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Another two ballast hoppers arrived overnight to Maam cross,this completes the ballast train, Even better to see the prototype wagon for the IRM model being saved-24256-it will be well looked after Its miniature version is hard at work on Tara junction……

Touchdown-the two axle ballast hopper is the first wagon on the 5’3’’ gauge track in Maam cross for 87 years. IMG_8856.MOV

A major milestone was reached this morning when the first standard gauge rolling stock was rolled onto the rails at Maam cross-the first 5’3’’ gauge stock on the line since 1935. The ballast hopper and plough van will quickly be followed by some two axle oil wagons,and some passenger coaches in the coming weeks.

A few photos from a recent visit to this impressive layout in Chester. IMG_8811.MOV

Thanks Bob229….yes the bogie bulk cements are roughly the same length as the 42’ bogie flat wagons.

Bank holiday Saturday we see various operations on Tara junction. See below for details; 127+133 operating a Dublin Heuston-Tralee relief Cravens set passes through the station. A busy scene with Mk2,Cravens,Park royals and the TPOs, 048 has arrived at the station with the mail train and after the mailbags were unloaded ,the train was shunted over and combined with the Park Royal set. Lakeview freight yard sees the arrival of 124+134 hauling the bogie bulk cement train and after it was shunted 190+187 arrived with the Guinness liner-the driver of LV2 forklift prepares to lift off a laden pallet of the black stuff Finally a Cravens coach is seen with passengers on board at the platform

“I was singing a song I heard somewhere, called "Rock 'n' roll never forgets", When my hummin' was smothered by a 46a and the scream of a low flying jet” Summertime in Tara junction.

Unfortunately you won’t find any specific details of fertiliser operations in the circulars,as I said before a”running notice” was issued to the relevant staff,e.g Signalmen and depot staff a few days in advance of the fert operating to the location. That operation never took place in Kildare. Northwall was always the location where freight trains were remarshalled for outlying locations

Refurbished Enterprise gen van 9604 heading for the paint spray facility.

It’s rush hour on the high street as EI-BED takes off over the bus garage heading for Washington.

056 has charge of a Claremorris to Tubbercurry single winch truck of rails The wagon has had its bogies replaced by the excellent IRM replacements

The 00:01 Athenry-Limerick bogie bulk cement passes through Tara junction hauled by 124+134, All the wagons have been successfully fitted with the IRM replacement bogies.

The 747 has seen intensive use since it’s arrival….seen here taking off for Chicago…as 2x181s haul a Guinness liner underneath passing 2x121s.

Yes Mogul-exactly

The class 31 is seen here hauling some oil tanks as it overtakes a 50 hauled TPO train, The 56 passes in the opposite direction with a laden MGR train.

Both sides were marked.

BS = Brake serviced,brake blocks changed,and adjusted and any other brake components replaced as required I did work on the real EGVs mainly on GAA spls but unfortunately never took any photos of the interior but they were similar format to Mk2 and Mk3 EGVs.

The EGV was given a brake test and exam at IC-(Inchicore) in week 29 in 1998-week commencing 13/07/1998. All types of GSVs and Mk2 EGVs were stencilled like that during the late 1990/early 2000s, It is the fuel tank filler marked in while and the restricted to 30mph was used when the EGVs were taken out of passenger service and were used for empty stock transfers to and from Inchicore/Heuston-they hauled Mk3 coaches for attention at Inchicore and returned them to Heuston where they were added to passenger trains, A similar BR GSV 3189 was also to transfer both Mk2,Cravens and the odd Mk3 coach as it was duel brakes with air and vacuum pipes fitted

Thanks DJ

Another view of EI-BED on final approach over the bus garage-a real 1970s feel to this scene.

Aer Lingus 747-EI-BED is seen here on final approach to the airport with a flight arriving from JFK. Thanks to Ray at Die cast models 4u in Galway for selling me this fine model.

Of course Jhb…another excuse to operate big trains.

37 251 comes to the rescue of an ailing five car DMU.

A cavalcade of 071s pass through Tara junction on a positioning movement. 078 is seen here hauling 077,080 and 083.

Both routes would have been used.