StevieB

Once again, some lovely shots of the railway going about its business. As has been said before, this layout is worthy of appearing in the model railway press. Living where you do, does Model Railroader ever feature non American layouts? Stephen

Thinking a bit more about the latest photos, you've had to apply a degree of selective compression with your dolomite train, which isn't such a problem with your average pick-up goods. The consist of 12 hoppers looks fine compared to the real dolomite train at 1:55 on this clip which has 24 hoppers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okOsw4W0CbA. I think your problem will be with the oil and magnesite trains, which seemed to come in the three variations possible. You'll have to decide whether a train with 2/3 oil wagons and 9/10 hoppers looks the part, or whether you should run separate oil and magnesite trains. Irish Freight Models do a passable magnesite wagon, if you accept the incorrect chassis and body proportions. The latter is easily cured with a razor saw and a good eye. Stephen

Now all that's needed is a mixed rake of oil and magnesite wagons to complete the railway scene. It occurs to me that it's possible to use the mineral wagons as ballast wagons as well by just modify the lettering on one side. Stephen

The Maunsell S15 appears similar to the Bazin 500 class - wait for the rivet counters to point out all the differences. Stephen

Just to look at this from alternative position, Nigel Burkin, well known modeller and contributor to magazines, advocates attaching couplings to the body of bogie vehicles so that they behave just like the real things, with the bogies simply carrying the body. I guess this would fall down if the curves are too sharp, a position many will find themselves in. Stephen

I meant to include this photo showing the station before the major reconstruction work for. The excursion platforms http://kieranmccarthy.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/852b.-Youghal-beach-and-Railway-Station-c.1910.jpg Stephen

Thanks for those bits of information. Does anyone know where I might obtain a drawing of the station building - almost all of the photos I have come across are not clear enough to count bricks and so produce a drawing that way. Many thanks. Stephen

What's the history of the excursion platforms at Youghal? A search online has revealed the following photos: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=youghal+railway+station&client=safari&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjj8uGC_PPTAhVWF8AKHV56DS0Q_AUIDCgD&biw=1337&bih=1240#imgdii=J7Dx0P4kJzgOfM:&imgrc=3Y7J4pwuUePYoM: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=youghal+railway+station&client=safari&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjj8uGC_PPTAhVWF8AKHV56DS0Q_AUIDCgD&biw=1337&bih=1240#imgdii=TdDzQIaF6VjQTM:&imgrc=6nxVcRHUtv4ZJM: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=1962+storm+damage+at+youghal&client=safari&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjig6Omm6vUAhWiKMAKHWpDAVcQ_AUICygC&biw=1337&bih=1240#imgrc=zSlwGYah23jh6M: From these it would seem that they were constructed in the second decade of the 20th century and lasted until the storm damage in 1962 was repaired when the seaward side was removed. By then, though, I would have imagined that the traffic had declined to a level where the main platform plus the remaining excursion platform were sufficient, or as the latter just used as a siding? Stephen

Let's try again https://sites.google.com/site/sleafordmrc/ Stephen

This may be of some interest, in particular the photo of Bantry station. Stephen

It may sound an obvious thing to say but it is not how fast, but rather how slow, you go that determines journey times. In both our countries railway operators have settled for the semi-fast train, and have forgotten about the non-stop train. To get the best journey time between Dublin and Cork, or anywhere else for that matter, elimination of speed restrictions is the answer. Without allowing for acceleration and deceleration, 100 mins would be the minimum time achievable, say 2hrs in reality. Stephen

The June issue of Rail Express carries a report that Model Irish Railways is relaunching its 4mm range, good news indeed. Stephen

The May Railway Magazine carries a story that Cork Chamber (CC) has submitted a proposal to the Government recommending that journey times between Dublin and Cork be reduced to one hour, as opposed to the current average of 2hr 35mins! Stephen

Your arrangement with the leading axle effectively makes a Co-Co into a 1Bo-Bo1, although in reality the 1 indicated a non-powered axle. Stephen

The programme of closures didn't have a more sinister reasoning behind it, namely the separation of the two nations of Ireland. I've probably stepped onto forbidden territory here by mentioning politics, for which I apologise, but, hey, politics gets everywhere, like it or not. Stephen

My order arrived today and I'm not disappointed - must now get on and produce something for them to run on. Stephen

The trouble is that it is all in the imagination - the bus orientated politicians in the north saw to that by closing so many lines. A map of the rail network in the border area is very similar to one for the south west of England - vast swathes of the country rail-less. Stephen

Or maybe Kirley just managed to persuade Leslie to part with a couple of chassis. Stephen

PM sent. Stephen

The power of positive thinking. Stephen

A very enjoyable 15 minutes viewing - as a none native of Ireland, it always amazes me how much the railways either side of the Irish Sea have in common, but then they did have a shared history for almost 100 years before going their separate ways, the railways that is. Stephen

This seems a good buy http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MURPHY-MODELS-MMOO86-6-COACHES-COMPLETE-TRAIN-OO-/282394197754?hash=item41c0017efa:g:5MAAAOSwzgBYxwEQ, 086 plus six Cravens (1x1st and 5x2nd). Stephen

You have been busy. Stephen

Too late, they've all sold out, so unless enough of us ask them nicely to do a second run, that's it, no more. Stephen

Along with the loss of access to an incredible amount of historical items - Irish Railfans News to name just one. Stephen