Ironroad

19 hours ago, Mayner said:

 

I was charged VAT on my first order of books from the IRRS London area during the early 80s 

To my knowledge bound books of more than four leaves ( 8 pages exclusive of the cover) have always been zero rated for VAT in Ireland, whereas magazines are subject to VAT. So I think someone in Customs may have overstepped on the definition.

3 hours ago, DJ Dangerous said:

The incompetence of An Post knows no bounds!

I have to agree. We posted a batch of Christmas cards to Ireland in the US on Dec 12. Some of these were delivered quite late only arriving after Christmas the worst being  a delivery date of Jan 31, (50 days in transit when the expected norm is 6 days). The fact that some did arrive before Christmas would suggest that all were in the possession  of An Post well before Christmas.

As much as you can do at present is to add them to your wish list on Hattons website and that option has been there for a while. It may be a means of measuring the level of interest, as I recollect some of Paddy's proposals are contingent on this. 

Hi Darius may I ask who makes or where did you source the containers? thanks

Jonathan, you were obviously in very good form when you got home last night.

If I recollect correctly, CIE is obligated by EU regulations to permit open access to the network by private operators of either freight or passenger services. The fact that this has not occurred may become a thorny issue as my understanding is they should be facilitating private operators and a view may be taken that not enough is done in that regard.   To get private operators interested requires investment in the infrastructure not in rolling stock or locomotives.

That is fantastic

I didn't think we had actually resolved what the topic is. 

Now , now, there are northsiders on here too;

A sale has been agreed, thank you 

Hi Tom, welcome to the forum. I sent you a private message (PM) yesterday but don't know if you've seen it. If not click on the envelope at the top right of your screen.

Look forward to hearing from you from another Tom

Bachmann Irish Train, mint, still factory sealed, price 235 euro. Available for collection in Dublin after Dec 29.  Very suitable for use with Hatton's Genesis coaches.  If interested please send me a PM. Thank you

To wet the appetite here is a link to YouTube video of a loco from this set that has been converted to DCC running on a US club layout. 

Reminds me of being in Kerry many years ago and having a spill off a Honda motorbike in the course of which the throttle cable was crushed. I  pushed it to a local garage (I won't name the town) who couldn't help me, so I asked if I could leave the bike for a few hours and hitch hiked into Tralee to find a Honda dealership who could sell me a cable. On returning to the garage while fitting the cable to the bike, there was an a flash and commotion behind me and I turned to see what had been a very nice white coloured English registered Triumph Herald on the lift that was now looking very blackened. I could only assume that the guy who had been working under it with a torch had accidently cut the fuel line. I didn't ask questions and got out of there post haste. 

A sale has been agreed.

Thank you

Lima GM Class 201 in NIR livery (running number 209) complete with six MK11 coaches (two packs of 3) also in NIR blue grey with wasp stripe livery. These were commissioned from Lima by Murphy Models and are new unused and in original packaging (loco box has a little wear). Price for the lot is 270 euro and will be available for collection in Dublin after Dec 29. If interested please send me a PM.

If the shoe fits wear it. I'm also a purist and agree with JHB. It's just as easy to get a livery right as it is to do it wrong.  I have the greatest respect for those that give their time to preservation and I'm willing to support them but not through purchasing models in fantasy liveries, that is a real turn off for me.

33 minutes ago, DJ Dangerous said:

If anything, I'd say they're even more reckless and feckless...

Not sure I agree with that, variations on a theme are not quite in the category of something as unique as the ploughs. 

But yes, in fairness to IRM offerings of Irish models are a gamble and even if successful the returns are nowhere near those of British outline models. That said I'm really intrigued at  what steam loco might be offered by them. A gamble yes but I think interest is underestimated particularly if it ticks the nostalgia box. So I expect it to be something in service in the last days of steam and perhaps something that potentially has some similarity to a British loco and therefore some crossover with something that might be offered by Accurascale.  

All this reminds me of the story of an American who on exiting Westland Row Station (having arrived on the boat train from Holyhead) hailed a taxi and asked to be taken to the Grosvenor Hotel. After a little drive he was deposited at the hotel. Looking out the widow of the dining room at breakfast the next morning he enquired of the waiter if the building across the street was a railway station, and was told that of course it is, isn't that where you arrived last night.  (for those that don't recollect it the building was demolished in 2005)

4 hours ago, BosKonay said:

The beauty of irm having accurascale is that projects that would not be viable can be. We made plough vans after all. 

Yes, that is the standout that is cause for optimism. But I think you have sobered up since those heady days.

18 hours ago, Mayner said:

As seen on TV!!!!!!!!!!!

I looked at the option of commissioning a rtr OO gauge Cattle Engine from China, I would have needed to sell 500 batch built Brass locos at £700 each or 3000 plastic injection locos at £180 each to cover my costs and make a small profit.

OO Works appears to have established that there is a market for 100 Irish steam outline locos at a £315 point which appears very low for a batch built model assembled in the UK (even at home!)

At the time I hadn't £300k lying around to see if I could sell 500 Brass or 3000 Plastic Cattle Engines so took a punt on investing a smaller amount in producing some 3D printed rtr wagons which did not exactly pay off either.

Very sobering information.  I'm one of those that was disappointed the viability of producing the MGWR Cattle engine wasn't feasible.  But considering your comments above, I'm just wondering if you  have ever considered the possibility of collaborating with OO Works.   This maybe a non runner  but I suspect you have already done a lot of ground work, on this model which could give such a project a head start..  I'm clutching at straws.

Harking back to observations I made earlier on this thread, I accept the counter points made since by other forum members to the effect that there is significant interest in earlier periods among modellers who have no memories or experience of those times.  But the point here is that it is typically with growing knowledge and maturity as modellers that interest expands either back in time or narrow gauge etc. Initially on entering the hobby it is the contemporary scene or nostalgia for what we remember that is likely to be the inspiration. Those of us that can think of a Silver A class nostalgically are very fortunate to actually have had the opportunity to be in a position to purchase the high quality RTR model produced by IRM, but the reality is that part of the market is evaporating.  For the most part my interest starts with the formation of CIE, although I have a grá for the MGWR.

2 hours ago, DiveController said:

That's an interesting point, Colin. At the rate IRM are going (God Bless Them) , they will have covered all the 'modern' stock within another 5 years.

Regretably, in that decade we will no doubt have lost another prototype or two and a lot more period modelling interest. 

Most certainly the interest will probably diminish as we will have also have lost most or all of the generation that remember something of the 50's & 60's.   I particularly remember travelling behind a Jeep. Will I ever see a model, sadly probably not.  It's a pity the offering of products has not been a bit more balanced.

9 hours ago, Galteemore said:

The OO works locos are basically like a classic car - lovely to look at, can trundle around nicely, but don’t expect them to cope with the rigours of daily commuting. They are built with 50s-60s technology 

I don't think that is a very fair comment. There wasn't a lot wrong with 50's - 60's technology other than the motor sizes.  (OO Works use modern compact motors). I have three Hornby Dublo Locos that are over 60 years old that still run perfectly , one actually dates from the 50's and is a three to two rail convert. Those were the days.

My prediction is that it will be a it will be a Jeep.

9 hours ago, BosKonay said:

I agree all should be encouraged but it’s also not sensible to assume that a RTR manufacturer won’t get to a prototype that runs with the RPSI in time. I can promise several things next year, including steam, but the j15 will not be coming from IRM in the next 24 months. 
Hope that clarifies what I mean by ‘never say never’. 

Thank you for that clarification. The reality is that the "Possibility" of a J15 from IRM is a very long way off and in truth some of us won't live that long and I  have a problem with teasers that might be interpreted otherwise to the potential detriment of offerings from other sources   Maybe you can explain this to Fran who seems to be confused.

7 hours ago, BosKonay said:

Never say never

I'm with Leslie on this, you are not promising and it doesn't make sense for you to do so.

The J15 has and is being done by OO Works, so it would be far better that you promise AEC railcars, Tin Vans, Laminates or Park Royals. Lots of other things we would like to see, so please stop teasing and potentially compromising this offering from OO Works.  It's great to see them doing this and it should be encouraged.