ttc0169

072,073,076 and 083 at the MPD earlier....

20063 has charge of two TPOs which have been looped to allow an afternoon express to overtake....

Belmond blue perhaps????

The permanent way department took delivery of some new track maintenance machinery, It is seen here being tested under the supervision of the chief inspector, In the background the Hydrema dump trucks deliver ballast to the waiting JCB excavator, and in the fore ground some re-railing is taking place using the new machinery.

On Sundays shortly after arrival at Connolly station from Dundalk, the Belmond locomotive 216 is swapped as it is scheduled to receive an exam at Inchicore running shed, An 071 locomotive is allocated to work the train forward from Connolly to Waterford and back to Bagnalstown and then the following morning return the Grand Hibernian to Heuston, After 216 has received its exam on Sunday or Monday it is coupled to the Grand Hibernian Mk3s to work the train again from the Tuesday afternoon departure from Heuston to Cork.

No pints of the black stuff available Jason-only the finest of the most expensive top shelf malt whiskey delivered to your seat...….

Nobody complained about these two views or the sound while tackling the climb up Knockmoylan bank out of Waterford....

A typical 1980s scene here-the Castrol oil van leaves the depot,while one of the bus inspectors speeds away in his new Ford Capri...…

Under a floodlit scene and with the night shift in full swing at Tara junctions MPD ,we see various 071 locomotives receiving examinations and fuelling, oiling and watering before being released back into traffic,the depot supervisor is keeping a watchful eye on proceedings... The Chief civil engineer recently hired in a rail/road Hydrema dump truck to evaluate it for future work-the trials were a success and it is planned to acquire more in the future, The addition of rail wheels-{that work} and are posable to this fine model make it look fantastic,the wheels being donated from the Oxford rail/road jeep and were a perfect fit.

The Signal and electrical department at Tara Jctn were busy over the last few days installing and testing a new ground shunt disc signal at the West end of the station. The new signal is positioned across from three aspect running signal TJ73,the reason being the poor siting distance for drivers if placed underneath the main signal, This signal TJ73{S} when displaying two white lights at a 45 degree angle gives an indication to drivers that the route has been set to the MPD-see the attached photos-the other routes being controlled by the running signals as shown, The shunt disc signals are from the Train tech range and are very delicate, so be careful when installing them.

Lovely work Jason

Hi Rob. I use Train tech running and shunt signals on Tara junction I find them very easy to set up and use with my DCC system, I am like yourself a novice with the electrics, but the Train tech signals work for me.

Two for me please gents..

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.