Blu Bianco

In relation to the second and third batches of the 071 classes, I was aware, that with the first batch (number 071 class leader herself being the example) there was some switching about with planned releases and in what liveries. As we all know it was released in the black and silver freight livery but I had heard it was originally due to be released in the Supertrain livery. Then Supertrain livery had been switched to 088 release. Does anyone know if 088 is coming out (if at all) in Supertrain or is it just 086? I think with the numbers and liveries being switched, some of the online shops have their stocks and pre-orders confused and it is hard to tell! The reason I ask is because in one store the 086 is being quoted as being released in 'CIE Original Livery'. Based on what I can tell: 077 is due out before xmas in large IE logo livery 085 is due out before xmas in weathered IE logo livery There is a third one due out but I'm not definite which one, could it be 088? Then: 073 is due out Jan/Feb in weathered IR livery 078 is due out Jan/Feb in small IE logo livery 080 is due out Jan/Feb in IR livery 086 is due out Jan/Feb in Supertrain livery (?) Maybe someone more in the know can correct me here?

Thanks for the tips Enniscorthyman. I will look that Ballinacourty thread up now (am just new to the forum!) Never knew about that event regarding the 121 before, it must have been really bad there then. I have some memories of the New Ross line from late 80's to early 90's, before its 'closure', even seeing locomotives passing the crossings on the Main Waterford Road, which are covered over now. I was also down in Waterford last summer and went through New Ross. I passed the old Albatross factory alongside the line as it continues on next to the main road, which you must know well. The tracks are there, albeit as you say, in a decrepit state.

As a possible thread conversation starter, does anyone remember this show on RTE? I think BBC showed it aswell. Seems an age since it was last aired. I can't find any trace of it on Youtube. There was a spin-off book by Kevin Cronin about walking some old lines, long since closed and/or gone. Since it was published back in 1996, I'd say a fair amount has changed. He said there was fair to middling undergrowth on some routes, I can only imagine what it would be like now! Its sad to think that Olivia O'Leary's televised episode on the (then active) Rosslare to Waterford route could be now featured in an updated version of this book! The section on the Shillelagh branch is very interesting given it has been since developed into a proper walk between Tinahely and Shillelagh. Back then Mr. Cronin and others were knee deep in thickets and shrubs! I wonder how much else has changed of the routes mentioned: Aughrim to Tinahely (South Wicklow) Borris to Glynn (South Carlow) Waterford City to Dungarvan (Waterford) Killeagh to Youghal (East Cork) Cork City to Passage West (Cork City) Blarney to Donoughmore (Muskerry) Waterfall to Bandon (West Cork) Loo Bridge to Morley's Bridge (South Kerry) Glenbeigh to Valentia Harbour (Iveragh Peninsula) Lower Camp to Glenagalt Summit (Dingle Peninsula) Rathkeale to Templeglantine (West Limerick) Ennistymon to Miltown Malbay (West Clare) Kilkee to Kilrush (West Clare) Oughterard to Clifden (Connemara) Westport to Achill Sound (West Mayo) Florencecourt to Cornacloy (Leitrim/Fermanagh) Lough Mourne to Barnesmore (South Donegal) Cloughan to Glenties (South Donegal) Barnes Gap to Burtonport (North Donegal) Tynan to Maguiresbridge (Clogher Valley) Martinstown to Retreat (North Antrim) Ballycastle to Capecastle (North Antrim) Newcastle to Drumadonnell (South Down) Fathom Forest to Greenore (Cooley Peninsula) Has anyone walked these in the last year or two? Anything to report on walkability, passability, the last remaining vestages of the railway or has anymore disappeared (old goods stores, stations, etc)? I'm not ofay, walking wise, with much of these routes yet, hopefully in the future! I know the station and goods store at Tinahely is now a well renovated private residence. As for the West Limerick route, all I remember was more the city part, when the Foynes Line would have been open and even after that closed, the Castlemungret branch would have remained for a time.

Thank you for that BosKonay, most helpful!

Does anyone know if the Peco point underlays work ok with Hornby Track? (Both 00 gauge naturally) If they do, is there any list available online for item code comparison, such as: SL-351 -Peco Products - Pair of right hand medium point underlay (for use with SL-395 and SL-E395). Naturally the SL-395 are Peco points, but what I mean is, is there anywhere that would show what Hornby part/point that the Peco SL-351 corresponds with, and such? The reason is, for now I don't have the time to ballast my proposed new layout the old fashioned way and am going to work with the Gaugemaster Underlay for the straights and the curves, however, as we all know, the points are notoriously tricky to deal with. I know Gauagemaster produce a foam and ballast pack to use along with their underlay for the points, and this is what I am preliminarily going to go with, however I was just thinking about the above question about the peco point underlay and would it be possible or a no-go? Thanks for your help, I know its hardly a straightforward question!

Thanks for the Youtube link gm171 kk. Its difficult to tell just going on a trailer but I hope theres going to be enough coverage in there of the 121's, 141's/181's and 071's and rolling stock of that era. Occasionally these programmes have a tendency to just focus on what came first, steam, to how it is now, trams and DMU's. The bit in there showing the old disused station looks interesting too and I hope it shows more of these stations/lines like Foynes and Kingscourt, other than just a quick snippet about the Burma Road or the Listowel Monorail (no offence meant to those lines, they are much treasured, I just mean its because they are some of the most well known and therefore have been covered elsewhere before. They are way too easy candidates for a lazy programme maker to concentrate on for a quick snippet!). However, it is good to see another Irish train based programme on RTE at long last, TG4 having far outshone them in the interim! 'Off the Beaten Track' seems like such a long time ago now but I hope its repeated sometime, come on RTE!. It would be particularly poignant given the demise of the Rosslare-Waterford route. It was running back when Olivia O'Leary did her show on it.

Thanks Warbonnet but nothing there. I ended up contacting them by email through their site, just incase there was something else from my side holding it up. I got a quick reply, which was really good of them. It turns out my orders were sent out Monday and Tuesday, but I was never sent any dispatch emails! Maybe they are just concentrating on getting the orders out due to being busy or perhaps there was a glitch. Don't know if there is anyone else here who ordered and received their goods without receiving a dispatch email first? No worries anyway, at least they are on their way and the helpful lady did subsequently provide me with the tracking numbers. I would have been surprised if it had of taken them that long (until tomorrow or longer) to send them! There was never any issue of it putting me off buying from them though, they are a great and helpful company, of that there is no doubt.

Thanks for the notice! That link didn't show for me correctly. Just incase, this may tell us a bit more. http://www.rte.ie/ten/listings/25976123_tv_21st_Century_Railways

Hi all and apologies if this has been posted elsewhere. For those who may not have heard, and maybe interested (it hasn't been really well advertised on TV as far as I know yet), there is a new series of Michael Portillo's excellent Great Railway Journeys beginning this Thursday on BBC2 at 21:00. (The same for BBC Northern Ireland) It lasts for an hour and features London - Monte Carlo. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01ntzxd It the first of five episodes. Particularly looking forward to Episode 2 on Thursday, 15 November! http://tvlistings.guardian.co.uk/text-only/?tvgDayOffset=9f&tvgBroadcaster=UKSkyCable&tvgRegion=Ulster&tvgFlagFilter=&tvgChannelName=BBC+2+Northern+Ireland

Thank you for that little service update Rob. Its been helpful.

Yeah, there was a fair amount of initial criticism on some aspects of the first batch of the Murphy's MKII's. However, I did read some of the initial critics (on some of the UK modelling forums) reel a bit back in and say they were perhaps a bit harsh initially. I think part of it with some people was, with Murphys products being of such high quality and getting used to that, then then even the smallest fault will be magnified and appear ten times worse, especially when you compared them with the fantastic Cravens! Thats not to dismiss everyones gripes though. I can only comment on what I read there. I know some experienced a pull on the couplings when they went round a corner. It stretched out but when it went back onto the straight, the coupling didn't relax again and it just stayed spaced out, which made the gap between the carriages look a bit unreal, way too far and stretched out. They thought it was a something to do with the spring wire being too rigid when it was relaxing back in. There is also the issue mentioned below about the buffers. I think the next batch of them (the Murphys Models ones) were due to come out a time ago but they were put back. They were then said to be due before just before this xmas but given the launch of the 071's etc, then after xmas is a definite and well into the new year, perhaps longer. I know there maybe some here willing to part with one or two, or ex-Lima stock expertly re-conditioned, however if you are holding out for the next batch I would say there is a big chance that Paddy (Murphy) will have sorted out the issues regarding the couplings and the buffers, when and if, the next batch do come onto the market.

Cheers Anthony. Thats why I asked here, on the off chance that someone may know if there might be a current issue or not, which would save me from having to bother the shop

Wow, that seems a bit poor alright, especially since they seemed to have it there ready to go. Compared to what else I've read online today, it doesn't seem to not be the norm for them, however, what got me thinking was that I'd ordered something a few days ago and the promised further correspondence for picking/dispatch hasn't materialised yet. Don't know if its been picked/sent or not. Seems we're both is same boat!

Thank you Richie, Anthony and all! I was into model railways when I was much younger but it kind of fell by the wayside due to lack of time, work, patience (haha) etc. I would never have been any good with all the wiring etc and for this, I'm very envious of many of you guys! However, with the advent of digital and different types of underlays, it is obvious now that the whole scene is opening up a bit more. The main problem for me was the lack of Irish rail stock. However recently, as you said, the launch of the 071's has changed things, along with the availability of the 141's/181's and Cravens before them and this has caused a big comeback to the scene, not just for me and many others with (minute, small, half) previous experience but also to those with no previous interest in railway modelling. I look forward to learning as much as I can here and getting involved in the daily/weekly chit chat etc, time-permitting of course! Hello to all!

Hi there, Has anyone bought anything from here recently? Do you know if they continue to send a dispatch email when the order is picked and ready to be sent? Or has it been a bit slow lately? (This would be separate to the standard order notification email you get when the order is first placed) Thank you!