iarnrod

Derek was releasing a different model or two each year for the last few years, but Covid has delayed the last models (announced Oct 2019) which are still being produced at present. If you are not on Facebook, the models by Derek are normally mentioned on the britishmodelbuses website when first announced. However, the quantities are normally small, so you need to get your order in fast. I think this is because he has to stump most or all of the cost up front himself. Adrian has released a number of Britbus Dublin Bus related buses over the last few years.

The first Bombardier models were a joint project by Derek Farrelly and Adrian Richards. I think the Atlanteans (and any subsequent high spec resin models from that stable) were a solo project by Derek Farrelly. No brand as such, as it is a bus enthusiast releasing highly detailed models that would have never seen the light of day otherwise. The models are manufactured for Derek/Adrian by one of the Hong Kong based manufacturers that specialise in such commissions.

Actually viewing these latest IR liveried model photos on a full sized computer screen, and it's actually hard to tell from certain angles that it isn't a real loco. How good is that? Absolutely amazing offering from the IRM lads.

Thanks Fran.

Unsure if this has been asked already or not, but will the A Class be available from the likes of Marks Models and/or other retailers or is it just exclusively available from IRM?

The IRM A Class looks to be the most detailed and highly accurate Irish loco released so far. I can't spot one error here among any livery variant. When the only issue is that they look too clean, I think the IRM lads are onto a winner. I would seriously love the IRM lads to release similarly detailed versions of all the main Irish diesels over time. The bar has been set seriously high with these models. After the 121's turned up plagued with detail and livery errors, the A class models are like a breath of fresh air.

Nice effort on the NIR coach btw. Railtec transfers are excellent quality, so would imagine transfers would be the easier option than trying to mask off the correct width stripes, especially if you are planning quite a few coaches. Phoenix paints used to do the paints for MIR back in the day, but unsure if any of the Irish colours are still available in that range.

Those stripes are available as transfers from Railtec.

Wasn't the whole loco from memory. Other side still had IR livery.

They also advertise some items on the donedeal website.

Unsure if MM has any plans to do another run of 141/181/071's at any point in the future, but failing that, we can only hope that the IRM lads might do their own models of these locos at some point. The prices for these locos are only getting higher as time goes on, which clearly shows a demand for them.

I would hazard a guess that photo on the traverser is from shortly after introduction to traffic in 1977 judging by the fairly mint condition of that wagon. Here is how one wagon looked in 1978, about a year into traffic. https://www.facebook.com/groups/171953576291342/permalink/702896649863696

How long did those ribbed lids last in service? There are photos on the IRRS Flickr site that seem to indicate that the wagons were changed to a different style of lid from mid 1980's. One thing for certain from studying photos of the wagons is that the blue livery had disappeared under a thick layer of dust and grime after about two years in service (1979).

Seriously sharp looking paint job on those.

Looks like one of the old fert wagons that the newer type in the photo replaced.

Cant understand why MM are not doing another run of 071's, even a shorter run, as there is clearly a demand for them.

Just learned yesterday on another site that seemingly quite a few of the model bus manufacturers are thinking of leaving Hong Kong (diecast bus capital of the world) which might mean less diecast buses in the near future. One well known diecast bus business has already closed its doors. Possibly another reason for IRM/Accurascale to investigate buses as an additional sideline to the main railway products.

That's an interesting one, as pretty sure no one can tell you what to do as a company assuming that you are not breaking any commercial, competition or copyright laws. Would presume its someone trying to protect their own patch in this case. As regards vehicles being designed from scratch, plenty of scope in bus models, which would also have some crossover with the UK market, and allow sufficient models to be made to enable a profitable return on any investment. Take the Gemini 3 for example - largest member of DB fleet (over 600 of them) and used by many operators in UK, but no model currently exists. As IRM are currently working with Britbus, maybe a partnership could also be made with Northcord to allow some modifications of their existing toolings to enable the Dublin Bus Enviro 400 and 500 type buses to be made available. A commission of the new hybrid type E400 in TFI livery once Northcord releases that model would also be a nice addition.

From the article, CIE re-introduced railway police in 1946 with all the powers of a police force on railway property. They existed into the 1960's, by which time, their role was little more than security officers or watchmen. Seems their main role was to protect Inchicore Works, but they also undertook other duties at depots, stations and elsewhere. The reference to full police powers is a quote from Cuisle na Tire, the CIE staff magazine, so may have been a bit exaggerated, as I suspect they operated similar to harbour or airport police in policing the company's by-laws on company property. First CIE policeman was Patrick Duggan, an ex-Irish Army MP. Photo of him at Heuston Station in 1947. Also, a photo of a CIE policeman at Inchicore in 1964 in the article. I do remember that security at Inchicore during tours there in the 1990's were IR staff, but these days, security is done by a security company.

They were basically Inchicore Works security for the most part as far as I know, but may have performed other duties outside of the Works. Pretty sure there was an article in the IRRS Journal a few issues back about them. EDIT : just checked and journal 201 had an article on the CIE police.

5 packs of IRM fertiliser pallets. €30. Postage extra.

All Irish railway related books €10 each except the following : British Railways Mark 1 Coaches €20 Other British Railways books €5 Postage extra.

The AD Class would also be another good model for the lads to release. Multiple liveries. Not my photos - just copied the links from Flickr to illustrate the point.

All UK railway items €10 each. IR Working Timetable €15. Locomotives of the GNRI €20. Locomotives and Rolling Stock of Irish Rail and NIR €20. Open to reasonable offers. Collection preferred but can post either by An Post or Parcel Motel. Postage extra. Will only post to ROI addresses.

What area does the next book cover?