StevieB

I've just been looking through some of the Irish Railfans' News on the RPSI website. It seems that the original consist for the oil and magnesite trains was going to be six oil and 12 magnesite wagons for no better reason than they could discharge six oil wagons at a time! Stephen

I, too, subscribe to the view that model railways should be operated realistically. At the recent Warwick and Leamington at the Royal Showground, Stoneleigh, there was a beautiful model of Sidmouth in Devon but all that happened was that a passenger train came into the station, the loco ran round and off it went to the hidden sidings - where was the freight traffic? But I have also been the victim of gremlins which meant that a train could only run from one end to the other and back again, and that was at the Warley Show at the NEC. Congratulations on such a realistic model. Stephen

Look forward to your tutorial. Stephen

In the same vain, travelling from Cheltenham to Birmingham via Bromsgrove, splitting your journey at Bromsgrove was cheaper than direct. Stephen

You really have produced a very realistic model railway with three areas of operational interest and many pieces of scenic interest - you should get it into print sometime. Stephen

What a fine selection of photos - are you able to add a few notes on each location, please? Stephen

Remembering that, when the train reversed at Waterford, the consist would be re-arranged so that the loaded portion was next to the engine and railwaymen always looked for the easy life when shunting. Stephen

Remembering that there would be barrier wagons at each end of the oil tankers, a better consist would be barrier wagon, 4 oil tankers, barrier wagon, 5 magnesite wagons with one of the barrier wagons carrying a 20' container. Stephen

At least one ran with white stripes above and below the windows. Stephen

Irish Freight Models do a good rendition of the magnesite wagon. Most of us have to compromise because of a lack of space so I wonder whether separate oil and magnesite trains would be more convincing. Stephen

Have you thought of running an oil & magnesite train - as you run a Bell Line train already, it would be entirely appropriate. In the meantime, keep up the good work! Stephen

This question has probably been asked before but which mk3's are the best for the Irish version, Jouef, Lima or Hornby? Stephen

I've just heard from Peter Scott that 186 is paired with tender no 175 built in 1922. Attached to his email was a diagram of the arrangement. If I can work out to uphold the attachment, I will do so. Hope this helps. Stephen

So what would be the British equivalent of a 400 class tender, something bigger than the Bachmann C class tender methinks? Ste[hen

48' 11/4" according to the drawing in the Resources section. It is actually a drawing of the GSV rather than the EGV as above but the overall length didn't change. Stephen

Surely you're not suggesting that RPSI runs the passenger services in the Republic! Stephen

There may not be H&S legislation in the US but then there is there legal system which very often gives a similar result - anyone who has driven in the US will be aware of the level of personal insurance you are required to have just in case! Stephen

I appreciate that we went off course with the discussion re eliminating guards, nevertheless there is evidence that liner trains ran with brake vans. Stephen

From the government's point of view the tunnel route, Dart Overground?,is far preferable cost wise to Dart Underground even though it will not achieve the objective of connecting all routes to the city centre. Stephen

The models for privatising passenger and freight are radically different, and both are a success in terms of traffic carried but that is only one way of looking at the matter. Stephen

The union problem was most likely between the NUR, representing guards, and ASLEF, representing drivers, over having guards in the rear cab of the loco - long before moves to get rid of guards! Stephen

One of the operational benefits of liner trains was that, being continuously braked, there was no need for a brake van at the end of the consist. However, in Both Ireland and the UK the opposition of the trade unions was a major hurdle to overcome, so it was many years before they finally disappeared on such trains. So, my question to those in the know is whether the likes of Bell Line, dolomite and oil and magnesite trains began with a brake van? There is a photo in Irish Railways Past and Present of a liner train departing Waterford in August 1976 complete with brake van but I yet to see photos of any of the three above. Many thanks. Stephen

The trouble with a privatisation like this is that you replace a state monopoly with a private one, albeit regulated. In the UK open access operators are not allowed to compete directly with franchise operators. The only real beneficiary is the state who are paid a fee by the franchise operator. I've always likened it to television companies bidding to cover a particular sports event. Days were when both BBC and ITV showed the FA cup final live - what a long time ago that was - then there was a real competition between the providers of the service. Now the only real beneficiary is the sports event. Hope this post isn't too political. Stephen

This is just another example of meddling by Brussels that is driving the campaign in the UK to leave the EU. Stephen

Reminds me of the kind of layout that Iain Rice might conjure up - very nice.