Patrick Davey

As explained elsewhere, Brookhall Mill will shortly be retired to make space for the next project. I have today assembled the layout in ‘exhibition’ mode for a few final running sessions, and here are a few nostalgic photos just to make me feel really guilty….. This became my favourite part of the layout. I eventually got the electrics right! Interior detail was an obsession

Nice work! Good to see another update!

Pleased to report that BHM has been successfully relocated to the outbuilding, and remains fully operational

Truly a work of art Alan!

Yes indeed - liveries have been researched!

I’ve been doing something dangerous - thinking So I currently have two active layouts, both fictional and both GNR-based: Brookhall Mill & Clogherhead. BHM is now nearing the end of its service because I am well and truly in the DCC fold and would need to adjust the wiring on BHM to make it fully DCC compatible. CHD was my first foray into the world of DCC and I’m still very much enjoying the layout, and my next IRM arrivals will fit in nicely - Park Royals and a Hunslet in original livery. Brookhall Mill (2020-22) Clogherhead (2023-24) As I have hinted before, I would like to do a re-run of my previous Capecastle diorama, which was dismantled to make way for BHM, and the wheel is about to turn full circle because I have decided to retire BHM to make space for a revived Capecastle. Then, next year, CHD will be retired to make space for a brand new project. Unfortunately, I do not have space for multiple projects to be operational at the same time. Capecastle Diorama (2019) Here’s the proposed timeline: July 2025: BHM will relocated from the ‘railway room’ to an outbuilding (not used during the summer) where I will have a few final running sessions prior to retirement. This will create space in the railway room for work to begin on Capecastle 2 (CC2). August 2025: CC2 should be completed, and might even make it out onto the exhibition circuit during late 2025 and into 2026….. look out for the new thread about the CC2 project, which will see me exploring new horizons! CHD will most likely remain housebound, as the main baseboard is probably too heavy now to move. That’s a pity, because I think it might be well received at exhibitions. I will also begin the conversion of my remaining DC motive power to DCC, so it can all run on CHD. September 2025 - June 2026: CC2 & CHD will be enjoyed! July 2026: CHD will be retired to create space for a brand new and much more ambitious GNR(I) project, ‘Killylea’. This will be a departure from my usual ‘shunting’-type projects as it will be a continuous run layout and very definitely intended for the exhibition circuit. By that stage, all my GNR motive power should be DCC-enabled, so I will have plenty of very suitable stock to run. But more about that in the future! *** Meanwhile, Mr. Weaver will be enjoying his well-earned retirement in Blackstaff Cottage. Blackstaff Cottage (2025)

So the summer approaches and that means lots of things to normal folk….. but to someone like me it only means one thing…a new project! Time now to get started with my long-discussed revival of Capecastle, a previous diorama version of which I built back in 2019. Capecastle was a tiny halt on the narrow gauge Ballycastle Railway in North County Antrim, being 3 miles from the Ballycastle terminus, and sitting in an idyllic location in a small hollow at the foot of the impressive Knocklayd Mountain. The otherwise unremarkable halt was made remarkable by the existence of a 66-yard single bore tunnel at the Ballycastle end, one of very few such structures on the entire Irish narrow gauge. I have a strong family connection to the line as my Great Grandfather James O’Connor was a driver on the line in its independent days, ie pre-1923, in which year it was taken over by the LMS-NCC. The project will see a number of major changes from the previous 4mm diorama: • It will be built to 5.5mm scale using 0-16.5 track (already bought!) - this combination gives the most realistic representation of the 3ft gauge of the Irish narrow gauge • The project will be a working layout rather than a diorama • Rolling stock will be scratchbuilt, beginning with 0-6-0st locomotive No. 2 ‘Countess of Antrim’, which will be a joint project between master locomotive builder Alan Nixon @Tullygrainey and myself • It will be DCC, and will have a long narrow scenic section of 7ft x 1ft 2in And we’re off - baseboards next! Many thanks to all the members here who commented on my previous posts about this idea, which helped me formulate the eventual plan

This looks like some vicious instrument of medieval torture!!!

Wouldn't have a notion about that!

So the new BUT railcar has been on trials at Clogherhead. The livery looks very much at home for sure. It runs well, less so at slow speeds, but it really doesn't like the ancient double slip at the station throat. And it's very quiet too - totally drowned out by the seagulls. BUT Railcar @ Clogherhead.mp4

Yip - hence the delight in acquiring said unit! With grateful thanks to Paul Chapman for making it available!

Ouch

Something like that!! Unfortunately, the seagull ate all the chips….. another order has been placed…..

A nice arrival at CHD today.....

Splendid!

The Ardee branch trackbed is now crossed by the M1 motorway near Dromin, so that would probably rule it out

Bingo - from page 13 of the 2006 Colourpoint edition of EM Patterson’s ‘The Ballycastle Railway’: McKinnon’s scheme for laying the track with light-section rails went a stage further when, on 12 March 1879, the Board asked Evans to obtain prices for 30 lb and 40 lb rails. By early April, 14 companies had replied, but none could roll rails as light as 30 lb, and they offered either 40 lb or 45 lb rails at prices varying from £4 18s Od to £6 11s 6d per ton. The West Cumberland Iron Company's tender was the lowest and the Ballycastle Company decided to take their 45 lb rails, a wise reversal of policy. The Company then tried unsuccessfully to get the price brought down to £4 12s 6d. Half the rails were to be delivered to Ballycastle and half to Portrush; those delivered to Portrush were to be railed over the Northern Counties line to Ballymoney and the track was to be laid from both ends. One might assume therefore that the rails at Limepark came from the Armoy area, and with Armoy being closer to Ballycastle than to Ballymoney, these rails were most probably from the consignment delivered directly to Ballycastle.

Anything is possible! Definitely more research needed

My day jobs bring me to many very interesting places throughout Ireland, and recently I was working at an event & wedding venue called ‘Limepark’ which is situated near Armoy in County Antrim. My work colleagues and I were standing at the bottom of a set of stone steps at the side of a building, when the handrails caught my attention….. I quickly recognised them as being lengths of narrow gauge rail. The venue is not far from the track bed of the Ballycastle narrow gauge line, which closed in 1950. On closer examination, I could see that each length of rail bore the following inscription: West Cumberland Steel B C R 1879 A quick Internet search located the company operating in the north of England from 1872 to 1916, and the date of 1879 would suggest that these are some of the very original Ballycastle line rails, as the line opened in 1880. I’m not sure what ‘B C R’ means, but it would be nice to think it meant ‘Ballycastle Railway’. Obviously, I may not be able to find out when these rails were installed at the venue, so either they survived in use until 1950 and were then sold off, or the selling off happened much earlier than 1950, during a presumed relay. One of the staff members at Limepark was able to tell me that there are a lot of lengths of rail in use around the venue, and he says there are also original railway sleepers there as well, so a return visit is now very much on the agenda!!

Yum

Lovely selection Ernie! Amazing early view of Fintona Junction with what looks like the familiar tram car in pre-blue & cream livery.

There’s an article today in The Derry Post newspaper, about my model of Knockloughrim station. And that more or less draws this very enjoyable little project to a conclusion! Knockloughrim.pdf

RM Arnold has provided the answer:

Actually......I wonder was it double track through Killylea, @jhb171achill can you verify or correct? I always thought Portadown - Clones was double. Or maybe it was doubled at one stage then singled later on... No reference books to hand just now.....

Won't be this week or next....