Mayner

You could always work on the assumption that the BTC continued to operate the NCC and eventually took over the County Down and the GNR lines in Northern Ireland and introduced BR Standard types. At least this way you can start running trains quickly when you are concentrating on tracklaying buildings and scenery and leave the Irish rolling stock for a later day The Class 4MT moguls with smaller wheels than the NCC moguls and a tapered boiler would have been ideal for freight service on the Great Northern Derry Road. Incidentally the ex NCC Moguls took over a lot of the freight working on the Derry Road in the 1960s, there are several photos and videos of Moguls in freight service on the Derry Road. The Moguls appear to have had a lower load rating than the ex GNR SG3 and were less popular with drivers and firemen than the ex-GNR SG3 or Big D 0-6-0s which show up in photos of the Market Shunts and the loco stabled in the goods yard after the loco shed was closed.

Last years New Resolution not to start any new projects and concentrate on finishing my long list of un-finished projects kind of backfired, to make matters worse one of our cats Beeze took up residence in Keadue station, an eye level layout is very attractive to the feline species. I have removed the buildings and stock until I get a chance to install a lighting pelmet above the layout to complete the proscenium arch effect to disguise the awkward exit stage right at the Arigna end of the yard. The year before last we made the mistake of adapting two kittens 6-8 weeks apart who are now unable to share quarters and our office has become by default a cat bedroom. I did manage to complete the detailing and painting of some 4mm scale 21mm gauge stock but have not gotten around to commissioning/ordering decals The Ruston 88DS is a very old Impetus kit similar to those used by the Sugar Company the rest of the train is my own design, I hope at some stage to have a mail train suitable for the GSR and CIE green & black and tan eras. And so this New Years Resolution to tidy up the workbench and start something new for a change Prototypes for CIE MK1 & 2 Flat wagons, 650 class patterns and a pair of hooded vans for my mail train. The Unimat SL is set up for turning between centres for new axle centers for one of the Large Scale locos. The large scale storage yard and loco yard sit below the baseboards for either an American N or Irish 4mm layout if I ever get round to building either. The baseboards and backscene for the new layout were installed about 3-4 years ago, I am a slow worker and getting slower by the day. Close up of lost wax spring hanger masters for flat wagons. The MK2 flats on the left are slightly lower than the standard CIE 20' chassis in order to carry 8'6" containers throughout the system. The MK 2 flat will have to be re-mastered to simplify assembly. Lost wax wagon spring and 650 Class loco castings, these were cast using a cold casting process from the original brass masters. The castings will then be used to produce a mould for casting in pewter once I have completed cleaning up the castings Drag files here to attach, or choose files... Accepted file types gif, jpeg, jpe, jpg, png Insert other media Uploaded Images 80.81

My parents had to calm me down the first time I saw the viaduct during a farmhouse holiday in West Cork when I was around 10 or 12. Apparently Wow! was not in the Irish or English language

I used Peco Code 55 track ballasted with Woodlands Scenics fine ballast on a modular layout in the attic of my house in Dublin about 20 years ago. The modules were all 12' wide including the yard and loco depot section. The yard and loco section was successfully transhipped to New Zealand and incorporated for a short time into a larger permanent layout in Auckland. Unfortunately the layout did not get beyond the baseboard and laying the main line as we moved to Hamilton 12 months later where the great outdoors and a large scale layout beckoned These days I would probably use Atlas Code 55 track, its easier to work with and the switches (points) are a more accurate/realistic geometry than Peco. Trains of 15-20 cars were typically headed by consists of 2-4 locos depending on type, all locos and stock were fitted with Microtrain (Kadee N Scale) couplers. 55 car trains were about the maximum that could be hauled reliably with truck mounted couplers, before they started parting with a rather loud bang leaving most of the train stranded.

I I certainly did when I took up modelling American outline N about 30 years ago. I still have a large collection of N Scale locos and stock despite upscaling to G Scale 11 years ago. I would certainly recommend N for an American or Continental layout as the models are better proportioned than British N Gauge which has a similar narrow gauge look to OO as the British models are built to a slightly larger scale than everyone else. One of the big differences between American and British outline modelling is that American modelers try to model a section of railroad with a number of stations or yards, while British and Irish outline modelers with few exceptions tend to model one station which makes N Scale an attractive proposition in small to medium sized spaces.. The main advantage was being able to build a reasonable layout capable of running long freight trains in a 17X8' attic something that could not be achieved in a similar space in OO or HO. The Japanese built Kato, Atlas & Minitrix diesel locos were reasonably priced, finely detailed and better runners than anything available in OO up to about 10-15 years ago.

CIE had one basic design of 20' long 12' wheel base vacuum braked wagon chassis that was used for flat. bulk cement, hoppers, ore and tank wagons built during the late 60s early 60s. The internal framing on hopper and bulk cement wagons was different from ordinary wagons due to the design of the hopper/tank body. The 1st batch of 20 ton flat wagons 25436-25982 introduced in 1966 had steel floors for container & general traffic the second batch 27101-27767 were built as skeletals for container traffic. CIEs final design of 4w flat wagon introduced in 1973 were slightly longer at 22'6" on a 14' wheelbase with a lower frame height to carry 8'6" containers. The bagged cement and beet doubles were built on steel floored flat wagon chassis which were largely redundant by the mid 70s with the introduction of the bogie and 22'6" flat wagons which were capable of carrying 8'6" & 9' containers. The bagged cement wagons were originally built with balanced vertical doors which were gradually replaced with curtain sides as the wagons were overhauled during the 1990s.

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/45248-judith-edge-kits/page-37 Harland & Woolff built 5 diesel locos which eventually went to the UTA each totally different. http://www.theyard.info/engineering/trains/trains.asp H&W also built both main line and shunting locomotives for export to the Sudan, Canada and Argentina during the 1930s. The main line locos seem to have been rigid frame boxcab units similar to the Armstrong Whitworth locos built during the same era. Argentina seems to have been a leader with diesel traction during the 1930s,

Interesting concept Irish buildings in a UK mainland context, though Sancton Wood the GSWR architect who designed Carlow station was a Londoner who also built stations in England. Will be very interesting with Sean giving Carlow a London Midland Region BR twang with everything in maroon and cream http://www.stationcolours.info/index.php?p=1_2_LMS Carlow's Gothic buildings would fit in well in the Potteries or Lake Lake District with a dark and brooding slightly neglected LMR setting or am I thinking too much of Brief Encounter

The Bell Liner trains between Waterford-Cork, Limerick & Dublin would normally only have carried Bell traffic. Their ships were very small by modern standards, traffic mainly seems to have been in their own containers to the UK and Europe they are likely to have acted as a feeder to shipping companies that did not operate a direct service to Ireland. Good selection of Bell shipping http://www.irishships.com/bell_lines.html including Bell Ruler with a cargo of OCL containers. Its possible that Murray Kitchens in Youghal and Waterford Co-Operative in Dungarvan would have generated reasonable railborne container traffic for a Cork-Waterford line. CIE operated a warehousing and distribution services for Murray Kitchens during the mid-late 70s joinery was transported in CIE containers rail was used for the trunk haul between North Esk and Heuston Goods with road collection and delivery by CIE road services 2-3 containers daily, insulated and reefer containers would have been required for Waterford Cooperative traffic.

David Holman has built wagons for his Arigna Town & Clogher Valley layouts using resin castings produced with plasticard masters, page 10 of his workbench covers the Clohgher Valley vans.

The Worsley Works Kits are intended as scratchbuilders aids for experienced modellers, basically saving the work of cutting out parts with a piercing saw or by drilling and filing. The Worsley Works Kits are more basic than the current generation of etched brass kits and do not include the slot and tab and modular construction used to simplify construction in kits like the SSM SG-SG2 0-6-0. Apart from the castings mentioned by Weshty you will need brass tube for boiler, wheels, gearbox, motor, bearings, 0.45 & 0.7mm brass wire for handrails and pipework, handrail knobs and small metric or 8 & 10BA nuts and bolts to assemble the loco, solder, flux and specialist tools. There are fewer suppliers of scratch/kit building components Markits carry a wide range of parts and their wheels are bullet proof for OO http://www.markits.com/. Alan Gibson produces a large range of components including things including straight brass wire in various diameters and handrail knobs, Alan Gibson loco wheels are not as easy to set up or durable as the Markits Wheels. http://www.alangibsonworkshop.com/. High level Kits http://173.254.28.51/~highlev3/chris/Pages/ and Branchlines PO Box 4293, Westbury, Wiltshire BA13 9AA 01373 822231 Supply motors and gear boxes with a wide range of reductions for 4mm locos. On the plus side scratchbuilding or building a loco from a kit can be a much more satisfying experience than buying read to run and a loco with Markits Wheels, good quality motor and High Level or Branchlines gearbox is likely to out perform and outlast a lot of modern RTR locos. Probably best to start out with a good book to get an idea of whats involved in etched loco construction, Iain Rices Etched Locomotive Construction has been my bible since published https://www.amazon.com/Etched-Loco-Construction-Iain-Rice/dp/090686786X, failing that DLTs LSWR K10 thread on RM Web is a good example of the challenges involved in assembling older more basic loco kits. Some of my notes on assembling a SSM MGWR tank which is close in terms of general design to Worsley Works kits 5 years later I still haven't finished this loco or the NZR tank, 21mm gauge has the advantage over OO of allowing the motor to fit between the frames

Great story Jonathan. Taking over a Midland Standard Goods or a much larger Cattle Engine for the first time could open many traps for an un-suspecting ex-GSWR driver at Tuam or Athenry. The ex-MGWR "Standard Goods" GSR J18 & 19 classes were supposed to be roughly equivalent to a J15 in terms of performance, but required different driving technique with their smaller firebox and valve gear design. They also had a reputation of having weak loco brakes, originally the locos were built with steam brakes and converted to vacuum which was less effective by the GSR. The reversing gear on the Cattle Engines was set up opposite to standard practice, a driver literally had to put the loco in what was normally reverse to go forward, potentially setting up a deadly trap for shunters and guards. There were a few crippled wagons with ripped out ends and drawgear on the CIE system even into the late 1970s, including a H Van on the headshunt/layby at the Eastern end of Moate and a GNR(I) standard van in the yard at Patrickswell along with a marked off CIE 20T goods van. Presumably such wagons were not considered worth repairing or hauling to Mullingar for scrapping and were burned/scrapped when the sidings were lifted

Managed to play trains on Christmas day, while daughter was busy assembling her Lego and wife and mother in law taking it easy all in all a very relaxing day (turkey had a luck escape!!) Operation was reasonably trouble free the only glitch was C19 -2-8-0 348 stalling with 5 cars on the 4% grade to the garden shed. The problem was solved by 348 setting out 2 cars at the Junction for collection by K27 2-8-2 464 with a following freight. 348 then assisted 464 on the 4% The video was filmed with a 7 year old FujiPix S5700 on a tripod not sure whether I would have got better resolution with my I Phone

Hi Tony Having followed your threads for over a year, I was not sure whether it was better to respond on this or your Omagh station thread. Building a realistic model of a large junction station like Omagh in a 6'X10' (external) shed in N or OO was always going to be a challenge particularly in terms or acceptable minimum radius curve for OO track and train length. I think it would be worthwhile to lay a temporary oval of track in your shed using Peco radius 2 &3 settrack for the curves to test the concept of your layout and above all get a better impression of how your trains will look on the curves. I would consider re-hanging the shed door to open outwards (if it does not already) with a lift out section of track inside the door so that you can make better use of the space. It might be worth while considering a scheme from one of the Peco planning books such as 60 Plans for railways in small spaces, rather than trying to squeeze a quart into a pint pot. Building suitable locos & rolling stock for a model of the Derry Road would be a lot more challenging and time consuming in N compared with working in OO considering the near absence of suitable kits and the challenges of working in a smaller scale.

Climate in the Waikato is not a lot different to Ireland or the UK slightly warmer all year round and similar level of rainfall to the West which leads to everything left outside being covered in moss and mould which does not look right for a railroad set in semi desert country. There are plenty of garden railways in parts of the UK that enjoy extremes of heat and cold including Scotland and the North East, garden railway modelers tend to be a hardy lot, the limiting factor is more being able to afford and maintain a house with a largish garden. While the investment in track and rolling stock is very high in comparison to building an indoor layout, building a purpose built layout room and workshop would probably have cost as much.

We had what will probably be the last of our local groups running days at the beginning of December mainly as a result of a combination of fewer people able to host meetings and outside pressures. Summer arrived early despite a cold wet spring one week I was literally wading through mud the next week the ground cracking up! One hardy soul turned up and helped to operate trains along with my daughter, while I acted as dispatcher/trouble shooter! We started out with two short steam (battery RC!) controlled freights and an IP Engineering Tralee & Dingle Inspection Railcar Raynor & Skye crossing a general freight and a stock train on the oldest section of the railway laid in October-November 2007 DRGW 348 crossing the T&D inspection car Arranging meets could be tricky as the railcar was basically running uncontrolled and superior over the freights. In typical Rio Grande Southern fashion we had a break down with a wheel literally falling off RGS loco 20. This happened on a few occasions with the Galloping Goose railcars, steam locos were more likely to de-rail their tenders. In reality the insulated muffs on the wheel sets split and failed after 7-8 years service in main line use. We managed a Goose Fest for the railfans though the Bachmann Railtruck No1 is a non-runner with a failed final drive and works goose No6 the re-incarnation of RGS No 1 track power only while No 4 holds down the mail contract which just about keeps the line out of the scrappers hands. No 20s failure turned out to be an opportunity to call out DRGW K27 Mudhen 464 to haul the combined freight and stock train home in double quick time without having to "double the hill" on the high line to get all the stock back to the shed.

Great work Patrick nice to see prototypical operation. The signal men at Glenmore and Grange did'nt get much time for fishing or training greyhounds during the beet season. There is an interesting photo in Rails Through North Kerry of a Tralee-Listowel goods making a facing shunt at Lixnaw propelling a tank wagon from the station to the County Council siding not sure if you would get away with it around the curve from Grange to the beet siding.

I once had a copy of the Weekly Notice that had the operating instructions for loading/unloading these wagons. The wagons were originally built with vertical balanced doors operated by a chain and pulley arrangement as modern freight curtains had not been invented. The big wheels were part of a hand operated chain and pulley system for opening the doors. The big wheels were chain operated by a Depotman from ground level in a similar way to a block and tackle hoist or a roller shutter door. The big wheels transferred motion to the pulley drive shafts on top of the wagon and simultaneously raised and lowered to top and bottom sections of the door. The chains at the operators end was draped around the big wheel and hung loosely below solebar level. The handwheel and lever arrangement through the bulkhead at the opposite end of the wagon was part of the load restraint system. These wagons would be a nice challenge to IRM especially if they had working doors

The structural alterations to the coaches were carried out by British Rail possibly at Derby and delivered by train ferry to The North Wall in grey primerfor fitting out by CIE. Well done to Noel for the conversion. I never mastered the art of cutting and splicing plastic coach sides, I will probably go for the option of Bill Bedford etched sides in combination with Comet MK 1 parts if I ever get round to building a van to run with my MM Craven coaches.

Building track with copper clad sleepers is probably the quickest and most economic approach in 21mm gauge. The S4 Society /Jeremy Suter produced a 3 point track gauge that's suitable for building trackwork and points to either EM or S4 standards. The 3 point gauge provides gauge widening for curved track, I use a piece of bullhead rail or a sleeper as a spacer for setting up the check rails around the crossing nose. Code 75 flatbottom rail on copper clad sleepers is a fair representation of the 85-95lb flatbottom track used on a large part of the CIE network and parts of the GNR up to the wide spread introduction of CWR on concrete sleepers from the mid 1990s only. Chaired bullhead track was mainly used by GNR, NCC, BCDR, GSWR & DSER on their main lines. Both the S4 & EM gauge societies have useful manuals on building trackwork, filing up crossings (frogs) and point blades a lot more economic than buying ready made switches and crossings. I basically enlarged EM point and plain track templates to 21mm gauge on the home printer/scanner. Both Hollywood Foundry & Steam Era Models in Australia will produce a rtr chassis or motor bogie in 21mm gauge to EM or S4 Standards. I have an AEC railcar set which runs on Steam Era Models Black Beetle bogies and an E Class on a Hollywood Foundary Bull Ant chassis.

The best approach would be to ask ssm to prepare some N Scale CIE logos, coach and loco numbers, though I am not convinced wagons or coach numbers let alone smaller lettering would be visible for the normal 2' viewing distance. I re-painted and lettered several American locos about 20 years ago as many locos were not available in the road names por colour schemes I wanted Lettering of American locos using Microscale Decals. The nose striping and road name are applied in one piece, the numerals separately. The transfer film is barely visible once applied on a gloss finish. then finished off with a semi-matt clear cote. I used Microscale decal setting solutions as wetting agents to get the decals to bed in to the surface of the locos. My fleet of GP38-2s including 323 were traded in for some Atlas C628s the reverse of what actually happened on the D&H & the C424s including 453 is still available for service though I haven't operated the N gauge in about 10 years.

Serious questions Popeye. Hopefully some of the proceeds of the sale will find their way into the model railway slush fund to keep JM Design in business and some more stock for the garden railway. The garden railway at our own place took over 10 years and $20k investment in track and rolling stock to get to its current unfinished state. I have a very understanding and supportitive family . The renovation is basically part of a transition from my current day job towards retirement. John

Fingers crossed it looks like I will have a bit more time available for modelling in 2018 now that my current restoration project a 1924 California Bungalow/Bay Villa cross is nearing completion. Last week I finally had a chance to fettle the lost wax castings that will form the patterns for the castings for the MGWR locos kits. I expect to have the 650 Class, the coach sides and van kits available in Mid 2018, with the option of personal delivery in Ireland & the UK in June/July if we can charter an Antonov Myria for the family and the kits. Of course the bungalow could always morph into a Scale laser ply building kit for American, Australian & NZR modellers Just waiting complete the final touches including interior re-decoration and landscaping. The bungalow was constructed in native hardwoods, retaining its 1920s interior joinery and fittings. We have replaced the roof, repaired exterior wall cladding, re-wiring, modernised kitchen and bathroom. Not bad after more than 90 years.

Blackham Transfers did/may still do weathered & un-weathered CIE dry-print transfers including solid and stencil snails, Bell & B&I container lettering http://www.blackham.co/quickorder.html. SSM produce water slide decals, each type have their own advantages and disadvantages. Dry transfers are similar to letraset with little or no margin for error in fitting. Water slide transfers or decals are on a carrier film and are more user friendly to fit rather than dry print. The surface need to be finished with a gloss varnish before the decals are fixed in place then sealed in place with a varnish or clear coat. Its tricky to accurately align wagon and coach numbers, tare information etc so its better to order a custom sheet of lettering with wagon or coach numbers from Blackham or SSM. Des produced a custom sheet of decals for lettering my fleet of Cavan & Leitrim narrow gauge coal wagons. The decals on the coal wagons were sealed with Testors Dull-Cote and the wagons weathered with an air brush.

A pin chuck is probably the best tool for drilling whitemetal or brass for handrail knobs. Drilling whitemetal can be tricky Titanium coated drill bits are less likely to break than uncoated HSS. The Expo Tools a 0.3-1.6mm drill set contains a good range of sizes for work on 4mm locos and stock https://www.expotools.com/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?WD=titanium drill coated set&PN=20pc-HSS-Titanium-Coated-Twist-Drill-Set-11533.html#SID=109