Mayner

An inpromptu running session today while repairing a leak in the roof of one of our garden sheds after a month or so of almost continual heavy rain! Although still mid Winter the days are getting longer and still (just about) light at 5:30 this evening. DRGW K27 and train of Stock Cars at main yard, just about cleared the lawn and deck in this area of fallen leaves and weedsprayed the ballast/ground cover on Sunday! Had handweeded this area about a week earlier plaants grow quickly in the Waikato combo of high rainfall and humidity. Waiting for the weedkiller to take effect, weeds grow quickly in this area usually in shade for most of the year! This is the oldest section of the railway open framed baseboard decking timber of treated 4X2 framing on timber piles installed late 2007. Original UV damaged ties (sleepers) replaced after 7-8 years and 1:4 points on running lines replaced with 1:6 following introduction of larger 1:20.3 scale American 3' gauge locos and stock. Train on the main circuit with the High Line to the shed in the background. Some of the challenges of garden railways, High Line 1st section of track laid in 2007 permanently in shade, laid in AMS flexible track original ties still in reasonable condition, while ties where train is running failed 2014-5. High-Line trackbase to keep cost down was supported by garden fence, replacement posts installed to support the fence where the original posts (20-25 year life) have rotted away. This area was landscaped with some 'dwarf" conifers about 15 years ago, with a dwarf hedge to disguise the track base. One of the 'dwarf' species turned out to be a Totara a native tree that can grow to a height of over 100' and has begun to take over its area, some of the dwarf hedging died off a couple of years ago, and a conifer planted at the same time recently died, though the remaining conifer planted close to the native appears ok at least for now. I'll probabably keep the Totara for now remove some of the lower foliage to reduce shading and look at planting shade tolerant hedging/ground cover. Ironically although I usually plant "box" (boxwood) hedging, I planted this area with a different species due to a problem with 'box blight" which had affected hedging in a different area of the garden.

Visited the Dockyard & the Show when I lived in the South East during the 80s-90s, last visited the Show from Dublin around 25 years ago flying in through London City Airport. One of the highlights for me was the late Dave Walker's 7mm Broad Gauge Killaney layout almost entirley scratchbuilt WLWR/GSWR/MGW layout, possibly from one of the shows during the 90s. Used to be a great place for sourcing kits and components, went home from the 2000-1? show with an Impetus Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST, Branchlines split frame axles/assembly jig & plated brass MW wheels & an Impetus 08 Chassis, at the time one of my side interests was industrial modelling in EM.

Hi Tom As far as I recall the old GF coaches were basically a generic coaches with the same body shell appearing in GWR, LMS, LNER & SR liveries. The MGW/GSW/GSR do not appear to have built main-line coaches with guards compartments (3rd, Composite, possibly 1st only) apparrently preferring to build a Full Brake (Bogie or 6w). I think the GSR built some non-gangwayed Brake End coaches for Bray suburban services during the late 20s similar in general outline to the Farish suburban coaches.

The final batch of MGW coaches introduced in the 1920s were side corridor 60' vehicles similar roof profile to contemporary GSWR/GSR stock but half round beading & square cornered windows, supposedly the most comfortable 3rd Class coaches on the GSR. Continuous footboards were fitted on the compartment side only, footboards only fitted at doorways on the gangway side. If you can locate some Farish/Graham Farish OO Gauge "Main Line" coaches produced during the 70s & 80s are similar in general outline and window layout to the final batch of MGWR side corridor coaches built 1923-25 and a good 'generic' 1920s coach (apparrently 4 3rd Class & 4 1st-3rd Composite). https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/376398638208?chn=ps&_ul=AU&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-172120-988740-8&mkcid=2&itemid=376398638208&targetid=325425753764&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9118386&poi=&campaignid=21479729684&mkgroupid=163598879926&rlsatarget=pla-325425753764&abcId=9484450&merchantid=494541900&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21479729684&gbraid=0AAAAAD_QDh8fFNGybw-l_od2h21n33XV0&gclid=CjwKCAjw4efDBhATEiwAaDBpbmP5vpjkBXmU2lZV6eLaZGTSBCaTQK0e1x-KousPpJ7d7soLQIyKeRoCoDAQAvD_BwE The Farish "Suburban" coaches are similar in general outline to GSR suburban stock (same Belgian 60' underframe as final MGW coaches) used on the Bray suburban services into early 1970(Black and tan livery)

Excellent painting and lining job Harry! & Killian's 3D print quality looking forward to seeing the MGWR A when it appears! I don't know about O gauge but I have only used brass handrails and handrail knob (Gibson) in 4mm locos I assembled over the past 40 odd years, all my locos ended up with painted handrails anyway. Oddly I sampled and gave up on nickle silver handrail wire as too soft compared with hard drawn brass 4-5 years ago.

There was/is a trap with the Airfix/Dapol Stanier coaches the Side Corridor 3rd is a 60' coach the Brake a 57' footer, I nearly ran into the same trap myself. I re-painted a pair of the old style (square plastic axle) Hornby Staniers into CIE livery many years ago, but I decided that shortening a CIE coach by 4'6" was a bridge too far and settled on the Dapol coach as a donor body. Worsley Works GNR(I) coach sides intended to fit Airfix/Dapol,Bachmann& possibly Hornby 57' coach body may be an option for producing GN, UTA/NIR or CIE 50s' or 60s era "Layout Coaches" models are based on "modern' flush sided GN stock used on trains line the Enterprise. The sides were comissioned at the request of Colm Flannigan who creates quite creditable models http://www.worsleyworks.co.uk/Image-Pages/Image_4mm_GNR-I-K15.htm These coaches would have appeared on the Cork Line in GN livery on the short lived Cork-Dublin Enterprise during the early 50s and absorbed coaches would have been re-painted into CIE livery after 58 though withdrawn by the late 60s, used mainly on the "Northern" but also have gotten about, perhaps a GN Enterprise to run with one of Harry's 800?

Apart from occasional enthusiast specials and the annual Quigley Magnestite works excursion, I don't know if other passenger specials ran to Ballinacourthy. There was no passenger platform or facilities at Ballinacourthy basically a running line and a loop outside the Plant. There are a number of 70s-80s era excursions (GAA & Listowel Race specials) with a bogie van marshalled next to the loco in the Metrovick and North Kerry Pictorials, including a B141 hauling a 6 coach Listowel Race Special which included a Kitchen Car and a bogie van at each end (1 Luggage Brake, 1 BR Van) The Brake at each end may have been to allow the guard to ride in the rear van if the train reversed direction or on its return journey particularly on a steeply graded section of line such the North Kerry over Barnagh or the central section of the Waterford-Ballinacourthy line. I vaguely remember reading somewhere (possibly an extract from an old rule book) that a maximum of 5 carriages carrying passengers were allowed behind the rear Brake in a passenger train. Interestingly a number of Full-Brakes were fitted out as Bars to run with Excursion trains in GSR days don't know if the practice survived into CIE days. I think its unlikely that the genset in the BSSGV was supplying lighting to the train in the photo, earlier CIE Stock such as the Side Corridor coach were never converted to TL lighting, Park Royal and Laminate stock were not listed as TL stock in the 79 edition of Locos & Rolling Stock of CIE&NIR. As far as I recall travelling on the Dublin outer suburban late 70s/early 80s train was made up of older non-LT coaches with a BSSGV pumping out steam with lighting by dynamo.

If the Clonlea (2½ miles east of Dungarvan) location on the caption is correct the train is likely to be a Quigley Magnesite staff excursion which ran annually while the plant was in operation (approx 72-82) The train consist with locos in Supertrain livery and BSSGV bringing up the rear indicate that the photo was taken post 1972, after the opening of the Quigley Magnesite plant and the lifting of the line into Dungarvan Station. Interestingly I travelled on a IRRS special from Heuston to Ballinacourty on the final day of operation and passed the Quigley Magnesite excursion which was hauled by a pair small GMs. The consist of the train without TL lighting and a Buffet Car would have been unusual at the time for a main-line long distance working, at the time the majority of regular main line Links of conventional stock were made up of TL (train line lighting) powered by a BR Van made up of Craven stock, Buffet Car (51-54 stock) strengthened with TL fitted Park-Royal and Laminate coaches. Its possible the train in the photo is made up of a train set borrowed from Dublin Outer-Suburban services for weekend use or a set made up at Waterford or Limerick from spare stock. Beteeen the 1970s and 90s many Dublin Outer-suburban services were cancelled on Friday evenings to release stock to work Friday evening working from Dublin to the provinces and return Sunday afternoon-Monday early morning return working to the provinces. At the time the Dublin Outersurban trains loaded to a BSSGV and 3-4 misc coaches.

My 21 March 2021 covers my approach to fitting my coach side overlays to the Airfix/Dapol Staniers including forming the tumblehome. Basically I ended up gluing the roof to the body and cutting a hole in the coach floor big enough to fit the interior. Several years ago I built a train of 5 CIE coaches in late 50s green including a Buffet for a customer in the UK, but didn't build any for myself and probabably never get round to it as I have shifted back to the GSR era. I have 6 SSM ex-GSWR 6wheelers to complete before moving my thoughts to some ex-Midland 6w and Bogie stock. Worsley Works produce sets of etched parts (except roof) for Park Royal and Laminate coaches (scale width/length) similar in general principal to Comet Kits- http://www.worsleyworks.co.uk/NG/NG_NIL_Art1.htm greatest challenge is forming the roof. These days the simplest approach would be to ask someone to produce a 3D printed roof to the correct profile.

Funnily enough the Blue Sliding Tarp wagons reminds me of the wagons that run through our neighborhood on a 125mile journey between a steel mill and port. Strictly speaking HO scale/gauge is incorrect for 3'6" narrow gauge local modellers tend to use Scale on HO track (Sn3.5) while some Aussie. (Queensland) modellers use HOm although the gauge is out by 3". Being independently minded Australian States with 3'6" narrow gauge systems each tend to use a different scale/gauge ratio

I posted a set of Laminate Diagrams in the Resources section of this Newsgroup and will post further CIE diesel loco, coach and wagon drawings when I have the time. IE may have disposed of drawings of withdrawn/scrapped stock as they are no longer of relevance to Irish Rail, when I requested the Laminate & Park Royal drawings some of these coaches were running on the system in RPSI service.

I last received Park Royal & Laminate diagrams (FOC) from the CMEs office about 20 years ago. It might be worth contactiong IE directly if your looking for drawings or diagrams of stock thats currently in service.

The arrangement of the buildings and the crossover from the Cattle Bank road to the main line with its double slip connections really capture the atmosphere of Liffey Junction even in its final years https://www.facebook.com/GlasnevinHeritage/posts/liffey-junction2-nice-photos-by-pat-mcquail-1984/924132183078495/

At one stage the Chief Mechanical Engineers Office at Inchacore supplied locomotive and rolling stock drawings to enthusiasts (free of charge) upon request, but may no longer be responding to requests from enthusiasts and may no longer hold drawings of older stock such as the Laminates. I have diagrams of 64 and 70 seat Laminate coaches supplied by CMEs Office about 20 or so years ago, and will post in the Resources section when I find time, Pauls post also reminds me that I need to scan my collection of GN Wagon Diagrams!

Some odd IC stuff too Steam often replaced by "Tractors" manufactured by foundries in remote area's that once produced steam powered machinery for the mining and logging industries, this leading axle on this tractor would have been powered by a chain drive from the rear axle. Possibly from the Dispatch Foundry on the West Coast of the South Island and important mining area. "White Jigger" or railtruck converted from a White Truck (US manufacturer) once used to transport workers on a bush tramway in the Central North Island, an extensive restoration was carried out by the owner in his own workshop. Truck is used to give passenger rides on operating days won a Weta Workshops award for Creativity in Restoration. A second more ornate Chevvie truck required a more extensive restoration https://www.bushtramwayclub.com/locoimages/indexbushjiggers.html

Visited the Bushtramway Club on their monthly operating day yesterday my first afternoon off in two years, the big surprise was to see Climax 1650 in steam operation double heading a passenger train. The loco owned by a Trust was last steamed 65 years ago and recently won this years Federation of Railway Organisations of New Zealand restoration award. Yeah the Climax was in steam, being a geared loco moving very slowly not showing smoke and steam as I toook the photo. I had last seen the loco un-restored about 12 years ago The Climax locomotives were American manufactured geared locomotives capable of running on steeply graded, sharply curved, often temporary track once common on Logging Railroads or Bush Tramways (NZ) and once were a popular type on Bush Tramways. 1650 which was used on one of the last remaining Central North Island bush tramway operations was rescued by a group of enthusiasts during the 1960s and restored to working order off site in a Central North Island general engineering workshop in the region where the loco formerly operated. Ironically I noticed a steam loco cab outside the workshop while working in the area but never drew the connection with the Climax or called in to have a look. The Bush Tramway has a collection of ex-mail line and industrial locos (drawn from logging, dairy and meat processing industries) with a high proportion of the restoration work carried out in the railways own workshop. Along with the Climax the Bushtramway Club has a collection of geared locos including a Heisler (American manufacture) and a couple of NZ built A G Price locos The Heisler currently under overhaul is similar in general principal to a Climax but with the engine arranged in a V powering a driveshaft which transmits power to the bogies by sets of bevel gears at the outer end of the trucks (bogies) with coupling rods transmitting power to the wheels. The Heisler boiler is currenty offsite for major repairs. A "Price B" the local equivalent of a "Climax A" powered by a vertical steam engine in the cab, boilers often un-lagged on NZ "Bush Lokies" This loco regularly ran up & down the Pukemiro station yard on operating days. More conventional the NZR F Class 0-6-0ST the standard main line loco of the early years of the New Zealand railway system until replaced by increasingly larger locos as the system expanded and loads increased. This loco 185 was sold into industrial service with one of the local coal mines and and the regular 'main line' loco on the Bushtramway during the 2000s but requires major boiler/firebox work.

Ironically Brian Fennel a MRSI member used rubber band drive (similar to Athearn Hi-Fi system) to power several scratchbuilt CIE 001 Class diesels during the early 70s. Like the Athearn models Brian's diesels featured a central flywheel motor with drive (by rubber band) to all axles on both bogies (possibly Athearn parts). The 001s (plasticard body, all metal chassis) were used to haul a CIE Supertrain formed from Triang-Hornby MK2 coaches, as far as I recall the locos were fast/smooth riding and reliable).

Seems to be a classic with its simple track layout and positioning of the buildings, I seem to have stumbled on the same formula in two of my layouts built 30 years apart, possibly inspired by John Harrison's Torpoint rather than Courtmacsharry! I was tempted to build a 7mm T&C layout in the garage about 10 years ago though focused on Timoleague, the Alphagraphix loco and stock kits would have been a good start but already (over) committed to 4mm and Large Scale. The T&C although including a roadside tramway seemed to be more in the Colonel Stephens/Tanat Valley rather than Irish style of Light Railway with Industrial style locos and very simple iron buildings, Timoleague with its simple 'works" almost an Iain Rice project, though I don't know how I would fit in the Abbey.

I guess the big question is whether demand for Commuter and Intercity passenger services will continue to increase in this era of instability and technological change. In Wellington and to a lesser degree Auckland rail passenger numbers dropped significantly in recent years despite significant rolling stock and infrastructure investment https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360717804/frustrations-all-round-train-patronage-plummets#:~:text=Train trips taken on the,during the past financial year. While the article writes about road improvements (Transmission Gully), reliability issues and more working from home, fewer people are now commuting to work in Wellington as a result of public and private sector cuts/redundencies--estimated 5000 Public Sector redundencies in the City since 2023. When I worked for a Irish Government agency over 20 years ago, the policy was to "de-centralise" Departments and Agencies from Dublin to the Provinces until someone realised the potential economic shock of transferring several thousand public servants and their families from Dublin to the Provinces. Ironically although based in Head Office in the days before high speed internet, I teleworked successfully from home for several years using a dial-up free phone number only visiting the office when absolutely necessary. One of the main issues with remote working is the impact of empty office blocks on the Financial Sector (Pension Funds, Insurance Companies) and city centre cafe's and other retailers. Back in the 90s when I worked in the UK construction sector my next project was to be the re-development of the Bullring (Birmingham) following the successful completion of the Watford Harlequin Centre, unfortunately our client a major UK Insurer made a £100m underwriting loss the previous year as a result of the "Great Storm of 1987" and I was out of work and the project indifinitely postponed. I returned to Ireland several years later during which I stuck mainly to industrial and warehousing projects, with one 'final" Dublin office block several years before the Irish Commercial Property bubble burst in 2009. Having weathered two property recessions the Irish Public Sector appeared more stable! Interestingly following the debacle with the "Mini-CTC project of the Mid 90s--IE designed and managed the majority of its infrastructure projects in-house using specialist contractors where necessary, PW & SE (Signalling and Electrical) in house. Interestingly a Drogheda track gang carried out the Heuston track layout re-modelling having successfully completed the Northern Line upgrade, though like the MK3 Carriage builders of the 1980s, I guess many of the people the managed and carried out the infrastructure improvements of the late 90s-20s have retired. One of the more interesting aspects of returning from the UK in the 90s was the capability of Irish design and engineering firms and civil engineering contractors to undertake large and complex projects as a result of a combination of work undertaken with both Irish and Overseas clients, there is not a lot of difference from a civil engineering/construction project between building a road and a railway. Roadbridge an Irish firm successfully carried out civil works on the UKs HS2

Production Line Big break through this week cleared tools and accumulated junk from the workbench to complete a flotilla of Tin Vans I started between 5-years ago. The Vans were substantially complete, mainly door handles, gangway ends to add, replace some damaged/missing steps and complete paint touch ups to G617. Two steps forward and one back, completed paint touch ups to areas where black had worn off (handrails, edge of running board, shunters and cabs steps & blended and sealed with a semi-gloss clear, then replacement set of G Class decals arrived from Des this morning. I need to check the new CIE roundels for comparision! 3111 Tin Van 1955 as introduced condition, unmodified doors. Although I fitted door handles on previous builds, I found it challenging this time around over 10 years after I initially produced the kit. I need to adjust the axleguard assembly on the righthand side! 3123 with modified doors an early modification to these vans. 3114 a van with the majority of windows replaced with plain panels & 3111 a van in original as introduced condition. 3114 is based on a late 60s David Malone photo of the van at Sligo.

I managed to dig-up some more info. on the "self-heating coaches" 5 ex-GSWR Composite coaches 2089.2094,2096,2097 & 2098 were fitted with "Victor" diesel generators and initially considered 'moderately reliable", but generators removed by Jan 1960. Two were in use on the Clonakilty & Skibereen/Baltimore Branches. Its possible the other "self-heating coaches" may have been used on the Birr and Ballina branches with a C pottering around with a single passenger coach, Valencia passenger appears to have loaded up to 4 coaches behind a C, Galway-Tuam & Cork-Youghal appear to have been heavier A Class workings https://irishrailwaymodeller.com/topic/5693-characteristics-of-cie-metrovick-c-class-locomotives/ While I referred to Jan 56 and Jan 60 Irish Railfans News in the original post, the info on the "self-heating coaches" is likely to have appeared in the Jan 28 IRN or possibly later! While I haven't been able to track down 2089 the remaining "self-heating coaches" /fitted for electric train heating were all withdrawn by 1964. 2094 introduced as a 57' 1st/2nd/3rd in 1915 was withdrawn in 1964, 2096-8 were introduced as 57' 1st/2nd with GSWR later more spartan style of panneling between 1920-21 were withdrawn between 1962-3. There are diagrams of these coaches in the TRA reprint of the GSWR diagram book, but the diagrams are of limited use for modelling purposes as they show only one side of coaches which had different window and panneling arangements on the corridor and compartment sides.

Info originally appeared in "Irish Railfans News" during the 50s, IRN Archive posted on the RPSI website about 12 years ago, but no longer accessible! As far as I recall the 'self heating' carriages were fitted with an underfloor proprietary petrol-electric genset, apparently the gensets were unreliable in service and a number of C Class fitted with jumper sockets fir electric train heating. There is a 1968 picture in "Irish Metrovick Diesels: of a recently outshopped C203 in Black with yellow warning panel & buffer, with a silver power socket mounted vertically on the buffer beam. Ironic CIEs 1st exprements with electric train heating was with 30 year old coaches hauled by C Class diesels on West Cork branches. IRN article included coach numbers and info on gen-set I downloaded the articles at the time, possibly on some back up drive/archive the computer I used in 2013 gave up the ghost several years ago.

No heating on this particular train the brand new Tin Van is actually a Luggage Van no boiler for steam heating and notoriously rough riding that guard would seldom ride in if anything else was available. CIE converted a number of 20s era GSR Comp coaches into "Self Heating Coaches" (electric heating powered by an underfloor generator) for C Class haulage on Clonakilty & Skibereen/Baltimore branches.

Due to the level of interest I am considering supplying the Bullied Vans from New Zealand as complete kits with pre-formed brass roofs. I have most of the whitemetal detail castings and decals in stock, parts that are low/currently out of stock will be produced by 3D printing. I need to check the availability of parts for the MGW Horse Box and Meat Van I hope to finalise prices and lead time to delivery during the next couple of weeks.

Managed to find the remains of the decal set I used when I originally "completed" G617 (goodknows when) complete with replacements for the obliterated/damaged numbers and CIE, I also found a 'stash' of 6pin 1-2amp decoders I bought from the States several years ago but never used, when I had a problem with 0.7 amp decoders blowing on kit built locos. I am using "Gun Blue" as a blackening agent in areas where paint damaged/chipped exposing brass before touching up paintwork So at this stage a case of paint touch-ups and clear varnish to seal the decals and protect the paintwork. Another un-finished job from several years ago was to fit the fuel tanks and gangway covers to a Tin Van I assembled about 5 years ago Tanks (3D Printed) are both fixed to the floor of the van using 10BA bolts, originally intending to use a Kadee #36 couper, I have not fitted couplers at this stage (no Kadee #36 in stock and looking possibly at using smaller/more discrete B&B couplings (I have a fret of B&Bs somewhere) While I used to represent the flexible part of the gangway in the traditional manner using (soft) foam rubber wrapped in crept paper, I mounted the Gangway end/cover on a piece of dense foam ground sheet which I think looks reasonably convincing. I usually represent the gangway hanger with a piece of 0.45 phosphor bronze wire with the bottom section wrapped in small dia brass wire to represent the suspension spring, but that's another day or so's work. Once I get this 'modern' stuff out of the way I have a pair of J15s I started about 7-8 years ago to complete.