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When the workload at the Lakeview servicing facility has quietened down they turn their attention to completing exams on wagons, After a few months in service, and with some cement dust beginning to build up-Here we see some two axle cement bubbles in for brake block changing-note the handbrake on two wagons have been applied-this is only a temporary measure. They will be released to allow the brake blocks to be replaced-another ingenious addition from the lads at IRM HQ.....

It is planned after arrival at Sligo for the train to be stabled on the former arrivals platform prior to shunting out to the loop and back to the platform for departure, The incoming 29000 railcar off the 13:00 departure ex Connolly will be shunted to the former quay line to allow the RPSI Cravens access to the loop.

I see I even made a cameo appearance behind Fran at Warley....I did protect him from the mad rush for autographs after he announced the Deltics....

In preparation for the May bank holiday weekend the carriage fleet controller on Tara junction increased the normal seven piece Mk2 air braked set to ten coaches, The set was slotted in to the 18:05 Dublin Heuston-Westport link earlier this evening and will work the 07:15 Westport-Heuston in the morning, It will then be in place to work the busy 12:45 Heuston-Westport and as instructed by the fleet controller three coaches will be detached on arrival at Westport and stabled there until they will be reattached to the 13:10 Westport-Heuston on bank holiday Monday, Here we see a few photos of the ten piece Mk2 a/b arrive to a busy platform one behind NIR owned locomotive 208,ten minutes earlier the Mk3 push/pull set is seen arriving at the bay platform with a connecting service formed by 6101+234. """During the late 1990s early 2000s it was common place on IE to substitute the regular Mk3 set with a high capacity Mk2 a/b set at busy periods on the Westport route"""

With the increase in freight traffic to the Lakeview freight yard,a new servicing facility for locomotives was built at the west end of the yard and is up and running for a few months now, Its sole purpose is to supply locomotive's to work freight trains out of the freight yard and also to service incoming locomotives, this in turn eases the pressure on the main Tara junction MPD, but it does allow for light engine movements of some variety between both depots through the main station, It is also intended to do some maintenance work on freight wagons ,mainly brake block replacements The Lakeview servicing facility can cater for up to four locomotives at one time and has a storage space for eight, The method of operation is that when a liner train arrives from the West the incoming locomotive is uncoupled and operates to the depot where it is serviced with Fuel, oil and water, A fresh locomotive is then allocated to work the outward bound service, Here are a few photos of locos 187 and 203 in for servicing, In the last photo we see a 1995 era scene with Arrow railcar 2601+2602 and locomotives 220 and 221 in at the fuelling point for fuelling and examinations at the Riverside servicing point, This facility looks after all 2600/29000 railcar servicing and some locomotives.

Photo taken of the staff instrument located in Westport signal cabin, which was for the section to Manulla Jctn,

Even during the late 1990s and 2000s...…it was some place....

As the factory security guard keeps an eye on proceedings at the gate, the driver of the Class 08 prepares to shunt the tanker wagons around so the unloading can be completed, 37 251 rests on the head shunt and will be fired into life later on to return the tanker train for reloading.

When the HOBS set of ballast wagons were introduced into service by Irish rail during 2010, It was suggested that a few ballast plough vans be retained to be used with the HOBS until such time that crews got familiar with the remote control system of discharging stone-rather than having an on track machine spread the stone behind the train, This of course never happened due to the cost of converting the plough vans to the air braking system, However over on Tara junction-(where anything is possible)-plough van 24853 was converted to a duel braking system-(air and vacuum)-and is seen here undergoing a trial run on the rear of the HOBS set with Johnny the ballast train guard supervising operations.

Well done Enda and Siobhan, looks fantastic...

It was a busy evening at the factory sidings for the driver of the Class 08 shunter, a late departure of the class 56 hauled freight seen the class 37 hauled tanker train unusually held on the down mainline for the freight to clear, once out of the section, the 08 came out of the sidings to shunt the train back into the yard and release the class 37, Meanwhile passenger traffic continues on the up mainline with the procession of DMUs and HSTs pass.....

Looking fantastic Eammon, best of luck with it

Great photos....A pack has been ordered.....

You could always do the 071 tour to Sligo on Friday 10th May-with a stopover at Dromod of approximately 90 minutes to visit the Cavan & Leitrim railway on the way down and a fast spin back to Dublin...

Thanks Dave for your continuing and informative updates

Thanks Rich. Its much appreciated. I am in the fortunate position to have an insight into the workings of the real railway and try to mirror them in the miniature world of Tara junction.

Here you go.....Castlerea, Claremorris and Ballina

071 to do the Claremorris-Ballina-Westport-Claremorris leg of the tour, 075+082 will be stabled on the Ballinrobe siding nearest the station in Claremorris while 209 is allocated to work the North wall-Ballina IWT liner at it will be stabled on the lake siding which is directly behind the Ballinrobe siding.

The Test train arrives at Tara junction....

With less than 24 hours to go until the RPSIs West awake rail tour we see a test run of 075+082 together with the Cravens set of coaches, 071 was used to shunt release the coaches to allow the 2x071s return back to the MPD. Here are a selection of photos and videos of the operation...…

175 hauls the heavy ballast hopper train through the station.

With an intensive couple of weeks ahead for ballasting both sets of ballast trains are now a regular sight on Tara junction, Here we see 071 arrive from the south with a fully loaded HOBS set containing 300 tonnes of stone, while across the platform 175 is also coupled to the two axle hopper train which has roughly the same tonnage of stone available, Johnny the ballast guard keeps an eye out on proceedings in the rear plough van 24853. Also seen is the rare sight of the Mk3 push/pull set stabled in the bay platform having been pushed in there by 234,it is covering for one of the 2600 railcars which is undergoing some maintenance to one of its engines.

Locomotive 175 awaits the signal to enter the permanent way possession to discharge ballast from the two axle ballast hopper train which is now complete with the superb plough vans-well done gentlemen for taking the time and effort to bring us the fantastic models..

Looking great gents,Thank you for the valuable updates..

And the motive power was nice too....