meathdane

And we are live, A15 on test duties, so far so good after a good track cleaning session! Great to have bantry up and operational. Now on to remedial work in the garage and then it's extension time! VID_20250312_203335.mp4

Hi all, I was approached by a member of the Dunshaughlin Harvest Festival who are very keen to have some Model railway layouts at the festival. The event takes place during the last weekend in September, the layouts will be in a secure building with barriers and volunteers to help manage the crowds. Unfortunately with my work schedule, I will only be present for one day, though I am hoping to have Bantry present on the Sunday at the very least. If anyone would like to have their layout present, the festival would love to have them and be very grateful, seemingly there is interest in the community to see these displays. If you would like to have your layout of any size, scale, or outline involved, send me a message and I will get you in contact with the events team. Thanks, Dane

Guess the 800s will be making a cameo on Bantry. Maebh and Maca ordered. Fantastic looking model, and from the videos I saw, a great runner too! Well done to IRM, can't wait for the next 10 years!

Great stuff! Apologies must have missed that update!

Or the Park Royals, be lovely to see how they're getting on

I may just, the majority of my stock is too late for Bantry, with the exception of Hs, Grains, cattle,Tankers and Corrugated opens. I've a full rake of Ferts, Guinness, Gypsum, and 40s. Could very conceivably see in an alternate timeline a fert and Guinness unloading at the goods shed or Gypsum for export at the pier. My collection is eclectic at best, I've a little of a lot, never had a clear direction until now, which will influence my buying decisions. But as for what I have, Rule 1

That'll make up part of the "what if" rail tour set. It's there because it's my most derail happy piece of stock, and if it runs happily over the joints all else will! On the flip side, can't wait to see what type of aneurism is caused when I run a grey 071 with a rake of 40s into Bantry

Appreciate the comment, I am fortunate enough that the shed is well insulated though unheated. We've never had an issue with rats, due to our very diligent head of security, Mr. Teak, my cat, and his second in command, next doors Fluffy. This was a working garage used for body repairs, so there are a pair of steel doors on the shed, the only issue is theyve degraded in the 30 odd years since construction and need renewal. The cracks are miniscule cracks in the mortar courses that allows bugs and plant life in, I'm looking to seal it with spray foam and Tec7 over the top just to keep them out The Idea of the partition wall is to allow the layout area to have a dehumidifier running. I want it built with proper damp proofing and insulation to help and a properly fitted door to separate the layout completely from the main garage area

Final Bantry scenic board went up on Saturday, all lined up, no derailments, signals added back and attached to servo motors, Wiring all connected up, NCE powercab should be waiting for me when I get home, started to add in vehicles and small scenery items and posed a few bits of rolling stock. Productive weekend, and it gets busier from here. Contractor coming in hopefully next week to level off the stepdown and build a partition wall, roof cleaners on standby for the shed, meeting an artistic friend of mine next weekend who'll hopefully agree to paint a back scene on the walls surrounding Bantry, and in talks with a crowd to get a roller door put on the shed. Few small cracks in brick and wood work to fill in, need to relocate a socket to a more advantageous spot, and finally, get building the permanent extension. Lots of work on the horizon but seeing Bantry built and ready for action will be worth it

Possibly a train pack? Similar to the old Hornby Irish pack with a 040 in the flying snail, a coal wagon, van and tanker, but updated with a new tooled 90, Bulied Open, H and Tanker. I can dream on but it would be pretty special and ambitious! But id be confident enough to put money on a steamer. The question is big mainline steam or a smaller shunter? As I am apparently now a Cork railway modeller after acquiring Bantry, I'm gonna say the obligatory Bandon Tank

The Bantry revival is coming along, slowly as I am doing it solo, but it's getting done! Small bits of damage here and there, but thankfully less than I had expected. One of the edges seemed to have taken a minor knock and cause the rail to sit proud of its mirror, managed to get the alignment plate shimmed with a small piece of plasticard and that seems to have solved it. If not, I will have to lift that piece and relay it. But so far so good. Last bit of clear out to be done tomorrow, then the final Bantry board to go up, the I'm onto building the permanent extension that will remain in situ whenever bantry goes for a jaunt.

Black'N'Tan HST set Most ambitious crossover of Irish and British outline

Thanks a mil Leslie, Unfortunately with work and life commitments this year, I won't get a chance to get to a show for a look, let alone exhibit a layout. 2026 season is the earliest I'll be able to show it (all going to plan anyway)

Will it be Live Steamed?*

My pleasure. Couldn't see it go to waste! When it's up and running, if you ever find yourself near meath with a few spare hours, let me know and we can get some of your lovely and appropriate stock running on Bantry

Not on my end Patrick, have to say Mick (and his wife) and the courier did 99% of the work, all credit to them, I just handed over the money and helped unload the van!

So I am the man who bought the wonderful Bantry layout from @Mike 84C. This will replace my existing large layout which stalled from the usual doubt and constant redesigns. It will be built around, having a permanent scenic section and fiddle yard, but allowing Bantry to be removable, but the Bantry boards will remain removable along with its Fiddle Yard. Hopefully after a fettling in period, learning the operations and a good play, I want to take it to the 2026 exhibition circuit, hence the removable element of the plan. Photographed here fresh off the couriers van waiting to be unpacked and assembled

Just got my order of H and bulk Grains, they look great! Can't wait to run them! Thanks lads!

Hi Mike, I may have the space to take it on, you okay if I PM you?

That pun was a bit crude

Looks great! Thanks for the photos and info, Must book a trip for a look!

Would it be? The Luas line is signalled and controlled by traffic lights at crossings, so I would assume it could travel at relatively similar speeds to the standard LUAS. Though the weight and stopping time might mean a slower speed is required As for the loading gauge, could the standard lorry tankers be placed onto essentially flats and used that way? The tramway is about the correct width of a standard road lane if I'm not mistaken? It's not that deep, just musing over returning rail transport to the brewery on a otherwise boring trip! It is a shame, I've often wondered how different it would have been had it been a true narrow gauge line like Donegal, freight and passenger trains snaking through the city centre would have made for more interesting watching. Though drivers may disagree

Bit of a funny What if, My work brings me on the Luas, when I'm on the Red Line, it passes by Guinness Brewery, right down to the Point, would it be a mad possibility for them to take a small siding into the Brewery and extend the line from the Point across to the Port? Granted the line is busy during the day, but after midnight and before 6am. It would help facilitate Guinness transfers to the Port, freeing Lorries from city centre traffic after the Quays traffic changes, the infrastructure is 90% there, there's even a unused siding at the point that could be brought across the road relatively easily. Infrastructure that is unused for 6 hours a day will be utalised. Is there any reason this wouldn't be feasible? Possibly even have a spur into North wall for heavy rail transfers Just a thought exercise for fun!