RedRich

Hi Tom 2002. It just doesn't seem like 10 years ago. IE always seemed to keep the MK111's clean enough. I remember that carriage washer that used to clean the sides of the coaches in Heuston. It's a shame that they didn't look after the locos in the same way. Rich,

I've read it alright, I am always looking you don't see me but I'm there. Anyway Anto the subject of guard rails is a minefield when it comes to how they are laid. On most examples of bullhead rail that you see on bridges or viaducts the guard rails are held in place by check chairs. Flat bottom rail guard rails like those on your bridge are another different story altogether and it varies from place to place as to how it is fixed. The main objective of the guard rail is to limit the chances of a derailment and they are also installed in areas like railway stations where the platform has a long and continuous curve, an example being this pic of Waterford Plunkett. The inner and center lines are fitted with guard rails because of the gauge widening on the curve. The guard rail is held in place by check chairs in this instance. I have only ever seen one example of flat bottom rail, guard rails before and they were held in place by a system of base plates, bolted to the sleeper, and bolts through the outer rail and the guard rail like in this pic of a check rail in a point at Waterford West. Guard rails are often seen on the outside of the running rails but I never seen that system in Ireland. To be honest if you wanted to model the fixing of the guard rails Anto you would probably have to remove the track, drill the rails, make your own base plates and maybe use some styrene rod to represent the bolts, and some square styrene for the blocks between both rails. I think the fact that you bothered to install guard rails on your model at all deserves a as most people wouldn't think of doing it, so more kudos to you for doing it. By the way it looks great. I will certainly do some more research and see if I can turn up anything else that might be of use. Rich,

Thanks for those great pics Eamonn I hope you had a good time. Rich,

Rich,

Congratulations to all concerned at WMRC and the best of luck to you in your new home. Have a nice evening Seamus at the club and I'd love to see some footage of the pre production 071 pulling those superb Autoballasters. Rich,

Alan the credit and all the plaudits you have received and will receive in the future for your work is fully deserved. I can't praise it enough myself. Yourself and John have produced the goods on every occasion and both of your tutorials are concise and easy to follow. There is no easy way to build track unless you purchases all the switch rails and common crossings machined and fully assembled, whether it is in a kit or from the trade. I made a few horrendous looking common crossing in the beginning and they are in a landfill site now. Please keep the tutorials coming and thank you for everything you have already contributed thus far. The same sentiments apply equally for John, well done guys . Rich,

Vincent given that a cement bubble model would be roughly 100mm over buffers, and depending on your choice of couplings I would say 8 wagons in the longer siding would be your limit. Rich,

Anto I can see him wearing a curly wig, long coat, and multi colored scarf a la Tom Baker. Rich,

Some MK111 EGV pics taken at Waterford Plunkett. Rich,

Hopefully some of these will be of use to the weathering guys. Rich,

That's great news Snapper I will wait for the next bunch in anticipation. There is already so much of the history of the railway lost to us, but we are preserving something of our own era that can be a resource for people in the future. If anyone has got any pics of mile posts viaducts and bridges get em up here please as it is important to have a record of these things to hand on to future generations of modellers and railway enthusuasts. Rich,

Richie it's just getting better with every photo that is being uploaded, keep em coming or I'll get withdrawal symptoms. Rich,

That's amazing Kirley that you have achieved so much in so short a space of time. It's always great to have a pal within the hobby to help you and Anto has the experience of building his own layout to give you so it's a win win situation all round. Please keep us all up to date with your progress. I will be watching this with interest and most of all anticipation for every installment . Rich,

I know Eamonn and just think of the brownie points you could score with the missus. You could transport yourself and the layout around the country and have the first model railway exhibition on tour. Rich,

I couldn't agree more with that statement as it has surely made people aware of the growing repertoire of Irish prototype models available to people that wouldn't be aware of the phenomenal growth of the hobby here, let alone the standards of the work that the lads produce. That kind of work and access to what is available has surely inspired many a young kid to have a go and also find their way to this group as a consequence of watching these videos. Rich,

Those pics are truly wonderful Snapper and why more people don't photograph this side of the railway is beyond me. I hope you get more up here soon, and thanks for sharing them . Rich,

Here are some pics taken ten or eleven years ago at Waterford Plunkett. Permission was granted by IE to take the photos. First up a MK111 Standard roof for those that want to weather their models. Next up a MK111 First class coach with grey roof. A MK111 First Class emblem on the coach door. These would only be at the First class end of the coach. Last up a MK111 EGV Roof. Some have 2 exhaust pipes and some have four so be careful which prototype you choose to model. Rich,

Lovely work Eamonn I thought we were going to see a model of the tardis there for a minute. Rich,

I think the best way to gauge this sort of thing is to ask the retailers how many kids and teenagers frequent their shops and purchase model railway equipment. Look around at an exhibition and gauge the same thing there, how old are the visitors what percentage are kids and adults. I think that this is one hobby that has stood the test of time and there have been turbulent times for a lot of us of a certain age in our lifetimes with recessions and high unemployment. Kids today are very resourceful and they will try and earn a few bob to pay for their models as the young lads have stated above. Vincent even went without his sausages, and he will benefit from it by having a point and stopping his arteries clogging . Groups like this draw an awful lot of young blood into the hobby as they will get advice comradeship and a voice to air their opinions for free, there is no doubt that for the majority of the time the internet has started a revolution and I wonder as groups like this grow will it have an effect on the print media within the hobby, as I find myself buying the monthly Railway Modelling mags less often as I find all the entertainment and knowledge here that I need. For me they also bring an enthusism that takes me back to my youth. Rich,

There is eating and drinking in it Noel. Rich,

I do indeed. I promised Hidden Agenda some pics of the underframe a while back and when I sort the man out with them I will post some up here. Welcome to the group by the way. Rich,

Some fine bargains there Steven. The 141 in as preserved livery is a steal at that price. Thanks for the heads up. Rich,

Alan please feel free to download any of my pics as it's only right that we share what we have with each other. The amount of information that is available to the group from those members who give it freely is why this group is special. It is also a place of learning, and I have learned so much myself from information posted here by all our members. There is no showboating or boasting on here only sharing and giving, I love it. Rich,

Some more pics of flat bottom and bullhead rail. This is some flat bottom on wooden sleepers attached to base plates by a single bolt at Waterford West. This is a stranges mix of flat bottom and bullhead rail on wooden sleepers on a point at Waterford West. This is some bullhead rail fixed to concrete sleepers at Waterford Plunkett. Rich,

Lovely work John, I will be following your blog with interest as I want to take in as much information as I can as I progress on my own journey into 21mm. I wouldn't say that the Hornby coach looks cheap and nasty. It's more of a sows ear turned into a silk purse. Rich,