Patrick Davey

If the BCDR main line had survived into the 1960s, then the new CIÉ diesel locomotives may well have appeared at Loughan Quay: (It might have been possible for a new A class loco to have reached Newcastle (Co. Down) - the locos started arriving in Ireland a few months after the GNR closed the line to Newcastle in May 1955 but presumably the track was still intact during the rest of 1955 at least, so it might have been physically possible......?) And with even more of a stretch of the imagination, had the line survived into the 1970s then NIR's Hunslet locomotives may even have reached Loughan Quay as well: With thanks to Alan for welcoming these unsual visitors to his absolutely stunning layout!

Not this time - it was actually composed by one of my students under my direction! A GCSE composition project!! Aren't Alan's BCDR models amazing JB, the Loughan Quay layout has to be seen to be fully appreciated and I feel very privileged to have seen it twice now. And it was a true pleasure to have such stunning BCDR models visit Brookhall Mill.

MR. WEAVER’S TRIP TO LOUGHAN QUAY One afternoon in 1944, a BCDR train arrived at Brookhall, hauled by BCDR diesel No. 2. The train was there to collect a shipment of linen for Loughan Quay near Dundrum. The driver, Mr. Nixon, was a friend of Mr. Weaver’s from years earlier and soon an invitation had been issued to Mr. Weaver to have a cab ride in the little diesel, and enjoy some hospitality at Loughan Quay. Mr. Weaver was very fond of No. 2 and immediately accepted Mr. Nixon’s invitation. Soon the two old friends were making their leisurely way in the loco’s small cab along the Lagan Valley towards Belfast, before taking the Belfast Central line and then the BCDR mainline, passing through all the East Belfast suburban stations and eventually reaching Comber, where they had to wait for a few minutes to allow a Donaghadee train to enter the station. Soon they were on their way again, passing Ballygowan, Saintfield and Ballynahinch Junction - this latter station was the diesel’s usual workplace but she was away from her regular duties this week and instead, a CIÉ 2-4-2t locomotive was working the Ballynahinch branch. After passing Crossgar, Downpatrick Loop platform and Tullymurry, the train slowed for the junction for Loughan Quay, arriving shortly after. Mr. Weaver certainly enjoyed the hospitality at Loughan and indeed he spend much time getting to know the locals. Later on, Mr. Nixon and diesel No. 2 brought Mr. Weaver to Newcastle, just in time to join the final GNR departure to Belfast - Mr. Weaver alighted at Lisburn where a locomotive was waiting to bring him back up to Brookhall. With very special thanks to Alan (Tullygrainey) for making all this possible, by letting me create this little story using his fantastic BCDR stock and also his stunning 'Loughan Quay' layout. Mr. Weaver's Trip to Loughan Quay.mp4

Sensational images Ernie, my continued thanks for making this invaluable resource available to us.

So after almost three years, I think I can officially declare that Brookhall Mill is finally finished!! With grateful thanks to everybody on this forum for all the support and encouragement along the way

Amazing work - very very realistic!!!

How remote does that look!

Cheers GL - happy Easter to you and to all here!

The last major item on the snag list - the inset track which crosses the access road to allow vans to be shunted into the mill. I could for some reason never get this right - the check rails always sat too high and the vans would ride up over these on their way into the mill, so I have admitted defeat and applied timber inserts. And they are actually timber - made from coffee stirrers!!

Fantastic Alan! Will you be going for BCDR or UTA livery?

Just catching up with this incredible thread - amazing work Ken, truly amazing. Hope you are keeping well too.

THE COPING STRATEGY Nearly there with the 'snag' list before I can officially declare Brookhall Mill to be 'finished', if a layout can ever really be described as such. One of the two remaining items on the list was to replace crumbling card coping stones: thin ones on the gun emplacement and thicker ones on the boiler house under the water tower. The card was only crumbling because I didn't quite prepare it properly. Anyway I wanted to use DAS clay to fabricate new coping stones. DAS gives a really good 'stone'-like texture I think, so that was where I was going..... The smaller ones for the gun emplacement were straightforward enough - DAS was rolled out to a thickness of around 2mm and once dry, appropriate lengths were trimmed off and shaped accordingly. The thicker blocks for the boiler house were produced as follows: 1. Plasticard formers were assembled - careful measurement was needed to ensure consistency. 2. DAS was spread inside the formers and left to dry for a few days. 3. Once dry, the lengths of dried DAS were carefully removed from the formers then sanded and scribed to represent individual stone blocks. 4. The blocks were coloured using a HB pencil and glued in place. I might add in some greenery for weeds later. This is the gun emplacement with the DAS coping stones in place and coloured: Good old DAS!

That scene of the loco steaming through the countryside on the approach to Newry is almost timeless!! Sensational stuff! Taking your life in your hands with the others though!! She's fairly moving up the bank past Fr. Murphy's!

All splendid vehicles David and I am full of admiration for your prolific scratchbuilds and modifications - those turf loads must have taken a long time to prepare, are the carriages full of the chopped matches or have you inserted a raised level inside each vehicle so less turf is required? As always, quite inspirational!

Looking good - following with interest John.

Nice touch with the headboard - another stroke of genius from an RPSI legend, whoever that was, take a bow! Super HD quality videos as well.

Cracking video!!! Bet the gentleman was a bit emotional

Those are magnificent videos - sorry folk got drenched but the rain adds atmosphere!!! Amazing to see 131 steaming past the location where she spent so many years as a static exhibit, sporting those 'Hornby'-esque white wheel rims. Amazing work by all involved to bring her back to the mainline. They deserve all the credit in the world. Am sure Noel Playfair was on the minds of many people yesterday. Thanks for sharing those fabulous videos!!

Cheers for that Sean, even though I read most of it with a glazed expression (no reflection on your summary, purely to do with my own ignorance!) ..... but I appreciate your endorsement of the A class chips, thank you

Impressive miniature engineering!!!!

Should have thought of you first!!! If the digital bug bites I will be back..........

Have taken the plunge and entered the digital age....yikes.... Does anyone have a MM 121 sound chip that they might sell? TIA **UPDATE: Got one!! Marks Models to the rescue!!!

Lovely! Looking forward to seeing it at Bangor.

Always good to see updates John. A fine layout!

Update: I have decided to park this plan for now and instead use the Adams Radial chassis to upgrade my ancient Studio Scale Models T2 loco, which will be of more use to me when Brookhall Mill - hopefully - starts making appearances in the real world! But all the help and advice above is very much appreciated - filed for possible future use!