Barl

I'm glad to hear that there is still hope for the ICR's and thank IRM for being committed to projects and not just the dollar signs! I think it's been very clear from the ballast hoppers to the A Class and beyond that market research has been very thorough. As others have said the ICR's have been the mainstay of Irish Railways for over a decade and will be for the coming decades - I hope we don't end up in a similar situation to pre MM and IRM where people are complaining about having no 'prototypical' Irish RTR. I have a 4 car and 6 car set on pre-order - something I probably wouldn't have been able to do without the monthly payments option - and am considering a 3-car if funds allow in the coming weeks and I hope I will get to see them in the near future. As for alternatives, I would love to see a 2600 some day but suggestions that IRM should have produced steam locos that the majority of that 30-45 age bracket (in my opinion) have never heard of, let alone seen, is never going to be viable! A current (or recent) RPSI loco would be a nice addition I think - J15 please

I wasn't aware there was any closures planned on the Dublin to Cork line for the October bank holiday weekend? There's a closure between the Cork side of the tunnel and Mallow this coming weekend (19th and 20th) but bus transfers will be in place.

Interesting thoughts there. It would definitely be great to see an extension of the current timetable, particularly between LJ and Waterford. The line could definitely be utilised more than it currently is, given that Limerick and Waterford both have large colleges and quite a few commuters. I was only having a discussion last week about whether the semaphores are preventing increased services on the LJ to Waterford line but this doesn't seem to be the case - it may require the cabin at Cahir to be reopened and manned but I can't see that being much of an issue. I'm not sure if the number of level crossings (manned and unmanned) is one factor preventing a service being run during rush hour. Would it be possible to adjust the timetable slightly to have the crossover at Clonmel, giving that it already has an operational loop (and platform/footbridge)? This could also tie in with the Bus Eireann service that stops in Clonmel (no idea of times though!) Cahir would need a new loop re-installed and significant works to the existing loop platform - I can't remember if the footbridge is still there! All hypothetical but it would be nice to see

As DoctorPan says, the governments view on railways has drastically changed in the last few years. Andrew Ebrill of the Department of Transport gave a very good talk on the report at the PWI Conference in June and emphasised the points DoctorPan says. One point he made, which I thought was very valid, is that there is an idealistic view of closed lines in Ireland and that many of the railway lines that were closed in the past were loss-making in a time when very few people had cars, meaning it would make little sense to reopen most of the closed lines. The report outlines proposals that not only have an equal cost:benefit ratio but also an environmental benefit. The naysayers will say it's a pipe dream but the point has been made that the proposals would need approximately €1bn a year to progress, which is close to what was being spent on the (now decent) motorway network over three decades or so. It was also mentioned that Ireland is about 10 years behind where it would have been with investment in railways due to the economic downturn. The discussions with the EIB aim to prioritise the timing and funding model of the proposals - it looks like the frontrunner appears to be the electrification and raising speed of the Dublin to Cork line.

My grandfather was a signalman and he used to refer to them as the "Bo-Bo's" also, so it must have been a common enough name within CIE.

Hi Irishmail, If one of them was the one you sent to me I got it this morning safe and sound, just met the post man on my way out. Agree about the strange timings though, I've often sent cards or small parcels to Kildare from my local village post office and they'll arrive the next day, but have sent from larger towns and they can take 3 or 4 days to arrive!

Freshly laid ballast will cover most of the sleepers but the ballast regulator - currently 703 that I'm aware of (with a new one to be commissioned) - normally removes most of the ballast from the top of the sleepers in the 5-foot. This doesn't always happen and can take some time after relaying. Removing the ballast allows the sleepers to be inspected easier and makes walking the track a bit less uncomfortable!

Apparently it has been under environmental review with minor changes taking place also, based on comments received on the Draft version. It has gone for government approval now with the intention to release the final version at the end of summer according to DoT.

Studio Scale Models should have them if it's any use to you. http://www.studio-scale-models.com/TDMU.shtml

Very comprehensive and informative list Darrman, thanks for putting it together. Just to add to it, the bridge numbers may not represent the actual number of bridges/culverts/underpasses on that section. For example, you can have OBC274 (an overbridge) then UBC274A, UBC274B and UBC274C - all culverts after OBC274 in the high mileage direction. The Limerick Junction loop line appears to be undesignated as you say, but there are no structures or level crossings on this stretch. The mileposts follow the Heuston to Cork numbering but are designated LN (Limerick North) to LW (Limerick West).

Full marks You can have a group TSC or solo TSC. Either is required for red zone working (live trains) without a lookout. Group is responsible for setting up a safe systems of work and designating the position of the lookout/s, where required, and the position of safety.

It looks like 216 has been getting around. It was on Mk4 duties the week before Christmas looking badly in need of a wash!

Platforms, like other structures such as bridges and culverts, have to be inspected every two years. During platform inspections a track gauge is used to check the clearance and height of the platform relative to the top of rail. The track gauge/width and cant (angle) is also checked, as well as the 6 foot's (distance to next track) where applicable. A structural inspection of the platform face and the copings also forms part of the overall inspection.

As the lads have said a new platform should aim to be 915mm above top of rail but in reality this can vary greatly depending on whether you're modelling an older platform or a lesser used platform. More attention tends to be given to platforms with greater foot traffic. . Whether or not the track has been relaid and/or tamped can also impact on the platform height. I took the photo below during a platform inspection I was carrying out recently and you can see the variation in the height of the copings and the height of the new vs old coping stones.

It's probably fallen through the cracks with everything else being announced at the SDMRC exhibition but I see that Marks Models are collaborating with Hornby to produce a model variant of the NCC 3F 'Jinty'. Did anybody manage to get any further information during the show? I only saw the small drawing on a page behind their stand.