StevieB

JHB, the problem is that the erosion protection has been put in place by one authority to protect what look like buildings, and where it ends that's where the problem re-emerges - seems like there is no joined up thinking in Ireland, just like the UK - not my problem! Stephen

You can fit Kadees to MM coaches in two ways, either by straight swap in the NEM socket, or by attaching #5 to the underside of the body. The latter is, strictly, the more correct, since it replicates the way that the prototype operates with the bogies just carrying the body, but it's horses for courses, whichever suits your situation best. Stephen

You can also add: http://www.thehobbyden.com/index.php?cPath=107 http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1311.R5.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.Xmurphy.TRS0&_nkw=murphy+models&_sacat=0 Stephen

David Assuming we are talking about exhibiting, to some degree it also depends upon your audience. Mr average knows not the first thing about railway operation, either ancient or modern, and gets very bored very quickly if something is not running. The nuances of run round and shunting are lost to him, which is a great shame. The likes of Iain Rice and Frank Dyer have written very eloquently about various aspects of railway operation, but even then you have to adapt to the model situation. You can't propel a rake of wagons into a siding and expect the shunter to apply the brakes! It's the same with model track, especially if you use ready to run. You lay it according to prototype practice without having exact copies of the prototype. Stephen Stephen

Thanks for that. Stephen

In these modern time, when openness and transparency abound, just what has the guy done wrong, express an opinion different to others and then reiterate it? Stephen

We touched on the subject of handling Knock specials in this thread http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/1453-Manullla-Junction/page2?highlight=manulla+junction. Rather than uncoupling locos from the trains they had pulled and coupling up to the one in front, this suggests that they ran round at Manulla and then shunted the train towards Westport? Stephen

The story goes that they thought they were buying Tower Bridge! Stephen

The name thumper originated with the Southern Region DEMU's, which, incidentally, were compatible with the region's EMU's. The 80 class were, essentially, Irish versions of this technology. Stephen

Some wonderful photos of a clearly, much loved prototype. What you never seem to see are drawings of any of the versions of railcar: * The GNRI 600 class/CIE 2600 class DMBC, * The CIE 2648 class DMBS, * The GNRI 700 class DMS, * The GNRI 900 class DMC, * The Bulleids, * The CIE rebuilds? Stephen

I manage to go to the Warley Show at the NEC every year - this year was particularly enjoyable for a number of reasons - it seemed to be not so busy on the Sunday, good for the visitors' point of view if not the organisers - a varied selection of Irish stands from Marks Models, through IRRS to four, I believe it was, layouts. I saw Valencia Harbour in Cheltenham at the end of October and it was just as enjoyable second time around. Some of the detail on O'Connell Street was quite remarkable, in particular the cyclist with moving legs! Almost unbelievable in 4mm. There was also a most enjoyable lecture by Tony Wright on making the prototype fit the available space, he who has a shed 30' x 12' in his back garden! Stephen

So, the next question is does anyone actually make a ready to run model of the Y33 bogie? SSM produce a kit as part of the container flat kit, but more than that I know not. Stephen

Considering how close Killala is to Ballina, there was considerable duplication of facilities, turntable, two-road engine shed and carriage shed. It was clearly intended to part of something bigger. Stephen

The enclosed refers to the later bogies as Y33 http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/5077-CIE-Ride-Control-Bogies but many of the photos around seem to show something more along the lines of the Y25 produced by both Bachmann and Hornby. Can anyone give a definitive answer, please? Stephen

It seems to me that an awful lot of people would be more than interested in having 121's. As long as the price stays within the bounds of reasonableness (?), they'l disappear off the shelves in record time. I believe this is online marketing, the right product at the right time at the right price in the right quantity. Stephen

I have come across a couple of interesting items and http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1932/sro/16/made/en/html.The first is the only photo I have come across of the station and what a beauty - one or more double slips across the station throat on what is, to all intents and purposes, a light railway! The second relates to the reduction in train services prior to closure - government recognition of the parlous state of GSR's finances. Stephen

The line from Ballina to Killala is probably one of the least recorded lines in Ireland. Apart from short pieces of prose on Wikipedia and JHB's WTT's, I have come across absolutely nothing else, certainly no photos of the line. The only thing I have come across is an aerial view of Killala bay on alamy.com, which shows the station site. Does anyone know of anything? Stephen

In the post on Brown Vans there is a link to Colm Creedon's notebooks that are in digital form in the Cork County Library. One of them has the last working timetable for the Mallow-Waterford line and I was interested in the fact that there were paths for two Rosslare-Limerick passenger trains but none in the opposite direction. Can anyone explain what was going on, in particular what was the passenger service between Waterford and Limerick in the mid 60's? Stephen

They all appear to sit quite happily together, thereby recreating the Irish passenger train of days gone by. Stephen

I agree that substituting the correct size wheels will make the coach sit a little higher but I think that this is far preferable to the sight of under sized wheels. Look at any photo of an Irish passenger prior to the introduction of the mk2d's and what do you see - an inconsistent roofline to say nothing of the bodyline. And anyway you can do something about the increased ride height - reduce the height of the rubbing plate. A few strokes with the right file and the height will come down to something that the eye will find acceptable. Stephen

Now that everyone has calmed down, let's put things into perspective. Excellent as they are, the MM coaches are not perfect, especially the mk2d's if I am to believe what others have written. The same goes for IFM's coaches but, with a little effort, many of the faults can be overcome. To me the biggest issue with all of them is the undersize wheels - with the correct 3'-0" dia ones in place, the difference is amazing. To all those who provide us with the hardware to replicate Irish railways in miniature I say 'thank you'. Stephen

Do you have anything for the lines from Waterford to both Limerick and Rosslare, please? Stephen

Is it one of the 6w heating vans? Stephen

All sorted - thanks to Mark's Models for their excellent customer service - we rely so much on modern technology these days that we forget that it can have down days! Stephen

I also took advantage of the discounts on offer and bought MM077 for the very, very competitive price of €139.99. However, these days you get used to almost instantaneous emails confirming your purchase, but the silence from Mark's Models is deafening. Is this normal, did I do something wrong or what? Now they may be busy, but so busy they can't respond to emails? Stephen