Mayner

With the garden railway "operation" tended to be tied in with mowing the lawn/gardening. Running a freight from Placerville/Ridgeway the garage staging/fiddle yard out to Jackson City (through terminus) dropping off/picking up cars en route, loco goes 'on shed" turning/stabling before returning to Placerville/Ridgeway in the evening after tea time. Real busy day might run a Stock Special to one of the smaller stations/yards. But not a lot of action in recent years, lot of the effort goes into just about keeping the line in locos just about servicable. Saw-by crossings. Auto-Train Original 'Double Saw-By' video reminded me about a story in John Thomas "West Highland Railway book about the crossing of a long double headed passenger train using a single saw-by technique at one of the intermediate stations. Don't know if similar manouvers were ever performed/necessary in Ireland, crossing loops on single line sections often incorporated a (long) layby/siding extension allowing long goods trains (often 50-60 loose coupled) to be crossed that were longer than the loop. The layby sidings were also used to stable a goods/freight clear off the main line and loop or allow three or more trains to cross. Maynooth was a good example, during the early 80s I once saw the down (Dublin-Sligo) Liner behind a 001 Class shunted/propelled to the long layby siding at the Leixlip end of the station to allow the Down Connolly-Galway Night Mail and the up evening Sligo-Connolly Passenger to pass. On a Saturday morning almost 20 years later I watched the Layby at the Enfield end of the loop being used to stable a laden North Wall-Sligo ESSO oil train while awaiting a 'main line" crew. The oil train had been moved to Maynooth (possibly North Wall shunt crew) to clear space at the North Wall, the train later continuing to Sligo possibly on Monday! During the same era I once saw a Down Sligo Liner stabled during the weekend at the Down Galway platform Mullingar.

I don't know if Irish/Uk phone providers have anything similar. I used to add 4 week 'Roaming Pack" for approx €33 to our monthly for visits to the United States during 2024-5. Travelling and staying in a rural area in mid-winter a reliable mobile was an essential! Earlier I got caught out buying a pre-paid SIM card at a US airport on arrival, limited credit & numerous SPAM texts/calls from numbers in Michigan! Mention of rail travel in Europe reminds me of visits to Austria in 2003-4 in connection with Linda's Phd research. Was an adventure at the time with most trains hauled by new Seimens electric locos, hauling rather dated & often crowded passnger stock.

Funnily enough several years ago I seriously considered following IRM/Accurascale example and comissioning a New Zealand "Coal Route" large GE diesel loco and bogie coal wagons in the almost complete absence of decent RTR, but ended up producing a small range of 3D printed Irish wagons. Main issue was while I could largely fund the design and manufacture of the wagons from the 'back pocket' so to speak, financing the loco would be challenging combination of long lead time (2-3 years) and an uncertain market. Apart from money and time there was the little matter of scale, gauge and potential market. While there was potential crossover between New Zealand, Australian and potentially South African outline 3'6" modellers. New Zealand and Queensland 3'6" outline modellers work to different scales/gauges. Kiwis' choosing Sn3.5 (S on 16.5 gauge) Ozzies HOm for Queenslands' 3'6', scale/gauge used in other 'narrow gauge" States tends to vary between States! So choice of choosing Sn3.5 and potentially limiting myself to Kiwi modellers and those wanting to run something different on HO/OO or potentially becomming a 'disruptor' in the hope that Kiwi modellers would adopt a new scale/gauge in order to appeal to the apparrently larger Ozzie market. A bit like Paddy Murphy or IRM/Accurascale adapting HO rather than EM in order to appeal to American and Continental outline modellers. In a way taking a more basic prossibly low cost/investment approach Silver Fox has been adapting British to Irish outline models for many years. Not convinced on the adaptability of TT1:120 chassis for Irish narrow gauge, apart from the wheels and valve gear being to a smaller scale than a 4mm loco, modern chassis design has shifted from the traditional standard 0-6-0 chassis block once used by different manufacturers to custom designed chassis for individual locomotives.

There are a number of photos of Cashel Station before and after track was lifted in the late 1950s in the O'Dea Collection of the national Library. https://catalogue.nli.ie/Collection/vtls000148612?lookfor=cashel&submit=Set CIE Railbus 2508 was tried on the Thurles-Clonmel branch for a short time in the early 1950s. Cashel Branch passenger services apparrently ceased in 1947 and the line closed completly in 1952. Photos in the O'Dea collection indicate that the track was lifted at some stage between July 58 and Jan 59.

Cashel would work nicely as a "railway in a landscape" in N in a similar manner to Martyn Harris model of Killala https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18CqMpGYwC/. Ideally baseboard 5-7ft X2' wide code 55 track with medium radius points. The loco shed & some strategically positioned trees acting as a view block as the line curves towards the backscene at the Goulds Cross end, either the rock modelled on the backscene or partially in low relief possibly to a smaller scale. The absence of N/2mm Irish outline rtr or kit is less of an issue than in the larger scale as the focus is primarily on buildings and scenery, I improvised with repainted/modified rtr over 40 years ago when I modelled Irish outline N, while some 2mm finescale modellers scratchbuilt locos and stock to a high standard. Cashel would make a excellent showcase for modelling the Irish Broad Gauge in 4mm or 7mm, ideal for the budding scratch/kit built locos and stock 1-2 locos, a couple of GSWR 6w coaches, some wagons and the possibility of steam and petrol railmotors/cars. GSR Locomotives (Clements & McMahon) 2008 notes that the GSWR Railmotor No 1 was tried on the Branch in 1904, A Sentinel Railcar operated for a period on the line in the late 1920s and Drewry (petrol) Railcar No 385 worked on the branch up to 1938. 385 appears to have spent most of her life on the branch apart from a period in Wexford during the early 1930s. A petrol Railcar would make a simple scratchbuilding project in plasticard based on the principals used in "Carriage Modelling Made Easy" (David Jenkinson) the examples in the "Colonel"/David Holmans layout/carriage buiding treads on this newsgroup. Apart from the ubiquitous 101/J15 Class the 47/E3 Class 0-4-4 BT (loco No74 in the early photo) would make an excellent scratchbuilding project and may have seen use on the branch until the majority of locos in the Class was withdrawn in 1931. Its possible that during Sentinel & Drewry Railcar operation the "Mixed" was replaced by a Thurles-Cashel goods worked by a loco based at Thurles shed. Excursion and "Mystery Trains" may have operated over the branch, I remember seeing somewhere a photo of a GSR Mystery Train at Cashel behind a possibly a pair of GSR 333/342 Class 4-4-0s (large mixed traffic locos)

Sometimes there may be good reasons for producing a 3D resin model in one piece, rather than a series of separate pieces like a conventional kit or the current generation of RTR models. The JM Design CIE Brake Van was originally designed with buffers, interior partitions and side lamps as separate components, but printed integrally with the body and chassis in the production version, both for convenince and cost. I found it easier to accomodate variations to the model (3 different types of ducket, planked and ply body) by modifying my original 3D model (CAD work), rather than designing & manufacturing separate components. Combining etched brass sides/body with 3D printed roof, ends/chassis may be challenging as a result of the different characteristics of the two materials. I originally considered combining etched brass overlays in combination with a 3D printed shell when designing the JM Design Tin Vans approx 12 years ago, but opted for a mainly etched brass design because of concerns about the different materials characterics of resin and brass raised by a local 3D printing/ rapid prototyping business. Interestingly at the time 3D prints were sometimes used to produce masters/patterns for resin casting, rather than the finished product. MOL PMB Paul. It may be worth attempting to glue/fix a strip of brass & 3D printed roof section before designing the sides/body shell. My thread on FDM printed roofs includes a stl. of a Laminate roof also suitable for resin printing .

I ordered 21mm gauge 10' wb powered and un-powered Blackbeetles from Steam Era Models to power an AEC railcar set almost 20 years ago, nearest thing to a rtr 21mm gauge RTR chassis manufactured in Australia. Used the bogies to complete a railcar set assembled using Worsley Works parts with a roof carved from balsa. Main draw-back was I ordered MTK/NNK AEC railcar bogie sideframes (9'6" wb) though useable and cast ends which were asymetric with a distinct squint and unusabe. Steam Era Models Blackbeetle manufacturer may still be in business (accessed their site last week) and produce a power bogie with a 27:1 gear ratio, more realistic top speed and controlable than their standard 15:1 gear ratio. I once unsuccessfully attempted to re-gauge a OO Blackbeetle to 21mm gauge (for a diesel shunter) and damaged one of the force-fitted drive gears by reaming the bore while attempting to replace a wheelset. Impossible to Loctite a gear to an axle due to the design of the bogie, guess I could try and form a spline at the centre point of the axle.

I was lucky enough to pick up an 071 and 4 Cravens at a discounted price when Marks Models were struggling to clear unsold MM stock about 10 years ago and bought a small number of 141s & 121s when initially introduced but otherwise pressed pass-go on other MM offerings. If you are prepared to wait currently inflated second hand MM/IRM prices/demand is likely to drop as has been my experience in the Irish/UK and local property market over the last 40 years. The ideal time to sell is just before or after a market peaks and the best time to buy immediately before of after a trough. Then again there is always scratchbuilding, the only option during the long period Irish outline rtr and/or kits were unavailable. During the mid-90s a group of young MRSI members scratchbuilt a fleet of nicely modelled 201 Class locos, Arrow & Sparrow railcars with plasticard bodies on modified RTR chassis. One of the plasticard 201s and a 141 were subsequently used as masters for resin 201 & 141 bodies produced by Marks Models before MM introduced their first RTR 201 (Lima) and 141 (Bachmann) models.

Some modellers & clubs in this part of the World have built layouts that combine sections/scenes/dioramas from different countries. The Auckland North Shore Club layout is a good example combining New Zealand, British and possibly American sections in three different scales on OO/HO track https://www.sporty.co.nz/northshoremodelrailwayclub/station-guide/tab. The North Shore Club hosts weekly informal "open running' nights and more formal operating sessions/nights involving 'switch list' and scheduled running" sessions I once visited an Auckland N gauge layout home layout that combined distinct Japanese and American scenes including a Japanese city complete with elevated suburban railway, more a watching trains go by than an American or traditional UK (timetable/or sequence operation. One of the magazine editors once commented that people operating an "operational layout" become so engrossed in operating the railway that they don't notice or are interested in the scenery or the actual locos and stock. Another commented that prototype signalling enthusiasts didn't mind if the trains were represented by tennis balls so long as they obeyed the signals!

Tower Building print (10hrs!). I had hoped to salvage the print using model filler and scribing as de-lamination had only affected one corner and print quality was otherwise good! Filler has shown up some misalignment in area of de-lamination. Possibly re-print to 2nd floor level, then re-check alignment, before committing to a total re-print!

K27 #464 once again in the workshop, this time to re-place (and simplify) the wiring system after the origonal failed. The wiring system in the Large Scale Bachmann K27 was a little overcomplicated. The main circuit board located in the tender, linked to the loco bay a cable loom with 2 multi way connectors and selector switches in the smokebox controlling smoke and lighting functions! (cable loom right of photo). I simplified the wiring by removing one of the connectors (power pick ups and chuff -timer) following conversion to on-board battery power & fitting chuff-timer to a tender axle! I decided to replace the wiring/loco tender connection after the - negative connection on the lighting circuit failed and the loco did did not appear to be holding a charge for prolongued running despite recently replacing the batteries.. Circuit board in firebox & motor cooling fan. Main circuit board in tender loco is almost 20 years old! In the absence of an agreed "Large/G Scale DCC interface Bachmann developed their own hybrid! Track or Battery power was selected by a slide switch with screw connectors for battery power, with a separate plug-in circuit/baseboard for DCC decoders or RC control boards with hard wiring (ugg!) Loco and tender stripped down to the basics Bachmann wiring and circuit boards removed. Wiring on left connected with battery and Phoenix sound board. Putting it back together! I use these 2pin in-line connectors as standard between loco & tender on my large scale locos. Two wires from tender/power controller to loco and two for lighting. I am using a second connector on the lighting circuit so I can separate loco body and chassis. Found a use for a redundant Bachmann circuit board, should prevent lighting circuit getting tangled up in flywheel. Smoke unit adds some weight to the front end! Managed eventually to get classification lamps and headlight working by salvaging LEDs from a spare smokebox. Everything worked perfectly while testing lighting at each stage of the installation, but nothing happened when I replaced the loco body and re-connected the tender, discovered a day later that I had managed to cross wires on the engine-tender connector! Loco is almost ready for re-assembly, a section of running board/air receiver had broke free on one side of the loco and need to fit cable clips to some of the loose wiring in the tender. Poor performance of loco/ possible power drain may have been due to loose adhesive tape inside loco rubbing/binding on flywheel. Original wiring on lighting circuits partially bound with adhesive tape.

Angus Your Callander and Oban plan takes me back to time I spent exploring the area and its railways during a year spent in Stirling/Alva over 30 years ago. Always remember tramping/walking the line across Glen Ogle Viaduct as an RAF fighter practiced low altitude flight below in the Glen, and excellent opportunity for modelling a railway in the landscape! Staying in Alva I usually drove to Oban & Fort William, on one occasion taking the train to Glasgow Central and over the West Highland to Fortwilliam and Mallaig.

Strangely the Belfast & Northern Couties 7' Compounds No 50 Jubilee & No55 Parkmount were similar in general appearance to a Precedent (cab, splashers, running board & slotted valences) until re-built as 4-4-0s in 1897. The MGWR K were mixed traffic locos with smaller 5'8" driving wheels compared with the 6'6" of the LNWR locos, though Class 7-12 "Mail Engines" (similar in outline to the K) had 6'3" drivers, but the last had gone by 1922 replaced by /renewed as C Class 4-4-0s. GSR 800 of this group has struggled to re-wheel the Hornby Claude Hamilton chassis with suitable wheelsets for a 3D printed MGW A Class 4-4-0 (6'3") Modification to a MGW loco would involve considerable cosmetic modification (cab, sandbox splashers, deeper (unslotted) valence, flush riveting) but might pass for a GSWR loco due to the greater similarity in styling (assuming GSWR continued building express 2-4-0s into the 1880s)

Interestingly John Allens orignal (1948?) track plan appeared as a wild west plan in 'Railway Modelling" a 1961 book by Cyril Freezer (long time editor Railway Modeller magazine UK) Interestingly location/depot names changed and no mention of John Allen or Gorre & Daphetid(Gory and Defeated). Most "American" layouts visited during conventions tend to be of the round the wall 'walk around' format sometimes with a peninsula section sometimes multi level similar in principal to layouts featured in American layout planning books/magazines. Until the last 10 or so years many homes were built with double garages or had space for a large shed/workshop. Oddly enough the one basement layout I visited in the States was basically a large oval of HO track on a solid baseboard in the centre of the basement with access on all 4 sides, signs the owner was struggling to maintain his layout and large collection Union Pacific locos and stock. Two other layouts visited were of the American O Gauge Toy Train compact in a living/reception room rather than basement. Similarily many suburban homes in the States had basements, but newer developments are tending towards town houses/appartments. The main drawback with the solid 6X4 is that one of the longer sides is out of normal reach (re-railing/track cleaning unless access is available on all 4 sides or an operating well provided. Sn3.5 Helensville Club layout featuring model of station and Wharf Auckland mini AMRA convention 2012? Multi-level 'walk around' layout. Three levels of single track main line passing through scene Multi level 2 distinct scenes Lighting pelmet/underside of upper level. Seems to be a different layout/home. Three possibly 4 distinct levels with emphasis on switching industries at Towns (stations/yards) on each level. I may have photos from earlier conventions stored on CD, but unable to access.

All six (3 articulated coaches) to Tramore according to Locomotives of the GSR & other published sources. Possibly 2-4 coachs possibly used regular services, strengthended to 6 coaches to handle peak traffic Races & Hoildays.