2996 Victor

Thanks for the link - its an interesting layout and the use of the turntable as a loco release is intriguing! And space-saving..... Kind regards, Mark Many thanks for the link, this another interesting layout, particularly the way the shed roads also fan off of the turntable. With kind regards, Mark

Thank you as always for your reply: you are indeed the font of all knowledge and I for one would like to heartily thank you for sharing it! Where to start? Well, for the location, I'm embarassed to say I don't really know, although I'm leaning toward the western half of the system with a branch of similar length to Loughrea or Ballinmore, possibly somewhere in the Athlone/Claremorris/Athenry triangle, where I think livestock may have been grazed? So I think it's fair to assume (always a dangerous thing to do!) that a branch line such as I'm envisaging would have been limited to the one or two passenger and one mixed trains per day, but with with fair day and livestock specials. Thanks also for the information on the parcels/mails traffic, which probably wouldn't have occurred to me and which offer another cameo opportunity. Coach building is also going to be a new departure for me, which I'm looking forward to! I have yet to investigate Worsley Works scratch-aid etchings - etched brass brings me out in a rash (shame about those 3D-prints - I may take the plunge and order one, although as I mentioned earlier on the other thread, I wasn't impressed with my previous purchases from the same supplier). Thanks again for all your help and advice, its hugely appreciated! With kind regards, Mark

Hi @Midland Man, thanks you very much for your kind offer, its hugely appreciated, so if it's not too much of a pain to find, I'd be very pleased to have a copy of the Killina track plan. I'm not worried about there not being a turntable - its only something else to go wrong or break With kind regards, Mark

Thank you for the link - that's a fabulous photograph! The track is almost exactly what I'd imagined - the uneven ballasting, worn sleepers and the accumulation of cinders in the platform road all speak volumes! I'm guessing that for my period, the sleepers would have been perhaps a little better, condition-wise, but otherwise much the same. Thanks also for the drawing - that's the perfect vehicle for a starter project! The leading dimensions are a huge help: such a shame the Broadstone Series don't seem to have any scale on them, although the gauge is shown, of course. With kindest regards, Mark

Thanks for the extra photos, it really is a splendid layout and an inspiration! I have to agree about the "hole in the backscene" - using a bridge or tunnel can work in certain circumstances, but it has been used so often in places where it looks out of context. A view block consisting of a building or buildings, trees and hedges or suitable landscaping can be so much more convincing. There was a short article in Model Railway Journal No.267 about effectively making the fiddle yard part of the scenic section, so that although there is a view block at the transition point, the fully ballasted track continues into the "off-stage" area and suggests quite effectively that the line really does go somewhere. It's certainly something I want to try out! With kind regards, Mark

Many thanks, Jonathan, for the extra info - presumably these would be six-wheelers rather than bogie vehicles? And how often would the trains be mixed? Kind regards, Mark

I did mean to ask about your treatment at t'other end, where the scenic section goes "off-stage". Any photos in that direction? Kindest regards, Mark

Well, I've been fairly busy! I've subscribed to New Irish Lines, I've been in touch with Des Sullivan at SSM to order some W-iron and brake gear etches and a couple of his MGWR Convertible wagon kits, I've emailed North Yard Models in New Zealand regarding 28mm pinpoint axles for rolling stock and I've contacted Stephen Freeman of Borg Rail about constructing points and have received some extremely reasonable quotations. This latter approach means that I only have to worry about a track gauge for plain track and a back-to-back gauge for wheels, which are proving difficult to find. On a slightly less positive note, I also contacted Ultrascale about their 21mm gauge wagon wheels and axles, but they are unable to give any timescale for production which, added to their significant cost premium, makes them a bit of a no-no. Unfortunately, none of my books has turned up yet, which is a bit of blow. So I was wondering if anyone could advise what form of track work the MGWR would have used on a branch line, i.e. chaired bull-head, spike flat-bottomed, etc, I'd be grateful as this will help me with the decision on model trackwork. It also means I'm stuck for starting any rolling stock construction, although John @Mayner has been incredibly kind in sending me electronic copies of drawings he has, I'm currently sans printer. So here's a very cheeky request: does anyone have a dimensioned drawing of, say, an open wagon that I could cut my teeth on? My next task is to devise some sort of track layout for my project, which is more than likely to be a fictional location. I've not decided where its going to be set, which of course would affect the traffic a fictional line would have carried and hence the track layout, so again I'm a bit stuck until my books arrive. In any case, it will need to be quite small as mentioned somewhere above, probably 6' long as a maximum. Thanks again to everyone who has offered help and kind words of advice, please do keep your thoughts and suggestions coming! Stay safe and stay well, Mark

I too have had a (very) few items from this manufacturer's Shapeways page, in my case some narrow gauge War Department Light Railway bogie open wagons. They were in the same material mentioned above, and I was most disappointed with the finish and poor quality of the surface details. Not only that, but there were fundamental errors in the basic length and width of the vehicles. Unfortunately, this supplier has a wide range of interesting vehicles, many of which I would be interested in. But they are all the same material, and once bitten, twice shy as they say! I would prefer to pay more for better quality prints with better materials than pay less for a poor quality print that isn't worth its purchase price, but that's just my opinion, of course. Best regards, Mark Agreed!

Great, @Galteemore, much appreciated!

Hi David, Not sure why, but I can't seem to find this - is there a link? Kind regards, Mark

More fantastic work! Brilliant!

Absolutely fabulous work!

Incredible work! My efforts at etched brass kits in 4mm scale have been ham-fisted disasters, so to see this kind of work in 2mm scale is mind-blowing! Stay safe and stay well. Best regards, Mark

Well, here are some of my recent efforts in most cases, I've used kit sides and ends with scratchbuilt underframes, sometimes with the kit's floor but more my own. Axleguards are MJT etches, fixed rigidly, with 3D-printed axlebox/spring assemblies. Solebar details are taken from the MJT fret. Brake gear is mostly fettled Slater's with Masokits etched brass safety loops replacing the moulded-on ones. Brake levers will be a mixture of Masokits and Bill Bedford etches. The first two are Slater's Midland Railway Diagram D299 5-plank opens, finished as examples built by the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway's Highbridge Works. These differed in detail from the Midland design, most notably in that the floors didn't have drop doors, and the side doors had hefty wooden doorstops. Most also had a long brake lever, but these are numbered in the early series which had standard Midland short brake levers. They're going to be loaded, hence the lack of interior detail and only the top plank is tinted: http:// These two are Cambrian Railways vehicles, finished in that company's pre-1899 livery, although there is some likelihood that they shouldn't have the load branding. The 4-plank on the right is based on sides/ends from the Cambrian Model Rail kit, with my usual scratchbuilt underframe. The 2-plank fixed side on the left is 3D-printed, and comes from Coastline Models Shapeways page: http:// This is a Midland Railway Diagram D305 3-plank dropside, again using Slater's sides/ends. It needs its buffers as well as its brake lever: http:// While this one is finished as a Midland Railway Engineer's Department vehicle, built "out-of-the-box" but with added canvas spats over the axleboxes: http:// These two are also built from Slater's Midland D305 kits, finished as S&DJR vehicles. The one on the right is almost complete and just needs its etched brake lever and Tare weight, while the one on the left is one I built about 25 years ago and is "out-of-the-box". It sports a hand-lettered livery - I could see straight in those days! http:// Here we have another 3D-printed Cambrian Railways wagon, this time a 3-plank fixed side, again from Coastline Models. This one is actually finished, apart from weathering, of course: http:// And finally, a string of Cambrian Railways opens, a couple of 4-plank high-sided opens and three 2-plank dropsides in various states of completion. They need their brake gear completing, a few small other details adding, the interior tinting and external weathering: http:// http:// http:// http:// Apart from the hand-lettered S&DJR 3-plank, company livery markings are transfers. The Cambrian Railways wagons use waterslide transfers from the Welsh Railways Research Circle, all the others are HMRS pressfix. Small details like door safety chains and sheet lashing rings are present on the wagons in the first couple of photos, but need adding to all the rest..... Hope these are of some interest! I'm looking forward to getting my teeth into some 5'3" gauge wagons soon! Best regards, Mark

Hi MM, well, the actual layout is only as far as a plan and a try-out with some track, but I can post a few pics of the rolling stock I've built if that's of interest? Bearing in mind that it's standard gauge Kindest regards, Mark

Hi David, I know what you mean about diverse interests! At the moment, I'm finishing off a rake of Cambrian Railways opens in 4mm/EM for a small layout I have planned, while I've got wagons from several other companies, S&DJR, Midland and the like, in almost-finished condition. Besides that, I've a plan for an Ashover Light Railway inglenook in 009 and I'm also planning a model of Stogumber on the West Somerset Railway set in my usual time period, 517s and Dean Goods in green and indian red, short carriages in cream and brown, red wagons, baulk road track. I've often thought about a Col Stephens-style light railway, but I don't really have the imagination! I'm sure I remember both High Weald and Cranbrook Town in RM, not sure about Loose End, though. But I definitely remember the MRJ articles featuring Jane/Shannon! I remember being overwhelmed by the work! I've often thought that Wantage Town would make an excellent model, and the Lower Yard, too. Horse trams - hmmm! - horses with wheels would probably look a bit odd Best regards, Mark

Thanks, MM, I'll definitely take your advice! Best regards, Mark

Dear All, Although I've posted a "thank you" somewhere above, I feel I should do so again for all the additional kind words of support and all the help, advice and information that has been forthcoming. I realise that it will be of use to not just myself, but to everyone, but I can only say how overwhelmed I have been by the friendly, helpful, knowledgeable folk here on the Forum. Thank you! Stay safe and stay well. With kindest regards, Mark

Hi David, thank you for your kind words, all the more so given your exquisite creations! I'm eagerly following your Belmullet thread, as well as having avidly soaked up your Arigna thread over on RMWeb. Thank you for the pointers regarding the David Jenkinson book, not one I've come across for some reason despite having many of Wild Swan's modelling-orientated titles and also The Steam Age In Ireland, bearing in mind the caveat you mention, of course! Interesting to know about the Alphagraphix chassis. Alphagraphix seem quite hard to track down, although I have an e-mail address to make first contact. Any plans for a layout based on the Good Colonel's empire? Many thanks and very best regards, Mark

Hi JHB, thanks again for all your help and advice. I was "leaning" toward joining the IRRS and what you and others have said has convinced me that its the thing to do. @leslie10646 has very kindly offered a copy of the MGWR Picture Book, which I'll be taking up, and I've found copies of Ernie Shepherd's and Padraic O'Cuimin's books, which I'm eagerly awaiting, as well as a copy of your own "Rails to Achill". I'll keep an eye out for "Connemara"! @Galteemore has very kindly provided a link to the GSR locomotives book as well. Thanks again and very best regards, Mark

Hi Leslie, many thanks for your post - I'm definitely interested in both if you have them, so I'll send you a PM shortly. Re the Bagnalls, being a Somerset lad originally, I have a great fondness for 2994 Vulcan and 2996 Victor. These two did stalwart work on the West Somerset Railway in its' early preservation years, along with GWR Pannier Tank 6412, now on the South Devon Railway. The last time I saw Victor was around three years ago, on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway, while Vulcan appears to be at the Stephenson Railway Museum under a different name but bearing its original operator's running number..... Their sister was 2995 Valiant, of course, the three being named after the RAF's V-Bombers. The three locomotives were originally used at the Port Talbot Steel Works, but when they went over to diesel traction, Vulcan and Victor were sold to Austin at Longbridge, and Valiant to the NCB until she developed firebox problems and was sold for scrap. Vulcan and Victor were sold to the West Somerset in 1973, and Victor hauled the first train when the line reopened in 1976. Mnay thanks again and very best regards, Mark

I want to get in touch with the IRRS, so could definitely ask. Visiting Eire is something that I've long wanted to do, so that sounds like a definite "must do"!

That's definitely into "ouch" territory! I'll have to sell something to fund it

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