Dunluce Castle

The Belfast to Dublin enterprise is here to stay, especially with the recent overhaul to all the sets.

Stay safe everyone, schools and universities have closed for the day here in the north.

Just a quick heads up for anyone who may have had the same idea as me but the Belfast to Dublin line is completely closed over the weekend.

Perhaps the best thing for this would be to see who has done a plough van before and see what you like and maybe contact them to see if they would take a commission, that is if you get no response from this tho.

Hello all, Now that I'm commuting to Coleraine nearly everyday, you very easily spot movements on the network, such as the Sandite, new PW thing movin about and even some new wagons, which is what this thread is about. On Tuesday I noticed a flat bed bogie wagon off the traverser at York Road. It is nearly identical to those stored in Ballymena but they look brand new, with glossy black paint and the springs/axle boxes picked out in blue and yellow. What I want to know is what are they used for? Whilst passing Antrim today, there were 4 yellow boxes on top filled with ballast. The capacity looked very low compared to the ballast wagons currently at Blfast Central. I remember reading on this forum that the construction of them isn't as good as others, so it makes me wonder why new ones are being obtained, that is if they are new of course. I'd be interested to read if anyone has any knowledge or understanding about these wagons. Nelson

Ps, is this the right area to post this sort of stuff? I'm always more than willing to help by sharing thoughts on things that I find, and eager to hear what others think.

Hello all, https://www.gumtree.com/p/hobbies-collectibles/-bncr-class-a-original-steam-engine-1800s-raised-sign-irish-railways-antique-belfast-collectors/1267298768 I have spotted this for sale on Gumtree, however I won't be making a purchase, so this is just a heads up. I've already informed the seller that it is a wagon plate instead of one that comes off an engine, but i believe they are still persisting that it is one. Anyhow as I said, just a heads up, if your interested and willing to pay then work away, it's a nice example. However I do believe the price should be around £90 to £100. Previous BNCR wagon plates have sold for £60,£65,£80. There is also a LMS NCC wagon plate for sale if anyone is interested. Hope this helps, Nelson

Thanks guys, it's something that I will certainly think about attending.

Is this the main show in the south that everyone talks fondly of? I want to go to an exhibition sometime but would rather go to one of the "best" ones.

D&M models do the full enterprise set in RTR.

Makes you wonder just how limited the actual run of both engines were, does anyone knows?

The work that they have done is amazing, it looks brilliant. http://www.simonbrien.com/new-homes/cultra-station-bt18-0au-763

No the sandite set was at York road last week, I highly doubt it's been scrapped since.

They've been on the move double heading with ballast wagons as trials.

Hello Slavek, Leslie is currently away, so is unable to respond to emails etc, however he will be back shorty. Wagons are I believe are still for sale, both as kits or RTR form. Hope this helps, Nelson

Hello Broithe, Have you uploaded the photos somewhere else as well or only here? I'm asking because I can't seem to look at them, some take way too long and others cause my browser to crash haha.

I thought the list was for all broad gauge layouts?

Is Stanfording built to broad gauge? And what about Advoyle Junction?

Hello everyone, Firstly thank you everyone for your kind words above, much appreciated. And Popeye I haven't a clue yet haha, I still have yet to think about that. I could waffle a bit about why it's taken me so long to do some actual modelling but that would be boring and quite repetitive I would assume, so instead looking to the positives I have just this evening completed this LNER Quint D Bogie Bolster wagon from Cambrian. And what a different experience it was! I have never until this kit ever made anything similar and I have to say the whole built was quite satisfying. I could have utilised some brass stanctions, brake gear etc... But decided not to and just go with the kits examples. I think it turned out quite well. I even managed to weigh down the thing quite well so it runs quite happily the way I want it to. Now I've just got to paint it and add 3 link couplings. Thanks, Nelson

Oh wow thanks JB, Would never have thought that it would be MR NCC.

Hello all! Thanks to everyone contributing to this thread, it's really rather interesting to see what's out there and there are some real nice things. My collection is slowly growing with the addition of these two heavy pieces, they were both found one day while I was out and about on the beach. So took them home and cleaned them up, the GNR one wasn't in too bad of a condition, it only required some wire brushing and removal of some rust. The only downside is that one corner is broken, but it doesn't bother me really. Dad did the painting on both as he likes doing this sort of salvaging. This one is a complete mystery to me, it's obviously missing more than half which is a pity, and the rail company is probably on the missing half, but I cannot figure out the company or even the aproximate date, would anyone have any ideas? Thanks, Nelson

I love how this is coming along and can't wait to see the finished ballymena section.

Don't go with Mashima, they have now officially closed down and the motors are becoming scarce, there are great throeads of disscusion about suitable alternatives.

I like the look of the engine in the fourth picture down, any info regarding it, both model and prototype?

When starting off, it's all trial and error, you need to see what works for you and what doesn't. The first thing I did when I started was to buy a lot of whitemetal and brass wagon detailing parts off eBay and I quickly built up a fair collection of various buffers, axel boxes etc... Some of which I still have today and work from there.