Horsetan

I'd like to see a signal diagram for Clonakilty Junction - it might explain the double crossover.... And it is supposed to be a junction, no?

Are people still using massive flanges on their stock, hence Code 100?

The Germans have got FREMO down to a fine art, and there's loads of YouTube videos showing some impressive network meetings. There's at least one group that recreates routes with inclines during the Royal Prussian Railway era, so the trains actually have to be assisted by banking engines at the rear. Imagine doing something similar with a triple-header struggling up the bank out of Cork.

The great pity is that FREMO hasn't really caught on in the UK. The tradition and culture of self-contained layouts is much too ingrained, together with the fact that the popular scales frequently have two or three different track gauges (2mm has two, 3mm has 3, and 4mm has 3) representing the same thing, so that banjaxes the idea of everyone sticking to a common standard. FREMO's massive advantage is that your models actually get to work over an actual mileage on a proper network through varying scenery and not just round in an oval or short distance to and from a fiddle yard.

*makes notes for future reference *

The Ultrascale website has been offline for over a month due to webhost/server problem. It's not going to be resolved any time soon. You have to telephone David Rogers direct if you want to order anything. Sharman "B" profile wheels are almost the same overall width as the "A" profile, differing only in flange thickness and depth, and don't exceed 2.3mm. The sample B-type I have come out at 2.15mm, and I think it's possible to skim the backs of the tyres to reduce flange depth and height down to P4 profile, i.e. 2mm width. Markits are no longer available due to the death of the owner earlier this year. There had been talk of his widow trying to restart the business but I suspect that's unlikely - it was a considerable undertaking for a one-man band, and the knowledge to run it properly and develop the already extensive product range died with Mr. Arscott. The only place you'll get Romford/Markits wheels now is on eBay, and most of those will be very much secondhand, stripped from old models.

What's left of Sharman wheels are available from Phoenix Paints. Stocks are being sold to exhaustion, as the tooling is mostly worn out and Phoenix have no intention of producing more.

Seen that, but I need a double shaft one to carry a flywheel at one end.

...not a Mashima? I had a dead Mashima can (one of the more obscure long barrelled 1330 ones) recently and have been looking for a suitable coreless to replace it. The closest equivalent I can find is nearly 100 Euros!

Looks like a High Level coreless.

Darius works freestyle

A project you could dive into.

Hmm, a layout actually in a swimming pool might make a good challenge...

Great set of links - unfortunately the Flickr "irish railway archive" ones are all restricted access.

That would be grand, thanks