LNERW1

I envy you, my ears still haven't recovered.

Now, this isn't super relevant to me as I don't model modern image, but a thought occured to me that could be of some use to those who do. Due to its ease of use, AI has penetrated many areas of social media, but what I'm focusing on are AI programs that can "speak"- as in read out text in a computer generated voice. These AI voices are commonly used across many platforms devoted to short-form content- TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels,etc. There are a few different voices used around these platforms, but an oddly prominent one has a fairly well-spoken Irish accent. I noticed this accent was similar enough to the Irish Rail announcer's voice that it could conceivably be used for station announcements on modern era layouts where recording actual announcements would be difficult or impossible. I believe the Irish voice is Narakeet's "Cillian" voice, here's a link: Narakeet "Cillian". Keep in mind the technology is a little finnicky, so you may need to add punctuation to make the lines come out right.

Interesting nickname, but as @Darrman said, probably made up by someone who isn't a huge fan.

I'd love the Enterprise one but my layout is set in south Connemara in the 60s so I'm not sure it'd fit... great prices though, as DJ said they can go for stupid money.

It takes almost nothing to imagine standing on that platform, watching the tail lamps disappear into the distance and trudging off to lock up, hearing the waves and the seagulls and smelling the salt water and seaweed and just the slightest hint of diesel fumes still hanging around the station. I can only hope I can attain this level of believability someday.

The pictures are great as it is but the captions make it so much better! You have a very vivid imagination, JHB. I can’t wait to see what you might do with my layout when it’s detailed enough.

Side note- if anyone finds a Peckett B2 or W4 in close to CIÉ green or black, for less than RRP, please send me a link. Thanks.

Alright, after 20 minutes of trying to film a minute-long video, here you go. I was too lazy to type up a post and I’m regretting it now, but oh well. IMG_1266.mov (Also took an obscene amount of time to upload)

Give us a minute, DJ… I’ve ballasted almost all of the layout at this point, and I’ve managed to glue it all down without sticking any point blades in place. Photos up presently.

I'm not an expert, but i don't think the diagonal thing on the extreme right is meant to be diagonal?

Ballast going down over most of the layout now. I’m also looking to buy some XPS insulation foam for scenery and I’ve marked a plank of wood, will cut it to make the road heading to the ferry terminal for Sheehaun.

Fair. Also fair.

The point with the curves is a good one. I think the best move would probably be to have the Pecketts be a relic of the line’s early years; there were much tighter curves within Galway city as the line originally was a tramway, but in the 1890s several tunnels were dug and the line became usable by larger engines. However, conflicts with the MGWR meant few other locos worked the line and as the Pecketts were fairly new and there were still tight curves in many yards along the line, they remained until 1965 when their pickup goods and shunting duties were taken over by No. 9, which had worked on the line since 1934, and a new diesel shunter. I may get a G class for the latter, but I’m not sure yet.

You have exposed my woeful ignorance, JHB- thanks again. I do intend to run the C class on goods work, so similar enough to Loughrea. Re the tank engines, I’ll probably get a Hornby Peckett W4 and B2, 0-4-0 and 0-6-0 saddle tanks respectively, as they are both available in MSC green, which is close enough to CIÉ green until I get around to repainting them. The idea is that they were ordered by the Galway and South Connemara Railway before it was absorbed into the GSR, as the railway stayed independent from the MGWR and so didn’t pick up as much design influence, although I do plan on basing some architectural elements on stations in Galway and the northwest.

That’s a brilliant channel- Melbournesparks. They have a brilliant garden railway based on, I believe, Melbourne-area trams and suburban trains. Their trams actually work off a functioning overhead wire, it’s brilliant.

I have a Monogram Snap-Tite Big Boy. Think it’s complete as it was still wrapped in cellophane when I got it. The sprues were a bit damaged though. Haven’t got much progress in at all, its on display in a cabinet in the railway room atm. Might just be that kit, I think mine at least has movable wheels, could be the case for other kits as well?

Ok, two questions on the locomotive roster- 1- does anyone have a resource that lists allocations of locos including C classes, and, crucially, when they were repainted? I’m trying to find a suitable number for a C class from Silver Fox, so having one that would have worked in the west, specifically ex-MGWR lines or the North Kerry/West Cork would be nice, as well as, more importantly, running a loco that would have been painted green between 1963-69. 2- if anyone has links to models of Irish-looking 1880s-1900s tank engines, preferably 3D-printed body shells made to fit on RTR chassis, please send me a link. Thanks, LNERW1

Not to be nitpicky but isn’t that a 181? As opposed to a 141. Sorry to be a bit pedantic.

http://rbmodels.ie

I am aware RB models have closed their physical premises, but as the web shop is still in existence, has a .ie domain name and retails Irish stock I was wondering if there is worth on adding them to the shops list.

You grew up in Cyprus? News to me.

Is that the same Barry that got into a spat with a filing cabinet or am I mixing up details?

I grew up with 8100s and 071s still give me goosebumps- but that’s probably because they sound brilliant . Gotta love a proper American engine. I haven’t heard any English Electric engines thrash in person yet though so maybe I could be swayed.

Ah, fair. I was looking at purely the number of posts in the topic. Either way, this is a brilliant project everyone deserves to see.

I’ll be home late tonight- can’t wait to get back to modelling, watch this space.