Kirley

Welcome Hunslet to the site, I have followed your developing layout on the RM site both for the sight of Northern stock and also ideas I can pinch. (Imitation being the greatest form of flattery).

Thanks for the video, again I would follow the comments of others - your layout has the "feel" of an operating railway, which all model layouts aspire too but only some succeed.

Have to agree strongly with hidden-agenda, the layout is looking fab with loads of potential but valuable rolling stock will have to be protected - curves and point-work close to edges and I know from bitter experience how easy and often derailments can occur with costly results. Great layout taking shape.

O so true. While testing new track work, I had the sickening experience of seeing my Hunslet instead of going straight on, turning right on points and dropped to the level below. The front coupling and the buffer beam took most of the damage and while I was able to repair it the model will carry the scars. It has made me double check all points before test runs and will include safety edges as soon as the construction allows it.

Now for something completely different. A radio show on BBC Radio Ulster.

John Bennett's Lost Railways - Episode 1

John Bennett sets out to rediscover some of Northern Ireland's long-closed railway lines west of the River Bann, and learns about a disaster which transformed railway safety.

If you can access the BBC iplayer it can be got at

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01m19wr/John_Bennetts_Lost_Railways_Episode_1/

Excellent work Richie, you are setting the bar very high in this line of modelling.

That was not cut with a jigsaw – let us into your secret Dave? In American videos of ‘how to build a layout’ they refer to using a “cookie cutter” for cutting out all their helix’s and railroad beds – do you have a “cookie cutter”?

I did not realise CIE had such a wagon until I saw on in Rails Throught The West. I have an old Airfix one but the JCB has long gone. Must dig it out some time, put metal wheels on it and see how it runs.

Found my original Airfix Low Loader model and part of an Esso Oil Tanker. I’ll not tell you how old they are but are probably older than lots on members on this site.

The kit came in a yellow colour and you can see where I used some pollyfiller underneath to provide some weight.

I would like to strip it back and paint it in more authentic colours (and hopefully a better job than using Airfix paints and brush) but building the layout is taking all my time at the moment.

It's no fun working underneath the benches, I've just spent a week on my layout doing that -but it will be worth it in the end!

Great pictures Heirflick, thanks for sharing.

I did not realise CIE had such a wagon until I saw on in Rails Throught The West. I have an old Airfix one but the JCB has long gone. Must dig it out some time, put metal wheels on it and see how it runs.

Excellent work on show here. Looking forward to see how the Bachmann tankers work out.

Thanks Stephen, I always thought that box was just for remembering your details.

If you log out, in the top right, there is a box for Login / Username / Password and a check box for 'remember me'?

Stephen, yes I see the above but not the "stay logged in" box that David mentioned. Is it the "remember me" box that you tick to stop the time out?

Tick the 'stay logged in' box when logging in. It wont time out at all then.

I can't find a "stay logged in" box only a "remember me" box when I log in. Can you help please?

I have noticed recently that if I do not use the site page for a matter of minutes I am automatically logged off and it is getting a bit tiresome to have to log back on again and again. Is this the same for everyone or do I have to adjust my setting to delay the automatic logging off for a longer period?

All for keeping things handy -good idea.

I am always amazed by the complexity of the human mind!

May I also extend a welcome to the site. It's nice to see scales other then the usual OO. While the larger scale would be easer to work with, it shows up a greater amount of detail or lack of it. David you need to have no worries on that score, excellent work.

Some pictures taken this morning in Derry showing the formation of a Works Train. 8111 & 8113 with ballast wagons and some close-ups of bogies etc for a weathering guide. See all the pictures in the What’s Happening on in the Network Section

Rail Works start in the North West.

Some pictures taken this morning in Derry showing the formation of a Works Train. 8111 & 8113 with ballast wagons and some close-ups of bogies etc for a weathering guide.

Very smooth in operation Anthony, any chance of a picture of the “workings” underneath?

Leslie, my vote is for the longer wagon.

Let us know how you get on David, I have a number of MIR kits with Athearn chassis and would like to convert them to DCC.

Layout Update(1)

Progress has been slow on the layout. I’ve started on the storage tracks as a good place to practice as it will be out of sight once the main layout level goes on and all soldering attempts will be well hidden.

I have 3 tracks coming from the helix and each split into 2 additional tracks each running for over 12 feet before coming back together as the tracks turn the corner at the back of the shed. This is to allow an engine to run around a rake of coaches and be able to PULL the train back up the helix.

I have used electrofrog points for the first time and will be using DCC system so again the storage section was a good place to start.

My big mistake was testing track and points with DC power. All went well until I soldered in the track droppers and switched on DCC power. I have short(s) in the system and had to undo a lot of the track work to identify where the problem is. It was a hard lesson to learn and I’m still looking.

The Derry to Coleraine train journey has been described as one of the most beautiful in the world

A section of the railway linking the two biggest cities in Northern Ireland - Belfast and Londonderry - has been closed for the next nine months.

The track between Derry and Coleraine is closed for major engineering works and will not reopen until April 2013.

see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-19035968#