spudfan

Having a good look at 135 and I see it has the sand filler high up on the front of the nose. One thing I am not taken with are the high level hand rails along the side. They look very "plasticky", might be just the photo perspective. Also the body looks to be coloured plastic and not spray painted. Probably wrong but that is the impression I get. I will need to see one in the flesh to give it a proper examination.

Got an e-mail from Hattons with photos of the 121's as painted samples. They expect the silver/yellow in August 2020 with the rest to follow later.

Hope the link works. https://www.railwaygazette.com/luas-extension-consultation-as-dublins-trams-get-longer/57100.article?utm_source=MRnewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Story 1&utm_campaign=MRnewsletter- 20200805 Here is the text just incase the link does not work. IRELAND: Public consultation has begun on the Luas Finglas proposal to extend Dublin’s Green light rail line by 3·9 km from the current terminus at Broombridge. This would add four stops at St Helena’s, Finglas Village, Mellowes Park and a 600-space park-and-ride site beside the junction of the M50 and N2 at Charlestown The National Transport Authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland have invited comments on the preferred route for Luas Finglas, which would mostly use grassed track and would include a cycle and pedestrian path alongside much of the alignment. ‘The extension of the Luas to Finglas is a clear example of the kind of progress we are making in planning to invest in ambitious and exciting sustainable transport’, said Anne Graham, CEO of the National Transport Authority. ‘I believe that Luas has the potential to be transformative for this part of the city and that it will further enhance the area for people who live here, work here, or want to run a business here Meanwhile, the first of eight new 55 m long Alstom Citadis trams has entered passenger service, with all expected to be in operation by early 2021. ‘Dublin was one of the first cities in the world to adopt Citadis trams and now passengers rely on them in over 50 cities worldwide’, said Nick Crossfield, Managing Director of Alstom in Ireland and the UK, on July 28. ‘With this brand new 55 m tram, the longest we have ever built, Dublin is leading the world again.’ Work to extend 26 of the existing 44 m trams to 55 m is also well underway, with 13 of the extended trams now in passenger service. The 55 m trams can carry around 100 more passengers than the shorter version. The Luas fleet will reach a total of 81 trams by early 2021, with 41 being 55 m long, increasing capacity on the busiest sections of the network by nearly 30%.

Yes and some funny looking "yokes" in it!!!

I was shifting some hazardous material today and I had a bit of a mishap. Luckily the clean up team were not far away. The wife has me quarantined in the shed

Doubtful. The wife is a vintage item and there is not much interest in her.

So probably not much use for this now...

There are some good photos and descriptions of both the shale wagon and the Tara mines wagons in the very informative "Locomotives and Rolling Stock of Irish Rail and Northern Ireland Railways"

Here is another shot which shows just how cramped the yard is. I presume land was sold off.

I found the photo of the 071 chocked. They are on the first and second wheels of the front bogie. They are just two wooden wedges on the end of a piece of rope. One set per wheel. Can't beat old technology!!!

Sadly things did not work out as I had hoped. I did get a few shots there a number of years ago of an 071 with wooden chocks being placed at the wheels when it came off the train. They are on the site somewhere. It must be a common occurance as the loco was driven and parked by the chocks. They were removed later when the loco moved but left by the tracks, for the next loco I presume.

Thanks

Might be near Ballina tomorrow afternoon. Would there be anything going on freight wise at the yard?

I was wondering what the noise was..

knocks my Mrs out of the equation....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/373025042983 Don't forget you can get a grant whenever the thatch comes up for renewal.

You would assume that the lads in the paint shop up in Inchicore would have that sorted by now.....

Who was that said "Be careful what you wish for"? Little did we know how it would affect us and our balance of payments. Still some one else said "You can't take it with you". I'd have to get some off the Mrs to take it with me, but I do intent to take my rolling stock with me. It'll put Tutankamun's hoard to shame!!!

The mm 121 class will be with us shortly and they can hardly be classed as current IR stock (black and tan, original silver seem to be popular preorders)) also the "A" class is eagerly awaited again hardly "current" rolling stock. Just because the 201 is currently running on our rails does not mean someone will want to buy it. If they want a 141/181 they want a 141/181. Regarding 141/181, when they were initially issued MM had the development costs to recoup. If they were reissued as is, surely having no development cost to recoup could be reflected in the price? Maybe that would allow a price point below the 121 or the "A" class. By all means keep additional unrepresented models coming but not everyone has the where withall to fulfil their needs when a model hits the shops. Me, I would like one of the small CIE shunters. It would be great for someone entering the hobby. Add in a couple of IRM wagon packs, some sidings and you are set up. Anyway it is refreshing that we can argue over something like this. Not so many years ago there would have been nothing there to argue over!

And it is not "The Sound of Silence"...

The Wife...….

To me I would accept a new 141/181 reissue as they are. They are still a high quality locomotive. If the moulds are in an acceptable condition there would be no retooling costs. I can happily live without some of the latest super dooper detailing. Anyone who missed out on the 141/181 earlier issue would be only too glad to purchase them as they are. If reissued as they are and if it is not up to the standard you want just don't buy them.

Not much info but here is the link. Any thing like this is good news. https://www.railwaygazette.com/freight/ballina-waterford-freight-trains-to-resume/56860.article

And then there's this https://www.railwaygazette.com/infrastructure/iarnrod-eireann-awards-national-traffic-management-system-contract/56766.article Remember the big investment in the 201 class? Then they had an about face regarding loco hauled passenger services.