Branchline121

I’m just glad this is happening at all! Things were starting to look a little grim, but hopefully it’ll actually happen this time, albeit even if it was supposed to have opened 8 years ago. Apparently they’ll even use a short stretch of the Kingscourt line for the Navan North station, it would be cool if they opened that line too. Oh well, at least I won’t have to travel to another county to see trains anymore!

https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2023/01/18/is-the-navan-rail-line-dream-back-on-track-cabinet-expected-to-sign-off-on-2031-start-date-for-e750m-project/ Called it!

At this point I don’t even know if that’s satirical…

Well I think opening the Navan line’d be a start, maybe getting rid of a few lorries with more commitment to freight, maybe the Western Railway Corridor, some more stations, but knowing this country: that may take a long, long time…

It was cool to see the surprise steam loco, even if it did no haulage!

I don’t know if this helps but there used to be a glass with a Dublin Bus logo on the bottom of it in my neighbour’s house.

That last picture makes it a lot easier to notice how close Amiens Street is to the port. It just has that “port” vibe that can’t really be felt ‘round there anymore.

If it were to try to be MGWR, they’d have to build a whole new steam locomotive, or try to disguise either 184 or 186 as a J18; although, the thought of a J26 replica is sounding better by the second…

They're getting snow!? Damn, all we've being getting where I live is frost. Oh well...

I really like the Navan to Kingscourt railway, but I’ve realised I have very few books about it… so I was wondering if anybody knew some good books they could recommend about/featuring the railway. Thanks in advance!

If I were a 2700, I’d consider this a fate worse than being scrapped! I almost feel a bit sorry for them…

Same could be said for the British A3s, as they only ever ran on ECML (I think), but Hornby's models of them still sell well. I'd say it's probably because a lot of modellers aren't looking into the exact details of a realistic fleet and just want to run trains.

Well if they’re going for the “Ol’ Reliable” of Irish steam, surely it would be the J15; then again, and as @DoctorPan says, the WTs have a lot in common with the LMS/BR Tanks, and making a whole range of them for both IRM and Accurascale might work, especially with their high concentration in both countries. Revisiting the whole idea of a IRM-Accurascale range, the GSR Moguls/SECR N Class might be a good choice. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a GNRI 4-4-0 or a B1a, though.

I know there’s been an awful lot of questions about railcars recently but I’ve just been wondering what’s the story with the Non-AEC/BUT railcars. I’m mainly talking about Railcar A and Railcar G, which don’t seem to be related at all. I’ve tried a search for them, but only photos have came up, and any info would be appreciated. Here’s a picture of the both of them:

Couldn’t try doing that here in Meath. Everyone’d see right through ya! Mostly because most people around here are either employed here or know someone who is…

Why’d British Rail even paint trains in desert sand livery when they could’ve done this!?

I always thought it was “Good With Ravioli”.

No. 721 is such a cute little vehicle!

le epic

Wait till' ya hear about Kingscourt! On a more serious note, it is unfortunate that another railway line full of potential is soon to be abandoned for a greenway as I think a railway to Youghal would bring more economy than a greenway ever could.

Looks like Irish Rail are looking for An Bord Pleanála to give planning permission for another track for the remnants of the Youghal Line, according to this: https://www.thejournal.ie/irish-rail-an-bord-pleanala-application-cork-rail-network-upgrade-5909582-Nov2022/ Also they're hoping to get new signalling, get a new platform at Cork Kent, and eventually order new stock! I recall also reading in another article they want to reopen Buttevant Station. Any thoughts?

That must be what they're thinking about for that Celtic Crossing!

I've probably said this a million times before but I do hope the old railway line in North Meath gets the same treatment with this whole 'freight plan' thing.

Cannot wait!

I know that was a joke, but maybe it’d be interesting to see Manx railway models, as they do have a small (mostly-closed now) railway network over there. But there probably wouldn’t be an enough of a demand to justify it.