Mayner

Fair play to Pat, Stephen, Fran and Richie for their initiative and being prepared to take the risk with commissioning a rtr wagon. The ballast hopper is an excellent choice and hopefully generate the critical mass in terms of sales to finance the development of the cement bubble. A bit modern for my taste but very difficult to resist.

[/size] The Redplant100 Hopper Wagons seem to be the same the Model Irish Scale Rail (MISR) p.w. hoppers produced by James McKay Photos © James McKay MISR The MISR CIE H van and Bullied corrugated open had a very good review in May 2013 New Irish Lines. There seems to have been plans to introduce a wide range of wagons including hoppers, tankers before MISR disappeared off the radar. It may be worth while contacting James McKay 2 Coneyburrow, Dublin Road, Edenderry or misr@eircom.net to check if he is still producing wagons.

The BNM systems in North Mayo were built to serve Bellacorrick power station on the Oweninny system rather than local needs. Bangor Erris is a feeder system with road transfer to Bellacorick. A broad gauge line might have survived long enough to bring in the construction material for the power station and link to the National Grid. It would have made sense to convert Bangor Erris -Bellacorrick to narrow gauge and abandon the broad gauge line. Most people in areas where peat is plentiful including most of the Central Plain and Mountainous areas had access to and harvested their own peat. Attempts to control an individuals right to cut turf for their own personal use in the name of conservation while Bord na Mona stip mines the commercial bogs is a major issue in many areas

I suppose it depends on whether you prefer the post or pre 1970s block train era with individual wagon loads distributed by rail loose coupled goods trains often to most villages and towns or the block train era. The Texaco siding at the tank farms in Tivoli seems to have been busy with oil traffic in the 70s with heavy fuel oil for Ballinacourty and Burmah oil traffic (petrol & diesel) for Limerick, and presumably Texaco traffic. The siding was the terminal for the oil and magnesite trains and had a connection into the Quigley Magnesite Roofchrome factory, which eventually became the siding to the Tivoli container terminal.

Up to the block train era fertiliser and possibly agricultural lime would have been sent in individual wagon loads in sheeted opens. There was probably more competition in the market before NET Shelton Abbey came on line in the 60s. Beside Gouldings North Wall, NET and Albatros, there were also rail linked feriliser factories at Foynes and Wicklow quay operating in the 1960s. Oil and petrol would have also been transported in individual wagon loads into the 70s with stations in medium sized towns having oil depot since the 1930s. The Irish Shell and ESSO tank wagons seem to have been mainly the older Pre-WW2 cradle mounted tanks though Caltex had a fleet of more modern anchor mounted tanks similar to the new Bachmann wagon http://www.bachmann.co.uk/image_box.php?image=images1/branchline/38-776.jpg&cat_no=38-776&info=0&width=650&height=461 I am not sure about Cork, Foynes and Dublin Ports seem to have been the main originating points before the opening of the Whitegate Refinery. Foynes nearly closed in the early 60s with the loss of oil and fertiliser traffic before the revival with the starting of heavy fuel oil traffic to the Cement factories and Silvermines ore traffic. One scenario could be a rail or pipeline from Whitegate to the Youghal/Waterford line and supply most of the countrys petrol and diesel by rail rather than road or coastal shipping. The transportation of tar by rail tanker seems to have been pretty much a 50-60s thing before that tar and bitumen seems to have been mainly delivered in open wagons in 45gal drums, another interesting load for an open wagon

Carriage Sheds with corrugated iron roofs seem to have been common enough up to the 1930s when the GSR removed them to reduce the rates bill. The Ratio kit might be a good starting point http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/574/entry-8333-a-carriage-shed-at-last/. The GSWR & GNR tended to build terminus stations with overall roofs that could be used as carriage sheds, the MGWR and smaller corrugated companies tended to provide separate carriage sheds. There were a few exceptions at one stage Cahirciveen on the GSWR which was operated more as a terminus than a through station had a corrugated iron carriage shed and no overall roof, both Tramore & Waterford Manor on the W&T had overall roofs.

One idea if you have a continuous run or oval is to use what American modellers "Surround Staging and hide he storage track behind a low backscene. The hidden track could be single or double track either a simple loop off the running line on a simple oval or part of a folded 8 arrangement. This sort of arrangement can work well behind the scenic part of a layout in an attic as you only need enough room for a double or single line of track. I had this sort of arrangement on an N gauge layout in Dublin, I kept the scenic boards to a maximum of 300mm with removable buildings in order to reach point motors on the hidden section. Track cleaning was taken care of by a "CMR Clean Machine" running round the main line and hidden storage once a month.

Excellent stuff, I am thinking strongly of getting a GW Models press. What's your preferred method for cutting out the footplate and side tanks?

The wheel puller is available along with a range of really useful tools from G W Models who advertise in Model Railway Journal. The back to back gauge (big metal thingy) was supplied by Terry McDermott of TMD the Genesis of the current range of SSM kits. The conversion of the loco took approximately 1 hour. Dapol/Airfix tank wagon conversion The solebars (side frames) are packed out with 1mm plasticard otherwise the 21mm wheelsets would not fit. Wheels are Ultrascale on 28mm pin point axles. Commonwealth Coach bogie with MJT torsion bar suspension unit with 1mm plastciard packers Economy 21mm coach bogie conversion Old Hornby Stanier bogie with plasticard bolster and standard OO wheelset, std 26mm axle cut in two and pushed out to 28mm 2mm brass sleeve. The "economy" conversion was remarkably effective and trouble free in operation at exhibitions, along with a pair of old style Hornby Staniers I also had a MK3 Push Pull set converted from Lima MK3s with plasticard bolsters

I re-gauged one of my MM B141s using the existing Bachmann wheels on 26mm 2mm dia axles and re-gauged the other pair using Ultrascale wheel sets. The thread of the Bachmann wheels are wider than the "OO Finescale"/EM profile wheels produced by Ultrascale & Alan Gibson. I found that the re-gauged Bachmann wheels fouled the inside of the B141/181 side frames and it was necessary to remove a lot of plastic from inside the frames before the loco would run. This does not seem to be a problem with the MM 071 as the bogie side frames are thinner. Loco re-gauged with existing wheels top Ultrascale wheels bottom I used small 2mm top hat brushes secured to the axle with Loctite 601 to restrict side play

Another repaint No14 posed on newly re-laid main track Based on Rio Grande Southern 4-6-0 No 20 converted from a Bachmann 4-6-0 No 14 has been the backbone of the fleet since the Connie 2-8-0 threw a wobbler with a faulty motor in 2011. No 14 has used up my stock of GSR (Floquil) weathered black paint though I have two unopened bottles of Scalecoat acrylic for my next repaint. C21 arrives in the siding with a freight as No 14 holds the main All is not what it seems in this photo the light is closing in and the C21 is on a rescue mission. I had just finished track cleaning and sent out No14 and another track powered loco No 11 to clear the yard and haul back their trains to the garden shed, when the DCC system shut down with a dead short. I could not find the fault later I found a small coin had fallen onto one of the circuit breakers that protects the DCC command station and shut down the entire system: A bit like the saga of Tralee & Dingle 8 in the spring of 1952 when they could not get 1T to steam. The C21 had to make an extra two trips to haul all the stock home to the shed, No 11 & 14 got to fly.

Love the U2 on the goods the U2s straight out of Mac Arnold's NCC saga with 4-4-0s working goods trains on the Cookstown & Derry Central lines and ex NCC branches.

The main drawback with both the Dapol and Heljan models is that the majority of the ESSO Teo. tank wagons had the noticeably longer Class A Tank barrel. Its easy enough to extend the barrel of the Dapol tank with parts cut from another kit, but expensive to chop up a rtr model. http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/essoatankwagonvb/h32cd852b#h32cd852b http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/db999xxxtank/hb25d798#hb25d798

I converted a couple of MM B141 to 21mm gauge, I have not had time to build a layout The diesel locos can be converted easily enough, the coaches are more of a challenge as the bogies are unsuitable for the wider gauge. Converting the locos is basically a matter of swapping out the wheel sets with those on a longer axle. Its possible to re-use the existing Bachmann/MM wheelsets some users have turned down the wheelsets to S4 standards. Murphy Models coaches need new bogies and most rtr wagons new chassis as the width between the bogie sidframes/axleboxes is too narrow for a 21mm wheelset. Tony Miles "Adavoyle" now in the care of the South Dublln Model Railway Club (SDMRC) is probably the most famous 21mm S4 layout, A number of SDMRC members built an S4 model of Belturbet in 21 mm gauge. The Model Railway Society of Loughrea is built in 21mm to EM/OO gauge track standards. Andy Cundick a 21mm S4 layout based on Valencia Harbour regularly appears on the UK exhibition circuit

I always had a soft spot for the "Large Tanks" a tin plate model based on a photo of Lough Gill was my first "scratch built" loco that actually ran. The body was glued together from soft drinks tins, the chassis was from a second hand Triang-Hornby Princess bought for £1 re-wheeled with Jinty wheels it waddled but at 16 or 17 was my pride and joy and only working loco.

Hi Helene A young lad living in the area around Heuston would have a much better chance of breaking out of the slums and poverty than a lad living in the area around Connolly. The area around Connolly (Amiens St) had quite a history. The area around Railway Street between Gardiner and Amiens Street was Monto the old red light area shut down after the founding of the Free State, Sherriff always seems to have been some thing of a no-go area, excellent baggage for a obsessive father who is unable to shake off his roots. Going to the trains building a large model railway could be a lifetimes work the father like Pete Waterman the musical producer might commission professional model builders to re-create his childhood memories. During the 1970s Harry Connaughton a prolific professional modeller produced high quality models of mainly Irish steam era locos and rolling stock mainly for private clients. Dave a member of this news group builds layouts to order allowing dad more time to cut himself off from the family and play God.

Nice to see a scratchbuild, the SLNCR 0-6-4Ts with their short coupled wheelbase and firebox behind the trailing axle almost seem to be a development of the long boiler type of locomotive used on the NER. The short coupled wheelbase would have been easier than a conventional six coupled tender or tank loco and the bogie would have improved stability compared to a long boiler 0-6-0. Look forward to seeing more of the build.

Tralee & Dingle railcar on a dry Mid Winter day The bridge is on a lift out section for gardening. Railcar passing a freight on a newly rebuilt section. The track quarry screenings ground cover is laid on a butyl rubber membrane on 19mm treated ply on the usual 4X2 treated pine framing. I am only running battery power at the moment as there is too much hastle cleaning track in damp weather. A ray of Sunlight catches the caboose A bit the east side of Alpine Pass on the South Park line this town is in shadow most of the winter time but we don't have to deal with snow or too much ice though! The bush (jungle) on the left grew up during the past few years after a large gum tree blew over during a winter storm

Time for the spring track repairs, including a spot of weeding C25 on the weekly mixed The yellow reefer is probably loaded with cold beer and fresh vichels for the mining and logging camps. Gondalas spotted under the hopper for loading Should have seen it before weeding. Moss and other plants thrive in this area section of line is in shade most of the day, sleepers bleached out after 7 years service though no other noticeable damage to probably get another year before re-sleepering. Major re-modelling at the main station/yard The spur on the left was recently added and is to be extended into a loop. Main running road lifted for re-sleepering Re-sleepering the crossover from Main to passing siding and yard Baseboards are open top principal built outside! All timber is pressure treated (CCA) pine been in use over 7 years without sign of rot. Track is supported on decking timber on 2"X2" cross members on weed mat on 1' welded mesh on 4"X2" framing on 4"x4" piles concreted into the ground. New switch ready to go in at East end of spur The new siding is mainly to allow through freights to set out or collect cars without having to switch the yard, without the problem of cars running away down the grade!

The photos of the goods kind of reminds me of photos of a B143 shunting Newcastle West in 1974 a bit like trying to solve the rubic cube every siding and the run round full of wagons. I find pick up goods or way freight operation far more interesting to running round with fixed formation trains. Like steam few people under 50 in Ireland or the UK have any memory or experience of goods trains dropping off and collecting individual wagons at wayside stations or when an additional coach or passenger rated van could be added to a passenger train.

Along with the Bob Barlow obituary Model Railway Journal No 240 has quite an Irish flavour with an article on scratch building Irish Narrow gauge locos and a colour photo of David Holman's Arigna. The models of C&L No1 Isabel and Tralee & Dingle Kerr No 4 are so realistically modelled I first though they were O rather than 4mm scale For modern traction modellers there is an article on converting an O gauge Class 37 to a real Co Co with traction motors driving each axle

404 was one of the Armstrong Whitworth built locos. These were un-superheated and supplied new with the large E Class tenders which carried 7 tons of coal and 4500 gal of water, probably needed the full tender load to reach Cork. There is a legend that orders to scrap 404 in 1930 were ignored, its number plates swapped with 409 which was scrapped instead.

I was over the Eastern end of the line twice once on an IRRS special to Kimacthomas and New Ross during the 70s and a final IRRS special on the day the line finally closed. The line was busy with passenger traffic on the final day a Pitzer staff excursion from Ballinacourty and associated ECS working hauled by a pair of 121s and the IRRS special worked by a 001. Kilmac was retained as a crossing loop with a short siding the old goods store at the Western end of the station.

Leslie 375 ties in with Locomotives of the GSR Type C tenders 374-77 built in 1922 most likely to run with 401,402 & 406 built 1921 & a spare. JHB The 400s & 500 seem to have been built with new tenders, but of 4 different types C,D,E & F ? The 3 surviving Inchacore 400s 401, 402 & 406 probably ended up with larger D,E or F tenders with the poorer quality "coal" available during the Emergency and during CIE days. Larger E Type tenders from the scrapped Armstrong Whitworth 408 & 409 and Type D & F tenders from the 500 class appear to have ended up behind the rebuilt 400 Class. 800 The K3 & K4 or 355 & 368 Classes had a reputation of being very useful heavy goods and mixed traffic locos . Some were scrapped in the late 1920s as the GSR had a surplus of heavy freight locos with the Great Depression and the introduction of the 500s & Woolwich Moguls. 356 was used as a guinea pig for the turf burner conversion as she was considered to be the best of the type