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Eamonn-that's very possible that 112 got the cab side windows off a 141 class loco, I remember 112 working the Ballina branch Cravens set in 2004-and i see from an IRRS journal that loco 158 was cut up at Inchicore in March 2003-so its possible that 112 has 158's cab side windows. Most withdrawals of 141/181's seem to have taken place from 2006 onwards.

That's my model of EM50 no' 700 which is based on IE's track recording car,721 is an inspection car used by per-way inspectors to check conditions of level crossings,fencing,cuttings and embankments along all lines, 721 is the only one of its type and was built in 1993 by Hugh Philips-the only other inspections cars are no's 722 and 723 which are a different type and were built in 1994 by Matisa- I haven't see 722 or 723 for some time.

A nice modelling project to do would be this IE inspection car seen here at Castlerea station siding during the week.....

Excellent job there Eamonn,very realistic ,a typical Irish railway scene nicely recreated.

Many thanks Boskonay and Eamonn-I'm working on the video end of things, In the meantime I bought a few of these excellent Hornby KFA container wagons during the week,the under frame detail is top class and the added bonus of sprung buffers is a nice touch, Now even though they are a 60ft wagons-(ideal for conversion to a timber train)-I decided to use them for my IWT liner as the choice of containers/tanks that come with the wagons are the same as what the real IWT liner carries,and it would be a shame to start cutting and shortening such a fine wagon, The metal frame is heavy and also helps the wagons when running around the layout without containers, So,after repainting the wagons with red oxide paint and applying some 30XXX bogie wagon numbers-it was time for 220 to haul them empty on a trial run around Tara Jctn-all went well, Hera are a few photos of the wagons and the trial run.......

Look forward to that Eamonn-well done with it.

Thanks 201bhoy, Yes I think in future i'll add some commentary of what's doing what etc-a good idea.

Many thanks Josefstadt,it took me a while to figure out the consisting operation for the 2x 141s-but I got there-and I'm happy with that operation, Yes the DFDS liner is in the pipeline-with some weedspray wagons to add to the weedspray coach that's lying in a siding, Thanks again lads.

I've recorded lots of videos of the new layout on my iPhone and will gladly put them on here-except I don't know how to,any help would be greatly appreciated....

Early Saturday morning on Tara Jctn sees recently repainted NIR loco 209 work the 10:00 down Mk4 service passing sister loco 8208 on an up Mk2 service with an ICR on the local service,while 229 ticks over on shed after being replaced earlier by 209.

I was very impressed on a recent visit to Cultra to see the real 800 class Maedbh,it's sheer size etc, It must have been some sight on the mainline, Des-you have certainly captured the impressive look of the loco-and if I had the confidence to build one I would certainly have one, Well done-and best of luck with it.

The DFDS liner finished on Tuesday 10/07/12 with 079 hauling the final train from Waterford to Ballina.

Well done Frank-a nice era,love the cement depot.

Nice job there Kieran-look forward to more updates on your progress.

Great idea Anthony, Let me get the train rolling 071 class: 072 worked the 11:05 Ballina-Northwall IWT liner this morning, 081 worked the Waterford-Westport empty timber train arriving in Westport at 17:40 this evening, 201 class: The working of the year so far for me anyway when 8208 worked the 08:15 Ballina-Northwall IWT liner 17/18 LX wagons were loaded, It had replaced 088 which had failed near Sallins yesterday morning,the liner eventually arriving into Ballina freight yard at 16:40-photos over the next few days, 222 worked the Northwall-Ballina IWT CPW liner today,arriving in Ballina freight yard at 14:35.

Many thanks to Seamus Graham for his excellent weathering/paint job on 209-seen here on a trial run around Tara Jctn.

Cheers and thanks Eamonn-looking forward to the October bank holiday weekend.

Correct.

After a hard day at Tara Jctn it's nice to unwind with.....Cheers lads...!!

Anthony,all of that particular set of eight autoballasters had them fitted-I'm not sure about any other sets yet, I'm reliably told that IE had plans that e.g an eight piece set would have four wagons fitted with the extendable chutes and a six piece would have two wagons fitted, The photo was taken from the station platform at Roscommon station when the set was stabled there a few weeks ago, The set is now stabled on the former cement siding at Tullamore station minus a loco if anyone's interested.

As promised......

Thanks Anthony,yes I have lots of close ups of the prototype which I'll post for everyone over the weekend...

Thanks Anthony for the photos-I found it hard to find any photos of that type-I was just working from memory....

Thanks lads, I've added some extendable chutes to two of my wagons, Most of the real autoballasters have been fitted with these extendable chutes,they are used for side filling and reach out about five feet extra when extended, IE planned to have two or four wagons on a rake, They are secured in place by clips either side...

Evening lads, I've just finished this Vanhool Acron in CIE expressway livery as worn just before the transition to Bus Eireann circa 1986-reg no SI 3001-something different.....