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Maybe that's his 'doctor' with him. He's like a modern day version of The Six Million Dollar Man. He should really consider donating his body to medical science when he finally kicks the bucket.

Marklin are a separate system working off 3-rail, so their products are generally incompatible with other marques. Historically, German manufactured model trains were significantly better than their UK counterparts- and correspondingly expensive! As a one time collector I always felt Fleischmann and Trix were a little bit above Roco and Liliput in quality, but that’s probably changed !

I have a few of Roco’s 319 Retales, the Spanish GM locos, and they are fabulous. If their ICE is similar, happy days:

Progress on the old mill. The structural carcass is assembled and I've painted the window frames red. I've used matte medium to add some texture to the front wall, then applied an initial coat of grey on the stonework and bauxite on the brickwork. There's more stages to do on this, but I want these layers to dry properly first. I had some successful experiments with laser-cutting window frames from thick red paper. These are ready to be fitted to the structural carcass. The next stage is to think about the roof and how best to represent the slates. Perhaps more laser-cut paper. But there are some other jobs on the list for this evening (nothing to do with the trainset) and I have quite a busy week ahead at work. So there may be a pause for a few days.

During a recent visit to Germany I was impressed with DBs ICE trains. Initially the ICE 1&2 were locomotive hauled, replaced now decades later by Siemens Velaro EMUs. As a fringe interest (hopefully not to develop into a mainstream hobby interest ), I planned to get myself a decent quality prototypical ICE with 7-9 units. As a newbie to manufacturers of Euro trains would appreciate any recommendations of Roco vs. Trix , Fleischmann, Marklin products etc.

So easy now - plasticard sheet!

Sorry if going a bit off topic here but would anyone know the number IDs for the Irish routes on the UKTS Archive?

Coach No30 away from its normal haunts on the Letterkenny branch along with trailer No2.Andy

Last Saturday saw a trio of DCDR Munster-based members visit the railway for a day of volunteering (some of whom are on this site but I'll let them expose their secret identities if they wish ) Find out about what they got up to here: https://www.downrail.co.uk/2025/11/munster-members-visit/

Great photos especially of Ballyshanpon The small size of Killybegs turntable is clear coverted from the frame of Class 5 Letterkenny. Have been its nameplate is for sale in a railway auction?

Well then whoever the Council employed for their EXPERT advice from a five year old!

Jim, there were no designers involved!

Only very late 60s/early 70s don't remember the specific year or edition. The modelling was fairly basic in nature buildings scratchbuilt in plain card capturing the basic shape and curved roof profile of the buildings. As far as I recall there was no attempt to form or represent the profile of the corrugated iron, which at the time would have been challenging without specialist tooling/equipment.

CDRJC 1957-09-27 Barnesmore Gap R'Car20 PFF355. CDRJC 1957-09-27 Killybegs Pier. PFF330. CDRJC 1957-09-27 Railcar 20 on the Killybegs turntable. PFF174. CDRJC 1958-06-08 Ballyshannon PFF101.

The 3F, Jinty, Diesel shunter wheelbase was reasonably close to some of the ex-GSWR J4 & 9 and ex-DSER J8 Classess introduced post 1900 and the ex-DSER K2 2-6-0 locos. Main gap is a suitable donor chassis for the midland Cattle Engine with its large wheels and relatively short wheelbase for a large 0-6-0 Not sure of Hornby still produce a "Railroad" version of the Jinty or diesel shunter, or Bachmann their 3F or 4F though both Hornby & Bachmann 0-6-0s may be available second hand. https://transportsofdelight.smugmug.com/RAILWAYS/IRISH-RAILWAYS/CORAS-IOMPAIR-EIREANN-STEAM/i-wm6ZNd8/A J4 262 https://transportsofdelight.smugmug.com/RAILWAYS/IRISH-RAILWAYS/GREAT-SOUTHERN-RAILWAY-STEAM/i-LPvqkcW/A J9 351 some members of J9 Class built with raised running board similar visually similar to J4 Class https://transportsofdelight.smugmug.com/RAILWAYS/IRISH-RAILWAYS/GREAT-SOUTHERN-RAILWAY-STEAM/i-XchX5K9/A J8 445 https://transportsofdelight.smugmug.com/RAILWAYS/IRISH-RAILWAYS/GREAT-SOUTHERN-RAILWAY-STEAM/i-3tnG9Dc/A J8 444 A London based member of the "Malahide & Dromin Junction group used the Triang Hornby L1 as a donor chassis for an ex-GSWR D2/321 Class 4-4-0 and the 0-6-0 chassis for ex DSER J8 444. Other locos included a GNR Compound and possibly a JT 2-4-2 produced by the late Harry Connaghton a Dublin based professional modelmaker who produced models of Irish Locos and stock in 4 & 7mm scale during the 1970s. The Malahide & Dronin Junction was exhibited at the Kilkenny Shop Dawson St during the late 70s before being exhibited for a period at Shannon Airport

Red it is then! I tend to use some artists matte medium to add texture to some of the larger stones, talc as well is a good idea for other parts of the wall. The row of square holes in the wall (and the half-blocked windows on the first floor) are associated with a canopy across the tracks. That was present in the 1960s and 1970s but now missing. I get the impression that the wall under the canopy may have been whitewashed at some stage - there are still traces of it on the ground floor walls, but not above the row of square holes.

Forbes would have approved! I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

The itch to raid the scrap box is getting stronger...

Google photos of the Rathmelton quayside show red doors, with very peeling paint, suggesting it had been that colour for quite a while. Indeed, enlarging your photos shows the same. They also show it's not exactly the finest stone that's been used. Rubble would be a better description and even the brickwork around the openings looks decidedly second hand! All adds to the charm, of course and some talc to texture the paint might not go amiss.

Designers based it upon Thomas the Tank Engine DVDs!

Most interesting - it shows the CIE livery nicely. I assume these are from lorries that had recently been withdrawn from use, which is also a useful indicator of their lifetime.

Wonderful - thank you so much for showing these. Some views and details that don’t appear in the published shots.

A couple of lorry cabs at Dingle, 1951

He visited the line not long before it closed. It clearly looks a bit woebegone already. None of these have been published before.