commerlad

One hopes he was in the Operators seat and not the Drivers seat at the time.

I had not seen that previous post. Nothings new though.

Right then you have your new shiny Cement Bubbles and want to weather them, (But baulk at the thought of damaging them after how much they cost) Well a simple (Non permanent) and cheap way presents itself.......................... Tooth paste (Slurry) mixed with Chalk (Or Talcum) Powder. It will set hard, But still wash off if you want too.

Seller also has some Murphy coaches.

Hence my point of being able to get to 16 mainland locations within an hours drive from home (according to google maps) for only minimal fuel costs.

But the Rail tour is several days and starts near where you get off the plane/ferry or has good transport links to them. We will travel if the perceived value is worth it, but a long trip for a single day on a historic line does not equate to the same Which is why I said " It's not that those in the UK are not interested in Irish historic railways " You also mentioned Steam trips abroad, E.g. Italy So yes Italians = Obviously Austrians, Germans Czechs , OK comparatively close and drivable but continental rail fares are so cheap why bother. Aussies and Poms, Like I said for a longer rail tour event they will travel (I presume this was an organised event over several days travel) The "value" is there. And Italy is also a holiday destination so some may stay on at the end. The point I was trying to make was particularly about the historic lines and museums in Ireland being compared to similar in the UK mainland.

The above posts have gone on about location and population in those areas, But I think some of you miss the point that those locations are holiday destinations or have good transport links. Wales is only in most cases only 2 or 3 hours drive away from England. Any thoughts that Ireland is that same 2 or 3 hours drive, A 2 hour ferry crossing plus the 1hr check in beforehand and then guess what. Another couple of hours drive to get to the location. It's not that those in the UK are not interested in Irish historic railways, It's just the practicalities of getting there easily are not viable. Especially as most do day trips to locations on the Mainland. Off the top of my head I can legally get to at least 10 mainland locations within an hours drive from home (according to google maps) for only minimal fuel costs. Anywhere in Ireland is 3 days 2 nights and a ferry fare. After checking I got that number to 16

A few bit of Irish interest, At auction !9/06/2025 Cork Blackrock and Passage Mounted Coat of Arms Office Stamps Handlamp GNR (I) Mounted Coat of Arms GNR (I) + Clocher Valley Mounted Coat of Arms MIDLAND GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY OF IRELAND Mounted Coat of Arms Dundalk Newry & Greenore Railway Co mounted coat of arm County Donegal Railway poster "DONEGAL HORSE RACES SEPTEMBER 18TH 1935" Dubious on this one Quantity of Narrow Gauge Coach drawings LMS NCC Narrow Gauge 18" x 10" Loco & Carriage Works Belfast or Dundalk (8), LMS NCC goods brake van 8"x 6" (2), County Donegal Railway Wagons and Coaches 15" x 8" stamped GNRI Drawing Office Dundalk (39)

A walking horse has been done in 00 before. Isle of Man, Douglas Bay Horse Tramway, Think it was Simon? Hamlyn, His Dad made Clip Clop sounds with a couple of coconut shells. The tram was motorised but the leading axle was internally cranked, with thin wires then protruding forwards to the hinged horses legs. I know I have copies of the photos somewhere.

As far as I read re the take over (And like @Colin R I also got a copy of the email) It's only all the 3mm range that is so far spoken for (By the 3mm society). He is in discussions with others re the 4mm narrow gauge stuff. Might be worth someone getting in touch with the 7mm society to find out if they have heard anything and more crucially what they may plan on doing.

Surprised it's only 3.

Ok But where do you insert the batteries.

And 3 days later Euro jumps, dollar swoons as Trump relents on EU tariff threat Wonder how much he got paid this time to "Change his mind!" I have always said that the reason anybody go's into politics is for the money, But I have never seen anyone so blatant about it before.

Of course another source of info are the old Ian Allan ABC books. Irish Locomotives C.I.E., G.N(I), N.C.C and all other Irish Locomotives. Daft thing is it also has principal dimensions and other data that can be hard to locate elsewhere!

@David Holman Is there anything on the old IOM modular layout that they did in the early 60's?

I have never been worried about the threat of a nuclear war, Even with Putin in power. Yes he is not a nice man, to put it mildly but he has sense to know that nobody wins in the event. With Trump I am not so sure.

And the rules have changed.........AGAIN. Trump threatens EU with 50% tariff from June

Not EBAY but This isn't that far from me and I have the cash but .................... The Loco AGHHHHHHHHHH............................

It's not just that simple. Even ignoring someone deciding to change the numbers or rules again the international money markets can throw a spanner in the works. Lets say that the order comes to $780 when shipping. A 0.025% change in the £ to $ exchange rates wile the item is in transit might push the amount over the $800 and thus incur the different rule.

And some more that are not listed for the Irish Narrow Gauge modeller, Model Engine Works, Mannin Models, NDrive Productions,

The only Import duty is the VAT other than for such as Tobacco and Alcohol (Hence Duty Free lounge at Airports for certain amounts eg= The Diminimis value) )and Fuels (Usually only imported by large multinationals as somehow a carry on Jerry Can is not a good idea and it is a banned substance on the postal service. ) which have extra excise duties And yes even when buying smaller amounts from a retailer (eg Petrol at a forecourt) we have to pay Vat on the Total (Product Cost + Excise Duty) + VAT = Total Price There may or may not be adjustments of product price along the line but a Tariff cost is not paid by anyone until it gets to the US so the Chinese supplier may charge less but they will not at any point pay a Tariff.

We Europeans have known for years what VAT is, Yes we pay it on just about everything when we buy something. IT is the equivalent of the Sales Tax in the US but is levied by central government not individual States, Counties, Departements or whatever else the country concerned calls its smaller administrative sections. Oh and by the way we also have a minimum value upon which VAT is claimed on an imported package. Your last part does not make sense, If a bulk order goes to Europe it therefore has nothing to do with the US and no US Tarrif is therefore involved. If it is then sent on to the US then it does come under US Tarrif rules and if there is a Diminimis then that would apply if the value of the package once it arrives in the US is under that. Going through another Country and or being increased or decreased in size along the way is totally irrelevant as IT IS ONLY WHEN IT REACHES THE US THAT THE TARRIF APPLIES.

It is not that the product is 30% more expensive. The product price is the product price. Americans are paying 30% more because of the Tarrif imposed by Trump and this is collected by the US Why blame (and expect the manufacturer to suffer) for something that is done by Trump.

Yeah, He's obviously missed the 1 between the £ and the 6...................................................

The Mango "King" hopes they don't work it out