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Barl

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Everything posted by Barl

  1. https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/travel/ireland/end-of-the-line-for-ireland-s-luxury-sleeper-train-1.4488644 Sounds like Covid is the main reason.
  2. Barl

    Barl

  3. There's an interesting article on the opening and closure of the WCR if anyone hasn't seen it; https://www.echolive.ie/nostalgia/arid-40253438.html
  4. I was on it as Barl also - wish I'd picked a better name now!
  5. Barl

    new murphys products

    I'm pretty sure the Facebook post is from Marks Models page and not Murphy Models. I imagine the retailers were the first ones to be told and it was Marks who released the news on Facebook, where it can be seen instantly by anyone who follows their page. As far as I know PM is a one-man band so I'm sure he will update the website when he gets a chance.
  6. Similar to others who have posted, steam was well before my time but personally I still think there is something different and nostalgic about steam models - this is coming from someone who thinks 2600 'Arrow' railcars are nostalgic! The video Accurascale have on their website - with Hornby Magazine - is a very good watch and shows the level of work requred to produce a steam model! It also shows the draw of steam models with the Manor class emerging from a cloud of it's own smoke making for a beautiful sight As much as I'd love an 800 class, realistically I wouldn't see myself buying more than one in preserved livery for an RPSI special. On the other hand, I would probably buy more than one J15 for example as they crossed such a long period of time and have appeared in so many variations, even fictitious ones for filming (I think?) and as preserved. Maybe IRM could reintroduce the smoke effects on steam models like they used to have years ago!
  7. My wife's aunt has a nice photo of this actually, I took a quick pic of it a while ago. Always thought it would make an interesting scene to model! A bit more modern but I think the scrapped MK3 coaches at Punchestown(?) feature in the Barry Keoghan movie 'Calm with Horses'. I also remember seeing a random music video featuring an 071 but can't remember the name of it...
  8. Barl

    Class 121

    I got a chance to take my 121's out of their boxes and it looks like I've been one of the lucky ones with the only damage I can see being a slightly bent, but not broken, vacuum pipe on 124. 3 of these are from IRM and 2 were collected from Marks. I haven't run any of them yet but hopefully they will be ok!
  9. Barl

    Class 121

    I purchased 134 in IE and 131 in B&T on Wednesday in Marks. Have to say both of these liveries make them look even more stunning than the yellow and grey, can't wait to be able to run them. Out of curiosity, does anyone have a head on (cab face) picture of 125 or 131? I'm not sure if the printing is slightly skewed on mine or my eyes are gone wonky from the lack of sleep a 2-week old baby brings with it!
  10. Barl

    shop

    I never knew there was a model shop in Kildare town, and I'm from Kildare! Does anyone know if the Model Shop in Capel Street in Dublin is still open? I know they mostly focused on RC but they did stock railway items too.
  11. This is an interesting topic as it can be very confusing for people to transition to DCC. In my experience DCC isn't complicated and, as the lads have said above once all the track is connected to as wire 'bus' then insulfrog points shouldn't be an issue. All of my points are insulfrog. One point that I don't think is mentioned is that it's worth having a short section of track isolated -either in a fiddle yard or siding - that can be used as a programming track for loco's etc., rather than having to connect to a separate piece of track each time.
  12. Thanks for the helpful replies. Would you know if the Bachmann BSK is the only one that is the correct length or would the Mainline version be an option also? Is the Hornby version a re-released Lima model?
  13. Rather than hijacking the thread on the release of the weedsprayer wagons, I said I'd ask the question here. What is the best option for modelling the Mk1 Weedsprayer Coach? I know about the Silverfox model and I'm assuming Glendergs overlays are no longer available? Are the Mousa overlays a good option? If so is the Bachmann Mk1 the best option to convert? I have used this method previously for a GSV but there doesn't seem to be many available on eBay or elsewhere at the moment.
  14. There's an Irish Times article on it incase anyone hasn't seen it. https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/railway-revival-steam-trains-set-to-return-to-connemara-almost-a-century-on-1.4311951?mode=amp
  15. Thanks for the above links, with a quick search I was able to find a photo of my grandfather working one of the cabins in Sallins (not sure which one). http://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000305635/MooviewerImg?mobileImage=vtls000305635_001 The Tullow branch ran right behind my Dad's home in Sallins and he has fond memories of playing on the stored open wagons after the line had closed!
  16. Some info on 224 in this article. https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/iarnród-éireann-and-raiu-investigating-fault-found-in-passenger-train-1.4306073
  17. They look stunning! I'm glad I have A46 and 054 ordered now
  18. I'm not sure if this was mentioned already but there was a section on Irish railways and model railways on Nationwide on Monday night if anyone is interested. https://www.rte.ie/player/series/nationwide/SI0000001172?epguid=IH000367922
  19. Barl

    Vote for IRM!

    Job done. Good luck to IRM!
  20. Absolutely fantastic model with excellent examples of detail visible everywhere you look! It really captures the atmosphere perfectly.
  21. Glad to see they're selling well. Just a question about ordering; is it possible to pay part with a gift card and the remainder by credit/debit card? I couldn't see the option online last time I was ordering but not sure if this has changed with the site update. Also just noticed that there seems to be VAT added to the cost of the gift card options online i.e. a €10 card costs €13.50 etc. This may have been fixed since but just incase you hadn't noticed. Apologies if this is a little off topic but I want to order a set of the ploughs before they're gone
  22. It's an excellent video of the works. This is only around the corner from my home place in Osberstown so it was very interesting to see it all come together. The only road closure was the 'canal road' but this has been closed for a while now anyway due to a truck hitting the top of the aqueduct. As far as I know the crane had to be brought in from the UK but not 100% on that.
  23. I think Mayner has covered most of the issues with cut-and-cover tunnel construction very well. As he mentions the dusruption to the city centre areas would be huge, not to mention the effects of the noise from the constant thumping of the sheet piling rigs. The sheer number of services under Dublins streets was also a factor. The sub-base for the LUAS was close to 1m deep in most places but it still required a separate contract to divert all services under the track. We still encountered huge issues with existing services including sewers, many of which are old Victorian brick arch culverts requiring rehabilitation works. Even finding space for something as small as a 150mm diameter gully connection was difficult. As you can imagine, cut and cover would require a greater number of sercive diversions and disruption to services when it occurred. I think the DART Underground project (whenever it happens) has some sections of cut-and-cover proposed in certain areas like St. James Gate but disruption could be minimised in these areas. The City Rail link example Mayner gives did cause huge disruption, as well as being an eyesore in one of the busiest streets in the city. It also made finding The Fiddler Irish pub very difficult
  24. As one of the silly, overpaid consultant "engineers" who worked on the construction phase of the LUAS Cross City, I always find it funny reading comments from armchair planners and engineers criticising the designs. Do you honestly think that every route option for the LUAS Cross City wasn't examined in detail. The project began planning not long after the red line was finished, and the final route was decided upon following public consultation and agreement between all stakeholders; including DCC, NTA, RPA (now TII) Grangegorman Development Authority etc. These projects are designed with long term thinking in mind (the new metro and other proposed lines for example) not the short term that many seem to criticise. The chosen route serves the largest agglomeration and provides the most conveniently located stops. It is no coincidence that many large cities around the world - such as Edinburgh and Sydney - are returning to light rail as an option for public transport. As Mayner mentioned above, the grass is not always greener. Having lived in Auckland for a year it makes Dublins public transport look like a well oiled machine! As for the underground options, Dublin is sitting on a bed of limestone covered by boulder clay and other glacial till deposits. These make it a nightmare to tunnel through as there are many fissures and water pockets which are difficult to pick up during site investigation works. Other tunnelling projects in Dublin, such as the Port Tunnel and the Greater Dublin Drainage Scheme were far from smooth sailing and encountered many difficulties, but none that couldn't be resolved by the "clueless" designers involved. For the LUAS to work as intended, it requires the cooperation of other road users which, unfortunately is not always the case - how many incidents involving trams are the fault of the trams/drivers? Look at how well the trams work in cities like Amsterdam as they have priority and car usage is reduced. Hopefully the proposed metro will resolve some of the issues with Dublins public transport but it is an old city with old, and hidden problems so it may take some time.
  25. If only I could get away with that! Some 'creative accounting' is what's needed I think.
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