a length of 54 feet. Those built by the GW&SR ( and in the early years of its successor, the Great Southern Railway) were 60 footers. Essentially, you use the passenger sections of the GWR Brake 3rd's and glue them together. I used Bachmann LMS bogies. The ends were scratch built, in the hope of achieving the wider look of Irish coaches although that is somewhat negated by the use of a Hornby Mk 1 roof. Roof's are a particularly difficult issue when building Irish coaches. Anyway, I offer it to you as, I think, a reasonable impression of older Irish coaching stock.

Many thanks Kirley ( sometimes known as Morley.......). Apologies, I was just in from the pub! Cheers, Glover

Morley, Here did you source the buffers? They look bang on for the originals. Cheers Glover

I'm jealous! Railcar B is on my (long) list. Is this guy selling these as kits? Also, can the Tenshodo motor bogies be bought with coupling rods? Many thanks, Glover

Don't know how to do that.........shame on me! Its in the Overseas Prototype section of the Overseas/Continental menu, where Irish railways are. The guy who started the tread is Allegheny1600. Hope you can track it down. Glover

Kirley, I think we had a short discussion earlier in this tread re the Continental type corridor connectors on the BUT cars. There is an excellent photo of these types in a current tread on Greek railways. It's titled "Some photos from the Pelopenese"; hope I've spelt that correctly ! It's in the first post. I tried to take a snap myself of a coach in the Madrid railway museum a few weeks ago but as usual in such venues, the light is very poor. Greek sunlight is much better! Hope this might be of some help. Glover

Superb! Are there any other NCC/UTA modellers in Thunder Bay......... Cheers, Glover

You deserve a Nobel Prize Kirley for getting a Q Kits to that stage. I bought two about 30/35 years ago. First was the white metal effort; I gave up! Second, about 5 years later was the resin version; same as yours. Gave up! Apart from the twisted metal, distorted resin, the real problem was trying to make the things go. I see that you make a passing reference to the chassis.... Some years later, I had a bright idea: cut a chunk out off each of them and convert to C class, using the Athern switcher chassis, whip of course runs like a dream. This whole rig marole has sort of come full circle. I bought the Silver Fox A class as a body only kit. I had great difficulty getting that to run properly using the recommended Hornby Class 55 chassis. Probably more my incompetance than anything else. Another bright idea: use the Athern switcher chassis ! It's Bo-Bo configuration of course but I added dummy front wheels at each end. Not a Gold medal winner but I finally have a working A class, after almost 40 years. Photo attached but I've no idea how this is going to work; another first effort. Cheers, Glover

I was there in July this year! As you say, an impressive collection and a model railroad. My eldest son lives in the Twin Cities; St Paul to be a little more precise. Regards, Glover ( reading Early Risers for what seems like more years than I care to remember)

In fact, there is a full chapter devoted to it, plus photos. The book itself is a very good read; honest and funny. Glover

Now this is what I call modelling! Lovely work. Cheers, Glover

Nice work Kirley. I had forgotten about these kits. At the time they were released, I seem to remember some being disappointed at the rather coarse finish and the amount of work required to get them to a satisfactory level. What was your experience? They also seem a little on the expensive side, prices being quoted in U.S. dollars. Regards, Glover

Lovely work David. Can I ask you when is the exhibition in Cultra on? I haven't checked their web site but I suspect its too early for it to be listed. Great venue but DARK! Bring a torch! Cheers. Glover

Kirley Wait until we start talking about the Sligo Leitrim Railcar B! Another project for Allen at Worsley Works? Cheers, Glover

I have looked at various photos, including the in cab shots from Colm's Diesel Dawn and now see that the fronts were "flat". I suspect this is a classic case of me seeing what I thought should be there rather than reality! On the question of the BUT railcars and the strong possibility that Worsley Works will produce etchings, has anyone any thoughts on how to reproduce the unusual corridor connections? Colm describes them in his book as being of continental (European) design. Regards, Glover

Lovely work Kirley; Worsley Works are the unsung heroes of Irish railway modelling. If we could get them to consider doing the BUT railcars, the GNR men would be well satisfied. I might drop Allen a note...... One question on cars 6&7: the fronts look surprisingly flat. I never actually saw them in real life (don't think they ever made it to Dublin) but I assumed the front ends would be basically similar to the AEC cars. Many thanks, Glover

I'm interested in your CIE Laminates build Kirley. I've actually built one from the 'full' Worsley Works set of parts but I recently bought a pair of the old Tri-Ang/Hornby Thompsons thinking that I might be able to use the sides for some GNR(I) type coaches; the square windows are very typical of many GNR coaches. Can I ask you to clarify two points please? 1. You say you "..cut of the ends and the excess coach body at either end". Was that from the Worsley Works coach body or perhaps the Hornby chassis? 2.Did you use Worsley Works ends? Many thanks, Glover