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Thank you! Apologies, still finding my way round the website at the minute

Thanks Mike - was just ensuring old Triang got included. Their old 3Fs make very good Irish base locos !

Although all my conversions run on Peco code 75

Second hand is probably the way ahead for cheap conversions, especially if you are content with code 100 track. Some of the older Hornby stuff will go on for ever if serviced well

They seem to be offering a spiked FB track for narrow gauge applications, so presumably the same trackform could be offered for broad gauge? Not sure if they're doing pointwork for that yet. I cheated a bit with my points, because (by luck) the crossing areas are embedded in concrete on the prototype, so you can't see the rail section. So I built mine using a mix of code 75 FB and code 75 BH, making the crossings and checkrails from BH and the rest from FB.

Are the Kosmik prints not bull head?

I did this on a Hornby J69, one of those North British tanks, a few years ago. Its probably a bit too big but I thought it looked the part and was not expensive.

Take a look at the Bachmann spares web site. Full range of bits, fairly priced available by return of post. (Sorry, can't do linky thing off my phone, will edit later when I get home) Usual disclaimers. On buffer spacing, it should not be too hard to do 2 different versions of a 3dp loco body, buffers at oo spacing and buffers where they should be. These things tend to be print to order so extra costs are minimal.

Interestingly someone converted a Triang Jinty into a 'close enough" J11 during the early 1970s, there was a Railway Modeller series of articles on modelling corrugated iron buildings in card which featured assembling models based on Kenmare Goods and Carriage Sheds the 0-6-0 tank loco had a distinct GSWR cab, but no info on the loco. This was before the Modeller featured the OO Malahide & Dromin Junction layout as Railway of the Month in May? 72 and an article on Irish Broad Gauge modelling by Tim Cramer which featured several scratch built 21mm gauge locos incl a Bandon Tank, No90 a J26, a J15 Classis and Wills N Class Mogul modified to run of 21mm. Probabably inspired me to attempt a Midland Std Goods (J19) plasticard body on Triang-Hornby 0-6-0 chassis, a DSER 2-4-2T in tinplate on a Nellie Chassis (damaged the chassis) & a SLNCR Large Tank (tinplate (soft drinks can) a re-wheeled Triang Princess chassis (driving wheels from Triang 0-6-0. Not sure if a current rtr manufacturer supplies a 'basic" reliable loco suitable for kitbashing/donor chassis for an Irish loco, current generation of RTR locos tend to be expensive, highly detailed and fragile for the kind of kitbashing or use with bodyline kits practiced/available in the distant past.

New commandment just announced: ”Do not covet thy neighbour’s GNR(I) PPs locomotive.” guilty already…..

No wonder the black friday sale is a bit stingy, if they have to save up to pay your salary!

Very neat job Harry I settled on Tamiya "AS-12 Bare-Metal Silver" aerosol for silver/unpainted aluminium CIE coaching stock after several unsuccessful attempts with different 'silver" aerosols. I finish with a Tamiya semi-gloss aerosol to seal the model after applying the transfers.

Not just commission, they have me lined up for director after they move production from China to Canarias.

Excellent Alan. Know what you mean about spring. I had to fiddle around with an industrial sized spring, trimming it to length to ensure the loco was getting the right balance of forces. If only I’d kept on at physics after O levels….

Thanks everyone. I have to say, I'm pleased with it. This NorthStar kit was well designed and went together without major trauma, though like many etched kits, there were the moments when three hands and asbestos fingers would've been helpful and the instructions sometimes leave you to your own devices. "Set up (chassis) frames in the preferred manner" makes sense if you've done it before but would leave a first-time builder at sea. Incidentally, my clever clogs centring spring for the bogie (see post Nov 12 above) didn't work. It just succeeded in derailing it. I think the idea might be sound but the wire I used, 0.45mm diameter brass, was too hefty. I took it out, intending to replace it with 0.33mm but I found it ran ok without anything so that's how it is at present. The bogie is still likely to be a problem child. It has a small vertical coil spring exerting down pressure, the tension of which can be adjusted by tightening the nut holding the bogie in place. There's a fine line between getting enough tension to keep the bogie happy but not so much that the bogie starts propping the front coupled wheels off the track. More fun anticipated. Alan

The Scammell shunter/tractor (cab, bonnet, fenders almost a primrose yellow) appears in a photos of 132 shunting at Oranmore in 1976 in "RailsThrough The West." The Scammell seems to have been stabled in the ex MGW goods shed when not in use shunting!

Are you on commission Dave lol...

I know I'm resurrecting an old thread. I bought some new books from the RPSI recently and added to my order the booklet about the Bessbrook and Newry Tramway. This is closely based on A.T.Newham's original work from the 1970s but reprinted in a modern form with the photos reproduced to a larger size and a better standard. The IRRS has a few photos of the line in their collection, but many are also in the book: https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=142947080%40N07&view_all=1&text=bnt A bit on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessbrook_and_Newry_Tramway This site on uniforms has a nice selection of photos too: http://www.tramwaybadgesandbuttons.com/page148/page4/styled-259/page682.html I hadn't realised that that surviving tram in Cultra had been so heavily modified from its original condition. Over on this thread, @jhb171achill posted a photo which doesn't appear in the book or elsewhere online, intriguingly it shows a van with doors in the side, whereas all the other photos of vans I've seen appear doorless (maybe the doors were in the end, or on one side only?) https://irishrailwaymodeller.com/topic/6037-from-the-catacombs/#findComment-130009 This may be the other side of the same van, though if so the wheels have been replaced at some stage: Relating to the decade-old question at the start of this thread, this photo from a Facebook site shows something of the complexity of the pointwork. The whole system didn't have many points, and not all routes were usable by the flangeless wagons (for example, the turning loops at each end were only suitable for flanged wheels). Going over these points, the flangeless wheels on one side must have had to bump over the raised running rails. There seem to have been very few points where the wagons had a choice of route, but there must have been 3 or 4. What a fascinating little line! I must avoid getting distracted into a narrow-gauge modelling whim... It looks like someone else has had a go: https://www.rmweb.co.uk/topic/180079-volks-electric-black-rock-station-diorama-and-other-early-electric-traction/#findComment-5213273

A device that operates customer trains carrying customers, on a rail line between train stations…..!

Thanks Gents….having fun…A39 arrives from Sligo loco shed to shunt the empty grain wagons.

On RMweb it’s been confirmed that the Chontar Albion was at Paisley in Scotland. Cold Chon in Ireland used a similar Scammell conversion which still exists at Dromod.

Don’t forget the IRM / A/S Black Friday Weekend sale! 5x Loyalty Points, plus rake discounts of 10% for buying two to four packs of wagons, and 15% off for buying five packs or more. If you missed out on Unfitted H Vans or Cement Bubbles, this is the time to pounce.

It is indeed, Leslie. Booked over a year ago when the name hadn't been finalised. Guess I'd better let them know...

Working dioramas rule. Everybody should have (at least) one!

One for the 'prototype for everything' file! An Albion lorry chassis, with home made buffer beams, no couplings (just chains) and running on split spoke wagon wheels. Would be fun to create something similar and might be possible to squeeze a High Level motor gear box in the front end, under the bonnet. In 7mm scale, a natty little project, perhaps with an old Corgi Classic, like the Lipton tea van - though the scrap box may be a better option.