LNERW1

It’s actually kind of based on the way theres several switchbacks on your layout, I found that really interesting to play with so I added at least one on this layout. The idea is just that and wanting to have a siding along the front of the quay.

Having reflected on the fun I had operating @Metrovik’s Beagnach End at the recent Dunshaughlin show, I decided it would be worthwhile to add a bit of interest in the form of an additional siding along the quayside. Using a non-isolating point, what is for now the “peat siding” has been laid. I also took the chance to mechanise the point. So without further ado, here I present an updated photo of the layout: Only a small update really, but given how long youve often gone with the mild momentary annoyance of realising that prick hasn’t posted again every time you go on the forum for several months straight, I think I do owe a bit of progress, no? In all seriousness, I do hope to get a bit more consistent as I settle back into routine after summer (I know it’s October, I work slowly!), and hopefully will soon have a dedicated railway room. All the best, LNERW1

That's looking really nice. Quite jealous of your CAD skills!

I appear to have gotten the points done quicker than I expected- out sick today so I decided to have at it and ended up with all 4 points wired up (wire in tube that is) and the second board with track laid. So, how did I bodge the “wire-in-tube” system, possibly one or two people are asking? Well, I did it with garden wire, staples and two pairs of pliers. It’s dodgy and bodgy and needs to be operated carefully otherwise the wire will get caught in the slot I dremelled through the board, or the staple ( connecting the wire and the stud on the outside of the stretcher bar) will bend or snap or come off, but I did it! And once I have the hang of it it all works really nicely, and as far as I can tell carries power. I cannot tell you how proud I am of this! But an update on mechanics is not complete without photos and videos, so here’s a few. First, all the points operating (you can see better here the wire-and-staple mechanism): eca0f00e-1c55-46cb-80aa-779004477db7.mov Some of the over-centre springs have been damaged or gummed up by my careless ballasting so there is some force needed on one or two points! Here’s a view of the wires going back and forth underneath: 8c07d3a9-bbdd-4819-9f9c-d9b2419e13a9.mov (Pretty poor quality but I was using my other hand to operate the levers) And a picture of the underside: If you squint you can see the wires! You’ll notice the point at the station throat is operated with a wire on top of the board; this will be hidden under a large bridge so I went for the easier option of having it on top. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my brief lesson on how not to do point control, and look forward to me learning that the hard way. Happy modelling!

And you know what, a bit more content. Here’s a rough map of the area of Ardree Harbour (in real life Rossaveel). At the location of Derrough I have Ardree Town station. Until 1926 this was the junction for the Ardree Tramway heading round the west side of the bay to the old quay. This went slowly out of use for ferry services until only fish remained, and the branch closed to passengers in 1926. However it remained open for fish traffic until 1942. At the location of Rossaveel harbour is, in my universe, Ardree Quay, port for ferry services to the Aran Islands and Sheehaunmore, and port for many Atlantic trawlers. I think I’ve outlined pretty well the history here, but the area you can see in grey is roughly the area modelled. Edit: forgot to mention the siding at Costelloe is the tramway engine shed, later used as a shop for minor maintenance. The tramway this far remained until 1956.

I’ve done that one or two times but none of them have been very effective, mainly stuff like “full layout by Christmas”. I’ll go for having two fully operational boards (electrics, points, signalling) and a cassette before the SDMRC show, I’m not exhibiting Ardree obviously but it’s a nice deadline- one month or so, not ages but also not too much of a squeeze. Add to that the midterm follows directly after so I have six days to do scenics uninterrupted.

I’d pray for a lost login or something. There are a good few old accounts that went silent and surely some of them arent the worst case scenario.

Ladies and gentlemen we are back! Ardree Quay has finally returned from the shed! In the short time I’ve had it back I’ve initiated possibly my worst decision so far- wire-in-tube point control. As you can see here I’ve twisted staples into shape to act as arms throwing the stretcher bar back and forth. Now, this one is quite rough- which is why it’s already been replaced with a tighter arm that will push and pull. I plan on creating small slots for the vertical arm to go through, connecting with thicker wire below, which will in turn be connected to some sort of switch to push and pull. This should allow for point control not requiring the intervention of the Hand of God. I’ve also been testing how stock runs over a track joint with a little too much solder on the inside of the rail. Between these two videos I filed it down a good bit but it’s still not perfect. IMG_1413.mov IMG_1414.mov So, not huge progress but my activity at the weekend’s Dunshaughlin show has given me a huge motivation boost and I really want to get some stuff done before it dries up. Hopefully one or two people are happy at the return.

What a show. Thanks so much to @Metrovik for bringing me along, @meathdane for being so friendly and helpful, @Signal Post for your friendliness, @dropshort105 for your generosity, and @MikeO and Mike for your helpfulness. Thanks also to anyone involved in the show who might be reading, and to Tristan and his friends (again if you’re reading) who provided plenty of company and encouragement. It was nice to be the other side of the backscene and I look forward to meeting more people in future. As many have said, it’s nice to put a face to a forum handle. Hopefully I’ll see you all (and even more people) next year.

Having picked up this wonderful abomination at the Greatest Gathering, I thought there was some potential for a stupid running joke in it. So, here comes “The Heretic”. A railtour exploring the metals of anyone that will let this creature on their layout. As it is the tour is only starting out, only calling at Beagnach End; And at Bantry; So, as I help out @Metrovik at exhibitions and hopefully get on the circuit myself in a few years’ time, the Heretic shall explore further- with consent from layout owners of course. Exhibitors beware!

Quite proud of these two. It's so fun trying to make it look real- it's not a particularly difficult job in fairness as the layout is quite realistic. But the camera angle is everything, low angles really are magic.

The IRRS railtour “The Heretic” pauses at the racecourse platform on September 27 2025

I was much better off before the concept was introduced to me. Now I check every hyperlink I'm given just from sheer paranoia it'll be that fecking thing again. But this is not the time, nor is it, as they say, the place.

The innuendo was a reference to something functioning members of society are only vaguely aware of at worst and is certainly not appropriate for this forum. IC+ cars are a type of carriage built by Hungarian Railways to the following paramaters, as laid out by Adam Something on YouTube as below: "The vision was that they needed a Hungarian-made passenger car, the strategy was that they needed a Hungarian-made passenger car, and the goal was that they needed a Hungarian-made passenger car" Excellent rant directed at the IC+ cars in that video here. (10:23 onwards).

Most people won’t be seeing the inside, really all that needs to be fixed is the platform edge.