Ironroad

1 hour ago, WRENNEIRE said:

But the one to have was the Tampo printed Guinness, only 80 made during the final stages of Wrenn production.

Very surprised to learn this, I have three of them, The paper is lifting off them and shows its age. Do you know if this was pure fantasy or was Guinness transported on British Rails in 6 wheel tankers?

It's very sad to see this

That took the air out of the room somewhat but the strive for perfection is appreciated.

On the other hand does this also mean that you will also push back any announcements of future plans, the suspense is killing.

Thank you

5 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

Those pics in carriages would have been old GSWR bogies, and the pics were actually originally from the Lawrence collection.

Thank you  that's something I did not know, I just remember them as mainly landscapes in monochrome (brown toned), but those carriages even then seemed like they were from another time. 

4 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

As an aside: who, here, would also still have memories of the green livery on trains, or of CIE steam? I can think of two regulars here, but no more........

I came into the world in 1950 so I remember CIE steam and being on the footplate of a shunter at the Midland Depot at Nth Wall, - looking into the firebox made an impression . I also remember both the silver and green liveries and listening to an uncle of mine who was home on a visit from England expressing disgust at the change of livery to "Black & Tan" given the historical context of those colours. I had no real interest in railways and accordingly my memory on quite a lot is a bit vague. But I do remember that blazing embankments were a common sight in summer in the age of steam.  I have a vivid memory of enormous crowds bound for Bray on the southbound platform at Tara St on summer Sunday afternoons (to the point it's a wonder they didn't spill onto the tracks).  I was also fascinated by the coaches particularly very aged ones that quaintly had framed pictures on the compartment walls over the seats.

This is a fantastic step forward for an entity I have allways found to be elusive, however the following is really a throwback;

Quote

"If you would like us to post you a printed copy of our latest illustrated catalogue, please send six Second Class stamps to the above address.  (UK customers only)."

Is anyone interested in this?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/333975843278?ul_noapp=true

Two questions, when does it stop snowing?  And more seriously is it not the practice there to have a red lamp on the end of trains, looks like this video was shot at dusk or dawn?

15 hours ago, murphaph said:

Yeah I use the latest posts feature  and would much prefer to see latest updated threads there. I am missing a lot of stuff by not clicking into each forum and subforum. If possible in a future update I'd really welcome such a change.

I simply click on "Activity" and scroll through to the point I last logged on, that way I see all postings in that time frame.

I was not aware that a railway "police" existed but do know that CIE recruited regular staff to travel on the  Sunday Mystery trains to act in the event of unacceptable behaviour which became a problem on some of these excursion trains.  Staff travelled undercover but other that liaising with Garda I don't think they had any real authority. Why do this if they had an actual policing unit?

5 hours ago, DJ Dangerous said:

It's a great idea from a community point of view, once people are careful to only enter their post-codes while opting in, not their actual addresses.

Irish post codes (Eircodes) are specific to actual addresses so these should not be used here, suggest using the name of the townland or suburb.

Call H&S, no tail lights!!!

Hi  DJ, " modern" is quite relative. Tin vans were "modern" This is the cover of Railway Modeller May 1964;-

Only three in the western hemisphere, c'mon folks, there are more of us.

DJ,  I know it's nice at the 28 degree mark, but it's not too bad at 34 degrees either.

It's difficult to discern whether the problem lies with Hattons or Hornby- overselling on pre-order or not receiving the expected allocation. But seems similar to the problem I had with my pre-orders with Hattons for the MM 121 locos.

9 hours ago, murphaph said:

Funny. I watched a YouTube video shot in and around Cordele, GA yesterday. Seems like a cool place to see some long trains.

Yes it is, but you do not want to get stopped at the level crossing just off Marietta Square, freight trains with 100 bogie wagons are typical.

I'm in Marietta GA  (Atlanta)

2 hours ago, DJ Dangerous said:

That'd be very interesting - maybe with some anonymity built-in. A flag on the global map for each member without disclosing their username. Surely that has to be possible?

A flag on the Canaries, now how anonymous is that?

Very intriguing it is most unlikely that cars moved from the Republic to the North at that time.

I'm not a car expert, but I suspect that picture was taken in the very early 1950's as two of the cars resemble Ford Prefects of the late '40s to early '50s. 

The picture posted showing a car train at Glanmire would appear to have been taken later in the 1950's as it seems to be carrying the successor model of the Ford Prefect (certainly the body style is mid '50s).

The period I was referring to was the mid/ latter half of the 1960's, so it seems cars on flat wagons may have been a feature on Irish railways for a extended period of time (maybe 15 - 20 years).

1 hour ago, Westcorkrailway said:

Im sure i saw a photo somwhere of a car train at claremorris....presumably fords

My father worked at Nth Wall and I know they loaded cars onto flat wagons.  Nothing sophisticated about it as cars were driven into position over boards between each wagon.  I don't think they made up full trains but these rakes of flats were probably part of the regular goods train formations heading west. So a train carrying cars in Claremorris is probably correct.  But not sure they would have been Fords since they were assembled in Cork but certainly not exclusively Fords, I clearly remember my father making specific mention of VWs.  I'm not sure how long this traffic lasted. Cars transported on open flats were vulnerable to damage by vandals hurling stones off bridges and there seems to have been some of this.

On 27/3/2021 at 11:29 AM, mmie353 said:

I know that I also would like these, at that price... nope.. Still keeping an eye out if I can get it at a reasonable price that Bachmann Irish Railway train set... Did anyone fit a DCC decoder in any of them? Is there enough room for a sound decoder? 

Since you are located in the US this may be of interest to you.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BACHMANN-HO-IRISH-RAILWAY-EZ-TRACK-00651/324532973482

14 hours ago, DSERetc said:

 

as we swept round the curve beside the passenger entrance to platform 5 at about 40 mph, the edge of the carriage over-rode the platform leaving a trail of sparks.

 

Even the thought of a train travelling at 40mph on the loop line and through platform 5 is frightening.   But you've reminded me of my earliest recollection (at 3 yrs old) of seeing a steam engine and it was on platform 5.  As this great steaming noisy beast stormed along the platform,  I hid under a bench.

I also remember those enormous hydraulic buffers and seeing them in a mangled state after the enterprise failed to make a timely stop. 

As this discussion evolves, some ideas are emerging. But as alluded to by Mayner, it may be best if this endeavour is driven by a "collective" rather than one individual (no disrespect is intended here the initiative already taken is great).  Perhaps that collective could be formed through support from MM, IRM, the clubs and individuals willing devote time and effort? Any thoughts on this?

6 hours ago, BosKonay said:

Unless you look for it how would you be aware

The best way to grow the hobby is through availability of models. For 99% of us, we are here because Paddy Murphy made that brave leap. 

Both sentences are a bit like asking which came first "the chicken or the egg". I had no reason to suspect the existence of Irish Models so wasn't actively looking for them.  I was at a loose end at close of the day on a business trip and strolling around a big hobby box store in Wisconsin and was dumbfounded at the sight of a green Irish Train set, that's what got me looking.

The whole point of the discussion here is about a means of raising awareness and interest in modeling Irish Railways and measuring demand for specific items.  So it seems to me the Facebook page launched by Bumble_Bee may contribute at least a little to this. There is an enormous Irish diaspora and I'm sure that at least a small percentage of that group may have an interest in modelling railways, but the probability is that very few know of MM or IRM. Something more than stumbling over things or word of mouth is needed. I'm not a marketing expert so I don't know the answer.