dave182

http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/2899-MkIII-Push-Pull/page2 This thread from our site talks about the launch of the mkIII push pull set in 1988. It is mentioned that locomotive 124 was briefly painted orange on top/ Dart green on bottom (as per the mock up on the float!) Anyone here remember this? If it was did it ever make it out of Inchicore, however briefly? Another livery to contemplate?!

http://afloat.ie/item/17919-the-banana-trade-returns-to-cork According to this article the Cork service only started in 2012, so that would confirm my earlier post about TAL/fyffes containers in use up to then.

http://jandjcottrell.zenfolio.com/p903912662/h3f1ecb0c#h3f1ecb0c Jaysus that picture is just brilliant! I'm pinching myself at the thought that I could have that, RTR, within the next 18 months or so! However, if ever a picture was going to start a row (or maybe settle a few arguments!) it's that one! A pair of 121s in IR livery, but 2 very different shades of orange. Don't want to take this thread off topic; I'm in the market for 5 or 6 of these locos in IR livery, and that press release is just brilliant news!!!

Welcome on board Mogul! Here's a link from 2010: This service is still very much alive, with containers transported by road to Dublin. If you drive the M9 when a ship is docked you'll pass a reefer lorry about every 5 minutes, when you start looking. Over the past couple of years, the Fyffes branded containers seem to have disappeared and TAL containers are the norm. This is based on what I have seen in the yards of the Dublin based distributors (Fyffes, Keelings, Total Produce etc.)

Gonna try and get a conversation going here again! Has anyone tried out 'Trainz A New Era' (train simulation game for computers and the like!) I'm aware that there are plenty of forums for simulators on line, but just wondering if anyone on here has played it? I've been a loyal follower of the Trainz games, over Microsoft Train Simulator, but bad online reviews of this latest Trainz is holding back my purse strings!

Here one I'd never seen before. Derailed Freight train in Tullamore station. Looks like the Asahi tanks were heading back to Dublin, so probably no major risk here. (Scroll down to bottom of page for images) http://keepontrack.scoilnet.ie/tullamore/6th-class-boys-scoil-bhride/trains-past-and-present-at-tullamore/

Kirley, you have a layout that must give you great satisfaction, as I get great satisfaction just from watching your videos! And it feels like I'm getting to know the layout and all its wonderful scenes and vista's! On a side note I hope that up-and-down bell container at the start of the video isn't full of beer bottles!!! Maybe that's why Bell went out of business!!

Hi Kirley. This recent thread on http://www.ilovelimerick.ie shows a Ranks truck in company livery, so I would assume that the wagons were the same colour red?! Might be of use to you! http://www.ilovelimerick.ie/2015/ranks-a-limerick-industry/ (And no Glenderg, I didn't hit the 'subscribe and like' button on ilovelimerick.ie!)

Nice one Paul, can't wait to see this one progress. I'm especially looking forward to the sugar factory and how you approach that!

JHB, I'm not sure what parameters your DeLorean has?! I see you can go back in time to 1926, but what about slightly more modern times? I'm looking for Connolly-Arklow (and on to Rosslare) in the early 90s? Over to you, Doc!

Just thinking out loud, as I am currently building some base boards, would some forms of insulation or foam/polystyrene board underneath the baseboard take any of the sound away? I'm assuming the empty space between the framework and baseboard is contributing to the noise? Or am I away off the mark?

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?!