dave182

Just revisiting this thread in light of the news that the former Asahi Plant site is to be home to a new biomass power station. Can anyone clarify, was there a direct rail link to the plant or were the Asahi tanks forwarded on by road from Ballina?

I love the detail there! Stairs and bridge kit or hand made?! The quality of modelling on this forum continues to amaze me, this is yet another layout on my watch list!

Once again I marvel at the ingenuity of the railway men on this island over the years. Pity it didn't carry over in to the new millennium! Mk3s anyone? Could have been boarded up, roof peeled off and used for sugar beet!

Just a question based on the above, because the line has been mothballed, does this prevent a train (chartered or otherwise) with passengers from using it? I would assume in the future that the the Belmont run service might want to use this line? Then again I guess it was never cleared for the 201s to use? And then does that in turn mean that if the Grand Hibernian is run to Rosslare for example, that the 201 loco would have to go 'The long way round' to Waterford each trip? Just some thoughts!

Fantastic work Paul! What an inspiration!

Remind me lads, how did the mk3s get across to Scotland? Shipped from Dublin port? Low loader?

Back to the original video, it's reassuring that there is still a bit of common sense in use. I'm wondering have I become hyper cautious in my thinking, as my job is so over the top with health and safety in general. I'll leave the last word to Jeremy.... (Image credit: Top Gear/BBC)

Reading all of the above, I think that the only viable solution is for a country to own and maintain the network, and provide this only if it is deemed of national importance. This will always be at a loss to the taxpayer, but view it as an asset for the benefit of the country. Imagine if the government decided to privatise all of Irelands streets and roads?! In a purely commercial sense, of course many of them are uneconomical and costly to maintain, but of course the road network is a vital part of our economy, and an important 'asset' of the State. The challenge then is to try and develop business opportunities and ultimately revenue from these State assets.

https://youtu.be/ziRSwT27NUE I'm not sure how I feel about this video! 1. OMG! This is awful! Where is the site safety plan, closed lines, fencing, signage, insurance etc.? I see hundreds of European H&S rules being broken. 2. Good old yanks! Just get on with it and get the job done. Maybe that's what's missing in this country?! Curious to hear members thoughts, especially those involved with the real thing here in Ireland or the UK? In the video I see loaders out on the live running lines, cables and air lines across the tracks, machines scurrying between the trains. Would that be acceptable here? I'm guessing not. Did the job cost a quarter of what it would cost here? Probably! Is it the right way to do things? I'd imagine not, but it's quite a contrast to what we are used to this side of the Atlantic nowadays.

Page 2 of The Sunday Times 'Heavy rail link to Airport favoured option'. Talk of a rail link to the airport and on to Swords, branching off from Clongriffen. All lovely, and I'm pro any 'heavy rail' extensions on our little island, but surely the current city centre infrastructure couldn't possibly cope with the additional numbers. Surely this Airport plan would have to be considered hand in hand with the Dart underground proposal. For once could the 'greater good' be considered without political or other agendas interfering; this would probably be 2 of the biggest infrastructure investments the state has ever undertaken. As an aside, I would worry that this will lead to an even bigger population imbalance on the East coast. Having visited Galway recently, there is a clear need for a more innovative public transport solution for this city. I'm sue this applies to Cork and Limerick too.

Brilliant work Eoin! I genuinely didn't believe that the motor would have enough power to pull the heavier body.

And that's not criticism of the model in any way, the model is amazing. I think most yards in Ireland through the 80s and 90s had at least one of these beached up at the end of a siding in some form of disrepair!

I get what you are saying junctionmad. I would assume if a rake of wagons was being shunted and unloaded for example, that the doors would need to be clear of the railhead height. I've only found one (inconclusive) picture on the net of one with the door open: http://dunsandlestation.blogspot.ie/2005/01/tuam-2004.html?m=1

I immediately get pangs of frustration when I see this topic brought up! Political will is the biggest obstacle in this country. With a huge focus on exports, as well as our huge dependence on imports, there are so many viable flows that could be capitalised upon. What's missing in this country is dogged determination and buy-in for 'the greater good'! I often wonder if, for example, the Ardnacrusha Hydroelectric project or Poulaphuca dam project were proposed in this day and age, would they ever get built? Take the line from Rosslare to Limerick, Galway, Mayo and up to Collooney. If that line was in reasonable condition I wound envisage a mixed container/ huckepack trailer service and you would link the 2 ports of Waterford and Rosslare to nearly 3/4 of the country, and all the businesses alonge the south and west coast where road connections are poor.Forestry continues to thrive, so connect in the timber plant in Waterford (should have been done ages ago). Foynes is thriving again, for bulk imports (esp. Fuel and fertiliser), biomass plant coming to Ballina.... I'm sure there's more. Waste for incineration at BnaM sites? But sure what would us mere mortals know about such matters?!

When Tara mines came on line, wasn't there a proposal to build a port south of Drogheda with rail connection to export the zinc ore?

First time to visit the show at this venue and really enjoyed it. Like the lads above, I was pleasantly surprised at the prices and picked up some bargains!

Sorry to reopen this thread. I came back to reference the picture of the mitsubishi truck in Irish rail colours (first link in Glendergs reply) but the link is broken. I've searched and searched on line but no joy. Anyone have that picture?! One of them kicking around Longford for a few years.

Ah Jaysus, that's a trip to town tomorrow afternoon to spend money I don't really have, blinded further by the thought that I'm doing my bit for Irish modelling; purchasing MM stock so that the 121s and A Class will go in to production sooner...

Ok, that all makes sense! Thank for that Josefstadt.

Hi guys Will it be possible to move stock from Luas Green to Luas Red line? Just wondering about the new Luas project. Obviously the new line, which is is an extention of the Green line, has to cross the red line at O'Connell Street/Abbey Street. This I assume will be a straight forward, 90 degree crossing at O'Connell Street, where the single north bound line crosses, and again at Marlborough Street, where the single south bound line crosses. So I'm just wondering is there any provision to move stock from the Red line to the Green line and vise versa? Or are the 2 lines still going to be seperate? As space is at a premium in this area, the only place I could see this being possible would be a right hand facing point from the single O'Connell Street line, around on to Abbey Street. Might not be a business case for this provision. Any thoughts?

Finally!!!!!

My favorite time and that video really covers it all! Used to cycle down to St. Johns Road in the evening time in the early 90s and stand up on a little electrical box that just got me up on to the wall. My vantage point gave me great views over the busy Guinness sidings, and the mouth of the Phoenix park tunnel. All the West bound evening freight would come in a wave from about 7pm onwards, many stopping to have Guinness wagons added at Hueston. Man when I think of all the shunting and train movements back then, and compare to now! Oh crap, just realized I'm officially old! :-)

That will make for some interesting train spotting in the years to come! Is the set going to be top n tail with a 201? If not this will make for some interesting runaround maneuvers at Hueston and Connolly as it goes/returns to Belfast.

Dive, I would assume there are issues like weight & speed restrictions, runaround facilities at Derry/Portrush, Platform length, stabling sidings etc.

Hmmm... All quite interesting indeed. To pick up on JHB's post from last year, I'm curious to know how the overnight accomodation thing will work? With IE's recent track rationalization (I'm using a polite word there!) of Waterford for example, is there enough sidings on the network to facilitate this? Will you have 201s idling away all night with Genny van going full pelt? The noise brigade in cities won't like that. Access and security will also be an issue. Think of anywhere that you see graffiti beside the lines... Anyways, any new traffic on the network can only be positive. Does it pave the way for a private freight operator down the road, who knows?!