spudfan

Here is a few extracts from book which has a chapter on the creation of the Mont Cenis tunnel in the alps. The extracts here deal with the track and motive power. The book was written at the time of construction of the tunnel by someone who was doing some climbing in the area. Anyway I found it really interesting. If any one out there wants the whole relevant chapter I can email it to them.

I was talking to someone today who does business with various companies in China. The cost of getting a container load of goods from China to here has fallen from a high of around €20,000 to €3,500. That is a big saving to any company. He did think that the costs will start climbing again and was wondering when delivery/courier companies here will start asking for a fuel surcharge on delivery of packages to counter the cost of fuel. I am thinking the the "free" delivery of model train items could be thing of the past as delivery companies will need to cover the cost of fuel increases.

BBC Audio | Rare Earth | Trains on Trial This is a programme from the BBC Radio 4 series Rare Earth. Do not know if the link will work but if not you will find it on the BBC site. The BBC Player does not work here but BBC Sounds does. It's 200 years since the first passenger rail journey saw George Stephenson’s Locomotion No.1 travel 26 miles between Shildon, Darlington and Stockton. Environmentalists love trains - making a journey by rail can be up to 80% greener than doing it by car - and there are exciting new inventions hoping to make train travel even greener. But can we pin part of the blame for global warming on the invention of the railways in the first place?.

An article on the above, Next operator appointed to run Dublin’s Luas trams | News | Railway Gazette International This caught my eye "‘We will bring innovation and best practice from across our existing tram and light rail operations with Amey, as well as experience from our many networks around the world’, said Alistair Gordon, CEO of Keolis UK and Ireland. Wonder if that swung it?

When the power goes off I can still use the range and the sitting room fire. Every so often I have to run the hot water off as it does not circulate without the pump going. A tank of oil will last us 4 to five years as it is not our main source of heating.

Yes I remember when Tallaght was being built up. The houses were built with no chimneys because oil was cheap. The oil crisis came and a LOT of houses had to have chimneys retrofitted. Politicians seem to take a blinkered view on issues and push it along never allowing for future options.

My wife and our daughter, who has special needs, were out this morning. Our daughter saw a newly built house that had no chimney and she mentioned to my wife that the house had no chimney. Then she asked "How does Santa get in?" My wife told her that they have to leave the window open! They never thought of that when they drafted those building regulations!

For many years Paddy ploughed a lone furrow . Those early days must have been daunting at times but he succeeded probably against the odds. If Iarannrod Eireann would rename one of the 071 class "Paddy Murphy" we could have one of the upcoming 071 models similarily named. A fitting tribute. He did not stand on the shoulders of giants, he was the giant. Anyway on the 17th March I know which Saint Patrick I will be thinking off.

Caught my eye. "The last five 1960 Routemaster double-decker buses are set to be sold at auction by Transport for London. Built around 1960 by the Associated Equipment Company, these iconic buses served London for decades and became a symbol of the city’s transport network. The auction will take place at Wilsons Auctions in Newcastle, UK at 11am on March 4, 2026, with the buses expected to sell for £20,000–£30,000 or more. All five buses are currently at TfL’s West Ham Depot and will be available for viewing by appointment from February 18 to 20" I presume that as they are over the 30 years of age threshold you could bring one in by paying the VRT people €200....

A modern signal cabin ...from 1939!

From yesteryear. Summer , somewhere up here. Can never remember where this is!

This morning in Derry, lower deck Craigavon bridge, lorry stuck against the top of the lower deck. The top deck is open (no top)so it would have been better to use that.

Stood up to make my speech at my daughter's wedding. Took out the sheet of paper from my pocket with the speech on it. Looked at it and...it was a list of stuff I wanted the mechanic to check on the car while in for a service. Yep, wrong sheet of paper. I had to wing it.

You could look at something like this. It would give inspiration and you could use it as a basis of your system. The added bonus is that it would list the parts you need. Regarding your "plan" above. I did something similar and worked off rough sketches like yours. The main thing is to work your ideas into the space you have. OO-9/HOe Setrack Planbook – PECO

Your layout, run what ever you want. That is the only justification you need. That is what I do and the world has not come to an end.

Trailer looks more aerodynamic now.

Either he did not see the height restriction sign or he he not know how tall the trailer was. A road in Lisburn was closed after a lorry collided with a rail bridge on Tuesday morning. The incident happened on the Lissue Road, which was blocked as a result. The railway bridge forms part of the Antrim–Lisburn line, which is currently disused.

I think I "voided" the warranty on the Mrs a long time ago....

Had Meccano myself in the 70s. Do not think I would have the dexterity in the fingers to do anything with it now.

From 1931 . 182 feet on one wind up for the loco! Regarding the ERECTOR. Imagine a parent's face when the son says,"I am going up to my room to play with my ERECTOR". Definately different times!

Hundreds of jobs at risk as Fastway parent company enters receivership Hundreds of jobs at risk as Fastway parent company enters receivership Looks like that business model was unsustainable. Pity the blokes who have loans out for their vans.

If you look at the advertisement for BDV, down in the left hand corner is a signal box. If you enlarge it you will see that has "steps, one arm signal and candle holder." Must be for the lighting. No fancy wiring in those days!

I can imagine the Santa letter!