Metrovik

Nice to see that, unlike mine, you've actually put more than 5 minutes thought into the track plan and not made an operational nightmare! Looking nice though.

Well Done! Turned out great! Love some budget modelling!

Seriously tempted to pick up one of these for my little layout now. Even if it'll take up most of the platform!

My 10 cents: Set a deadline. Great for preventing procrastination.

I'm so sorry everyone. So, so sorry

It was a FANTASTIC weekend. A few huge thanks are in order. Firstly to @meathdane for the invite. Setting a deadline was the best thing that could have happened to me (without it god knows id still be ballasting!) and this was the perfect exhibition to start at. Also thanks for letting me hijack bantry, it was to get a proper run for a change! Secondly to @MikeO and Mike (I also don't know his forum handle) for wire cutters, tape etc (for when things inevitably went wrong!) and for providing good advice and great chats all weekend. Finally, the biggest thanks to @LNERW1 for being second operator, providing rolling stock and just being all around good company for the weekend. (Sorry if I got a little cross from time to time!) Great to see so many other forum members out as well! A few very kind and generous members on here. (You know who you are ) I can honestly say I didn't meet a single unpleasant person all weekend! As you can see the prototypical stock lasted about as long as anyone excepted.... Roll on next year!

Had a great day today, (which coincidentally is the 200th anniversary of the first proper journey of the Stockton and Darlington railway.) looking forward to tomorrow! 1000003333.mp4 (Mother duck and baby ducks) Many thanks to the lads with the T track modular for their hospitality! (And of course to @LNERW1)

Less than 24 hours to go. My motley collection of prototypicalish rolling stock is awaiting with anticipation.

Saw this the other day myself. Nice video, I wonder what the reason they decide to pile on top of each other was though?

Looking at these shots makes me want to fix alot of the station interior.... I need those paving stones to lie down....

Slightly late, but it's that time of the month again. Firstly I now hate telegraph poles. These things look good but I think I've taken years off my life getting them to stand up (not to mention stay up....) Don't even get me started on the fishing wire for the fencing...... Quite proud of my little fordson N as well. These little tractors had a long lifespan so while it would have been approaching 20 years old at this point, its possible for it to still be going strong in the 50s/60s! Far from perfect, I know but I like this little machine all the same. I've taken the liberty of adding a little bit of character to the Heads hunt, it's now the siding of Tramore racecourse, Horse traffic was prominent on the line in reality so I think a connection to the racecourse is stretching it too much... Some foliage has been added to the field also. Just need to add the gravel to the unloading area and we're good to go. Also excuse the mess, progress ain't tidy for me.... In just under 1 weeks time the Layout will be exhibiting at The Dunshaughlin harvest festival! Looking forward to operating at my first exhibition. With alot of help from @LNERW1. Other members of this forum as well as other layouts should be there too so, If you're in the area next weekend, we'd love to meet more members of this forum. It would be nice to put a face to the profile pic! And finally, a distant view of a train departing. ( It's the wrong livery so it must have time traveled or something.) Well I say departing. The train is the entire length of the layout and it's stuck in the Head shunt so it can't go anywhere...... Anyway, that's another monthly ramble over. Roll on next week!

Wonderful stuff Derek!

Id had a feeling someone would bring up The Great Train Robbery! A personal favourite of Mine.

Last night I watched the classic film "The taking of Pelham 123." It was a great movie, centered around the Hijacking of a NYC Subway. It was very nicely filmed with alot of continuous shots that you just don't see nowadays. The soundtrack was great (very 70s). The writers clearly had more than the usual Hollywood level knowledge of Railways, and inspired by this film, I said I'd try and start a discussion, What are the Best Films centered around Railways out there?

Id go for something rather antiquated. The GSR N1. Possibly better recognised as the Waterford and Tramore 2-2-2. This engine lasted well into the 1930s becoming the last single wheeler in the UK or Ireland to see regular service. And I daresay, had it not rolled down an embankment and been damaged beyond repair, it would have lasted just long enough to have stood a decent chance of being preserved by Cie itself given its age.

I'm assuming the similarities to the class 08 are more than coincidental? Seems too similar not to be. Anyone know how the engines stack up against each other?Nice work on the lima shunter too!

My god, one engine on your railway has more backstory than my entire layout!

Now I wonder who this friend could have possibly been?

Roughly a month, right on schedule. Somehow, and against all odds alot has happened. Buildings have been painted, static grass has been added and the full Tramore signalling setup has been completed. And here it is. Well, they only had 1. But it is working! It's a 3d print file available for free on thingiverse painted by myself and I have to say I'm very pleased. Following this alot of static grass was added to the field at the front of the layout. While it's a bit plain for now I'd like to add plenty more greenery and shrubs to give the impression of "Bad land" as the farmers would say. Unfortunately, I've run out of Ballast but at least the tracks themselves are complete, I just need to apply it between the running lines.. now also serves as a good opportunity to point out that the "pond" in the top left is no longer a hideous mess, well, it's not too bad anyway. Just need to get my hands on some fishing wire and I can add some fencing and telegraph poles. The station backdrop of sorts is complete also. Hopefully the foliage up the side of the station can mask the fact it's an engine shed! I've been waiting ages to do something like this, (inspired by @jhb171achill) September 17th 1950 an unidentified J-26 stands at Tramore station awaiting the signal drop to proceed to Manor station. (Ignore the north eastern livery!) Anyway. I've done an awfully big ramble about comparatively little work but I do think that the layout is on schedule to be ready for its first outing! Probably needs legs first though.........

Just a quick question about the Headlights on the A and C class locos. Around what year did they receive the Middle headlights at the top of the cab just under the horn as seen in the Picture. I'm guessing it was gradually but any idea when it started or ended? I'm assuming it's impossible to have seen a loco in the silver or green liveries with that top headlight outside of preservation/ heritage liveries?

How small can something be to still count as a diorama? Undertook a bit of static grass practice today (big step!) and I'm happy enough with the results although I'd say they'd not be up to the high standards on here. It looks ok though? (photo less traction engine)

A roof will certainly be added to the hotel, I'm just procrastinating. The two terraced houses have currently received their identical first coat of brown but I the details like the sills, doors etc, will probably be unique.

Nice to know I got to see it before it's retirement....

Sorry I probably should have zoomed out the picture. 555 is on a rescue mission!

These progress reports are becoming bi-yearly..... As you can see, Tramore now has civilization! Obviously still needs painting weathering and detailing, but that's a nice job. A small makeshift backscene has also been added in the shape of a painting of Strand Road. While it still looks nothing like the real location, I think it captures the feel. Right now I'm trying to choose a colour for the terraced houses. I'm leaning towards the top brown for the main walls and the lighter grey for the sills etc. All I'm certain of is that the yellow is definitely out! I'm quite happy with this scratchbuilt facade of the "Hotel De Luxe" (formerly the Marine hotel and now the Sands) especially considering the limited reference photos I had to work from. I'm probably going to paint this in the lighter grey. All but one came from that faithful day in 1947 when the engine didn't stop. And that one comes from a totally different era.... Anyway enough of that. I now have a deadline on the Horizon. An Exhibition! (well sort of.)