west_clare_wanderer

Thanks for sharing @ttc0169 - much appreciated

That's a fabulous view!!

Thanks for that explanation. I've never understood what a team track is! Thank you for sharing that. It's absolutely fascinating. I love reading about people's personal stories when it comes to their modelling journey.

Thanks very much chaps! These bargain tanks are heading my way

Thanks Mol! I'd been duly tipped off by one of the IRM lads. You're right, they found some additional stock they didn't know they had following a tidy up! (sounds like my disorganised modelling cupboard ) I've ordered another pack of grain vans and a pack of tankers. Just for the stash you...

Thanks for all that information, it's absolutely fascinating. Funnily enough, the evolution of a layout is something I was thinking about earlier on. It rarely happens nowadays. Probably due to the demise of permanent home layouts due to squeeze on space. You would often read in magazines of layouts which started life in a modest way and then grew, developed and regenerated over the years. I really like that concept. One which had a big impression on me a teenager was Ted Polet's Craigcorrie & Dunalistair Railway in 009. That has continued to develop over 40 years. Bits have been rebuilt, new sections added, things changed and improved. I've been lucky enough to see smaller sections of it which have been exhibited. It's sad that these type of system home layouts are very rare today. The reason are understandable though.

Given you've all these different interests, then I think you're spot on in going for Mosney. Maybe just by swapping out different signalboxes you could change the era, geography, and even country! Even then, just invoke rule one .... It's your trainset, so you can run whatever you like It has a certain windswept charm though, and you've certainly got the space to do it justice.

That looks really effective and very atmospheric. Well done!

They are wonderful photos! @Tractionman - this has the markings of a fantastic project. It's lovely to read of your enthusiasm. You've got a great space for it too by the looks of it. Like others, I'd suggest you get some track down whilst the inspiration is burning bright, just so you can run some trains! I'm really going to enjoy following this.

I was under the impression that the whole point of the Greenway concept was that the two would be compatible side by side, if it ever came to pass. Whether the practice is anything like the theory, who knows! There's bound to be a saga!

Wow! This is looking fantastic

Fantastic to read an update. You're doing a grand job. Keep it up

He's a very handsome little fella Alan! You've done a wonderful job (as always). He really looks at home in that setting too.

https://ebay.io/m/smugiC If you want a 'might have been'!

I've plugged a few more gaps, so the wishlist is down to Supertrain A Class 018 on the loco front! Wagons, we're down to the final couple of IRM packs... - 1287 brown CIE grain vans - 1009 gypsum hoppers pack D Finally, if anyone has any Irish Freight Models (Dapol) CIE(ish!) vans they'd consider parting with, I'd also be interested. Thanks for looking

Thanks @Auto-Train Original, that's fascinating!

Me too! It's amazing that the station was active for over 20 hours a day. Definitely. It's always best to refer to and echo the real thing, rather than making a model of a model.

Sorry, I missed the crucial word "other" out from my question. What an idiot I am

Yes, maybe some of the plans need 25% more space (or more) than drawn, but Freezer's plans are still interesting. They're from a different age, but increasingly I think a more fun one. Did Rice ever do any Irish plans? Actually, I picked up his Light Railway Design volume at an exhibition last weekend. For the grand total of two quid! Bargain of the year! Thanks Mol, that's fascinating. The use of the pilot would make for a very interesting model. Particularly if trains arrive and depart from a different platform.

I'm finding this discussion absolutely fascinating. The original Minories concept is perfect in what it attempted to replicated and what it wanted to achieve. The station throat arrangement is critical to the overall design. As someone who prefers goods traffic, I do like the idea of adding freight facilities. As @GSR 800 has hinted at earlier, I'd be tempted to do it as a lower level goods yard though, maintaining the integrity of the Minories passenger and parcels traffic on the upper level. If you are branching off from the original design, both Sligo and Galway definitely have lots of possibilities. Mol's photos of Sligo certainly whet the appetite! On a wider note, as I get older I find myself more drawn to Freezer's plans. I know they are off their time, and need to be treated carefully with his flexible approach to scale (and a thick pencil!), but I still think we can learn a lot from his designs. Especially in terms of operation/play value. This is supposed to be fun after all!

Agreed. Best use of the alignment for the foreseeable future. But it protects it on the slim prospect that there is ever a need/push to reopen it.

The weathering on the roofs (rooves?) of those grey vans is excellent. Did you do that yourself?

I know we operate in a niche little sphere, but I do find Rails secondhand stuff to be generally overpriced. You can get a new MM 141 - admittedly in BnT - for £180, yet they are selling a "pre-owned" one for £230. Seems a little confused.

I wasn't expecting that answer, but I'm pleasantly surprised! I love those bagged cement wagons

Do you get a free trip on the second try, given the promised 89 failed?