skinner75

Watching the Markle dvd now, Tara Mines is the first on the dvd. The footage at the mine is shot from within the cab. You can get a good idea of track layout. It shows the system used for positioning the wagons, and loading. I'd highly recommend all the Markle dvds, as they are a great watch, nicely narrated for a bit of context.

I'll take a look at the Markle dvd this evening to check if it covers the shunting etc inside Tara Mines itself

Here is the Telerail video on Irish rail freight - not sure if the Navan operation is covered in this, but still a great vid: https://www.telerail.co.uk/product/railfreight-today-ireland/ https://markle.co.uk/ Irish Rail Archive vol8 has a major feature on Tara Mines traffic

Just a thought, but there is nothing to stop a loco having a container loaded with batteries on a flat wagon coupled up next to it, before the rest of the freight wagons. You would then even be able to swap it out for another fully charged 'battery pack' at the end of the journey, and put the other one on charge for the next time. Or is that too simple?

Maybe a case of 'build it and they will come' As mentioned in the piece, it goes with the EU's environmental goals

Bit of an update on the project (from https://www.live95fm.ie/news/live95-news/limerick-to-foynes-on-track-for-reopening/ Key milestone reached in the project Work began earlier this year on restoring the freight service and last week the Taoiseach said a commuter service on the line has not been ruled out. Iarnród Éireann says they are on track for the reopening of the Foynes to Limerick railway line. It's after a key milestone in the project was reached last week. The 42km stretch of railway between Limerick and Foynes originally opened in 1858 but closed to passenger traffic in 1963 and was declared inactive in 2001. Last week the River Maigue bridge at Adare was lifted out for restoration, which is said to be a key milestone for the project. Track laying will begin early next year and Iarnród Éireann say works are progressing well. Subject to funding allocation, phase two is expected to take 18 months to complete, and it's anticipated that the route will open for freight services in 2025. Iarnród Éireann has said that works are progressing well on phase one of the reopening of the Foynes to Limerick railway line. Last week, the River Maigue bridge at Adare was lifted out for restoration and repairs and it is anticipated that it will be reinstated early in 2024. Work started on the project early this year. The construction strategy was to start the works in the Foynes area and then move eastwards in the direction of Limerick city. All the rail for the project and the first batch of new concrete sleepers have already been delivered to the site. Site Clearance and removal of the existing track commenced in Spring 2023 and will be completed by the end of the year. Boundary fencing has commenced and is ongoing between Foynes Port and Adare, with large sections of palisade fencing, concrete post and wire fencing and timber post and wire fencing now complete. Works at Robertstown Viaduct have just commenced, beginning with the demolition of the existing structure. The new structure is programmed to be substantially complete by Spring 2024. Track excavation and earthworks are underway for the new track bed and ballast together with the installation of ducting & drainage pipes along the route. It is anticipated that track laying will commence early in 2024. Phase two of the project will include the provision of a signalling system for the route, CCTV level crossings, train communications system and track connections and upgrades at Limerick and at Foynes Port. Subject to funding allocation for phase two it is expected that this work will take 18 months to complete, and it is anticipated that the route will open for freight services in 2025. The 42km stretch of railway between Limerick and Foynes originally opened in 1858 but closed to passenger traffic in 1963. Freight services continued until 2001. When these services stopped the line was declared inactive, but the line remained under the stewardship of Iarnród Éireann. The project aligns with and supports Iarnród Éireann’s Rail Freight 2040 Strategy, and the recently launched strategic review of the Shannon Foynes Port Company Masterplan, Vision 2041. The reopening of the Limerick to Foynes rail line for freight services also satisfies several EU, national, regional, and local development objectives. The proposed project contributes to objectives of common interest with the EU as defined in Article 7 of the TEN-T guideline, with the following specific contributions: Interconnection of the modes of transport rail and ship services, promoting intermodal transport. Promotion of environmental protection by strengthening freight transport via rail and sea rather than road transport. Extension of interconnections. Speaking this week Iarnród Éireann Chief Executive, Jim Meade said: “I am delighted to see how well work is progressing on this project. Major infrastructure upgrades such as the renovation of the Maigue bridge are key milestones for this project. I would like to commend my team, who are working on this project for their hard work and dedication and I look forward to more sustainable rail freight services once again operating on this route in 2025”

Wow - that is really well done!

No, sorry. He's only 45, so wouldn't know any of the vintage stuff. He is driving concrete trucks - all Volvos in the company he works with

FYI, my brother drives trucks, and he told me that Scania drivers are called 'Tangs'.

Such a massive case of shooting yourself in the foot. Funny thing is, the UK govt didn't even have to follow the outcome of the referendum, as they are non-binding in the UK!

You'd want to get on to An Post - they didn't even charge you their 'fee' for processing the extra charges. Remind them to charge you on the combined cost of the item plus postage cost!

That's a top tip for a grassy landscape!

I'm surprised they didn't put Connolly Station!

I thought I hadn't ordered them, but turns out I had!

Still four in stock on Brian Collin's website for those who missed them on IRM: https://briancollinsenterprises.ie/product/oxford-diecast-irizar-i6-bus-eireann-expressway/

Hopefully they didn't make the tunnel too long so that they can't reach in with an arm to recover the stock!

There is always the minature railway in Marlay Park in Dublin, which has both 5" & 7.25" lines: http://www.dsmee.ie/about-us

I can't see any of those pics when I click the links for some reason

How long would it take to get to Letterkenny at any rate - 4 hours? Mad for their cars up there anyway - especially the ones with the yellow rear plates on them...

Shame Murphy's Models website hasn't been updated in a long long time

I spotted a repro sign on either Donedeal or Adverts a few days ago - railway was spelt 'ralway' on it... If you are going to make fake railway signs, at least run the text through a spell-checker first!

Interesting. I take it that the reason for double-heading on such a short train is incase of a loco failure?

I only watched this last night about the Apollo missions - some craic on Apollo 12!: https://youtu.be/tX3tJb5WUjE

So, an electric kettle then?

Chips arrived this morning! Super-fast delivery!!