Gremlin corner
Sharp-eyed readers will have spotted that the lettters in the November ‘Readers’ Forum’ were given a second airing in the December issue. Apologies for that but sometimes, computers being what they are, these things unfortunately happen… We’re pleased to present a completely new selection of letters now, including those originally scheduled for last month, while making a new year resolution not to let it happen again.
The Irish goods
I refer to your feature on pp566/7 (September) and in particular the photograph of No.719 at Mullingar on 8th June 1961. Whilst I admire the caption writer’s efforts to describe what No.719 may have been working, the reality was that it was on railtour duty. At that time this locomotive was normally shedded at Athlone and I would imagine had worked light to Mullingar to take over the joint RCTS/SLS/IRRS ‘All Ireland Railtour’ On that date the tour departed Sligo behind diesel haulage due to the rostered steam locomotive, No.603, having being failed on shed before departure. The diesel locomotive, a Class 121 single-ended Bo Bo, took the train to Kllfree Junction, then the Ballaghaderreen branch as booked, and on to Mullingar where No.719 took over. The tour then proceeded to Athlone and eventually Dublin, making a visit to the Banagher branch en route. I have to say that No.719 lived up to its class reputation of not being the most reliable, but it got the tour to Dublin eventually. No.719 is standing at the water column at the west end of the down Galway platform at Mullingar, not as described..
David Houston, Dublin
Focus on Inverness
Just creeping into view in the top photograph on p673 of the November 2022 issue is No.M30322 which is one of the old Highland Railway low-roofed TPOs. Two of these were
