StevieB

Can anyone tell me what tender is currently attached to 186 and what is the best model to produce it from? I think it is a GSWR type C, but I may be mistaken, and the Wainwright C class tender looks close. Many thanks. Stephen

I'm surprised no-one has said anything before as the new models were announced just before Christmas - also being produced this year is the 4w heating van. I keep reading what might be termed derogatory comments about Tom's models - I got a pair of magnesite wagons for Christmas - very pleased with them. Stephen

In 1972 BREL at Derby rebuilt 22 BR mk1 coaches (6xBCK and 16xBSK) into GSVs for CIE. Silver Fox do a very nice ready to run version of the BSK conversion, but no-one appears to do a similar version of the BCK conversion. So, if you want to produce a model of this, you have either got to chop up a Silver Fox body or use etched sides. Bill Bedford does them this version and RedRich showed some trial etches for both versions on the previous forum. What are people's thoughts on the matter? Stephen

Has anyone had any dealings with James Mackey of MISR. I ask because I placed an order back in October and I've heard nothing since than. It's all the more odd because you don't pay for your order until it's ready, the old fashioned way of doing business. Stephen

I could be wrong but I suspect that Silver Fox were trying to find a use for their Cravens dmu kit following the arrival of the Bachmann rtr version. Stephen

Just as our models are scaled down, maybe colours need to be treated in a similar way? Also, weathering will tone everything down. It's the same with models and sound. I'm sure some are as loud as the prototype, but I digress. Sorry! Stephen

Paudie That's some very good advice from Patrick. Have a look at his layout in the layout section and you'll see what can be achieved by keeping things simple. Stephen

Has anyone tried using the Lima/Hornby GWR railcar as the basis of a model of the much loved and missed AEC railcars? I don't mean for the body but rather the mechanical side. In this respect the Irish railcars were surely derived from the GWR ones. Stephen

1. Waterford & Tramore 2. Quite a few Stephen

I believe that at least some of the mk2 coaches were obtained from Vic Berry in exchange for class 201 Bo-Bo's. During their refurbishment a couple were converted to buffet cars, if that helps. Stephen

Does Arigna Town ever get exhibited or is it just a home based layout? The big wide world out there would love to see it. Stephen

It's information like this that is so valuable to modellers of days gone by. Many thanks. Stephen

Dick Fearn, the much-maligned and recently retired CEO of IE, has got himself a new job, Chairman of Bluebell Railway PLC. Must have done something right. Stephen

There was also an American OO scale, which ran on 19mm gauge track but never really caught on. It still has a very small following. It's a shame, really, because with OO19, would have been there any call for EM in the 1950s? Stephen

Dapol actually more ready to run wagon underframes, namely 2x9', 10', 11' and 2x12'. In the case of the latter, one of these is for the grampus but they don't actually advertise the fact. However, as a grampus body will not fit on a normal 12' underframe, which I found to my cost, they will sell you the right one, you just have to be persistent. Stephen

Waterford & Limerick Railway. Stephen

Page 27 of Glenderg's Projects I presume. Stephen

Can't say fairer than that. Anyway, the spray coach is a beauty - your handiwork or a third party's? Stephen

I have to agree with the comments about the spray coach. The obvious question is why didn't you opt for the 4w spray wagons to go with this coach instead? Stephen

So, it was the type of traffic that dictated the size of container, not they got bigger simply for reasons of economy. As far as I know I've never seen any photos of Cork-Waterford Bell Line trains, so I wonder what kind of traffic there was between Cork and Waterford - 20' on 4w flats or 40' on bogie flats? Stephen

There is a very good article entitled The Bellferry Trains in IRRS Journal No 92 October 1983. But then you can't beat the knowledge of the likes of Mayner, who fills in all the gaps in our knowledge. I was interested to know when they went over from 20' containers on 4w flats to 40' containers on 42' 9" bogie flats. I guess that means that I can run either on my Bell Line trains between Waterford and Cork. When space is an issue, a long line of 4w wagons looks more impressive than the same length, but half the number, of bogie flats. PM me if you would like a copy of the article referred to above. Stephen

John, thanks for both your explanation of train workings at Manulla Junction and the copies of the 1960 WTT - wonderful reading. It has allowed me to put together my own WTT for Manulla Junction. Stephen

I've also thought that DART underground was at fault for not offering more through routes. Instead of allowing Northern and Midland line trains to run to both the South Eastern and South Western lines, there would only be two, Northern-South Western and Midland-South Eastern. The Phoenix Park tunnel route would open up South Western-South Eastern route as well. Let's not forget that DART underground is not dead, just delayed!!! Stephen

The advantage of routing Kildare line services via Phoenix Park tunnel is that passengers do not have to change trains/trams/buses to reach their destination, and people do not like change! Now if Luas had been laid to the Irish standard rather than the European standard gauge, then there would have been the possibility of running both heavy rail and light rail trains on the same track i.e. Tyne & Wear Metro and Sheffield Supertram. Just think how different things could be if main line trains could return to Broadstone and Harcourt Street. Returning to my first point about change, transport planners do not seem to have caught on to this fact. In the UK there is a huge debate going on about HS2 but people are missing the point that, if you want to travel from Birmingham to Paris, then you will have to change trains, not least because they don't run to/from the same station. St Pancras and Euston may be next door, but you will still have to physically get out of one train, go from one station to then next and then board the second train. But I digress, we were talking about Dublin suburban services! Stephen

The Irish Railfan's News of July 1960 carries an interesting article about Manulla Junction in its Station Survey. Apparently the Ballina branch train connected with the first up passenger train, the up and down Limited Mails, which crossed at Manulla, and the up Night Mail and second down passenger train which also crossed at Manulla. However, the down Night Mail did not have a connection to Ballina. I make this nine passenger trains arriving and departing Manulla, three up, three down and three branch. However, the article refers to thirteen passenger arrivals and departures. Were there four ghost trains in this part of County Mayo? Stephen