Colin_McLeod

Drew explainwd the term 'boxes' as meaning 'boxes of coal'. The longer the journey or the heavier the train, then more boxes of coal were required.

Interesting observation. How is this information obtained?

Colour is difficult to get right. I thought the blue of the IRM Mk2b NIR blue and grey coaches was too dark. Upon investigation I realise that it perfectly matches the MIR 'NIR light blue' paint which was professionally colour matched to actual NIR paint in the early 1980s. Despite this it still looks darker than my recollection. Photographs don't help as there you will find a whole range of blue shades. For my own interest I repainted two IRM coaches. One with a lighter blue stripe, and the other in NIR maroon and dark blue. This is the result. I think the repaint is closer to my memory but maybe a bit light, so further experimentation will follow. The MM GM also looks on the light side and I may repaint that if I can get the shade right.

Have you considered two separate layouts at different heights but not connected by track. My main layout is at 3ft above the floor, with a Hornby Dublo 3rail shelf layout at 5ft. The 2ft separation works, especially as I have 'plain wall' between the two.

Reading this thread it's not surprising that the road between Belfast and Dublin has so many cars on it.

And the electric train service would be know as the CART lol

Any surplus No 800 ordered by mistake?

Happy Birthday IRM and what a great looking model. Number 800 pre ordered with Flying Snail and sound.

Which one, which one?? Spoilt for choice.

Interesting to see a model that was started so long ago finally being completed and running. Its a great tribute to your great grandfather. Well done.

@jhb171achill re a discussion at home recently, have you any examples of cross border timetables during the period when Northern Ireland was on double summertime and Ireland was on summertime i.e. one hour behind. This was the situation from 1941 to 1945 and also 1947.

@jhb171achill that was supposed to be confidential !! Did you not read the embargo date on the press release? lol

Since it was at the end of the process that the block came up, I suggest an email to IRM explaining what happened. My guess is that they will reinstate your Reward points for you.

Glad to hear that.

All he needed to do was sign an Executive Order with his marker pen.

No offence was intended.

Makes me wonder why I bought these things at the full price.

A small portable generator will enable these things to work so long as they have a plug that can be plugged into an extension lead i.e. not hard wired.

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Was it you Jonathan?

We were without power from 2:30am Friday until 1pm Saturday. During the recent heavy snow we were without power for four days and without water for three. Hopefully we have now done our share.

Modellbahnshop-lippe.com used GLS to send me some Tillig track and ballast bases which made it quite a large parcel. Shipped from Germany 10th January and arrived here in Kerry 21st January. No hassle and a very helpful driver.

The shape colour of things to come. Having ended up with a duplicate of IRM NIR coach 902, I decided to repaint it in NIR 1970s maroon and blue. This is what it looks like. I'm sure IRM's livery application will be far superior but this does give an idea of what to look forward to. (I know this coach was numbered in the 800 series when in this livery, but I had no number 801!)