GSR 800

Maedbh in GSR green would've probably seen most mileage. Maedbh and Macha racked up high mileages in their early years before the "Phony War" ended, coal became scarce and timetables cut back. My guess would be Maedbh in GSR green and Tailte in light green. Maedbh and Macha in dark (FS) green after that. Tailte had a high mileage by 54-55, which is why she was withdrawn first. (She was generally considered the most reliable) Maedbh (GS) and photo grey obviously have barely seen a wheel turn, and Macha in dark green with the light tender would've seen little work.

Wonderful!

Some further mulling with the design, now with my waterloo trainshed standing in. My thinking is I could have platform 3 split curve (bit like Mullingar) and be the quay platform for boat/mail trains and the like. I was also thinking I could have a branch off in front of the fiddle yard. But I think I might simplify the plan and keep those two ideas condensed into one, rather than have two branch lines and a main.

They are slightly modified from the Walthers kit "Train Shed with clear roof" Honestly I think they might be too large, I might go with my Waterloo trainshed instead!

Been working on the idea for the track plan over the weekend. Have space for 2 carriage sidings in the middle. Both Platform 1 and 2 can hold 6 carriages and two locos. I considered a run around loop from Platform 3, but I think it clutters things somewhat Not sure about some things, listed in photo below!

Not sure to be honest! But a great many of his plans could easily be utilised with a change here and there to represent an Irish scene

Rice did, I posted his plan (image from David) of Westport Quay above!

I believe Freezer admitted a great many of his plans were effectively impossible in the space dictated, many have curves that are far too tight by modern standards. Actual track standards were also quite different, which is something not always taken into account. I recall one of his plans was redone in a railway modeller article or something similar, they added a good foot or two to length and width. That said I regularly peruse the psl track plan book for ideas. One thing about a lot of Freezers plans is they are quite "packed". Iain Rice took a more "railway in the landscape" approach which looks a lot more natural. Minories however has a pretty sleek look about itself, manages to look every bit the "complex station throat" of an urban terminus while maintaining functionality. I think while my terminus may be Freezer my quays will be Rice! Images posted by @Colonel from Iain Rice's book

This is kinda what I'm thinking, but a regular city terminus with the odd boat train. Galway and Belmulley fought fiercely over the proposal for the terminal I always thought the plan for Blacksod was hilarious levels of overkill. 10 platforms??? Something like Carlisle Pier would surely have been more appropriate. Perhaps with a grander concourse.

I've lots of space for goods sidings in the 'wedge' below the throat. I plan on adding a triangular piece into the corner so the line can veer off ala Galway. The idea is a vague large western city served by the MGWR, so everything from an SLNCR railbus to Western Rail Corridor services would be able to show up. Perhaps this city has had better luck getting liners with their lucrative mail contracts to call there, as Galway desperately tried to achieve.

My plan may include a Galway style freight yard + dock branch as I've the space for it but Galway has a lot of potential as a Minories. Now arguably moreso with new platforms and more intensive passenger operation. Sligo likewise, and plenty of variety. My model will likely have elements of both, some of Broadstone and Mullingar also.

It would, but Minories was of course drawn up long before DCC! The likes of Peter Denny had extensive layouts with interlocking sections where lines were not powered unless they were signalled for it, all DC. He ended up making a electromechanical computer to aid in operation when his son went to college, naming it 'Automatic Crispin'!

The overall idea is an urban terminus loosely in the style of something like Broadstone, Galway or Sligo, with a good amount of passenger workings and freight in off peak. Minories was designed around loco hauled commuter trains (specifically steam hauled) rather than DMUs. The idea of the throat is twofold, allowing all platforms accessed from either road and to eliminate reverse curves, while also providing an interestingly complex looking throat without actually being too complicated. Part of that is the lack of crossovers, the station pilot must release the trapped loco from the end of the platform. That said I may have a crossover line off platform 3 to facilitate shunting.

Did a wee mock up last night to see how things would fit. Ignore the mess! I was thinking a triangular corner piece could be used to have a line leading off toward the pier. Alternatively could have the pier line be goung forward into the wedge. Either way plenty of space for sidings. Could have a run around off Platform 3 with a headshunt off the lower double slip also.

Certainly for Minories, his initial proposal with goods facilities was nothing more than an awkwardly tacked on double tracked goods shed and a headshunt. I think a lot can be done with the space though, very often the empty wedge at the bottom right gets goods sidings, a parcel dock and whatnot. I've also considered a duel level plan with a yard on the lower level, ala Rice.