raymurph

12 hours ago, David Holman said:

No electrician Ray, but have always used live frog points and as far as the third question is concerned a live frog point will isolate a loco if switched against it. So you are correct.

Thanks David, that's very helpful . 

I presume you are using DC, do you bother to cut the 2 little wires on the back of the point to isolate the moving point rail from the frog?

I am about to buy points for my new DC layout. I used insulfrog before but want to use PECO's electrofrog points on this layout for improved running on the metal powered frog. I have a few questions about electrofrog on DC:

Question 1:
I plan to have all points on the mainline powered by Seep PM1 switches controlled by momentary (on)off(on) switches. Does this sound right? - The Seep's built in switch will switch the polarity of the frog. I will use insulated rail joiners coming off the 2 V frog rails and feed power to the track beyond it.

Question 2:
I think that since the frog is now powered by the SEEP switch I can go ahead and cut the wire to separate the switch rails from the frog so as to remove the possibility of short occurring when a metal wheel touches both the stock rail and the open switch rail. However as I am using DC is this step unnecessary?

Question 3:
My final question is about points in my yard. I want these to be hand thrown as I will be next to the yard when operating it. If using electrofog points in the yard how do I wire or insulate them so that the points feed power to a siding and also cut it off from a siding as needed? Am I correct in thinking I would use no rail insulators in the yard and then the direction of a point would either send a positive and a negative current along each rail, making that siding live and powering a loco while the rails in all other sidings in the yard would be dead as they would either receive no power or the  two rails would both be of the same polarity and thus a loco parked in that siding would not move. It's a simple yard with 4 points in a row having 5 sidings.

Many thanks, hope I've worded that clearly!

Ray

Placed my pre-order with Hattons for the 4 pack, I'm sure they will be excellent models. Kicking myself now I didn't buy a silver A class, I was tempted but resisted, lesson learnt - Never Resist Temptation. Just hoping someone releases a silver C class soon.

I'm also delighted to hear MM are doing another 141 as I missed the first time round.

Looks great, it's a fine big space, I'm envious! 

2 hours ago, Mayner said:

It might selling as a whole particularly if it operates reliably, the basic scenery and trackwork looks good

The styling and track plan looks like a classical compact American "Wild West" layout scheme like John Allen's original Gorre & Daphetid https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/first_g-d_line.pdf

Would look great with American Western style buildings and trains, Rio Grande and Santa Fe are spot on for the scenery

Thanks Mayner, that John Allen plan is great. I probably will sell it whole as I'd hate to break it up. It operates reliably with all teh points far away from the controls being motorised.

Hello All,

I have an unfinished  DC oo gauge table layout measuring roughly 1.3m by 2m. I'm starting on a new layout build which will be using much larger curves and points so very little of the old layout can be recycled by me and I can't store it anywhere. I would re-use the point motors, switches and 2 buildings only. Any suggestions on what to do with the old one? I could try to sell it whole on this forum or on Adverts.ie but ones I've seen on Adverts.ie never seem to sell. Pictures below to give an idea.

Ray

23 hours ago, connollystn said:

@raymurph - I bought a couple of new locomotives from the U.S.A., had to pay 112€ customs but still worked out 100€ cheaper than buying in Europe (Britain included). I've never bought off eBay so don't know what additional charges would be incurred when purchasing from them in the U.S.A. but you can be sure that they, like PayPay, will want their pound of flesh.

22 hours ago, Mayner said:

Prices for US stuff in the States tend to work out cheaper including customs charges because retail prices tend to be lower mainly due to the much larger size of the market and greater competition between retailers compared to EU, UK or other countries.  

Trainworld https://www.trainworld.com/ is one of the larger US retailers that exports World Wide

United States Postal Service (USPS) is usually the cheapest option for shipping from the States.   Irish vat at 23% is charged on the declared value of the item plus shipping An Post charge a flat processing/clearance fee.

Couriers like DHL charge more but offer a faster service.  Customs Clearance fees have come down since the Revenue went over to electronic customs clearance DHls charges appear to be based on a minimum charge €10.00 or 2% of the vat if higher

Thanks , buying from US retailers and associated customs charges was going to be my next question! I'm tempted by prices on Trainworld.

19 hours ago, NorthWallDocker said:

Informally, I'm happy to offer a bit of "looking help" and potentially postal shipping for someone seeking certain U.S. design models or books. 

I'm based near Chicago and we're fortunate to have two large hobby shops that specialize in railway models and kits, Des Plaines Hobbies and Chicagoland Hobby and Toy, as well as a monthly sellers' show for small unincorporated modellers who rent tables and sell in several large exhibition halls at the DuPage County Fairgrounds.  Both hobby shops have web sites, but Des Plaines Hobbies is more comprehensive.  Chicagoland Hobby offers a lot on eBay that can also be purchased cheaper, faster in person.  Slower, definitely, but possibly better savings.  Books and U.S. models here tend to be glutting the market from estates, so prices can sometimes be pennies on the dollar compared to online distributors.

In my own Irish railway interests, I've been fortunate to have much material help from gentlemen involved in this conversation.  I'm happy to keep a lookout to pay something forward.

Martin

Thanks Martin, I'll DM you and stop hijacking this thread

3 hours ago, Sean said:

i used them from uk when parcel motel stopped northern ireland operations. got a disproportionately large customs bill with absolutely zero means to appeal and havent used it at all since.

Yeah that happened to me with the UK too. I'm probably foolish to think customs charges on goods from the US would be any less crippling.

6 hours ago, WRENNEIRE said:

If you are interested in US outline stock there is a lad who sells US outline at Bray Wheelers
Phil McHugh, PM me for his details

Thanks

Hello All, I hope this is the correct place to ask a question about buying from the US on ebay? This Santa Fe loco caught my eye :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HO-Scale-Proto2000-23224-Santa-FE-E6A-B-Powered-Unpowered-Diesel-Set-HO6081-/115346822162?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

I'm wondering if anyone has used An Post's AddressPal service to save money on postage (Addresspal charges 15.99 to post from US to Ireland). And if so what were the customs charges like? Any cheaper than the $40 eBay would charge?

New 121 picked up in Marks Models looks very at home with 'my other American locos'. Looking forward to running it on the layout later.

7 hours ago, Noel said:

Methinks, Time for popcorn and just patiently watch to see what happens over the next few years.  Those of us modelling Irish stuff 10 years ago and earlier are perhaps very fortunate to have collected suitable stock to run on our layouts, whereas newer folks who entered the Irish hobby in the last 5 years are lumbered with scarcity and ebay prices. We are fortunate to have two excellent manufacturers still serving the Irish Outline scene (MM + IRM). The glass is more than half full the the RTR future looks bright with MM and IRM.

Sounds about right. I've decided to buy a 121 MM0124 or MM0129 in Iarnród Éireann livery, it looks gorgeous in those colours and the 121 class has really grown on me. I'll hopefully get it in Marks in Cork this week before they sell out. I have about 25 locos but this will be my first one bought new. It's way more than I usually spend on a loco but at least from a dry financial point of view it's almost an investment. 

Thanks for all the insights in this thread.

4 hours ago, Georgeconna said:

I you bought all Babies from Seamus Grahams you got one free if I remember, Fitzinghall were flogging them off cheap too toward the end.

I think most Lads will hover up anything Irish these days TBH. As you say the Market has grown a bit. Even the Huns.

 

Still get Orange 121 from Marks.

 

Yes I saw them in their Cork store recently.

4 hours ago, flange lubricator said:

What locos / livery’s are you particularly interested in ?

141s 181s 071s or A Class. Orange liveries, especially the one with the white lines. 

Thanks for all this info. I'll contact those people and see what happens .

2 minutes ago, connollystn said:

The 141/181 locomotives could be one of the 2022 new announcements from IRM! 

Really?! That would be awesome. How likely is it though ?

Yeah that sounds like good advice. Would anywhere else still stock Class As in one of the orange liveries?

Hello,

I'm modelling DC OO gauge about a year and currently have mainly US and British stuff. I'd like to get my hands on a 141, 181, 071, or A Class . Problem is I don't fancy paying around 250+ euro for a used loco on ebay. Does anyone have suggestions where else I should be looking? I am happy with DC and the loco doesn't have to be in perfect condition, I don't mind a project.

A second related question is should I buy a MM 121 now even though it isn't my first choice? It is available and is good value at 189 new. And I'm afraid that if I don't purchase now and change my mind later on it will only be available for silly money on ebay and I'll regret not having picked it up new .

Thanks for any help.

Thanks for all the advice. I was able to take it apart and give it a clean which improved things. I'm waiting for lube oil and grease to come in  the post and then I'll strip it further and lube everything more. Video of it now:

http://imgur.com/gallery/BkUK9Qr

Feels satisfying to have improved it, hopefully after a further clean and lube it will be as quiet as my other spectrum diesel. 

Is it advisable to strip this truck down further for lubing?

Hello all,

I've just recieved a second hand us diesel dc loco off ebay and it makes a horrible grinding noise. Hopefully u can hear it in the clip below. Just wondering if anyone can help diagnose the problem, should I attempt a repair or just return.

I am very new to this, 3 months at the hobby,  this is my 5th train. 

Many thanks

http://imgur.com/gallery/b9zxEr7