Patrick Davey

Hi everyone Lockdown has generally been hateful but one small positive for me was that it has given me time to get started on a long-planned OO gauge 'micro' layout, with a GNR(I) theme. The term 'micro layout' has been defined with various dimensions, but according to the popular Facebook group 'Micro Layouts' it is defined as one with a scenic section no bigger than 4ft x 2ft in OO Gauge - mine is 4ft x 18in. I did a bit of planning and came up with the following requirements for the layout: * The layout would be portable - I love the buzz of exhibitions! * It would have a GNR(I) theme (my home railway, despite being a BCDR enthusiast!) * It would have good operating potential and allow the appearance of stock from various eras and companies * It would be a fiddle yard to terminus * There would be multiple levels, for added interest - as well as the main rail facility, there would be a brick-lined culvert as well as a road overbridge Unlike my most recent projects, it would probably need to be a fictional location, so I came up with the idea of a linen mill near Ballinderry on the GN's Antrim branch, which was owned by the GN and produced the finest linen in Ireland - so much so that it was visited by trains from numerous other Irish railway companies. It would feature a passenger shuttle for mill staff as well as various goods movements throughout a typical working day, and it would would cram as much GNR(I) architecture as possible into the small space - am a big fan of the GN's 'corporate image'! So there would be a typical GNR(I) signal box, platform shelter and stationmaster's house, and the mill buildings would be built to mimic those of the GNR(I) works at Dundalk. I wrote an insane back story to justify all this, totally improbable but certainly entertaining to anyone who has read it Part of the story involves the GN providing dedicated linen vans for the Brookhall Mill traffic so I took three of Leslie McAllister's GN vans and applied a fictional cream livery and had decals made by Endon Valley Custom Decals (highly recommended!) The layout was given the name 'Brookhall Mill' because close to the fictional location of the mill is the popular 'Brookhall Historical Farm'. Attached are some photos of progress to date - and we're off!!

Hi Leslie - any County Antrim NG in the book? Hope you have fully recovered from your recent mishap!

Wow that cabin is magnificent!!!

Am a big fan of signal cabin models and this is one of the best - hats off to you!! Excellent work and yes, enjoy the journey!!!

Ah!!!!!!

Hi John - sounds good!! And most(all?) of the station survives so a good excuse for a road trip there. Good luck with the build and keep us posted with pics!!!

Gulp........

This is the site as seen on Google Earth - the station was at the very bottom middle with the divergence of the lines where the wedge-shaped area is. The right-curving course of the main line to Ballymena is still identifiable to the left of my blue line and the course of the branch to Ballyclare & Doagh is less identifiable, to the right of my red line.

Indeed - and great reads they are! I'd say so........ suitable underframes & bogies might be found but as for the locos..........

This is on the excellent Worsley Works website: http://www.worsleyworks.co.uk/NG/NG_Irish_BL_BC.htm Am nearly sure these are brass etches for the corridor coaches. If I could find an 009 2-4-2 loco chassis I would have a go at scratch building one of the compound tanks and proudly locate it on my Capecastle diorama, it wouldn't even have to be motorised!

More superb images thanks JB - so are we about to be treated to another selection from JHB Senior's incredible collection? That would go down very well just at the moment!

JB's summary above surely has to be the last word on the subject! It is nice to dream though....imagine her blasting out of Cork tunnel.............

Love the clickety-clack!!

Definitely Ballyclare, with the train having passed through the former passenger station beyond the bridge on its way to the paper mill a short distance ahead. This photo from Google Earth shows the street to the left of the train.

I think this is possibly Ballyclare with the former NG station beyond the bridge? Another jaw-dropping shot!!!!

Thanks airfixfan, am not familiar with that publication, can you point me in the direction? Cheers

That image of Ballyboley Junction is amazing - thanks for sharing it Lambeg Man and of course it begs the question....any more???

This is almost too much to take in, it's so good.......

I don't usually post in multiple places but am making an exception for this! I've been thinking that Inniskeen GNR(I) station would make an excellent subject for an Irish layout. It'd be beyond me on my own as I wouldn't have the space, but I thought I'd post about it anyway and maybe a group or club might take notice!! Inniskeen has many points in its favour: A junction station with main and island platforms - the Carrickmacross branch passenger services stopped in 1947 but that could be conveniently rectified in model form A range of excellent structures - station building, stationmaster's house, footbridge, island platform canopy, GN wooden shelter, large water tower and one of the GN's largest signal cabins. There was (is) an underbridge just before the branch junction and there was also a cutting at the Dundalk end - excellent scenic break! Great operating potential, with mainline and branch trains, both passenger and goods, everything from The Bundoran Express (hauled by one of the OO Works U Class locos) to early CIE A class diesels (I seem to recall these are about to appear in model form too...?) Good photographic coverage - an excellent series of JP O'Dea photos in the NLI collection. Maybe that might start some of you thinking! And if you would like someone to build that signal cabin.......

Is that the end JB? It's been superb - thank you sincerely

Oh to be able to step into that photo and catch a train to Donaghadee, Ballynahinch, Ardglass or Castlewellan.....

So much detail in that JB - could look at it for hours........

Cloghan Point spoil contract indeed it was: https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3505762

What a sight that must have been!! Looks like the number 80, was that a U2 number?

Wow JB those were unexpected! The upper photo was indeed taken at the depot on the outskirts of Portrush, St. Patrick's RC church is visible in the left background. Mighty photos!!!