226 Abhann na Suire

The way I would envisage it happening would be that services would run as part of the whole ‘DART Underground’ thing that the auld ‘Rialtas’ keep avoiding… A Train would leave Hazelhatch, towards Inchicore, and enter the DART Underground tunnels, but instead of the current (and in my opinion, stupid) plan for DART Underground, the tunnels would head directly under the city following the Luas Red Line, with an Underground station at Connolly, and then following the alignment of the line north, it would emerge back overground at Fairview, where there is the perfect amount of space to bring the tracks above ground. It would then join a 4-tracked northern line non-stop (for congestion and speed sakes) to Clongriffin - which would be made an Enterprise stop, on some trains at least - for connection with all other suburban and Belfast services and then branch left either in another tunnel or elevated to the airport. Ambitious maybe, but it’s the only way that I can see a Heavy Rail Airport Connection being able to have the highest possible effect and the greatest reach for the most amount of people, while also making the airport accessible from all trunk routes in Ireland with only 1 change necessary. If the big wigs are indeed listening in on our phones as some suspect, I hope they consider this…!

Looks unbelievable @warb!! Just wondering , is your layout an end to end, or is there a loop behind all that hyper realistic scenery so that trains can keep running?

Not at all, I’m very sure it’s listed so it’ll be protected. It’s already been out of use for the past over-half a decade though - with CTC controlling the Dublin line, it’s Waterford West Cabin that handles the Limerick Jnct line if I’m correct so the new station doesn’t necessarily mean the end of semaphores for Waterford as I haven’t heard of a plan to CTC-ify the Limerick Jnct branch. I guess that just depends then on whether Sallypark is integrated, does anyone know if it is, or is it Waterford West-managed still?

https://m.independent.ie/regionals/waterford/news/waterford-passengers-to-start-using-north-quays-train-station-in-2026/a1100926042.html New Station at Waterford looking on track for a 2026 opening… not too shabby all things considered… https://m.independent.ie/regionals/wexford/news/reopening-of-waterford-to-rosslare-railway-line-boosted-by-planned-barrow-bridge-works/a1437133228.html And by the looks of it with a bit of luck, the Rosslare Line won’t be too far behind..! According to the article, insurance money could apparently see the Barrow Bridge reopened AND automated to the NTCC - seems track relaying and new platforms at Wellingtonbridge, Campile and Bridgetown then are all that stands in the way after that!

Freight aside, even passenger services to the likes of Adare and Askeaton (or even, dare we even hope about the north Kerry line, but Newcastle West…?) could, with a solid plan in place, really help these towns to grow into large commuter suburbs for people working in Limerick. And, possibly a tad hopeful rather than realistic, but the 2027 Ryder Cup is being hosted in Adare, and while I doubt the Shannon Rail Link will even be planned, let alone financed and built by that stage (though we can hope!) services from Limerick city and from Dublin to Adare could get a lot of Ryder Cup traffic… I know the yanks for certain would be smitten with a little branch line like the Foynes one…!

Sorry lads pictures and videos not loading, take 2!! IMG_3646.mov

The fear an phoist and the lads at IRM and of course Paddy honestly sure know how to treat me well!! Buzzing with this, finally have some prototypical Irish stock to run behind 080! Coaches look fab, a great job from the man himself! Thanks to the IRM crew too, arrived well packaged and very quickly too!! P.S. ignore the auld English yoke on the platform and the mess of the place too..! IMG_3639.mov

As a Deise man myself, I’m probably a bit biased on the matter but I do see this as an unbelievable opportunity and project. I think that any steam engine running in steam on a railway of any sort (and I really do think that the W&SVR have the drive and commitment to make this happen) is far better than it sitting in a museum, which in turn is 10 times better than it rotting in a tumbledown shed. It’s all well and good those people on Facebook giving out about it going to Ireland but the whole point of Railway preservation is to (clues in the name…!) preserve railway items so surely where it happens shouldn’t matter too much… And besides they have enough steamers over there, leave some for us!! And I very much understand those of you above who are saying that the W&SVR is a tourist railway and not a heritage one, and I’d be inclined to agree with you but at the same time, really so is nearly every railway preservation project. There’s a reason Santa Expresses and Halloween and Easter Excursions as well as Thomas the Tank Engine events are put on and it’s to bring in people (and money) that wouldn’t normally be coming to the railway, money without which, the railways would be in danger. What’s the difference between Downpatrick and Waterford? The only big one I can see is the gauge… So maybe we all (myself included because I did one harbour doubts about this project) have a bit of general positivity about this and maybe rather than pondering if they’ll even follow through with the project, we could lend a hand to the first steam preservation project the south east of the country has seen, and the first one Ireland has seen in a long while - I know I’ll have to try and get my hands on helping out somehow!! Oisín

Is that 9 in one set rather than 4+5? That would be crazy to see, I can’t even imagine that, let alone a 9+9 car formation!

Sorry DJ hahaha hadn’t seen this

Thought I heard something about the new ones having the capability for the shunt-lighting set up of one red and one white light on at the same time…? Could be wrong there though

Jesus they look well in 7 car formation don’t they! Great to free up more driving cars now for hopefully increased services on the branch lines…

121 finally sold as well now, and a small rake of MkII’s ordered with the collective proceeds! Thanks everyone for the offers and messages, and of course to the people who bought them too! Cheers everyone Oisín

Just put in an order there for 3 standards and a composite, very chuffed indeed (pun very much intended) and looking forward to that arriving with the auld fear an phoist over the week!! Thanks IRM for the free shipping and great to have had the sneaky extra stock come in last week too!

Yeah I think I had seen a 7 car set before actually thinking about it now, and they’ve definitely brought the 6 cars back but 8 or 9? Wow that would be some sight to behold!!

Just curious as to what the maximum possible lengths for ICR sets (combos and full units) and what the longest set to operate in service was… heard rumours of a 5+3…?? Surely not…

Officially sold the Craven coach lads but the 121 is very much still up for grabs!! Pass it on to anyone you think might be interested - let your Nan know if you think she’s a grey GM kinda person…! Email or PM me if you’re interested Oisín

I wonder would a steam ‘genny’ van be something IRM would do… I know silverfox had a converted version of it in kit form from a BR MkI but is a RTR model something that could be worth IRM’s while…? Also some very very interesting stuff here… @BosKonay been awful quiet since this dropped…

Ahh ok so haha not a worry

Attached pictures of B135. Front buffer beam detail fitted but alternate coupler and front guard are still in the detail bag in the box And the Cravens 1149TL First Open coach. Any questions please feel free to drop me a message or email me oisinbobcooke@icloud.com

Hahahahaha I might drop him a message and see if he’s interested!!! I should have specified IR/IÉ cravens (the one I have is CIE B&T, and as I said, not my era, plus I only have a single one) but the edit tool wasn’t working, and I simply forgot… I’ll go back and change that now, thanks for the reminder!! Yeah absolutely, I’ll put up pictures of both later on

Hi all, looking to free up a bit of cash and so decided to sell a few bits that aren’t really in my preferred era of Irish modelling in the hopes of being able to buy stuff that is. I have a mint condition Murphy Models Class 121, no. B135 in CIE grey and yellow, which is a perfect runner, just not my preferred era. This is going for €165 which is €25 off their selling price. I also have a CIE-liveried Cravens 1st Open Carriage with again is in mint condition and I’m selling for €50. Again, a perfect model, just not my preferred era. Please private message me if you’re interested in one or both of the models. Price mentioned above excludes postage but I’m based in the south east of Ireland so I can do collection or postage. Thanks a million

Jaysus JB that has me tearing up and ready to go fighting at the same time!! Maybe if they got yourself to give the Mayo football team their half time rile-up speech, Sam would be in hand in no time!!! In all seriousness though, a mighty speech and I certainly will be trying to send money Whitehead-bound wherever I can!! God bless the work and long may it continue!

Really really chancing my arm here given the scarcity of these in todays world (wouldn’t a rerun be only mighty) but does anyone know where I could come across at least 1 Murphy Models Craven coach for anything less than the cost of my kidneys… thanks a million

Are any of these still available by any chance… a couple of red Tara’s (or anything really) would be a lovely start to the year!