Mayner

The Dean Goods is a good basis for conversion into a J15 or an ex WLWR 0-6-0. The WLWR engines may have been based on a GWR design Robinson worked on the GWR under Armstrong & Dean before moving Limerick. WLWR No2 Shannon (GSR222) as built would have been very close to the Hornby/Airfix model lined black compete with square firebox There is a very useful RM Web thread on converting the Dean Goods to the round top firebox version similar to 184 or the Limerick engines in GSR days. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/62553-backdating-a-mainlinehornby-dean-goods/

The GSV vans were converted in the mid late 70s from early CIE standard class side corridor coaches similar in style to the SSM Bredin 3Rd http://www.studio-scale-models.com/Bredin3rd.shtml. The 3200s were fitted with generators and wired for TL lighting and ran on Intercity services with Craven coaches if anyone is tempted.

Recent footage of a narrow gauge South African Garratt locomotive struggling on a 1:40 grade in poor rail conditions with a trainload of locomotive ash. The train is then divided to avoid stalling and "doubles the hill" to the summit. [video=youtube;Wu-Cmtk_apY]

I finally finished the tins. I ended up stripping down and re-painting the silver van, the original paint job looked good but tended to scratch if you looked at it, second time around seems a lot better. The SSM inspection car made it through the paint shops but must replace the glazing, I managed to get Kristel Clear everywhere The Blackbeetle was robbed from a Duetz which is due to get a 21mm gauge 28:1 version to get some decent low power torque as a shunter. Workbench more or less clear narrow gauge layout set up temporarily in background.

I had thought of designing/building a double deck layout, but did not work in as the mainly because you would need scaffold or a raised platform to operate the upper level as the layout is built on storage units 4' above the floor. I switched Abbeydorney around to maximise the length of run between Listowel and Abbeydorney and reduce the length of the hidden run from the Tralee end of the storage yard to Abbeydorney. In the plant the line from Tralee crosses over the Listowel-Abbeydorney to re-create the summit section near Ardfert and Eastbound falling grade into Abbeydorney at the expense of leaving most of the Abbeydorney-Listowel section hidden and loosing Lixnaw & the Tar siding. Abandoning the long hidden sections and using turnbacks at either end would be very interesting and challenging for lads who enjoy tail chasers. John

Personally the standard of finish on current rtr British models is so high I would be loath to re-painting or modifying a current Hornby or Bachmann loco into an Irish model. I think it would be a bit like re=painting a Heljan Class 26 or 33 in CIE colours and calling it an A Class. Apart from the Jinty & Woolwich and a few industrials none of the Irish locos were really close enough to a British Mainland design to use a rtr model or kit without major modification. Although I am more inclined to scratchbuild I would have less qualms about using a second hand model or a kit, the old GEM LNWR 2-4-2T show up on E-Bay the DSER used the 4'6" version the 5'6" tank looks very close to the WLWR/CMDR locos http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GEM-WEBB-LNWR-LMS-2-4-2T-Locomotive-OO-Gauge-/321427013942?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item4ad68b0136

How about Irelands largest class of 2-4-2T GSR F1 & 2? Large choice of livery DSER lined black, GSR Gray, CIE lined green worked Dublin suburban trains from the early 1900s to the 1950s, one seems to have been a long term resident on the West Cork another loaned to the BCDR during the Second World War.

MGWR F GSR J5 Weight Diagram courtesy of the late Bob Clements I haven't come across a section of the larger MGWR Locos. Same wheelbase as 2-4-0s and Standard Goods to turn on standard turntable. MGWR B GSR J2 MGWR Weight Diagram restricted to Dublin Galway line on account of weight withdrawn in GSR days. Straight running board without No crankpin splashers wheelbase and overall size close to an LMS 4F MGWR B Class tender

Although I have tried to be faithful to modelling Irish railways mainly GSR & CIE in 4mm scale, I had various flings with British, American and even freelance modelling in scale and had a long and sometimes stormy relationship with N American gauge. I first tried N in the late 70s frustrated at trying to fit a OO gauge layout into a box room and even more so with my efforts to kitbash and scratchbuild Irish stock. A nice scenic N gauge layout with repainted or slightly modified rtr stock seemed a good idea and I even ended up with a reasonable U shaped shelf layout around the walls of my teenage bedroom with stations based on Ardfert and Foynes. The layout was scrapped following a house move, in the late 80s I seriously caught the American modelling bug while living in the UK and built up a collection of American N gauge locos and stock to get something running quickly while I tackled kit building and modifying Irish 4mm stock. Having a 17 X11 space available I thought I would look at a N gauge North Kerry layout based on American “walk around” principals. Typical American style operation involves operators walking around with their trains crossing opposing trains and switching sidings and industries. Movements are usually controlled by a dispatcher or train controller sometimes in another room using radio or telephone communication, rather than a signal man at each block post typical of traditional UK & Irish operation. I though it would be interesting to see if I could fit in an E shaped baseboard arrangement in combination with a looped 8 arrangement to achieve a maximum length of run. Given the available space I have planned for a minimum isle width of 700mm. The main idea is to slow down the operation by a combination of maximising the milage between stations and operating the railway in accordance with the rule book. Visually the layout keeps to the idea of “sincere” design with only a single main line visible in most scenes with a view blocker down the middle of the peninsula and curved backscenes and layout fascias. The Limerick & North Kerry section of the line between Barnagh and Abbeydorney appeared to be the best choice to model a section of the line in station order with two medium sized and two small but interesting stations. [attachment=:name] The main potential drawback of the design is the length of hidden trackage and the use of hidden staging is more suitable for fixed formation train workings rather than traditional loose formation passenger and goods trains. The goods loop at Barnagh was mainly used as a refuge to for the crossing of goods trains and to allow shunting to take place clear of the main line. Baragh was also a cumpulsary stop for pinning down the handbrakes of loose coupled goods trains before descending the bank to Abbeyfeale or Newcastle slowing down the pace of operation. I have squeezed in both Abbeyfeale and Listowel on the peninsula both stations are long and narrow and seem to have been reasonably busy with freight up to the early 70s. Up to the ending of through freight operation, goods traffic seems to have mainly between Listowel and intermediate stations to Limerick with lighter traffic westwards towards Tralee, with Listowel, Newcastle and Abbeyfeale most important in terms of traffic. In GSR days Abbeyfeale was the terminus of a mid afternoon passenger working from Limerick and the terminus of a three times weekly pick-up goods from Tralee after the line over Barnagh closed to regular traffic. The distance between Abbeyfeale and Listowel could be extended by stopping a train in section between the two stations. Listowel was the most important intermediate station on the Western part of the line and one time junction with the Listowel and Ballybunnion monorail for someone wanting an extreme challenge. Shunting both station could be quite involved with in each one long siding used for all goods traffic. While the yard was not modernised as part of Railplan 80 block fertiliser trains operated from Tralee to Listowel and forklifts would have been used for unloading. Although regular passenger traffic was light and ended in 1963 specials operated for the Listowel Races, Knock specials and other events into the early 70s. I have included Abbeydorney as I griced the station in 78, it was the terminus for beet train operation in the lines final year and used as the run round for Westbound traffic from Ardfert which did not have a run round loop. It might be possible to squeeze in a siding between Abbeydorney and Listowel to handle the tar traffic for the Kerry County Council depot at Lixnaw. In order to maximise the length of run the main line is essentially a combination of the folded figure of 8 and dogbone, with a flyover arrangement with the line between the Tralee end of the hidden staging and Abbeydorney crossing over the Abbeydorney-Listowel section rather than by a grade crossing more typical of the American Mid West While there are no rtr Irish N scale models reasonable 3D printed A, C & 141 diesels typically used on the north are available through Shapeways. The models appear to be designed to fit on the excellent Lifelike EMD Switcher and SD9 chassis, repainted BR Graham Farish or Peco rolling stock would pass muster for passenger and goods trains, personally I use Microtrains (Kadee) couplers in preference to the typical Rapido N gauge coupler though the conversion may be something of a mission given the size and amount of goods stock needed for a layout of this nature. At this stage I am not sure whether or not I would opt to model an Irish railway in N, working in 21mm gauge a less ambitious scheme possible a small portable layout may be more realistic, though its mighty tempting to dust off the American N Gauge and use the basic layout plan for a railroad into some County in a remote part of upstate New York or New England with mill towns and lake resorts called Abbeyfeale and Listowel..

There is a report of the incident on page 121 The North Kerry Line Alan O'Rourke the train appears to have been the 6pm Limerick-Tralee." 6 auxiliaries (Black & Tan's) on board two on the footplate one of whom was killed, the other forced the driver (who was wounded by a bullet) to put on steam". The regular passenger service in GSWR & GSR days seems to have been three Limerick-Tralee passenger and a daily goods each way with a short Limerick Newcastle passenger which was extended to Abbeyfeale in GSR days. There seems to have been a daily Limerick-Tralee passenger,sometimes no regular services during the War of Independence, some of the passenger trains would have carried Limerick and cross-channel mail traffic for Waterford and Rosslare. Passenger and goods trains seem to have been mainly worked by J15s in GSR days, though GSWR and WLWR 4-4-2T also used. The 4.40 Tralee-Limerick mixed was involved in an incident in Dec 1922 when Ex WLWR 0-6-0 222 and its train ran down the headshunt at Abbeydorney and derailed the driver possibly nervous to get away. The train seems to have been made up of 6 coaches & some vans. Two thirds, a composite, brake third, fish van, passenger van, two laden wagons and a brake . The North Kerry was used as a diversionary route after Mallow Viaduct was blow up in 1922 with a Dublin-Cork ad Dublin-Tralee goods running over Barnagh.

You have really captured the atmosphere of the place, with the railway and town hemmed into a narrow river valley. I was always fascinated by the railways and canals in Mid Wales and the Welsh border country. Modelling the fast flowing waters of the Dee will be an interesting challenge

Not really Robinsons Irish locos were a lot smaller and quite different in outline to his Great Central locos, but might pass for an ex DSER loco some of which had Belpair fireboxes. The Bachmann SECR C is probably closer in general outline to the WLWR locos in GSWR/GSR condition. The MGWR bought a pair of locos from a cancelled order for the WLWR. The locos originally had square topped fireboxes but were brought into line with the rest of the ex WLWR 0-6-0s with round topped fireboxes in GSR days. I have not been able to find an on line photo of the 0-6-0s but they were very close to the ex WLWR 2-4-0s with the same boiler and cab.

Variety in train formation was pretty much the norm up to the widespread introduction of MK3 stock and withdrawl of the Laminates and wooden framed stock in the Mid-80. The Operating Department tended to use conventional stock (higher seating capacity) in preference to "Supertrains" on the heaviest mainline trains such as the morning departures from Heuston to the South and West, while Supertrains tended to be used on the more lightly loaded morning departures from the provinces and evening return workings. Dubln-Sligo, Westport and Rosslare were almost exclusively "Train Line" wired conventional stock usually a mix of Craven, Park Royal, Laminate, timber famed 1953 Buffet and early 1960 Inchacore built wooden framed 1sts and Standards, these trains usually ran with a BR or Dutch generator steam van. Suburban, branch line and cross country services tended to use non-TL stock with battery & dynamo lighting a mix of early 1950 timber framed stock, laminates and Park Royals with steam heating provided by Tin Vans or van conversions of early 50s & Laminate suburban stock. The difference in profile between different batches of vehicles is probably the most striking feature of modern Inchacore built coaching stock, the “Bredins”, early CIE, Park Royal, Laminates, TPO & Cravens all had different profiles, probably due to a move from traditional carriage building through component assembly with the Park Royals and Laminates towards modern stressed skin construction with the Cravens and ultimately MK2 & 3 stock.

Excellent work getting better with each new project, the outside W Irons and brake cross shaft in combination with the subtle weathering really transforms the model .

Possibly the manufacturers used HO wheel sets to keep the tooling costs down. Would make sense if the manufacturer also produces passenger cars for the US market and explain the problems reported with the coupler dropper bars being too low.

The jigger is basically a re-build from the axles up, the steering wheel was fabricated in situ from short pieces of pine and then finished to a curved profile rather than curved in a steam press. The unfortunate thing is that the operation is so marginal that the owners/volunteers do not have the energy or resources to restore most of the locos and stock they rescued as young enthuiasts 40-50 years ago. Recently overhauled Pukemiro Colliery Co Peckett This loco was originally used on a private colliery line from one of the local coal mines to the exchange sidings at Pukemiro Junction. Part of the final bevel drive on a Climax or Price geared loco The UTA thought of it F216 a steam diesel conversion Wooden rails Dispatch Foundry Fordson Rail Tractor Sad end to a loading shovel? Climax boiler under repair front tube plate cut out for replacement

Regardless of wage rises in China part of the issue is Kader's (Bachmanns) dominant position controlling most of the model railway manufacturing capacity. Hornby and other commissioners supply issues are mainly as a result of Kader buying out and shutting down the competition.

I love the backdrop eLooks s cold it could pass for Minnesota or North Dakota in February

Before you look at replacing the wheels use a continuity tester or simply turn the loco upside down & apply power to each wheel in turn to check that all pick-up wipers are working and power getting through to the motor from all wheels. Bachmann locos have nickel plated or blackened brass wheels the plating tends to break down due to a combination of wear and spark erosion particulary on DC or analogue control, there tends to be less spark erosion with the AC waveform used with DCC. I had a lot of trouble with poorly adjusted pick ups on new Bachmann N Gauge locos more or less direct from the factory. I have not found the wear/plating break down to be a serious issue and the Bachmann wheels are less prone to pitting & picking up dirt than other more expensive brands. I found the most important things were to keep the track clean and only run stock with metal wheels. I use a very fine (non-scratching) metal polishing block from Eileens Emphorium for cleaning the track & use IPA for wheel cleaning in both G & the smaller scales.

I think a couple of the Cavan & Leitrim 4-4-0s ran in C&L lined green until the were sent to Inchacore or overhaul or scrapping in the 1930s, the W&T 2-2-2WT tank appears t have kept her polished brass dome and splasher beading until she was de-railed in the 1930s. The Muskery & West Clare both received new locos before the amalgamation. The new Muskery Hunslet 4-4-0T only lasted to 1927/8 so she was unlikely to have been re-painted, the pair of 1922 built West Clare Hunslet 4-6-0T were unlikely to have need to visit Limerick or Inchacore for boiler work or a mechanical overhaul before the Mid-1930s. Interestingly photos of ex CBP 2-4-2T 10L and T&D 2-6-0T 6T look suspiciously like both locos were painted black following overhaul in the 1950s 6T ran with her number scrawled in white o the buffer beam rather than the usual shaded transfer.

One of my favourite places Pukemiro Junction on a branch line built into the coal field north of Hamilton. The upper part of the branch became home to the Bush Tramway Club with a distinctly American logging line atmosphere. The group has a unique collection of rod and geared engines including locally built Heisler and Climax clones. Recently overhauled ex-Pukemiro Colliery Peckett storms up the 1:50 to the Junction White Bush Jigger once used to transport loggers and equipment on a Central North Island bush tramway Steering wheel operates the bogie brakes! Pukemiro Yard Price Bush Lokie cross between a Climax & a Heisler

Interesting that it on the Galway Line, there is a legend that crews used to turn B121s to run long hood forward while working Galway-Tuam local trains. Presumably the B121s worked the locals on lay over from the mail trains

Lots of detail for the wagon gricer 1938 photo when of Broombridge was a pleasant rural spot. http://catalogue.nli.ie/Search/Results?lookfor=liffey+junction&type=AllFields&submit=FIND&sort=year

I used to enjoy the NMRA meets visiting Scaleforum & EXPO EM while living in the UK. The NMRA meets used to be more of a bun fight for the latest kits & rtr while the finescale expos were more about modelling. From an operators perspective the layout tours was a lot less hassle than running an exhibition layout, with a steady of visitors arriving every half hour and more of an emphasis on answering questions keeping something running. The large scale stuff performed faultlessly despite changing between battery RC live steam and RC DCC, the Irish 4mm narrow gauge locos and stock was equally reliable though the Tillig points in the fiddle yard need replacing. The second photo is 12" to 1' Scale the top end of Pukemiro Junction one of my favourite places though some 9 & 3/16 Scale NZR modellers come close in modelling native bush and typical NZ street scenes and archiceture

Possibly leading to this sort of thing. http://www.3news.co.nz/Megauploads-Kim-Schmitz-arrested-in-Auckland-site-shut-down/tabid/412/articleID/240007/Default.aspx On one hand Kim Schmitz is seen as a champion of freedom of expression and personal privacy, on the other a pirate and a racketeer.