Mayner

Shouldn't really have gone there Ivan. Feral is considered in Australasia to be a counter-culture a development/amalgam of the hippy and punk movements something I would subscribe to rather than what I see as 'a Moral Panic with youth crime and immigration stirred up by the media and populist politicians in many parts of the World including New Zealand, Australia, the States, Britain and Europe. New Zealand crime and culture. New Zealand is no south sea paradise we have the second worst adolescent suicide rate in the OECD, a high imprisonment rate compared to OECD average, high proportion of prison inmates (40-50%) untreated mental illness. Lot of moral panic over youth and gang crime in recent years although crime rates been decreasing over the past 30 years. Youth and gang crime visible, 16 year old murdered by a 13 year old at a city centre bus station this week, highly visible US/Australian style street/biker gangs involved in violent and organised crime. Supposed to be more gang members that cops these days. Moral panic. I see a feral culture more in terms of politicians and the media exploiting peoples fears and prejudice to get elected/take power rather than tackle the root cause of societies problems, as happened in Nazi Germany and appears to be happening in many Western countries. Recently a centre right coalition Government was elected in New Zealand in which the minority partners obtained the balance of power by exploiting moral panic among older white voters about crime, immigration and the perception of preferential treatment for Maori (indigenous New Zealanders) and their culture. Ironically several of the political leaders stirring up anti Maori sentiment were Maori but it bought white working class votes. Not a lot different from a politician with a Basque name a MEP with a German wife stirring up UK Nationalist sentiment which ultimately lead to Brexit Much of the prejudice about immigrants was that wealthy immigrants particularly from Asia were pricing New Zealanders out of the housing market, rather than supply not keeping up with demand and rampant speculation driving house prices up. Prejudice I gradually overcome my own innate and learned prejudices by meeting and getting to know people of different races, cultures and social cultures during my working life leaning that keeping religion and politics out of it there was little difference between us. I also learned about 20 years ago that there was no point in arguing with a person with entrenched views in this case the Alf Garnet or Archie Bunker of our family an uncle who was ranting on that all Nigerians were involved in scams and or organised crime, but had never actually met a Nigerian. My uncle got quite wound up when I told him that I knew several Nigerians (from working in UK and Ireland) who were honest upstanding people. Going by the principal that your stuck with your relatives but choose your friends. I stopped associating with several so called model railway friends that worked themselves into a larther over single mothers on benefit and immigrants 'making a mess" (dumping) in New Zealand. Apart from not being able to think of a better topic of conversation, I quickly realised I had little in common with either group. One of the ironical things was watching a single male in their 20s encouraging a group of older-elderly middle class women in their moral outrage at single mothers. I got quite annoyed when a so called friend spouted prejudice about immigrants in my home in front of my young daughter, but he frankly could not accept when challenged that a New Zealander (a Kiwi) would or could dump rubbish by the roadside. So in the end it all boils down to what a person perceives as a "feral culture', I would perceive as some of the comments on this thread as being signs of feral culture, where apparently two frustrated burglars vandalised and set fire to a carriage at Bo'ness rather than teenagers getting their kicks Some of our neighbours on the street in Crumlin where I grew up 40-50 years ago were burglars and petty criminals and vandalism/malicious damage to public amenities was quite rampant, so nothings really changed apart from the War on Drugs having contributing to a drug epidemic and turf wars among criminal gangs in most countries

While I have sympathy towards the volunteers who worked on the layout, I am disappointed but not surprised by the race to the bottom in dreaming up the most cruel and unusual punishment for the perpetrators. After all it was wise Iain Rice that said model railways was a pointless hobby that served no purpose. Vandalism, looting, burning-destroying coaches on preserved railways is an age old problem I have largely become a lone wolf in recent years (apart from this newsgroup) as a result of extremely intolerant opinions expressed by former modelling friends (everything from racism-through antigun control-to un-married mothers). I chose my friends and ignore the crap on social media. Going back to LNERW1 point about not coming out about model railways. Model railways have traditionally been looked down on seen as nerdy (at least in Ireland) often by parents. I got my first proper Triang-Hornby train set at 13 almost as an act of teenage rebellion my parents and aunts and uncles who hoped that 'I would "grow out" of model trains and take up more manly interests and never really adjusted to my continued interest as an adult, at 67 my inlaws/wifes friends laugh/smile when my interest in trains is mentioned- but have long ceased caring. Funnily enough no problems mentioning my interest in model trains, in early teens most class mates were mainly interested in soccer although we went to a school with a Gaelic tradition. Couple of classmates that were interested in trains moved homes/changed schools when we changed to secondary school, possibly leaving me the one person interested in trains in our class. Group that accepted me/hung out with sometimes spoke about my interest in trains, being more nerdy/academic I was accepted allowed to hang out with a group of 'cool rich kids" and invited to their parties as we progressed through secondary school. Probably closest to a dark haried Garreth in Waynes World who also played with trains

Good luck with the move Patrick and Maureen, I can identify both with your caring commitments and having to dismantle a layout as a result of a house move. It was great seeing a classic American style walk-around layout in a South Waterford context a single track main line railway through rolling country with high viaducts and tunnels. Ironically I was struck by the railway around the headland at Ballyvoyle and the level crossing in Dungarvan when I first visited the area as a 7-8 year old 60 or so years ago in the back of my parents car travelling from Waterford to Youghal, the Sun was so strong my Mum bought me a Cowboy hat in Youghal which I proudly wore for the rest of the holiday. Also pleasing to see my 3D printed wagons and vans in real goods trains

Very sorry to hear about Ken's passing, please pass on my condolences to his family.

I have bought several items from Ellis Clarke Trains down the years, no vat charged on orders exported outside of the UK.

Can't beat animals for common sense! My dad had a story about the way a fox would take a bath in a river with a small piece of wool in his mouth when he had a flea problem. Fox would gradually submerge himself until only the tip of snout and piece of wool was above water and the fleas would take to the piece of wool as a lifeboat as the fox submerged his nose and the piece of wool floated away!

Traditionally a small Irish branch line terminus would have relatively little in the way of signalling, a Fixed Distant about 1/2 mile out a Home Signal to allow trains to run into the passenger platform and a Starting Signal to allow trains to depart from the platform into the next section. Points on passenger carrying lines are connected to a lever frame in the signal box, all other points usually hand operated. Disc-signals were used to control shunting moved to and from a passenger carrying line. Beagnach End is unusual for an Irish branchline terminus in the the loco release crossover is on a passenger carrying line, on most Irish branch terminals the loco release was located past the end of the platform and hand operated. I have drawn the diagram with the points normally set for the platform road. In full size practice facing points on a passenger carrying line were fitted with a point lock operated by a separate level, though where an "economic lock" was used point and loco could be controlled by the same level. In full size practice movements from the main-line to the yard were sometimes controlled by a hand signal, though sometimes a disc or short arm was fitted to the Home signal, likewise the signal controlling movements from the yard to the main line could be a disc or a full size signal. In colour light/power signal practice 2 aspect signals would be used in locations like this with miniature shunt signals replacing discs and points controlled by point motors either controlled from a local cabin or the CTC in Dublin

Yep: It looks like its the SSM version of the J15 Kit SSM continued to used the original 1985 tooling for the etched parts, main difference between TMD & SSM versions seems to be the replacement of the original turned brass chimney and dome supplied with the original TMD version with a comprehensive set of whitemetal castings, the change in the frame spacers from square section brass to turned brass spacers and the etched parts produced in nickel silver at some stage during the past 30 years.

Most senior cat gang boss Beeze (ex animal rescue) prefers to sleep and let less senior cats do the work Second in command Grey (walk in stray) the brains commands operations on the dark-web. Most junior member of the gang Topaz (another stray)who acts the young-punk occasionally challenges the others checks out the groceries. We have another older guy Gramolkin (yet another stray) quite camera shy who probably acts as a silent enforcer who only appears at breakfast and supper time. The four guys seem to get on well together and share territory though Topaz being the youngest member of the gang occasionally challenges Beeze to a wrestling match before submitting. Mice and rats keep a very low profile in our neighborhood.

Have a look at the instructions. There is a 1993 amendment that refers to ex TMD kits which include a note that the mouldings for the tender axleboxes and springs are included with the J15 kit. The bag of castings looks similar to the castings supplied with a pair of J15s kits I bought from SSM in 2007-8.

Possibly two kits the original 1985 TMD and Studio Scale Models (Paul Greene) versions. I have built both the TMD and SSM versions of the J15 Kit durin the past 30 years. The original TMD kit was etched brass, with square section frame spacers , brass tube boiler, turned brass chimney and dome and Slaters tender axleguards and springs. The SSM version was in etched nickel silver, boiler rolled from brass sheet, whitemetal castings including boiler fittings, smokebox door, tender axleguards and springs. What's in the unopened bag between the castings, pre-formed boiler-firebox and instructions? Reminds me of the time about 20 years ago I bought what I thought were 6 part and unbuilt TMD kits at a UK exhibition and found that I had actually acquired 7 kits.

Carlow Ruston 1960. Points to note CSE Rustons were operational approx 30 Years RPSI Ruston has been in preservation for over 40 years! No standard CSE 'livery' as such each plant had its own 'style" sometimes locos at the same plant painted in a different 'style" possibly depending on maintenance staff/painters personal taste. CSE plants were large installations challenging to model in 4mm with large marshalling yards and large processing plants, not really suitable for a lineside industry on a shunting plank, typical 17-18'x8' garage or loft conversion. Would need several hundred opens and 50 or so vans to model convincingly

I have a 21mm gauge 88DS built from a Impetus kit about 25-30 years ago, Etched construction not dissimilar , so Judith Edge kit likely to be re-gaugable to 21mm gauge. Livery was based on the RPSI as preserved CSE loco from memory Superstructure (Cab & Bonnet) Medium green, chassis and buffer beams black buffers red. Gold "Cómhlucht Siúicre Éireann" on the side of the bonnet above the access panels. There is a 1960 photo of an all green 88DS with red buffers alongside O&K steam loco 3 at Carlow. The 88DS appears to be all green apart from red buffers (including heads), grey head lamp housing and "Ruston" plate whitemetal letters and surround, black background. Strangely there is no RH plate on the cabside. Threatening for some time to fit my 88DS with a modern High-Level mech, Mine has an ancient Tenshodo open frame motor which drives a pair of 1:1 brass gears which power a layshaft that drives a pair of 30:1 Gibson brass gears, whole arrangement extremely slow and noisey.

You need to connect each of the 3 oval tracks to the Zephyr, either by loops from the 1st track or wired directly to the Zephyr. An important factor to remember is that the power feed should be at the toe rather than at the crossing end of the point otherwise the power to the section may be switched off when you change a point. Unfortunately there is a bit more to DCC wiring than two wires from the controller to the track, there are some useful on-line resources including https://4dpnr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/DCC_Wiring.pdf

The 'Grey Engine" has finally found her identity after 20 odd years as 124! I had plates etched for 124 & 181 several years ago bit could not figure out which engine! According to Locomotives of the GSR 181 built 1879 was rebuilt with new frames and a superheated boiler in 1937 while 124 built 1881 soldiered in in saturated from until rebuilt with a superheated boiler in 1948, so the "Grey Engine" became 124 and the 'superheated" engine will be completed at 181. Basic assembly 229s tender complete, I got to fit the brake gear to loco and tender before carrying out the final detail work. Dusted off 181 which will run with a 1804Gal tender, found a suitable chimney in my stock of parts but still have to locate the smokebox! At this stage planning to keep 4 J15s including 191 assembled approx. 30 years ago and retire 193 1st assembled approx. 40 years ago, time flies! The MGWR 2-4-0 "Arrow" (OO) is due some paint touch ups, 124 a coal load and 191 replacement tender axleboxes and dusty removal before the trio return to their display cases.

Government/NTA willingness to fund a rail service from Adare to Limerick including the cost of obtaining Office of the Rail Regulator authorisation to operate such as service. https://www.crr.ie/safety-regulation/authorisation-to-place-in-service. It looks like the NTA is responsible for planning and funding 'sustainable' transport projects in Limerick, a practice which is different to most Western countries where Cities and Regional Councils are responsible for planning and funding public transport. https://www.nationaltransport.ie/planning-and-investment/. Presumably in order for a passenger train to operate a line would have to meet the Irish Railway Standards published by the ORR https://www.crr.ie/publications/irish-railway-standards/. In the old days specials operated on freight only lines like Drogheda-Navan that were still 'passed' for passenger operation, basically where platform, track and signalling met the requirement of Railway Regulations in force since the 19th Century

The locally promoted Derry-Central (Macfin to Magherafelt) had "Cead mile failte" on the company seal, though the railway promoters and investors being primarily English, Scots and Anglo-Irish it appears unlikely that the major companies considered the use of Irish. Whatever the Westminster governments policy of assimilation, like Daniel O'Connell's and the Catholic Church promotion of English as a spoken language may have been a major factor in the decline of Irish as a spoken language during the 19th Century.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_O'Connell

It would be interesting to find out what the subsidy level paid by the Irish Government per passenger journey (km) on lightly used lines like Limerick-Ballybrophy and Limerick Junction-Waterford as Irish Rail's PSO grant is basically a lump sum to cover operating losses on all pasenger services. Back in the day of the 1st McKinsey report in the early 70s heavily trafficked lines like Dublin-Cork fare revenue met approx 97% of operating costs, while less heavily trafficed lines line the South-Eastern approx 50%. One of the post Covid NTA reports showed an average revenue gap (shortfall between fare income and operating costs of 54% Based on a 54% revenue shortfall an on line Connolly-Sligo adult return priced at approx €33 the average subsidy paid per return journey on the Sligo line likely to be €17.82, pretty close to the 2004 estimate of €13.46 in a 2004 Independent article which identified that trains received a 30 higher subsidy than busses https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/trains-subsidised-30-times-more-than-buses/26007270.html Going back to the West Highland and other Scenic lines in the Highlands my impression when riding them 30 years ago was that the West Highland from Glasgow-Forthwilliam and Mallaig and Inverness-Kyle lines was that the summer season loco hauled trains were quite lightly loaded, though there were a reasonable number of passengers on a 2 Car Class 158 Super-Sprinter evening Inverness-Glasgow service. I don't know if they are still in operation but the West Highland was an important freight for the Aluminium and Paper industry in the Forth William area a major source of local employment. Great lines to travel on though the loco hauled trains and Class 156 units the better.

The TARDIS materialised on the main runaway Wellington Airport on 1st May https://www.wellingtonairport.co.nz/news/airport-updates/tardis-lands-on-wellington-runway/ and the Southern Aurora is currently (10:20pm) visible in parts of the South Island https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/05/11/awe-inspiring-aurorae-amaze-over-south-island-more-expected/ Penguins and some crazy scientists only land based life in the Antarctic. Interesting seeing similar effects at both poles something to do with a Solar Storm apparently.

Almost a year and a half later work resumes on 229 and the "Grey Engine" received her buffer heads! 664 successfully completed completed some trail running and a load test before a trip to the paint shop freeing up space in the Workshop to resume work on the J15s To add a bit of variety 229 is a "Coey" version of the Standard Goods built in the early 1900s with visual and mechanical differences from earlier members of the class, chiefly valve gear/,motion, front sandbox and cab. The 'Grey Engine" originally bought as part of a job-lot of part built TMD/SSM kits about 20 years ago was fitted with Alan Gibson (AGW) buffers, but the heads were missing so an order to AGW included buffer heads for the 'Grey Engine" and a set of buffers for 229. I decided on 229 as there is a picture of the loco waiting at Ballycar with a southbound 'Overload Goods" possibly a Limerick or Tuam engine that may have ran on the Burma Road. In the photo 229 was coupled to a 2730Gal Type B tender which were introduced to run with the 52 Class 4-4-0s, but often coupled to J15s to increase water and coal capacity over the standard GSWR 1804Gal tender on long distance or fast goods work. Tender is from my own etching easier than scratchbuilding if I need more than one. Tender fitted together nicely without minimal adjustment, may have suitable springs and axleboxes in the scrapbox. Chassis is basically a lengthened version of the tender chassis I used in the 52 Class kit as the 1804 and 2730 Gal tenders had the same wheelbase and similar design of brake gear.

Several stations have single platforms because there is/was no operational need to cross passenger trains at that particular station and it would be difficult to make the financial case for constructing a second platform that would meet current requirements (lifts, fencing, lighting without considering the cost of the civil works) To the best of my knowledge the down or loop platform at Enfield was re-opened to cater for Longford/Mullingar commuter trains and Connolly-Sligo services run through without stopping on the Main Line. It would be difficult to see the NTA or Meath County Council funding a second platform if existing platform can handle current traffic needs. The loop at Clara was originally a goods loop, passenger trains of the Portarlington-Athlone section of the Dublin-Galway-Westport route are regularly scheduled to cross at Geashill, Tullamore and Clonydonnin crossing loop (approx. mid way Clara-Athlone), though occasionally passenger trains cross at Clara. There is/was a low Up platform at Tipperary though likely to have been out of use for many years. With a sparse passenger service (2 trains daily each direction)and CIE/IE wanting to close the line to passenger traffic from the late 70s it unlikely that IE/NTA or Tipperary County Council would be willing to fund an upgrade/new platform. Wexford always had one platform Connolly-Rosslare passenger trains not regularly scheduled to cross at Wexford, the present crossing loop north of the station was installed in to 2000s when the line was upgraded to CTC operation. Wexford North was historically the terminus of the line from Dublin the line between Waterford and Wexford was originally operated by a separate company. Apart from Connolly-Rosslare passenger trains Wexford North was the terminus for Dublin-Wexford and Waterford-Wexford freight services and Rosslare Harbout-Wexford local passenger trains into the late 1970s. Carrick-on-Shannon had a crossing loop and two platforms until the station ceased to be a block post and crossing loop removed as an economy measure during the late 1980s. The present crossing loop was installed when the Lines signalling system was upgraded to CTC operation during the early 2000s. Reinstating the original up platform would have involved substantial and disruptive civil engineering works including widening the underbridge at the Dublin end of the station to accommodate the crossing loop and platform.

Nice juxtaposition of Park Royal area of London with its interesting mix of mainly Post WW1 housing and industry with the area framed to the North by the West Coast Main Line with its 25Kv traction system and Euston-Watford DC lines, the South GW Main Line/Heathrow Express and the North London Richmond line running in a North-East to South-West direction, the GW Ealing Broadway-Greenford line once worked by Bubble Cars to connect with the Piccadilly line to Rayners Lane and Uxbridge. Great mix of trains! Spent my first year in London working on the North Western fringes of Park Royal close to the West Coast Main Line Stonebridge Park Carriage sidings, with BR/NSE 313 units and LT Tube Stock sharing the tracks of the decrepit Euston-Waterford line between Queens Park and Harrow. The North London they worked by ex-Southern Region 2 Car ex-compartment stock crossing above the West Coast Main Line and Watford DC lines at Willesden Junction. First day I took the tube from Ealing Broadway to Euston and the DC lines to Stone Bridge Park (3 changes of train) where I was working not realising the two points were a couple of miles apart. Walked home that evening via Park Royal gricing Willesden Junction, Old Oak Common, the GW Birmingham and Main Lines along the way. Great fun living in London as a youngish person interested in trains, having a good time and having few responsibilities.

Probably to minimise the risk of someone working at height accidentally driving an elevated work platform (EWP) off the platform edge and getting killed or seriously injured or a worker operating mobile plant on a platform. A worker can be concentrating on the task in hand and not realise they are too close to an edge until its too late. There have been cases of EWPs overturning with serious consequences, I know of a number of accidents where workers were killed seriously injured as a result of falls from less than 2m while operating plant or on foot.

Worth considering changing to 7mm/O Scale if your not heavily committed to 4mm/OO due to the wider range of Irish kits available and easier to assemble/scratchbuild due to the larger size especially if you get older. David's and Galteemores models are excellent examples of what can be achieved in 7mm/O Scale by scratchbuiding and using kits. Although the CIE Tin Van kits are no longer available the JM Design ex-MGWR 2-4-0 kit is available to order and the etched parts for the MGWR Horsebox and Meat Vans are available to order with cast detail parts available separately from Dart Castings in the UK. https://irishrailwaymodeller.com/forum/57-jm-design/ Personally I assemble etched kits with a 145° detailing and 180° sheet metal solders available from suppliers in the UK, using a home brewed acid flux diluted Ranex Rustbuster (dilute phosphoric acid) an Australian product, let down with distilled water. Tool wise most importantly a 50 watt soldering iron (temperature controlled) for main assembly, with 18 and 25 watt Antex for detailed work/smaller components, 2mm & 1/8' parallel reamers for preparing axle bearings/brushes, a collection of small tapered reamers for opening out holes in coupling rods, 8, 10, 12BA taps for cutting threads in cast/sheet metal parts, collection of needle files, small tin snips, piercing saw and razor saw for cutting/trimming sheet metal parts. I built up my collection of tools over 40 odd years. One of the more challenging aspects of assembling a loco kit at the moment is sourcing the necessary parts to motorise the loco due to the decline in the number of specialist suppliers in the UK. Motors and gearboxes tended to supplied from different suppliers to those that supply wheels and other parts. Motors and Gearboxes tended to be supplied by High Level who have an on-line shop and Branchlines who advertise in the UK magazines and have an e-mail address. Wheels are supplied by Markits and Alan Gibson Workshop (AGW) who can be contacted by phone or e-mail. Markits wheels are probably the best option for OO as the wheels bolt to a squared axle with a locknut using a special slotted screw-driver and the crankpins with a similar arrangement avoiding the need for specialist quartering tools.

Interesting IRM announcing the relatively rare uncommon-versions of the H Van like the cut down PW, Bulk Grain and Fitted Versions before announcing the 'common garden' unfitted version of which over 1000 existed, great faith in the market/collector appeal of these models. I am impressed with IRMs modelling of the CIE fitted brake gear complete with riggings and pull rods, I just modelled a representation of the brake gear on the Brake Van being too challenging/expensive to produce from a manufacturing perspective.