spudfan

For anyone that is interested the Dapol class 59 has finally hit the shops in the UK. Have ordered Natonal Power 59204. Comes in at €186.04 EUR including postage. Hattons do the VAT thing etc so it should come through O.K. Dapol 4D-005-003 Class 59/2 59204 "Vale of Glamorgan" in National Power (hattons.co.uk)

I think they need that squad to walk in front of the Luas and clear the people with eyes for their phones only out of the way.

Union Pacific HO Scale Model Train Diesel Locomotives (hobbylinc.com) Canadian HO Scale Model Train Diesel Locomotives (hobbylinc.com)

As you know the IRM crowd pride themselves on their attention to detail and model fidelity. So it comes as no surprise that the IRM fertiliser wagon, like it's CIE counterpart utilises plywood in it's construction. So I was wondering what did CIE use to keep their plywood fit for purpose as I'd like to treat my IRM fertiliser wagons with the same stuff. I was thinking of contacting IRM to find out if they intend to sell tins of it as an accessory item.

Regarding rotating axle hubs on the Guinness keg wagons and the fert wagons, where is the grease nipple situated? I'd like to give them a shot with the grease gun now and then to keep them running smoothly and quietly. I've checked the parts sheet but it is not identified on that. Anybody able to help?

Two Americans were on holiday in Dublin . They were in a night club. One of the Americans being the worst for wear on alcohol decided to go outside and get a taxi to the hotel they were staying in. At the end of the taxi journey he paid the fair went to his room and slept. The next morning his partner asked were he had disappeared to the night before. He explained about going outside and getting a taxi to the hotel. "The nightclub is in the hotel" his partner replied.

Yes I did buy some Guinness kegs and a rake of Irish Ferts from the IRM site this weekend too. Now I am wondering if "Irish Ferts" could be passed off as a fertility clinic. All I need is a sample jar and get the Mrs to post it off to IRM Towers. I'll tell the Mrs IRM stands for Irish Reproductive Management....Playing with trains is not as simple as it used to be.

I am trying to convince the Mrs that "Tara Mines" is a woman and that I am having an affair with....

Thanks for the heads up. I missed out on the "Dickie Taras" so I nailed five packs of blue Taras for €230 with this offer as a consolation. Sent to my daughter's UK address. She will be home for Christmas...hope she remembers to bring these!!!

Could not get any of these. Ah well maybe next time....

I asked that and was told not at the moment. You will only be able to order them from the site when they are listed. I'll be watching it closely in the hope that I can buy some.

I have heard that some modern locos suffer from "mazak" rot. By the looks of this model it should be safe from this disease but how sure can you be it will not suffer from woodworm in the future? It could decimate your whole collection.

As the title says...provided you have the space and the crew have had their Weetabix! SJ Tc - Wikipedia

For a new model idea, how about the pilgrimmage train to knock. This would allow IRM to fit a sound chip to relay the sound of the Rosary being said by the pilgrims on board. So with the GM yoke (or yokes) up the front fitted with a sound chip for the engine (or engines if double headed) and the carraiges fitted with speakers relaying the pilgrims reciting the rosary, it would be an interesting combination.....

From memory it was almost like a return to wagon load traffic! The speed limit allowed the fetiliiser wagon to be stuck behind anything that was travelling to Derry. Never saw anything closely resembling a block train of fertiliser wagons in Derry.

Thinking of adding some interior detailing to my 141/181 fleet. Which side is the steering wheel on? I presume the 071 class is the same?

Well we know what E = mc2 means but for the life of me I cannot figure out how,Qatar and the World Cup are compatable. Some mysteries are just not meant to be solved

That brings back memories. Freight yard Heuston, R.I.P.

Funding deal clears the way for Germany’s €49 monthly ticket | News | Railway Gazette International

This is wonderful news. Considering the energy and materials than went in to producing these models, let alone the packaging, it would be criminal to bin them. Living in Donegal I cannot attend the shows so hopefully I will be able to secure a rake when they are announced on the website. My fear is that someone will block buy these and put them on EBAY. Whatever little faults they have will not be noticeable when running around behind an 071 or an "A" class. Other manufacturers have sold wagons with bigger "compromises" than this little fault for full price for years on end. I hope this policy is continued by IRM with other stock like locomotives. If a batch arrives with a fault or are not up to their usual Himalayan standard, don't bin them but sell them on with the issue clearly listed.

You complain to An Post and someone low down will get it in the neck because someone higher up is looking after his patch. Complain to a courier company and you will have an easier time talking to the occupants of the International Space Station using semaphore.

Looks like that Rembrandt I have on the kitchen wall will be going on EBAY....

I remember the barges and the workshops. My aunt lived in Fatima Mansions so I spent time there. I remember the barge repair area well. It was possible to spend time with the kids I new from Fatima Mansions at the canal, the barge sheds then nip down to catch the Guinness express going between various parts of the St James's Gate complex not far from Pimlico. We were easily amused but I have fond memories of the time and the place.

Just an aside to the above. When the design of the proposed ore wagons, whether to replace or compliment, the existing fleet is announced, I wonder if it would be possible for a model railway manufacturer to get access to the proposed plans and then issue models of the new wagons to coincide with the release into traffic of the real life stock?

Which would explain "including a sub-fleet of up to 30 ore wagons, ". But I thought that the wagons on the Tara mines block trains were owned by Tara mines.