StevieB

My need for 201's is limited, nice as the models are, so I shall wait patiently for MM to produce 121's - gives me time to save up! Stephen

It's my experience that railway promoters tended to be very ambitious. The result was that most railways were over-engineered in the sense that they had more facilities than were ever used e.g. long platforms which is the very opposite to the point being made by snapper above. Either would inject an additional degree of realism into railway modelling. Stephen

One of the bugbears that we all have to put up with is a lack of space which invariably means running unrealistically short trains, both passenger and freight. Ofcourse, a good many of Ireland's passenger trains out in the sticks are made up of only 1/2 carriages plus BGSV, but mainline passenger trains tend to be just a bit longer. Now if you search for Bradfield Gloucester Square on youtube you will find an extremely realistic model with workings based on Bradford Forster Square and where the mainline passenger trains are but five carriages long. That seems to work. Translated to Ireland, that would mean that a passenger train made up of Mk2's would use the five carriage types produced by Murphy Models. Dunno about Mk3's since they tend to be so much longer anyway. With regard to freight trains, one trick is to use 4w wagons rather than bogie ones where possible. Stephen

I think that you will find that movements at Waterford are now controlled from Waterford West signal box and that the only passenger line is the old platform 5 - platforms 3/4 are for freight to Belview. Even the Emerald Isle Express didn't actually use these platforms, it only stood there for photographic purposes! Stephen

Here's another question for you historical buffs - when the magnesite plant at Ballinacourty was in full swing, did the reversal of the dolomite and magnesite/oil trains take place in the passenger station area? The working timetables that I have give that impression. Stephen

Thanks Tom, it was the cabin I was interested in. Stephen

What's that lurking behind the bracket signal Stephen

I've just been looking at the Roger Joanes album on flickr, where there is some lovely historical stuff on Waterford in the 1960s. At that time the Macmine Junction trains were using platforms 3/4, their original platforms 1/2 having been given over to diesel loco servicing. The subsequent rebuilding in 1967/8 saw this area given over to car parking. Is that when the following changes were also made: 1) Removal of platforms 7/8 to create more car parking? 2) Removal of the connections down main/platform 3 and up main/platform 4 and their replacement by a connection platform 3/up main? 3) Removal of the signal box controlling these movements? 4) Movement of the up and down lines west of the passenger station towards the river in order to create what is now called Sally Park? Stephen

If you read Gerard's initial post again, you will see that he explains why there will be a slight delay. Anyone who has moved home will appreciate his situation. Stephen

How nice to see a loco hauled passenger train in Waterford's main platform once again. Stephen

Is it meant to be a take on the old GNRI livery? The look very good in it. Stephen

I'm a great believer in model railways having a historical background and this is just brilliant. Like others, I await further details as the project progresses. Stephen

PM sent. Stephen

Has anyone else had this problem, the inbox list shows a message but when you open there is nothing there? Stephen

I made the final comment - Shame I don't know how to make the link live - based upon how it looked before posting, not quite how I expected it to be. Still, it worked. Stephen

No, this one. Shame I don't know how to make the link live. Stephen

if you search online for Ballina branch train you will find a photo comprising 127, one of the 1952/1954 build CKs (still with 1st class branding), one of the 1958 build SOs and a four wheel van, or is it the Ballina to Lmerick train? Stephen

Is the card kit of the 141/181 from the Alphapraphix range? Stephen

Kernow Model Centre in Cornwall are advertising both 111 and 8113 at present, although they tend to be on the pricey side. Other than that it will be a case of googling, looking on ebay, etc. Stephen

MM142 now has a home to go to - only MM161 left looking for a home. Step[hen

Are they for sale or for your own use? Stephen

I've just been looking at the Roger Joanes collection, and in it is a photo of the last Rosslare to Cork boat train on March 1967. It has nine bogie coaches plus 4w van, yes nine bogie coaches plus 4w van. CIE really did want to shut the Mallow to Waterford line! Stephen

Just for a minute I thought that Iain Rice was on the forum - lovely bit of design. Stephen

Three down, two to go - MM142 and 161. Would be interested in exchanging for any of the IR baby GMs, namely MM143, 156, 183 and 192, if anyone is interested. Stephen

So, is MM's rendition of the Craven 1st class correct in having seats and windows aligned? Stephen