Flying Snail

Ah yeah - you wait around for ages for a bus announcement to show up and then two show up together

can't speak for Rails, but Hattons have made post-Brexit purchasing from the UK relatively hassle-free - I use them all the time (I have given up on Royal Mail for deliveries though)

My condolences to Fred's family and friends, including those on this forum. RIP

Fran said 'it earmarks a whole new range for us that will bring joy to many!' and he called it a 'railway item' ... so it's different and it could be anything, including non-rolling stock - the much anticipated foot bridge or some other scenic item perhaps?

You're just toying with us now Fran ... it's not a set of mark 3's anyway judging by how dark the photo is, but beyond that I'm stumped

Wow - two big projects on the go at the same time, and progress on both looking so good. I'm intrigued to see how the wall in the foreground works out - its an interesting idea!!

NIce job - very impressive!!!

Yes, looks like it: https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/news/irishrail-engineering-works

Normally, if driving I'd avoid the Port Tunnel - it can be very expensive if you arrive at peak time. That being said, off-peak and on public holidays its a more reasonable €3. However, you'll have to pay a second toll to cross the East Link bridge (€1.90) when driving to Blackrock. Another option is to take the M50 south to Junction 14 (Leopardstown) and head across to Blackrock via the N31. You'll still have to pay a toll on the M50 (but its less than the other two combined and you can pay this online). The M50 can be busy during rush hour, but at weekends/holidays its generally fine. If you want to park on the north side and go by DART (check its schedule first to ensure there's no engineering works), then the DART station in Portmarknock has park and ride. There's some parking in Malahide too, but I don't know how many spaces there are there. Other stations have parking too so someone else may have other suggestions.

The was some speculation over on the Accurascale forum on RM Web as to whether we'll see an Irish version of the Ruston 88DS and one of the members over there said he was speaking to Accurascale at GETS over the weekend and the body of the Irish version is wider, not just the chassis. Is this the case does any one know?

tick, tock ....

Thats some set up! Have to say, I love the Jigger!

Ah, there'll have to be an Irish one along soon enough, won't there?

I'd say there'll be an IRM announcement for their first O gauge loco soon enough too

Welcome to the site @mfowler55 I think you've hit the nail on the head about adapting OO rolling stock and locomotives. As you've said, adapting a OO steam locomotive for 21mm is non-trivial, but it is much simpler for diesels and rolling stock. As I understand it, IRM's A-class and many of their rolling stock items have been designed to be readily adapted to 21mm by modellers.

Nice weathering on the Tara Mines wagons

I'm not saying they're wrong btw - just something I haven't seen before so that piqued my curiosity

Thats a lovely scene with a real early 20th century rural vibe to it. The only 'odd' thing that caught by eye are the shafts on the cart (because I've only ever seen straight ones before). How did they come about - is that a particular style from somewhere?

Nice - I can almost smell the mixture of sea air and decay looking at it

She's a nice little loco alright, oozing character!

Most likely the same sign with a clean up and a lick of paint on the letters. The oil-like stains under the O and T in 'Notice' seem to be present (but much fainter) in the picture of the sign from Sept 20 too. I suppose he may be trying to turn a quick profit???

There's a great picture in 'Father Browne's Trains and Railways' of staff in Portarlington trying to wrestle an escaped calf on the platform during the 1940s. They'd have been glad of that crate!

Don't worry, they did those too https://www.hattons.co.uk/1056112/hattons_originals_h4_6fb_1702_6_wheel_full_brake_72_in_cie_light_green/stockdetail there's also a few 6-wheel 2nds, a 2nd brake and composite lav in light green EDIT: Just realised you probably meant a 4-pack - yes, I agree: they did it for most of the other liveries (including the dark green) so it is a little strange they didn't do it here too. Perhaps as @Westcorkrailway says, its because they don't anticipate as much demand?

Love the shed. This is going to be a very distinctive layout

Looking forward to that - I think modular layouts very interesting. I enjoy the T-Track displays in N scale (hope to see them back again this year too), so seeing another take on modular in a bigger scale will be great. FREMO seems highly configurable too.