Tractionman

I see Rails has listed some of this stock on their shop web-site too, eg https://railsofsheffield.com/collections/murphy-models?filter.v.price.gte=0&filter.v.price.lte=220&page=1&sort_by=created-descending

Well, that lot didn't hang around for very long just goes to show the level of demand there is.

This is worth a read too https://irishcycle.com/2026/07/02/kilrush-to-kilkee-route-planned-as-first-section-of-wider-85km-west-clare-railway-greenway/

Indeed, and no public rights of way network like in England and Wales, where bridleways are available for cycling off-road. There are quieter cycling on-road options but it means sitting down with an OS map and working out routes, all part of the fun, but not everyone has the time or inclination to do that and visitors and families are after safer cycling routes where they can rent a bike, or take their kids out for an afternoon, so the greenway network is ideal for that, especially for those lines that were closed but their formations not lost, as with the Dungarvan branch and the Waterford Greenway. Doing the same for the Ballycastle Railway, as has been proposed, on the other hand, seems mad to me, as the line closed in 1950, and much of the trackbed since reclaimed, so a more realistic route from Ballymoney to Ballycastle (which would be good to have for promoting cycling) might instead be based on the network of small roads and lanes in that part of Co. Antrim, all for a lot less cash than a brand new greenway, and without the lengthy planning disputes with local landowners!

same here, a chance to build up some reserves! perhaps bolster my wagon collection a bit too, I do like the Palvans and for me spending more time building rather than buying! cheers, Keith

yep that was my point, where the trackbed has gone it seems odd to fix a greenway alignment to it, might as well either go for a new route entirely, or use existing roads/paths etc. in NI where I am the ex-UTA lines had gone by the end of the 1950s and virtually now invisible in the landscape apart from the odd bridge 'in the middle of nowhere', so sticking rigidly to these old routes for greenways (or indeed reinstated railways as is being proposed eg for Omagh etc) seems pointless to me!

yes that's been the issue in Oxfordshire too, it'd need careful scoping of suitable roads, basically 'L' roads -- the white or narrow yellow roads shown on OS maps -- normally windy and serving a few farms, so not main routes, and using 'access only' signage to stop through vehicle traffic--Ireland I read somewhere has more km of roads per head of population than anywhere else in Europe!

I do wonder about the 'logic' of reusing former trackbeds for greenways, in Ireland where in some cases the lines closed decades ago and have gradually been returned to agricultural land or built upon -- it is not like the Beeching closures in GB where the formations were in good order and more easily turned over to cyclepaths as with the Monsal Trail or Tissington Trail in Derbyshire. A much as I like riding 'old railways' on my bike, for here a more cost effective approach would be to focus on boreens and other small lanes and dedicate these as 'quiet ways' for walkers and wheelers, as is being done in France for example. These 'voies vertes' in some cases will use an old rail line, or a canal towpath, but equally thread their way through the countryside on existing roads, which are 'downgraded' to 20kph routes and vehicular access only for local farms. It'd be quicker to create these routes than the full on 'greenway' infrastructure (greenway being a bit of a misnomer with the amount of tarmac they use...) and they would annoy landowners less yet still get folks in the great outdoors enjoying walking and riding safely, with spin off benefits for local communities through green tourism? Just a thought

A good sign, shows how much demand there is for decent rolling stock, hopefully spurring on more in the future

The August one has disappeared from the events page https://www.steamtrainsireland.com/trainsevents

I got tempted one more to add to the three I had already pre-ordered, and had arrived a few weeks back, somehow 3 did not seem enough to form a 'rake', so it was now or never! cheers, Keith

Yes please

Excellent Really pleased with my three, they look fantastic!

Just spotted this

it's usually running in the school holiday period, so for us that's end of June onwards, but it's probably best to give the local tourist information office in Bushmills a call to ask-- https://discovernorthernireland.com/listing/bushmills-visitor-information-centre/81602101/ to add, on Facebook there is a post calling for "Seasonal Station Assistants", that was March 18th, the phone number given is as in @Broithe's post above.

Just spotted these that might be of interest, MkIIs: https://footplate.co.uk/search?q=irish+ra&price[min]=0&price[max]=74.95&filter.v.price.gte=&filter.v.price.lte=&filter.p.m.custom.country_of_operation=Ireland&sort_by=relevance results found Sort by Relevance Price, low to high Price, high to low Bachmann OO Gauge MM4108 Irish Railways MK2 TSO Open Second IR Intercity Regular price£74.95 Add to cart Bachmann OO Gauge MM4110 Irish Railways MK2 TSO Open Second IR Intercity Regular price£74.95 Add to cart Bachmann OO Gauge MM4101 Irish Railways MK2 TSO Open Second IR Intercity Regular price£74.95 Add to cart Bachmann OO Gauge MM4102 Irish Railways MK2 TSO Open Second IR Intercity Regular price£74.95 Add to cart

that's a very good point, too cold in winter and too hot in summer, real considerations for lofts, sheds, garages, outbuildings etc where we usually end up being with our layouts!

you've come to the right place yes that is a great space to have. as to answer the q, where to start depends really on your railway interests, eg location, period, operations, etc, and develop a plan around that--eg do you want to watch trains going past, a relaxing thing to do, then you'll need a roundy-roundy type set up, if you enjoy shunting and moving wagons around then a yard needs to go in too etc etc. plus there's the budget, and time, how much have you got for each? They are the two biggest limits to model railway plans in my experience! good luck with the build! cheers, Keith

there seems to be a huge demand for Mark IIs, hope a rerun will be along sometime (soon)!

just in case anyone's after a green A class or other hard to find stuff: https://modelrailwayemporium.com/search?page=1&q=cie cheers, Keith

Their website has a mailshot that you can sign up to https://www.steamtrainsireland.com/trainsevents

it was great to see this in operation, the locos and stock were spot on for me, and it's an impressive layout, very inspiring. cheers, Keith

well done indeed, the standard of modelling is superb, I am glad Kilmore got 'best in show' at Bangor, it really was

It was good to see Enda's products in the flesh too and have a chat about these, really nice chap and great models, I got tempted there were plenty of other folk very interested too, a good sign I thought