2996 Victor

Just caught up with your layout build thread, and can I say that you're creating a fabulous cameo/micro layout! It's all outstanding - there are so many aspects of it that I love that there are too many to mention, but I'd like to say that I particularly like the goods bay line, and the quay line ending at the closed gate with the suggestion of the quay in the distance is inspired! Please keep the photos coming! All the best, Mark

Excellent! I shall look forward to receiving that! Along with all the others I'm eagerly awaiting

Many thanks @Galteemore, that's greatly appreciated! I found a copy with Martin Bott, who specialises in railway books, which has been duly been ordered! Kindest regards, Mark

Hi @jhb171achill, thank you once again for the info - it's absolutely fascinating stuff and already I'm regretting not having dipped my toe in the water years ago! I definitely feel one of these brake vans coming on - I just need to source some axleguards, axles and wheels from the suppliers already so kindly recommended..... Kindest regards, Mark Hi MM, thank you for the extra info - I'll probably stick with the 1900-1905 period, buuuuut who knows - I could find myself building at least some "modern" stock! With kind regards, Mark

As a general source of MGWR branch line reference information, would it be worthwhile trying to track down a copy of Padraig O'Cuimin's "The Baronial Lines of the Midland Great Western Railway: Loughrea and Ballinrobe"? Thanks, Mark

Many thanks, chaps, that's great to know - it's always nice to be able to introduce a little variety! It just means I'll need to do more research on the right vehicles for my chosen period! With kindest regards, Mark

Thanks, guys, that's sort of what I thought, but as in all things, never assume.....Presumably, that would have been the case in my chosen 1900-1905 period as much as later on? I'm still waiting for my initial book purchases to arrive, so haven't got much to look at as yet. Thanks again and very best regards, Mark

Actually, MM's post above has got me thinking about inter-company traffic. How often would the various companies' goods stock have ventured onto other companies' systems? So, for instance, would it be common to see, say GSWR or SLNCR wagons on the MGWR? Or if not those particular companies, then were there others whose stock could/would have been seen on the MGWR? Thanks as always for any info! Best regards, Mark

Hi MM, many thanks for the idea - it sounds pretty interesting so I'll see what I can find. My chosen period is 1900-1905, so if both MGWR and SLNCR, that would be an interesting combination. And the size sounds quite reasonable, too. Thanks again and best regards, Mark

Dear All, I'd just like to say a huge "thank you" to everyone who has replied to my "newbie" questions with such patient and detailed answers - I can't tell you how much its appreciated! I'll have more questions, I'm sure, so I hope you'll all continue to be just as patient with me! In the meantime, stay safe and stay well! With very best regards, Mark

Thank you both for the brake van detail - such an interesting-looking vehicle that I feel I'd like to attempt a model as John @Mayner has done! @jhb171achill - the livery seems to be a bit of a conundrum, though? John - what shade of green did you settle on, and where did you get the axlebox/spring assemblies? Thanks for the extra info! With best regards, Mark

Hi John, apologies for not having replied sooner, and many thanks for your incredibly detailed post. I can't thank you enough for the information and advice - there's so much there that I don't know where to start! I think my biggest stumbling block at this stage are the track and back-to-back gauges and wagon W-irons and axles, so that's very useful to know. I've checked out the Scalefour Society website, and they seem to have quite a few items for 21mm gauge. I've always used Gibson wagon wheels to date, but the Ultrascale option sounds very promising for the future, particularly as they sound of much higher quality. Thanks for the info regarding the SSM wagons, unfortunately their open wagon sounds a bit too late for my period. Your own kits make up into excellent models and I've been admiring them in recent days. I'm just not sure I'm up to assembling etched brass kits and making a good job of them - I tried some years ago with an etched brass open wagon kit and made a right hash of it! Scratchbuilding in plasticard is more my thing and I can get fairly good results with a bit of care. But I'll have another look and may well take the plunge, details like louvres are far better represented by etching. Thanks again and very best regards, Mark

Hi Galteemore, thanks for the lead on Alphagraphix - I'll try to seek them out! Good news about Marcway! Thanks again and best regards, Mark

Many thanks, jhb - the shade of grey used and the size and position of lettering is great info! And particularly interesting are the green brake vans! Thanks again and best regards, Mark

Thanks, MM, I'll look him up! Much appreciated, Mark

Hi Andy, many thanks for your post - the availability of gauges from the Scalefour Society is great news, I think they sell items to non-members..... I've only recently heard of Prickley Pear, so will need to investigate their product range, and I need to delve into SSM's product range, too! I'll look into New Irish Lines, as you suggest, as any source of info is greatly appreciated. Many thanks again, and very best regards, Mark

Hi jhb, many thanks for your kind words of welcome! Thanks for your confirmation of liveries, that's a good start from my point of view - as soon as I can pin down some appropriate drawings I can make a start on a wagon or two - locos and coaches will probably have to wait a bit longer! The dark grey of the goods stock is interesting, would you say that the colour equates with the Great Western's goods stock grey, which is often said to be among the darkest of greys used, or would it have been darker still? What about lettering sizes and fonts? Thanks again and very best regards, Mark

Hi Eoin, many thanks for your post - the book list is very helpful, thank you. I've had a few of Iain Rice's books in the past, all of which were very erudite, but never got as far as locomotive building. Perhaps the time has come.....! I wasn't aware that Worsley Works did etches for the MGWR - again, I'll have to have a look at their website! I've seen references to Marcway supplying bespoke 5'3" track, and they're not a million miles from me. I've also seen C&L's stand at a couple of shows. Thanks again and very best regards, Mark

Hi Galteemore, many thanks for your post - the link is extremely useful. The brake van is great, and its good to know the IRRS drawings are a good source of information, and although the Compendium seems quite expensive I think I'll be investing in it before long. I've had a look for the Alphagraphix kits, but haven't been able to find them! I'll try looking again..... Thanks again and very best regards, Mark

Hi MM, many thanks for your thoughts, they're much appreciated! It's great to know that there is an MGWR community, as that hopefully helps with the circulation of good information. I'd love to come over to Dublin, and hope to in the near future! In the meantime, I'll probably need to rely on the t'internet, even without the current Covid-19 situation. I've not really decided on whether to model a real location or create a fictional station; it'll probably be the latter due to space and time constraints, but I'm always open to suggestions for small wayside or terminal stations. Interesting that Oakworth looks like an MGWR station, though! Again, due to space, I'll be sticking with 4mm, although I do appreciate that it's possible to create a convincing 7mm layout in a relatively small space. I realise I model a slightly difficult era, but no pain, no gain as they say! Thanks again for your kind words. All the best, Mark

Hi David, many thanks for the photos - what an inspiration! Your attention to detail is incredible. I absolutely agree that the infrastructure should define the owning company without the need for locos and rolling stock to be present. But I have to say that its the latter that make it for me, particularly Sir Henry! I shall be following with great interest! Thanks again and best regards, Mark

Dear All, Being new to the Forum, I'm going need to ask some obviously "newbie" questions for which I sincerely apologise. Also, if this should be in another part of the forum, Mods please feel free to move it! By way of explanation, although I've had a more than passing interest in Ireland's railways for longer than I care to remember, I've only just begun to think about a layout. At the same time, I'm also busily building rolling stock for a Cambrian Railways layout and a projected GWR layout depicting Stogumber Station on the West Somerset Railway, so I'm busy! My chosen period is 1900-1905, with a year or two's leeway either side, and this is the case here. Don't ask me why, I just like to keep my models contemporary with each other. I also model in 4mm/1ft scale, my English and Welsh projects being to EM Gauge Society Standards. My planned layout, therefore, will be Midland Great Western Railway, 1900-1905, 4mm/1ft scale running on 21mm gauge track built to EMGS standards. I have several books on order: Ernest Shepherd's "Illustrated History", Jonathan Beaumont's "Rails to Achill", and Stephen Johnson & Alan O'Rourke's "Modelling Irish Railways" for starters. My questions at the moment are: References: Are there any other useful books that I should have in my bookcase? Drawings: I'm happy scatchbuilding, and particularly enjoy building wagons. I understand that there are some drawings in the Shepherd book - are they accurate? I also see the IRRS offers a compendium of MGWR wagon drawings - at £45, is this likely to be a useful if expensive investment? What about structure drawings - station buildings, signal boxes, goods sheds? Liveries: I've found some references to MGWR liveries here on the Forum already which are very useful - thank you to all those who've posted. However, I thought I'd read somewhere that goods stock lettering was a pale cream, but can't now seem to find that - am I delusional? Also, building paint schemes - cherry red and pale cream/stone? Presumably, window frames white? Available models: So far, I've found a few possibles. As I mentioned above, I enjoy scratchbuilding, and also kit-building, however, I'm not terribly confident with etched brass..... (ham-fisted springs to mind!). What are the options for locomotives, carriages and wagons. For instance, the SSM MGWR covered goods wagons - are they suitable for my time period? And the JM Design horsebox and fish/meat wagons - how "easy" are they to assemble (bearing in mind they're etched brass!)? Are there any other suppliers that have suitable locos, carriages and wagons? Track: As mentioned above, I intend to go with 21mm gauge, so who should I be contacting for track gauges, axles, back-to-back gauges etc? Apologies once again for the "newbie" questions and many, many thanks in advance for any information! Stay safe and stay well! All the best, Mark

Hi, I see @Mayner has already replied, but I was going to add that brake vans with side doors were not that uncommon in England, and were usually known as Road Vans. Their purpose was carriage of consignments too small to warrant a whole wagon. The LSWR built some to what became SR Diagram 1541, one is preserved on the Bluebell Railway. The NER also used quite a few, I believe. The GWR, however, had only two converted from existing vans, which were restricted use, one of which was allocated to Cirencester. Chris Leigh modelled a variety of Road Vans in Model Rail December 2018. All the best, Mark

Hi David, I've just finished reading through your thread, and rather than comment on individual posts (most of them!) can I just echo all the other comments and say that you have created a beautiful model railway that is quite frankly a work of art. I've only recently joined this forum, despite having had an interest in Irish Broad Gauge for many years - Arigna and now Belmullet are an inspiration to get something built sooner rather than later! Please keep the photos coming. Stay safe and stay well! Mark