Railer

I didn't realise that 230 was a limited edition run until I got it. Have to return it tomorrow though as it was delivered with a buffer missing from each end and the buffer mounts damaged.

Very good article. I found the stats about the brake shoes of the DARTs interesting and the fact that in 1992 Northwall was dealing with up 14-15 out going liners per day. How times have changed. Makes me wish I was born about decade earlier.

075 is still going strong. Passed me this evening at 17:50 hauling 8 empty tara wagons. 191 was a notable one, being scrapped following a "run away" incident from North Wall yard, was then witched into a siding at Clonsilla and crashing into the buffer stops. All the timber framed coached were destroyed in the crash at Buttevant. The Cravens construction proved them well, while most were damaged they were not like other which only the base was left. The IRRS journal are good from finding out when stock was involved in accidents and scrapped. 171 rolled off the end of the wash road at Connolly before it was extended down to Eastwall Junction, it went on to be the very the last 141 in service.

I'll try and get some photos of it. I noticed it early one morning about a month ago but it was dark and thought I was seeing things but I saw it clearly this morning as it was leaving Fairview depot.

Its outside, steel frame, looks like ceiling grid for a suspended ceiling in an office block but it's a single length. It stands out as it's not painted.

And earthquake proof.

Just noticed this morning as 8101 passed by that is had metal frame along the top door level all the way around it. It's trailer counterpart 8301 does not have this or another other 8100 class unit that I can see. Anyone know what it is or why only on coach has this.

Can't wait to see the 200+ 42ft LP flats to go along with that.

Something I'd like to know myself. Also about the 3 shale wagons that were converted to taras and when. They would have had lids made for them.

Is 225 confirmed for Belmond or just hear say?

I believe 230 is being used for spares. It suffered considerable damage during the fire. Firefighters had to cut holes in it to put the fire out and the fire burned through it's brake lines. 206 was badly damaged by HEP induced fire in 2005 and was almost a write off but it was repaired and back in service during the summer of 2006. With 230 gone from the Enterprise fleet there is still 206-209, 227,228,231 and 233. They can always add TPWS to an active 201 to replace 230 if needs be. They could probably used 230 as parts to finish cancelled repairs to 225 and use it to replace 230.

The refurb GSV will be in maroon livery.

I believe it turned out to be a fire on one of the traction motors so it should not be a big problem like what happened to 230.

It's working anyway. 077 has sold out and is now gone for good. So much for getting more IE 071s for renumbering and weathering. I had my bank on to me earlier thinking there was fraudulent activity on my card=)) At least they were on the ball.

Looks like 206 has suffered a big failure on it's first passenger working since it's overhaul.

It is on their site, it's just not advertised. There is €30 off 201s and €25 off 071 and €10 off all coaches.

Sure is, thanks for that. That would happen after me going and buying 5 Mk2s during the week. Well suppose now is time for some locos I've been putting on the long finger.

084 doing the honours again with RPSI set. Looks great now with a full set of Cravens in the new livery, just need the refurb GSV back to replaced the clapped out GSV.

It was common to see a 141 with a single Craven and a Mk1 GSV on some branch lines right up to the IE era. Great for small layouts and or limited space while still being realistic.

Hornby have they new Mk2Ds on the market that are cheaper but I don't know what the build quality is like. If you were pushed you get one of them and sprayed for less than the cost of an as new ST Mk2D. Not telling people to do this but it's an option. It's a pity the STs ended up the way they did as it puts doubts about the quality of any future IR Mk2s. Even the latest 201s had odd small font numbers and a noticable livery error on the NIR 201s. Stuff that was no issue on earlier releases now is. I know we can't expect PM himself to sit in the factory and watch them actually make the things but could we suggest that the customer base can examine pre production models and give active feed back before pulling the trigger on a 500pc run that people don't want to buy but are stuck with no other option.

That's the same issues I have with mine too Noel. I tried a similar fix to what you did but the coach just sat far too high on the bogies. Your solution looks to solve the lateral swaying I get running them causing them to snag on things as they go by.

They are great models and really capture the shape of the prototype very well indeed. They ran in mixed livery formations right up to 1995/6. One in the old livery was even at the end of the iconic Yankie railtour NIR 201 double headder.

Thats a great photo, always wondered what it was link in there and how back back the rails went. I remember seeing a 3ICR sticking out from shed back before it closed. I think 233 was trying to break into it dung 2012 when it crashed through the number 2 shutter.

You mean due to the quality of coal that was imported to Ireland at the time? We weren't getting the Welsh stuff.

There is 12 201s stored for the past 5-6 or so years. They only do Mk4s runs and freight on the Cork mainline. More have been added to the Enterprise pool since the TPWS for NIR requirement around 2010.