Blu Bianco

Done!

Thank you both Eiretrains and Rich. I know it almost seemed like I was stating the obvious however I did want to make sure from you guys. You have helped me very much in deciding which ones to get!

By far the best model out there right now, thats excellent news! By the way, I was wondering is there a difference between the 086sa and the 088 model? I originally heard they were both to be in Supertrain, however based on this quote: and the below images, and also some classifications in online shops, does this mean there will be a slight difference? (I'm no expert in the Supertrain era thats why I'm throwing this open to the floor!) This is 086 in the front with the circle of the CIE logo in an orange colour. The locomotive (directly) behind it is the 088 (back then classified as 071 before the number switch) and as you can see from this and the picture below, the circle is a different colour here. Can anyone confirm this? Thanks.

Very exciting project, Dave. Be definitely keeping up to date with your progress! I often went by there too, it was certainly an 'atmospheric' experience. Also magical in the dark, with the sidings yard all lit up by those old styled lamps and the twinkle of all the lights of the plant behind the rising steam and smoke. The yard seemed huge. Now, all the lines have gone, it just looks really sad. Theres very little footage out there of the plant, just a snippet from this Telerail DVD which you may have already. I think this short clip cuts off in the middle of the bit about the plant though! If you don't have the DVD, there maybe some copies out there in Marketplaces online but as to how much more it would show that you don't know already it is questionable. But maybe worth picking up if you're into it anyway.

Great to hear they will be on their way. Any guide if this batch will hold to their originally listed RRP of €175? I'd imagine the €159.99 that 071, 082 and 112 were set at was just the introductory offer, but you never know! It would be brilliant if it was same.

Watching that really brings back memories. I really do miss the 141/181's, and their sounds. Theres a distinctive kind of melodic wailing noise as 170 pulls away, in the first video, which is just very beautiful.

I agree with you, although I don't think they will re-brand again that quick. But they will be back looking for more fare increases and to get their subventions. Seemingly they need their subvention from the almighty one to keep them going and then they go off and spend the money that they did have on this! Maybe it was one of the provisos to get the subvention, and now we know who designed it Well, at least they blew it on such a tremendous work of art........

Hi Brian, welcome to the forum by the way. Its good to have you on board. At least I'm not the only one then! That shows it is possible to get a layout running well on just the basics, without having to solder. But as you state, you're relying on everything to work without a problem. Thankfully for you, it has. Well done, it sounds an impressive layout! (Out of interest I wonder how many on here have the soldered method compared to those who have the basic power clip set up?!!!!) I was originally going to set it up without soldering, given my layout would be substantially smaller in area than yours. Plus the patience aspect of wanting to get it set up as quickly as possible!!!!! I will have more than enough electro clips for every point, etc. I suppose I could and see how it works and go back if I need to solder but given the advice here, I may go down the soldering route first. Thanks for the kind words and good luck with following your dreams. Thanks for the clip Broithe. I am studying it for future reference! As a question to throw out there, out of curiousity, how long approx. would it take a person who was fairly experienced in wiring and soldering, etc, to connect and set up a 10' x 4' layout? (Given he had all the supplies and equipment on hand)

Thanks again Dave, I won't be actually wiring and soldering until February at the earliest, therefore if anyone can point me in the direction of a how to video, that would be great! If not, thanks for your kind offers of help, I may need to take you up on them! By the way, I hope your flu clears up soon. It seems hardly no one escaped from it this season! Thank you also BosKonay. Its just when you have never done something involving wiring or soldering before, the apprehension would be two-fold for someone like me. Firstly, I would have no knowledge of all the little bits and pieces and the basic equipment that will be needed for it, before you even start! Once I have those ready and on hand, then I suppose thats half the battle. Therefore, pointers as to what exactly (wire types, best place to get, anything else, such as extra power feeds, etc) I will need, before I even start wiring and soldering, would be welcomed. (I imagine a soldering iron would be a start ) After that, I can get onto the wiring and soldering, and if I can't find anything suitable or helpful on the net, or get stuck with an aspect, then I may have to ask on here, if thats ok. A background would be that I'm planning a 10' x 4' layout, (as its my first own constructed one!) with gaugemaster ballast underlay for the tracks. I know this is not a favourite of many but it is how I'm going. It will be DCC controlled (Hornby Select) and my Hornby transformer would be a 4 Amp, rather than the standard 1 Amp version. Hopefully, I will probably pick it up quite easy and wonder why I was that bothered in the first place!

Thanks! Happy New Year to everyone on here. Hope you have a good one!

Thanks Anthony and Dave, I may have to go down the road of soldering then. However this will be no mean feat considering I have absolutely no idea how to wire or solder! I'm warning you all now, I may require assistance

Theres many Russian built locomotives knocking around Latvia and Lithuania to this day. Both Diesel and Electric. The noise of them is simply tremendous. They are powerful beasts! In Lithuania they started upgrading a couple of years ago, taking some of these out of service on some of the lines I went on, which was a shame, as I really enjoyed them. Latvia has only just begun its latest round of modernisation (due to issues between the government, unions, two loco manufacturers and the EU!) and I think this will see many more of these Russian locomotives being taken out of service or sent to work elsewhere on secondary duties or just freight. In Russia they are notoriously overburdended and overworked, as you will evidence: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trKF55sy6EI Often resulting in:

I've been on a few Czech trains. Their range is quite vast. Their diesel engines are really cool. I would like to think that they will retain diesel for a time to come as they have much heavier passenger and freight flows than us. However, they are upgrading much of their stock. I was on a small local line and they had bright yellow DMU's! It was a quite a (yellow) sight pulling into this sleepy Czech village station (resplendent with hanging baskets and female station master!). They continue to provide services to the public on lines that would have been closed years ago if it were here. Its quite admirable. Their carriages are often the best thing. They are like the ones you see in the old black and white British film, harking back to the compartment days, with the aisle on the outside! The newer 'CityElefant' trains are very comfortable and quite fast also. Do you just have an interest in Czech trains or would Slovakian trains interest you also, since much of its locomotives and rolling stock would be comparable to the Czechs? Although they haven't been as upgraded as much. Other than the Vienna line naturally, which is normally serviced by an OBB train. However, I do very much like the trains in Slovakia.

Sorry for the ignorance, lol, I'm new to DCC but I thought it better to ask now rather than taking the risk and getting it wrong! I am in the process of designing my first layout. Hopefully I will start building it late January/early February. It will most likely be a 10' x 4' layout. Firstly, I've got more than enough 'DCC Electro Point Clips' R8232 for every point I will have on my layout. However, as for the power clips, I have the DCC power clip that comes as standard with any Hornby Digital Train set, then I also have a second 'Digital Power Connecting Clip' R8242. Would you think those two power clips, along with a point clip for every point, be enough to sustain power around my layout? Or would you advise more power clips (R8242) to be installed?

Thank you very much Warbonnet, thats been really helpful. As it covers the necessities, I will make use of the Bachmann 3 function decoder! As for double heading, if I wish to, I will program the locos the same.

Hi all, Just a quick one (hopefully!) In relation to the above loco (Bachmann commissioned by Murphys Models) I have the recommended Bachmann 36-554 decoder. However, I have not fitted it yet. I know this is only a 3 function decoder and therefore some of the functions/settings maybe limited. Its a two part question really: 1. I was just wondering, does anyone know how (if at all) this chip limits the functions on this loco (cab light don't work but other functions do, etc)? I know theres a 4 function Bachmann decoder out there, 36-557, also. 2. Would this be compatible with the above loco or has anyone fitted it to theirs and how does it compare? I presume an extra function would be enabled. The reason I'm asking is, I'm considering if the investment in a 36-557 chip would be worthwhile over the 36-554 in the long run? Any advice would be welcomed. Thank you.

Went up that way a few weeks ago also, for the first time since the GM's left passenger duties on the Maynooth/Longford/Sligo line. I have never seen a railcar struggle that much to get up a gradient. I mean, its hardly the steepest but clearly wasn't built for railcars!

Very good. I like the siding, the light looking out over the (slightly) disused track. The grass between it is always a good touch.

Yeah, I'm going to watch Part 2 tonight, despite not being overly impressed with Part 1. Any programme on Irish Railways is better than none!

As its going to be a long list, I hope you have been a good boy this year then for Santa! Any of the books by Martin Bairstow, 'Railways in Ireland' are quite good. There's 5 volumes of them, covering different parts of the country, companies, etc.

Perhaps he knew people saw and quite liked it!

Anymore additions to CIE/IR/IE rolling stock is always welcomed. I'd be interested. With the new 071's coming out, if you're after an Irish layout, the more Irish rolling stock out there the better.

Thanks for the updates Eiretrains and Minister. It does help with planning of any potential treks!

What a load of unmitigated toss! No history, no real substance. It seemed like an exercise in PR (albeit a very poor one). It was like someone wanted to show what a great railway system we have now.........'Decaying rolling stock' allied to pictures of a class 181 and MK3 coaches, a bit off the mark there! My 'favourite' line went something along the lines of the (banal) commentator stating the traffic congestion had commuters 'seeking refuge in railcars' (the picture then proceeded to show them squeezed in like sardines, thats some comfort). These railcars are fantastic, aren't they? As far as the stock photos, and as you have previously mentioned on here, fair enough on the railways side, but when you're going to be using phrases like 'modern day' Dublin, then don't be showing Dublin Bus in their older green liveries, and also the (short lived) cream, orange and navy blue city link livery! I mean, how old is that?

There understandably is a quite high demand for these, also referenced by the Model Shop up in Belfast having to discontinue their made-to-order function. They must be completely backed up with orders for them!