Patrick Davey

I decided to model the station in the final years of the line, and the goods shed was disused by then. The siding was actually lifted too but I left it in to add a bit of interest. In fact, the whole station was actually closed I don’t feel justified in calling it a layout, more a ‘working’ diorama

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After the comedy interlude starring the snowman, it was back to serious work today - in order to make the diorama a 'working' one, I needed to add two short extensions to allow trains to exit the diorama. These were also built from foamboard. Lengths of track were fitted using double sided tape and the wiring was added to the end of one of the extensions. However, the soldering iron packed in and I had to resort to winding the wires tightly around the ends of the rails and covering them with tape - a very temporary solution. But at least it allowed me to bring a train back to Knockloughrim for the first time since 1959......

Excellent!!! I will never be brave enough for this!

The last train has left Knockloughrim for Magherafelt as the sun begins to set. The porter has tuned off the gas lamp in the waiting room, now illuminated only by the flickering light of the turf fire. He heads into the office to complete the paperwork for the day, and all is now quiet on the Derry Central this cold winter’s evening. IMG_9408.MOV The northern lights over Knockloughrim station.

New arrival on the new diorama. A must-have for a winter scene

Thanks @Signal Post - Dunseverick Castle was a conversion from a Hornby LMS 2P - the prototypes were similar enough to make it an effective conversion. The conversion was done by Colm Flanagan a few years ago, and I agree about the UTA lined black livery, very nice it is!

I had an unexpected free morning today and I paid a visit to Knockloughrim. The owners kindly showed me inside the building and it was great to see what appears to be the original fireplace in the former waiting room: Hard to beat a roaring real fire! I brought the diorama with me and was pleased to get a photo holding it in front of the real thing: A very pleasant morning - better than working!

Nice selection! Thanks for sharing your great work.

Lovely work Darius - how do you get the thin yellow waist line so fine and so straight?

The exact layout of this area wasn’t completely clear from maps or historical photos, although I suspect it was the gents’ conveniences, which would be suggested by the excellent plan provided by Kieran Lagan: One photograph seems to show a longish slated roof building, so that’s what I have gone with. Thanks everyone for the nice comments and the encouragement. Working on the backscene today then hoping to get trains running during the coming week.

Vvvvvery nice!

She was inside Magherafelt shed until just a few minutes ago…….

The man never stops! Nice smooth finish even with just the primer.

Getting dark at Knockloughrim now, a blizzard is coming!

They apparently got caught in a snow drift a few miles back towards Maghera but 80 has made it to Knockloughrim to raise the alarm……

UTA-liveried U class 4-4-0 No. 80 ‘Dunseverick Castle’ has braved the snow to make a few visits to Knockloughrim this evening. This is a scene which was probably acted out in real life, about 75 years ago at least

The last post from the OP here was 8 years ago……! If you’re still there Ian it would be great to hear about any progress or maybe plans to get going again? Plenty of help and advice available here

Very nice - I am always impressed that you can see the potential in something Darius when it would be very easy to write it off, great work every time!

Another very unusual and interesting project Darius!

Seems like there is a significant arrival due at IRM Towers on January 15th.........

The Irish Railway Record Society (IRRS) has an incredible members-only Flickr site, holding thousands of photos of Irish railway locations, most of which are as yet unpublished. It is easy to spend hours browsing, and not notice the time passing - as has been said before, this resource alone more than justifies the cost of the IRRS membership subscription. The IRRS Flickr site has recently been updated with several thousand more images, and yet again some very obscure locations feature, including Blackstaff Halt on the GNR's Irish North Western line in Co. Monaghan and Limavady on the NCC. Very highly recommended, and hats off to those who undertake what must be a mammoth effort to select and edit the photos, and then upload them, to create what must be the most extensive collection of Irish railway photographs anywhere. Edit: The IRRS Flickr site currently contains 26,573 photos.

Very impressive - love the depth around the windows and doors. Great stuff Kevin!

Cheers - about 2mm depth for the clay