Mol_PMB

The video didn’t work for me on the laptop, but did on my phone. Hard to see detail on the small screen though, so thanks for the photos which are much clearer. It looks like these are aimed at the OO gauge market which is fair enough as that’s most people, but they may be tricky to regauge for 21mm? Cheers, Paul

That looks appealing, and one of the wagons that's definitely on my wants list. How many come on an etch? Cheers, Paul

New Accurascale Invisilock:

I can see your point. The tension locks aren't so obtrusive in the larger scale. Whilst the back end of the railcar looks very convincing, I can see it must be a right pain to do. I wonder if it might be better as a one-piece overlay in thin brass? Incidentally, have you seen that Accurascale have introduced a transparent tension lock coupler on their latest GB release?

This 1994 photo from Colm O'Callaghan on Flickr appears to show one of the bogie flats with steel floors as the second vehicle in a Bell Liner. If so, it had lost its chain pockets by this time. But this 2012 photo from Karl Rose on Flickr complicates the situation. Here is 30081 (not one of those originally fitted with floors) with a floor added. Presumably this was done after it was transferred to the Engineers' fleet. The floor overhangs the solebars, which is a distinguishing feature compared to the original 30091-30098 batch which were built new with floors:

Recently while looking through archives on Flickr, I've found several photos of Irish railways that surprised me - "I never knew that happened". So I thought I'd start a thread to share a few of them, in case anyone would like to justify some unusual moves on their layout. Feel free to add examples you've found too. Here's a nice starting point given the forthcoming release of the Park Royal coaches from IRM, but the current absence of a BGSV to heat and light them. From Colm O'Callaghan on Flickr, a Connolly-Drogheda service formed of an A class and three Park Royals. Only. The date is 3rd September 1988. There is guard's accommodation in the last vehicle, but I don't see any battery boxes on the underframes so there wouldn't be any light or heat. Perhaps in early September they could manage without? I'm pretty sure I can make out some passengers inside so it's not an empty stock move.

Ah, so I'm not the only one then! That's reassuring. The research and the rolling stock construction are my favourite bits, though I also enjoy landscape scenery. I'm not sure whether my best achievement today is making a load of progress building a couple of etched wagons, or finding three photos of LMA vans in service! I do feel I need to get something moving (for more than a foot or two on my photo plank), so I ought to regauge one of my locos and make a more comprehensive test track at least. One of the tasks I need to address with the wagons I've built/rebuilt so far is to go back through all of them, make sure they have the same wheel standards and fit them with couplings. But it's not on the priority list at present because they don't need those things to sit in the display case, and I haven't quite decided what wheel standards or couplings to use yet. Anyway, I'd better get back to the soldering iron...

Good thoughts! I like the idea of a layout where I can watch the trains go by - the loft is the only space big enough but it's a lot of work to convert it to a comfortably usable space. I may well end up with another shunting plank instead, which would at least be portable. Fenit Pier definitely appeals for that. But before I get anywhere with a layout I need to master 21mm gauge pointwork, and reliable couplings. They're my next challenges. Having said that, maybe I should just admit that the bit I most enjoy is building wagons, and keep filling up the display cabinet with trucks that will never run anywhere!

Sorry, my mistake. It was right on the original. I'll correct my post.

Just a couple more: Cattle train at Claremorris, 1972, from Paul Taylor: Wexford by the same place and photographer, 1975, a line of withdrawn bulk grain vans. Note a different livery variation on one, with large 'BULK GRAIN' lettering on the panels either side of the doors, rather than the doors themselves: From Tom Ryan, enough steam heat vans to create an impressive sauna...

Not IRRS photos, but I did notice that the IRRS Archive account 'follows' some other Flickr members, and I'm having a bit of a look through them too. I'll have worked out by now that I'm a wagon and container nerd, so these photos mostly follow that theme, but there are a lot more worth looking at. I spotted a rare beast in the siding in this photo from 'Carrickmacross Rare Ould Times' - an LMA van: From 'Frank', it's possible the third van here is also an LMA van. It has a corrugated end, and the lack of shadow at the eaves compared to the two nearer vans would indicate it's more likely an LMA than an ex-GNR cement van (2 photos of the same train, dated 1975): From 'Frank', A12 in trouble at Waterford in 1970 not long before it was re-engined: From Colm O'Callaghan, a lovely shot of an Acrylonitrile wagon, and a barrier: Colm's got some fantastic Irish freight train photos - well worth a look through his photostream. From 'ML125r', a nice clear colour view of two of the 10' bulk glucose containers: From the same source, some interesting containers here. Look at that massive CIE roundel on the white 40-footer! Some CIE open-toppers with a choice of roundel positions: Mmmm - Guinness, Bell and baby GMs! Another container feast, lots of CIE and some CTI, several of 'my' MOL too:

Wonderful - thanks again. It looks like a couple of the 001 names were transferred to 141s later on. So once I've renumbered my locos to my preferred examples (mainly ones I travelled behind back in the 1980s) I should have: 007 'Paula' or 'James Bond' 055 'Sarah' or 'Sulky Susan' 156 'Principled Priscilla' 192 'Venereal Vera' 155 and 158 always seemed to turn up on my travels as well, maybe I need a 'Negligent Nellie' or 'Hilarious Hilary' in due course. Edit: having just checked my photos, 172 was the one I had a cab ride in, in later years, so 'Stinking Stasia' is another option...

Many thanks! Interesting that some of the names changed over the years. Names for the other classes would also be of interest!

Very nice! Plenty to keep you busy by the looks of it.

That’s a nice idea for a trip, and to sample the unusual ferry route. Great photos too.