Mayner

Although I have visited in July, I managed to make time to have a decent look-around on todays operating day just over two years since my original post. A local Morris owners group had shown up for a Sunday afternoon scenic tour of the district, I ended up behind a Morris later in the afternoon doing very well on one of our steep and winding country roads (2lr light SUV vs 1950s 1lr light saloon w rear wheel drive! Although the Pukemiro Pecket was in steam in its usual place today was a ' Diesel Day" seemed a quiet day with relatively few visitor around possibly the good weather. The Pecket was originally owned by the Pukemiro Coal Company used to haul trains to and from the mine and the Junction and only capable of hauling one coach on the steeply graded ex NZR (New Zealand Railways) branch line. The "Price E Class" was a New Zealand design of geared locomotive for Bush (Logging) Lines basically a cross between a Climax Locomotive with its angled cylinders and a Heisler with coupling rod drive to the driving wheels. Both types operated in NZ before Price develoiped the E Class! Loco is cosmetically restored! Train was made up of 2 coaches topped and tailed by a pair of Drewry 0-4-0 locos (similar in outline and desighn to a scaled down Drewry 04!) The pair originally operated at a local coal fired power station. A curiosity recently (ish) installed 1/2 round sleepers on a siding, rectangular sleepers on main line and loop. Recently restored Climax 1650 in the loco shed, yellow loco is a Battery Electric once used at a Hamilton dairy plant, restored with a cab extended to carry passengers. On busy Operating Days various 'jiggers" and or the Battery Loco are sometimes used to provide rides up and down the yard.

The free versions of Fusion 360 or Onshape https://www.ptc.com/en/products/onshape both relatively simple to use and excellent for designing 3D printed models. Free Version of 360 users are limited to 10 editabe documents, designs produced on Onshape free plan are treated as open source freely available on line. Most of the JM Design wagons were originally designed by a freelance 3D modeller using the Onshape (commerical license) about 4-5 years ago, I successfully revised/updated several of the models using Fusion 360 during the past 3 years. Its feasible to design finely detailed models using 3D modelling software, the real challenge in the smaller scale is in selecting a printer/print technology capable of reproducing fine detail and surface finish. It was necessary to outsource the printing of the JM Design wagons to commerical 3D print shops with full sized printing machines capable of printing in an engineering resin as available desktop printers & resins could not achieve acceptable results. I successfully printed the axleguard.spring assembly in the rendering using a desktop printer and a Tensile Resin produced by Monocure an Australian supplier of 3D printing resins. Ironically FDM may be a better option to resin for printing models in 7mm scale and larger; Woko a regular RM Web contributor appears to produce really fine models of 7mm locos and stock using FDM technology https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/172854-wokos-bench/

I changed to N scale many years ago out of frustration trying to build a OO gauge layout in the box room of my parents house and after a few false starts probabably built what was my most satisfying layout, which lasted several years until a house move. One of the main lessons was not to scrimp on price and only buy locos with high quality mechanisms (at the time mainly of German manufacture (Minitrix & Arnold) ), at the time other manufacturers budget priced locos (Bachmann, Lima, Life Like (Mehano) were best described as disposible ran ok for a week or so. I originally intended to run locos and stock un-modified out of the box, but gradually started painting locos and stock in CIE colours and eventually modified locos to resemble CIE diesels even scratchbuilding loco bodies. I found that the general standard of models had improved significantly when I began modelling American outline N gauge during the late 80s with the advent of high quality (but durable) Japanese manufactured locos and the availability of Kadee N scale magnetic uncouplers. Its possible that similar developments may take place in T Gauge over the next 10 years or so, interestingly the current T Gauge coupler appears similar to the almost universal Rapido coupler once commonly used in N scale. Another alternative would be to consider T Gauge as a practical option for modelling a contemporary main line layout with long trains running at main line speed in a restricted space. The Model Railway Club (London) pioneered the modelling of a railway in a landscape in N scale with it Chiltern Green layout during the late 70s, included a station and viaduct on the 4 track Midland Main Line in N gauge and a fine scale branch line passing through the scene at a lower level. In an Irish context a realistic model of the 4 tracked section of the Cork Line (Hazlehatch one of my favourite places) or the Belfast line at Gormanstown would be achievable in a medium sized room or garage.

Acetylene gas appears to have been widely used form of carriage lighting on minor railways in Ulster from the late Victorian era onwards. Both the Clogher Valley and Cavan and Leitrim converted to acetylene lighting at an early stage, and possibly the Donegal & Swilly (similar roof mounted lamps and boxes possibly for housing acetylene generators on carriage ends in photos of CDJR & LLSR carriage stock). My old man used an Acetylene Generator (similar to the Rexarc 50PS https://rexarc.com/products/model-50ps/) as part of his set up for fabricating tubular steel furniture in the back garden our house in Dublin during the 1960s. Dad carried out the welding in a paved area of the garden out of sight of the neighbours so no complaints.

CK Prints are planning to produce an ammended OO gauge version of the JM Design GSR Grain wagon under license. I expect Enda will release information on the release of the wagon when he is ready.

Generally a service of 3-4 passenger/mixed trains operated daily on short feeder branch lines (like Loughrea, Birr) on the GSR system up to the fuel restrictions of the Emergency, CIE attempted to restore a similar service frequency following the end of the Emergency until hit by the Fuel Crisis of 1947 following which remaining branch line services were cut back to two trains daily, usually one scheduled as passenger one as mixed. Main line passenger services tended to be similarily infrequent even into the midlate 60s. There were a number of exceptions to the two mixed/passenger rule. In the 1960 timetable the 'morning' Farranfore Valencia train was scheduled as a "Goods" between Tralee and Killorglin, then working as a "Mixed" to Valencia, returning in the evening as a "Perishable" to Farranfore and Tralee. In practice a single 6w coach appears to have been coupled to the loco of the Goods between Tralee & Killorglin. In diesel days morning train from Valencia and its opposite afternoon working were classed as passenger both working to and from Tralee. Traditionally the morning train form a country or provincial terminal and its opposite evening workings were classed as the most important workings.

All orders were shipped last week, several packages have already arrived in the UK Bulleid 4w Van assembly. Georgeconna published a thread on asseembling a Tin Van on Pages 3-5 of his Workbench Thread during Jan & Feb 2014 (hard to believe I first released thes kits over 10 years ago) David Malone assembled both a Heating and Luggage (Tin Vans) and a Luggage Van (Hooded Van) to P4 standards on 21mm gauge both with detailed interiors with the body and chassis as separate sub assemblies. "Heating Van Update" New Irish Lines Vol 7 No4 Nov 2015 Outlines assembling van with body separate from chassis. screw fixing or water and fueltanks from inside, heating boiler cut from hypodermic syringes and plasticard detaiing. Photo from back cover May 2016 New Irish Lines. David provided several photos of 4w Bulleid Vans in the late 60 which I used in designing the original 2013 kits and 2021 variations. MGW Vans and coach side overlays. I covered the assembly of the MGW Vans & the use of coach side overlays from page 2 of my Tales from the Carriage Shops thread onwards onwards

Your CVR coach and van appear nicely modelled. I assembled a pair of Branchlines (Andrew Mullins) CVR 3rd Class Coaches and a CVR Horse Box about 30 years ago but never got around to building a matching Van (passenger brake) or loco to complet the train, must do while I am still able.

My one and only journey over the Larne line was on a IRRS outing to Larne during the early 80s out via the Enterprise to Belfast Central, bus transfer to York Road 2 car special to Larne and Antrim worked by River Maine and driving trailer car, out non-stop to Larne, visit to Whitehead and lunch in hotel with train crew!. Reversed at Bleach Green Junction (points apparrently operated by hand) and stopped at every level crossing to Antrim where we transferred to a Derry-Belfast service changing to the up evening Enterprise at Lisburn. Apart from Whitehead one of the highlights was gricing outs of service stock including some MPD cars from the Motorway ramp at York Rd. Too late to see a working MED or MPD but Whiterock certainly brings back memories of a 'Great day out" of over 40 years ago.

Little activity on the garden railway during Sept and Nov mainly as a result of unpredicatble (high winds & heavy rain) weather on most weekends. Although forecast was not great Sunday was dry and I needed to move the Large Scale stock out of the garage/workshop to get some work done. A bit like the prototype I tend to run a series of trains out from one terminus (earlyish) in the morning to return to their starting point by supper time! All all tracks occupied in the yard at Jackson City, with almost all locos and every piece of freight stock. K27 #464 had earlier worked a mixed freight to Jackson City droping its train of Box & Tank cars & Caboose on the Freight House (goods shed) spur before returning light to pick up a train of flats and gondolas. Another K27 463 waits on the far side of the water tower with a mixed freight, while a C16 2-8-0 masquerading as C19 349 waits to work a stock train to Arboles a small wayside depot qand stock loading point. #464 passes the storck train at Arboles (should change to Arboles as one of several dwarf conifers planted no longer appears to be a dwarf species) In its final years the Colorado narrow gauge mainly hung on (ealy-mid 60) by transporting steel pipes used in the construction of pipelines from local oil fields. To handle this traffic the DRGW used a mixture of converted gondolas (open cars) and Idler Cars (flats) often cut down from old box cars. Someday hopefully (finances comitting) the Jackson County will pick up some "Pipe Gondolas" (Gons with ends removed and handbrake wheels re-located) I am not going to butcher my existing Gondolas into Pipe cars! With the Pipe and Stock trains out of the way "Works Goose" RGS #6 got out for a run. Interestingly although bodged together from used automobile parts almost 90 years ago the entire RGS Goose fleet of 7 "Motors" survives mainly in operating condition in Museums & Tourist railroads in the West. Managed to turn #348 between photos and place her train on a spur line ready for departure. One of the drawbacks with knuckle couplers on the loco pilots are derailments with the loco pushing stock through No4 (medium radius (Peco speak) turnouts. So I basically avoid pushing stock through No4 points used in a number of place on the railroad. Had planned to use our oldest loco a battery RC conversion of a Bachmann "Connie" 2-8-0 purchased almost 18 years ago to help work our trains home to our garage staging at the end of the day, but like the Drumm battery trains and todays EVs her batteries seem to have reached the end of their life after 4-5 years, charged up ok but only managed one lap of the circuit!

Midland Irish Peat (Klasmann and Deilmann) had a (possibly 2) 60cm (2') Gauge systems near Rathowen which used Continental (persumably German equipment) BNM had at least two 2' possibly 60cm systems which seems to have mainly used UK supplied equipment (Ruston & Hornsby locos & Hudson wagons) The BNM Kilberry (Co Kildare) Moss Peat works was originally served by a 2' gauge gauge system, converted to 3' gauge during the 1980s, BNM Glenties system (used to transport sod peat from bog to a sales yard near Glenties) may have remained 2' gauge until closure. Apart from Guiness and peat systems 60cm 2' gauge was also used on several industrial/forestryand quarry lines incl. a short lived line in the mid 20s linking a Barytes min on Ben Bulbin with Mullaghmore worked by a Simplex petrol loco, steam worked Glenfarne forestry line, steam worked quarry line on Achill Island, possibly reservior and hydo electric projects and Another case of the old Irish modelling dilemma neither HOe (2'6" gauge) or OO9 (2'3" gauge) are correct for modelling 60cm or 2' gauge railways. I guess HOf with Busch Feldbahn equipment offers an alternative to HOe or OO9 for modelling the Irish 2' gauge tempting!

I don't remember seeing Guiness steam locos but vaguely remember seeing the riverside Wharf on Victoria Quay before it was removed and seeing the Hudswell Clarke diesel parked at the brewry entrance every time we passed along St Johns Rd would have been 7-8 when the tramway closed.

Having read the works of Ian Rice and explored the countryside (light railway remains) of Essex and Suffolk, I was tempted by the Accurascale "Buck" for a OO shelf layout inspired by the Kelvedon & Tollesbury or the "East Suffolk yes I visited Orford about 25 years ago and checked out the station site from Iain's Light Railway book. Then I remembered I have an EM gauge Ivatt 2-6-0, a Dean Goods and a small collection of Industrial steam and diesel locos, so perhaps something from the Welsh Marches instead. I have a stash of EM flexi track, chairs, rail and suitable buildings somewhere, but what to do with several stalled projects. Still mighty tempting!

I admire your ability to keep moving on to new projects and make the best uses of the available time and space. I have a pattern of planning sometime starting then loosing interest/never finishing layouts. Looking forward to seeing your next project, a home for both the GN & SLNCR perhaps

Interesting story from last week about the recovery of a steam loco buried following the construction of a break water (South Mole) at Whangaunui ( city and port in the lower North Island). https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/575595/150-year-old-train-found-after-being-buried-on-whanganui-beach-for-75-years The loco believed to be "Skunk" one of a trio of locomotives built by a Wellington foundry in 1873 for use on the "Foxton Section" a line which linked the port of Foxton with the town of Palmerston North in the Wairapa region. Opening as an isolated section the Foxton section was originally laid with wooden rails when opened in 1873 and re-laid with steel rails and re-opened in 1876. A local group appears to be planning to carry out a cosmetic restoration, interestingly the cylinders on the recovered loco appears to drive a lay shaft mounted amid-ship under the boiler similar to a climax rather than the trailing "driving" axle on sister locomotive the restored "Opussum" at Shantytown on the South Island. https://nzrailphotos.co.nz/photos/shantytown?view=latest#lg=1&slide=11 Looks like a good excuse for visiting Whanganui and Shantytown to try and figure out how 'Skunks' transmission actually works!

Very sorry to hear about Davids passing condolences to his family and friends. I got to know David during visits to the Cavan and Leitrim Railway at Dromod during the early 90s, where I was always made welcome usually invited to drive their diesel loco on the main line and have the caric over a few beers and a meal at one of the local pubs. David was a significant figure in the Irish rail scene in the 80s and 90s, publishing an enthusiast newsletter/magazine in the early 80s, becoming deeply involved (a founding figure?) in the preservation movement in the Republic through the GSRPS in establishing a base at Mallow Shed, carriage restoration at Mallow and Tralee and attempts to re-open the Fenit Branch. David apparrently was also involved in returning 5T to Ireland and sourcing stock for use on the Tralee & Blennerville tourist line David later focused on the Irish 3' Gauge, along with Michael Kennedy a founder of the Irish Narrow Gauge Trust.The Trust established a museum in Cahir before moving to Dromod during the early 90s to establish the Cavan & Leitrim heritage railway. David ceased to be actively involved in the Cavan and Leitrim and the preservation movement during the mid-90s

Interesting the swaping of GSR and Commonwealth bogies with 1954-built composites possibly rostered to less demanding (suburban) links. Along with the underframes sold to NIR, I have a sneaking suspicion that CIE may have retained some for PW use (carrying rail) Hoping to use IRM Commonwealth bogies (if they become available) under a pair of Worsley Works Laminates and a Park Royal I built several years ago

Back in the day (late 1950s) the UTA used exhaust gas (heat exchangers) to heat the interiors of its MPD diesel trains. Great in theory but the combination of water vapor and sulphur in the exhaust gases contributed to both problems with the train heating system and engine failure (Patrick Flannigan "Diesel Dawn" Interestingly wheel slip on wet/damp rails is a problem with my Large Scale (1:20.3 ) battery powered locos, usually overcome by repeatedly opening and closing the throttle in a similar manner to full sized (steam/diesel/and electric) locos. These days many railways use computerised wheel slip control to do essentially the same thing! https://shield.kiwirail.co.nz/content/latest/CS4.8 for DX Class Locomotives.pdf

Although Waterford West- Abbey Junction one of Irelands longest/largest railway station and yard, at one stage I considered an Iain Rice "Bitsa-Station" approach to Waterford focusing on the area around the Central Signal Cabin or Abbey Junction for potential portable layouts/modules. I basically looked at modelling the area around the signal cabin and platform ends, with Mount Misary as a backdrop and the road overbridge and the late 1960s era station building/office block as view blockers at each end. Although visually attractive with the signal cabin and station building as signature structures, potentially a good train watching layout if hooked up to a continuous run particularly late 60s to late 90s era with goods/freight trains running through the station between Waterford Yard, the Port/Bellferry. South Wexford and New Ross. Very simple from a track layout perspective 3 through lines 2 Bay Platform lines all pointwork off scene. Abbey Junction modelled from road.filling station side large IAWS? grain elevator as backdrop road road overbridge (North Wharf access road) view block station end, less defined New Ross/South Wexford end possibly CIE Bus Garage or former loco-shed. Working level crossing as a potential feature. More shunting (trains moving to & fro) than continuous running. IAWS elevator shunted from Wharf Cabin off scene, Grain traffic resumed during 1990s, Fuel Oil Traffic to Bus Garage and Container Traffic to Bell Ferry terminal (several daily mid 70s to mid 90s relocation of terminal). Basically need a Sports Hall or Industrial Unit to model the area between the road bridge at the western end of the Station and West Cabin/junction with Ballinacourty/Mallow line in 4mm, but just about dooable in a loft/singe car garage in N. I the end I decided on Kiltimagh in 4mm several years ago, but although I have the space during the past 10 years I just haven't been able to find/make the time.

Informative RM Thread on BR rules related to the use of Brake Van lights. https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/144841-brake-van-lamps/ . T Basically on BR. (a) A singe taillamp was used on fully-fitted (braked)trains to indicate that the train was complete. (b) On loose coupled unfitted or semi fitted trains both side lights were used to display a white light going forward and at some stage a requirement for the sidelights to display a red light towards the end of the train (using a red slide in the lamp housing was introduced. I don't know if CIE continued to use the side lights (to indicate to the loco crew that a train was complete) following dieselisation and the switch to driver only operation. There was an early 70s newspaper article (with photos) about an incident where a goods train broke apart while leaving Ballyhaunis on the Mayo Line and the driver arrived in Claremorris unaware of the incident. The Claremorris signalman apparrently asked the driver 'what happened to the rest of your train?" Apparrently the train divided after an axle broke on a wagon, the wagons towards the end of the train piled up on the de-railed wagon as a result of their momentum and the driver apparrently did not notice/feel a thing. Possible the requirement to have illuminated tail/side lights may only have applied during hours of darkness or poor visibility. Before the Cherryville Junction collision a single white taillamp appears to have been considered sufficient to indicate that a train was complete. The twin battery powered flashing taillamps were introduced in response to the collision

Apart from Castlerackrent and possibly Dave Walkers Killaney layouts, I am not aware of other modular Irish outline layouts. Locally the "One Track Minds" group on the South Island built a number of single tracked modular layouts with realistically modelled & distinctive New Zealand scenery, buildings and structures. The "15 Inch Group" featured in a series of articles in Model Railways magazine applied a similar approach to Great Western branchline modelling based on a 15" wide baseboard with a standardised baseboard endprofile, rail and electrical interface, as far as I recall the group exhibited a layout which featured 3 single track country stations Richard Chown working for BR had the advantage of a 100'? covered footbridge as a home for Castlerackrent, before re-locating to the large basement of his purpose built home. Killanney was apparrently intended to connect to Castlerackrent at exhibitions. Castlerackrent featured its origonal self contained branch line terminus layout and several through stations, (based on ex-WLWR prototypes) and a self contained almost cameo port layout https://highlandmiscellany.com/tag/castle-rackrent/. I was luckly enough to see the (orignal) Castlerackrent at a small exhibition near Perth while living in Stirling in 93. Yes I think modular layouts have an advantage for people who do not have the space or time to be involved in the construction and operation of a larger layout. I am almost in the opposition position to Patrick, for several years I have had the space to build my ideal Irish Broad gauge layout, even installing baseboards over 10 years ago!, but not the time (work/family committments). Now in my late 60s with failing eyesight and shaky hands I will probabably need to take a more pragmatic approach if I am ever to get anything running.

Conventional timber framed coaches built 1954 onwards including. CIE began a coach building problem in 1951 initial coaches were on conventional welded steel underframes with GSR pattern bogies, changing to Bulleid Triangulated underframe with Commonwealth Bogies from 1954 onwards, examples of the Side Corridor & Buffet Cars appeared with both types of underframe and bogies, B4 replaced GSR bogies on Buffet Cars during the 60s. (a) Side Corridor Second Class Coaches (b) Buffet Car/Kitchen and Dining Cars (C) TPOs (Travelling Post Office. (C) Bogie Luggage/Brake Vans The Silver Fox CIE 1951-53 Stock are based on coaches with conventional underframes and GSR bogies. Apart from a Bogie Heating Van the Buffet Car is probably the biggest gap in terms of modelling a 70-80s Intercity set made up of conventional coaches

The ore from the Lisheen Mine going by road to Cork seems to have been a tipping point in the Irish Governments approach towards railfreight. The ore was originally proposed to be transported from Lisduff by rail. but IEs funding application (infrastructure & stock?) was rejected by the Government. Government (& EU?) had funded (grants & loansto IE) major freight infrastructure improvements during the 90s, new yards Dundalk & Bellview Port, increasing loading gauge to clear larger ISO containers and high capacity container handling equipment at all major terminals (new gantries, forklifts/reach stackers. A Government report in early 2000s was extremly critical of the profitability of IEs railfreight services and basically lead to the run down and closure of most services. A lot of money wasted, but I suppose a lot was EU funds that had to be spent

There was talk of ore from the Pallas Green ore-body being exported through Foynes or Waterford after the discovery was announced in the early 2000s, but remains un-developed possibly as a result of geological challenges which may effect the viability of developing the mine. In the mean time the expoloration/mining rights have changed hands several times since the initial discovery. I am beginning to believe that the Foynes Branch was refurbished because like the Northern Ireland Renewable Energy Scheme 'cash for ash" money was available to improve access to Foynes Port under the EU TEN-T scheme rather than to fulfill an actual need. Difficult to see Boliden Mining paying to have their ore Tara ore shipped over 150 miles to Foynes & funding a new discharge facility, when they can ship the ore 36 miles by road or approx 50 miles by rail to their existing unloading facility at Dublin Port (assuming Dublin Port restores rail link in 2-3 years time. Back in the day Tara shipped its initial output (severak weeks?) through Foynes (possibly using Mogul wagons) as a result of an industrial dispute involving redundant Goulding workers at Dublin Port. Going back to Galtemores point about the poor state of the roads and viability of rail during the 70s-80s, Gortdrum and Tynagh two of the largest ore bodies developed during the 60s shipped their ore by road possibly because its was not viable to provide infrastructure to ship by rail due to the relatively short life of the mines. Gortdrum a large copper mine located beside the Cork Line at Limerick Junction (just North of the Junction with the Direct Curve) had a working life before closure of 10 years, Tynagh a large Lead and Zinc mine located approx 10 miles east of Loughrea had a working life of approx 20 years shipped its ore by road direct to Galway port although it appears to have receeived supply by rail to Loughrea. Tynagh was estimated to have reserved of 9.2m tonnes with 7.2mt extracted during the life of the mine sending out approx 140,000 tonne of concentrates or 7,000 wagon loads/350 train loads or approx 1 train a week during the life of the mine. (based on 20T 20 wagon ore trains of the era). By comparison Mogul mine (zinc) at Silvermines appears to have had a working live of 14 years and shipped a daily trainload of ore through Foynes port (the Foynes Tippler was apparrently re-used for unloading shale wagons at the Munget Cement factory), Macobar shipped barytes ore from Silvermines to Foynes two trainloads daily for almost 30 years.