Old Blarney

Richrua, Might it be possible for you to visit/join a Model Railway Club near you? IF so the advice, guidance and support could prove to be invaluable to you. From my experience, I wish I had joined Perth Model Railway Club a great deal earlier than I did. I wasted a great deal of money that need not have been spent on my layout through my ignorance of Model Railways. A club can assist, advise, and may even offer you second-hand units as their own members upgrade their own control equipment. Many of us use Digitrax Equipment in Perth. This allows each of us to assist one and other with any problems we have in our train or layout operations as we have the same controller types and handsets. DCC certainly has the added costs associated with it, locomotive decoders, and the DCC equipment to control your layout. However, this method of operation can add an enormous amount of operational control to a Model Railway, for example, I control each of my points from my handset, and all operating signals too. In addition I have light and sound in many of my locomotives. Some of my Steam Locomotives have sound fitted as well as fire-box lights that simulate coal being fed to the firebox and providing the associated glow when the fire-doors are parted. Yes, it all costs money, but go slowly, pace yourself and enjoy the pleasures as your railway and finances allow. Happy modelling.

Gang, I'm all upset now having purchased two of them 1st Class Craven yokes provided to us modellers by young Mr Murphy. I never thought about how the alignment of the windows to the seats or even the seats to the windows might have changed when the conversions took place. I just thought of the type of passenger that would occupy the first class seats and decided to place a superior type of person in my First Class Cravens. The women wear hats, have gloved hands, matching shoes and handbags whilst the men have removed their headgear and placed it in the racks above the seats. The newspapers and magazines they have in their hands are, The Irish Times, Financial Times, Playboy, Mayfair and other salacious publications that were only obtainable in the North of Ireland. My evening is ruined. I'm going to have to change the interior of the coaches, and ask all of them people to move from out of their seats because they don't have the right to be where they are. Mayhem will be heard in my railway room for days. Seriously, thank you to each of you for providing this interesting historical information. David.

Jimbo321ci Depending upon the era you wish to review, have a look at the OSI.IE site. There is useful information on the railways of Ireland from 1913 to 2014. Historical Map. http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,591271,743300,0,10 Old Blarney.

Dear Northman, I believe I may have worked out the "Private Message" - sent one to you. Hope the link has worked! DJW.

Dear Northman, Working lights on your Hunslet. I could be interested in her. I have two maroon DCC locomotives on Bachmann 20 Chassis so she could join the stable on Old Blarney. Is it the marker lights only that are directional? Do the high beam search light also work directionally? David J White. Ps, I don't know how one sends a private message on this forum, do you? If so can you contact me "Old Blarney" please.

Stephen, Have you been standing on that station for thirty years waiting for that set to return? Your lunch will be cold by now if that is the case. Home now, immediately. Otherwise I'll send the Aunt's ghost down the road to chase you home. Great to see your posts, Regards, David.

http://www.rte.ie/tv/programmes/21stcenturyrailways.html For general information. I understand RTE are broadcasting a history of railways in Ireland. Just found this link - hope it is informative. David White.

John, Thank you for your reply to my post. I was unaware of the proposal for a "Central" North Wall Station. I have always wondered why a "Central" Interchange Station was never develop in the area around Connelly Station. The GNR, GSWR, MGWR, DPDB and LNWR all cross one and other to the north of Connelly. Thus, a "Central" interchange station could have been developed that allowed all railways in Dublin to connect at a single point. The Phoenix park tunnel would have required widening to accommodate the increased volume of traffic travelling through it to the South, South West and West. However, it is a Cut-and Cover structure, it would not be that difficult to quadruple the track through it by creating a parallel double track tunnel. The former GSWR and MGWR lines could be realigned at Glasnevin Junction to allow travel on the GSWR lines from the South and South West and Midland Trains from the West. Each would arrive at a "Central" Interchange Hub under the GNR lines at Newcomen Junction. This "Hub" station would the permit travel by interchange ( or reversal at Church Street Junction) to any railway destination in the land be it Inter-City or suburban. One problem that would need to be resolved is the route of the newly reopened "Royal Canal" at the point where each of these railways meet. I expect, I can dream. Don't expect this, in my mind, simple solution will ever happen! 21:38 UK time. David White.

John, A little snip of Iarnrod Eireann in the film? Phil Vester! I assume this is the same Phil Vester who left Iarnrod Eireann and who had worked with Dick Fern there. Regards, David White.

Good evening, I found this information regarding a Proposed Central Station for Dublin. http://archiseek.com/2013/1872-proposing-a-grand-central-station-for-dublin/#.U8g5B-9OXIU I believe CIE also had plans for a Central Station and that they had purchased land for this purpose. Can any of you knowledgeable persons confirm or deny this fact or rumour? David White.

This line of thought could lead to shed load of trouble and we may need to turn the table on it before hitting the buffer!

Hello, Spoke with George Heaney, this evening and ordered a Gardner from him. He is coming across to Dublin this October for an Exhibition. Looking at his WEB page he is also planning to produce a DUT/CIE Alexander Bodied bus. I mentioned the A and N to him as I do not remember any Tigers running with the Alexander/DUT cut-away rear doors. Am I correct re the Tigers? Reference the GNR Gardner Buses, can anyone out there assist with answering this question. What advertisements did they carry on their luggage racks? Phoenix, Club Orange, Albany - any others? Did the Gardiners have advertisements on the rear panels? Did the Gardiners have advertisements on the Off-side corner panel? Possible advertisements! Heffner's sausages, Wallace Coal, Heitons Coal, Mex Petrol -stretches your mileage. David J. White.

You can add Irvinestown Cabin to this list. It is in Private ground. The owners are keen to keep it preserved - may be open to suggestions -

heirflick, Found the following information on Castle Rackrent - follow the links:- http://home.btconnect.com/Enhance-Ecosse/ccastle.html http://kokutetsu-jnr.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/club-castle-rackrent-visit.html I had the pleasure of visiting this layout at the owners home five or six years ago. The complete layout is large. Each stations requires one or two people to man it, the trains are run to a set order and all train movements and duties are set out in the station instructions for each train at each station. All points and signals are operated using miniature leavers, furthermore, each train is accepted and dispatched using the correct bell codes from or to the sending and receiving stations. Hope this information is useful and that the link works.

# Sorry. My apologies, should have read the complete thread. David.

Have a look at this page and see if there are any photographs that meet your colour needs. The A Class appeared in a variety of shades of green, with stripes, without stripes, with flying snail, without flying snail, etc, etc. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Green-CIE-Locomotives&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=kqqhU-OWEpLe7AbZhoDAAg&ved=0CCkQsAQ&biw=1286&bih=544 If link fails type, CIE-green-locomotives into a search engine and it should connect you with this link. David J White.

Old Blarney, Just found another "Film" with wonderful Anglicised pronunciations of Irish names. Again enjoy, and apologies if these have been posted previously! David J White.

From Old Blarney, Had a wee search on "Ra Internet" this evening. Found the following: Hope you enjoy this, especially the narrators pronunciation of Stranorlar. David J White.

Master Stephen, What is a young fella doing in and watching television on a Friday evening? A young snapper like yourself should be out on the Town? The auld fella living in Scotland David J White.

John and Andy, Thank you for your replies and information. David.

I'm not the best informed on the train formation, been living in Scotland since 1954, and finally left Dublin in 1960. However, logically, I believe your train formation to be plausible. There is photographic evidence on this site of a seven coach formation, yes seven, with one Hunslet at the Dublin (UP) end of the train.

Old Blarney at Falkirk Exhibition - November 2014. Weather permitting, I plan to run, on Old Blarney, my two maroon Hunslet Locomotives with their matching coaches in Top and Tail formation, and also run this train in its winter formation. One locomotive, five coaches and a driving trailer at the opposite end. Both two locomotives are fitted with sound decoders, so come, listen and comment. I shall also have GM's 111, 112 and 8113, each fitted with sound, pulling NIR Stock in Grey/blue and the livery used prior to the introduction of the De Deitrich Stock. QUESTION 1 - Did NIR ever use these locomotives, 111,112, 8113 and their associated rolling stock with a driving trailer at the opposite end to the locomotive? QUESTION II - If Yes, was the locomotive at the "up" end - Dublin or the "Down" end Belfast? Question III - Am I correct in stating the 201 class never ran with a Driving trailer prior, yes prior to thee introduction of the De Deitrich? David J White.

Colm Flannigan. The above mentioned Gentleman has manufactured two locomotives for me from UK Models. Colm, can you add details if required please! NCC No 4 from an LMS Hornby Parallel Boiler Loco. GNR No 85 from a Hornby Schools. Both models will be available for inspection at Perth Model Railway Exhibition (In cabinets in entrance forum) and at Falkirk Model Railway Show where Old Blarney will be exhibited-- weather permitting. (it is held in November).

I shall look forward to seeing you again too.

Warbonnet, Thank you for your permission and good wishes.