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Some of the guests are greeted on the platform before boarding the Executive train.

During the early to mid 1990s the HARP brewery in Dundalk operated a number of charter trains from all over the country, North and South using the Irish rail Mk3 Executive train, On arrival at Dundalk the publicans and their families were treated to a tour of the brewery while being wined and dined on board to and from their locations, Here we see a selection of photos of the train arriving at Platform one at Tara junction station much to the delight of the waiting publicans, its a short formation consisting of dining car 7401,Executive coaches 7161+7162 and EGV 7601 all being hauled by an immaculate ex works IR liveried locomotive 080-its first run since repainting.

Having recently travelled behind 68007 hauling a Mk2 set while travelling around the Fife circle in Scotland, I was suitably impressed by the power and acceleration of the 68 Needless to say I'm on the lookout for the model version with sound, I'm hopeful I will pick up one at Warley in November.

56 070 rests in the head shunt while the 2x20s have arrived from the MPD and will work the Speedlink liner in the morning. The 08 will shunt the wagons into position out on the running loop before departure.

Simply superb Eamonn-not too much just right,,,,,

A quick photo from the footbridge at Tara junction,161SA hauling the pallet cement liner is held at the junction to allow the bogie bulk cement train depart from the freight yard, Its a busy time at the freight yard and congestion has been a common problem recently.

Just done the same...…………..

Gents, If you do decide to go ahead with the CIE plough vans I will support it by purchasing a pack.

Thanks jhb…… the tourists obviously like what they see at the junction.....

A locomotive swap took place earlier at the junction when retro 073 worked the empty timber train from Waterford, On arrival at Tara junction recently repainted loco 0117072 was waiting to take over for the continuation to Westport The following photos show the operation with 072 on platform one, 073 arrives on the up main with the empty timber, 072 has coupled to the train and is seen departing for Westport, And in the last photo the driver of 073 has switched on the red marker lights and the loco departs for the MPD for a service. *****This actual loco swap took place earlier this afternoon at Kildare with the real locomotives*****

Watching this layout develop with interest, best of luck with it.

Looks like a great plan Raymond, What era are you planning? Best of luck with it.

jhb-I worked those oil wagons as part of liner trains to the West going back 12-15 years ago, they were used for delivering diesel to Claremorris, Ballina and Westport depots, The single oil wagons for Claremorris and Westport were for fuelling Locomotives and gen vans ,while the one for Ballina was shunted to the rear of the Bus Eireann garage and unloaded into two tanks for fuelling the Ballina based Bus Eireann fleet. They were restricted to a maximum speed of 35 mph.

0117072 was released to traffic on Tuesday 26/06/18,it worked the Northwall- Ballina IWT liner and is seen here parked in Ballina freight yard.

As requested...….0117075

Cheers and thanks Jason....

Some Saturday freight action took place on Tara junction this evening, Due to a failure of the allocated locomotive,the only available locomotive at the MPD was NIR 208,so it was a rare move to see it work the bogie bulk cement train, It worked two round trips and on the return journey the second time a driver change took place when locomotive 161 which was working a pallet cement train exchanged crews at the junction, here are a few photos of the cement trains....

And two more from yesterday 071 works the empty Cravens from Claremorris to Westport past the townland of Cloonkeen west of Castleber.

Its a 'Not to go 'card-put there by maintenance staff.the wagon would have being worked to Northwall for essential repairs,the card being removed when the repair work was completed.

The Emerald isle express seen here stabled at Platform three-{former Tuam bay} in Claremorris hauled by locomotive 071.

The Emerald Isle express consisting of the RPSI Cravens and hauled by retro locomotive 073 is seen here arriving at Tara junction station at the beginning of its week long tour,

Correct-075 was heading for the paint shop I was told.

For the eighteenth 071 on Tara junction I chose to model the recently refurbished locomotive 0117072, The loco was originally in black and silver livery-so a repaint was necessary, and transfers were purchased from the Railtec range, I also purchased a sound chip from Mr Soundguy which has the excellent Real drive feature and is a real pleasure to operate-Thanks to Keith and Eamonn for the test drive of his loco on his layout at the Wexford exhibition last Easter,.. Here are a few photos of the loco being examined before entering traffic at the MPD and in the company of 071,073,080,082,083,077,229,215,220 and visiting NIR 112. After the loco underwent some static testing the shed foreman is seen signing the release to traffic form and handing it to the locomotive fleet controller.

Slowly getting there.........

08 672 and 56 070 are pictured here on the depot at Ashburton grove getting serviced before the evening shift begins. The 56 then departs the depot.