StevieB

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

Just watched one of the videos - class 60 with 21 bogie timber wagons, not the usual 071 plus 12! Stephen

For those interested, and able to get there, Valencia Harbour is being exhibited at Cheltenham this coming week-end http://www.cheltmodrail.org.uk. It's always a good little show with the profits going to a very good cause. Stephen

I think this covers James Mckay http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/2685-Model-Irish-Scale-Rail?highlight=misr. Stephen

If you open the link in Kirley's post, it will all be explained, but trying to find out any more just brings you up against a brick wall. Stephen

I'm gradually adopting Kadees - #19 are the recommended ones although I find my stock will go round 24"/61cm curves without trouble with #18 fitted - as a result, they look more realistic. Stephen

Has anyone else come across these? I found a reference to them recently and they certainly look the business. Sorry but I haven't got a link to them. Stephen

Let's not get too carried away just yet - we haven't had the announcement yet and, at best, it'll probably just confirm that MM121 is going to be produced - in the shops 2017 at the earliest methinks - plenty of time to save up, though. Stephen

Correct me if I am wrong but aren't DOGA standards the same as EM, save for the different track gauge? I believe that Valencia Harbour was featured in a recent edition of one of the main stream UK modelling mags - looked very good. Stephen

Both EM and P4 are modelling standards, with the latter finer than the former, but both would use a track gauge of 21mm. As EM is short for 18mm, should we not use the term TM for the equivalent 21mm standard? If the American 00 standard of 19mm had been more widely accepted, then would we be working too much about the extra 2mm? Stephen

I look forward to following your progress with this - before we know it, you'll be producing a model of one of the last two 0-6-4T's just to complete things. Stephen

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