spudfan

Would not be enough head room.... Could have got a job on the old CIE pilgrimmage train to knock. Penance would start as soon as you heard him over the loud speakers. Listening to him is bound to be worth more than any bare foot and tea shennanigans.

The difference between Donald Trump and me. If Stormy Daniels had an affair with me I'd be telling every one about i

Well the loco failed to arrive this week so I contacted Hattons yesterday. The paperwork for the missing loco was completed by them. I was offered a refund or to have another loco sent to me. I opted for a replacement loco, to be sent to my daughter in N. Ireland. This was sent today. The service and communications from Hattons has been superb, especially as it was an issue not of their making.

A little snippet of info here on some safety equipment installed at Connolly Valeting Plant in Dublin. Connolly - Warning System - Zonegreen Some more stuff here, if you have a slow day. Zonegreen Products - Zonegreen

During the early 80's I was in Belfast. It was the time when you got searched going through a barrier to the city centre. There was always a male officer and a female officer present so the correct officer could do the frisk down. I had long hair at the time. When I approached the barrier I was asked "Male or female?" I was tempted to say female as I'd get frisked by the female officer.....

Bye bye Johnny Fean. Great memories of the local dance hall in the early eighties...

The wife....

Bonnet catch seems faulty or do we just need to slam them closed?

I would like some one to produce a track maintenance crew that includes the bloke with the bottle of meths and a rag cleaning the railhead....

This arrived this morning. Don't know how I have managed to keep my layout going without these gadgets. I don't think Marks Models are a stockist yet. Full Range of Clipping Equipment - Pandrol

I ordered a loco from Hattons on 20 March. Dispatched 21 March but has not arrived yet. Royal mail say as it is untracked to allow 25 working days for it to arrive. That will be 28 April. I ordered something from Hattons before Christmas and it was dispatched on 13 December 2022 and it came just after Christmas. Hattons said if it has not arrived by 29 April to get back on to them and they will open a missing package case with Royal Mail for me. Never had any issues with Hattons, their service is first rate. Anyway I will keep the parish updated on how things develope.

Watching the Shelbourne/Dundalk match on RTE2 and I notice one of the food vendors is parked right outside the public toilets. Must be short on space at Tolka Park!

There are lots of places to read this. Eamonn Ryan does mention putting more freight on to rail in this piece. Kildare Nationalist — Eamon Ryan raises climate concerns about Dublin Port expansion | Kildare Nationalist (kildare-nationalist.ie)

Ellis Clark enter the 00 arena with these coaches. Probably will not suit anyone here but here are some links. Ellis Clark Trains OO Gauge C2001A Quad Art Set No. 74, LNER Teak, Pre - Clark Railworks OO Gauge Quad Art Coaches - Clark Railworks

Yep, imagine going to the local motor factors. "Hello, I need some filler" " How much do you want?" " How much have you got?".

Joe Biden parks up near my daughter...

Saw some stills from it at the talk tonight. Look out for the red steam engine on the back of a low loader going through Barnesmore gap. The red really stands out!

Not happening yet but hopefully there is something in the offing. I particularly like the bit about scrapping some of the greenways and getting more support for freight. There is also the snippet about a rail line from Letterkenny to Derry. Been mooted for years but it is nice to see these things put down on paper. Hope this paper does not get filed away with the other bits of pro rail reports. Officials to bypass Stormont deadlock to publish review of island's rail network (msn.com)

If you go on to the map you can see the track complete with point and buildings. You would have a great time going back and forwards shunting and getting your mrs to change the point for you!

Features and description Freehold Former station house converted in the 1990s Unique opportunity to purchase a diesel locomotive and stretch of track (in addition) Flexible accommodation to suit a range of purchasers Kitchen with aga. 2 spacious reception rooms 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms Elevated setting with far reaching views Built of stone under a slated roof Spacious garden with lawns and a terrace EPC Rating = F Converted station house with the opportunity to purchase and own your own locomotive and private train track 6 bed detached house for sale in Saughtree Station, Newcastleton, Roxburghshire TD9 - Zoopla Before you start salivating, it is in the UK.

Here is a press release regarding the reinstatement of the railway in Donegal. It was released sometime ago when Shane Ross had the reins. No progress yet. Issued on 1st April......

Hope to be able to attend this

The whole article is printed above.

A Scooby Doo mystery? No this is serious stuff. Don't know how there have been no accidents with these unscheduled trains running about. Freight operator investigates whether ghost trains are haunting its network | News | Railway Gazette International SOUTH AFRICA: Transnet has started investigating allegations of ‘ghost trains’ on its network, following reports that services may be operating which are not formally scheduled, with the revenue not flowing back to the national freight operator. In a statement on March 27, Transnet emphasised that ‘these serious allegations have not yet been accompanied by supporting evidence’. It had therefore referred them for independent investigation. Whistle-blowers are to be approached for further details, and statements sought from any implicated staff and customers. Transnet said that ‘to the extent that the allegations are proven correct’, it intends to ‘act swiftly’.

Bayern battery trains technically possible but expensive, study finds | News | Railway Gazette International GERMANY: Replacing diesel trains in the Bayerischen Wald with battery traction would be technically possible but require infrastructure investment of up to €32m and have a lead time of at least 10 years, according to a study undertaken by Technische Universität Dresden for Bayern railway agency BEG. The study looked at the Bayerwald network which comprises services RB35 Plattling – Deggendorf – Zwiesel – Bayerisch Eisenstein, RB36 Zwiesel – Grafenau, and RB 37 Zwiesel – Bodenmais. Trains are currently operated by Die Länderbahn under the Waldbahn brand. The Land intends to require the use of CO2-neutral vehicles from the start of the next operating contract in December 2034. ‘We want all regional transport in Bayern to be emission-free by 2040 at the latest, including in the Bayerischen Wald’, said Bayern’s Minister of Transport Christian Bernreiter on April 4. ‘Since the routes there can certainly not be completely electrified in the medium term, we are looking around for alternatives in good time. The results of the study are an important first basis for decision making. To be honest, they are also a bit sobering in terms of time and cost.’ The high cost would mainly be down to a need for ‘electrification islands’ where the batteries could be recharged; Plattling station is currently the only place on the Bayerwald network which is electrified. BEG has commissioned TU Dresden to undertake a second study which will look at hydrogen and hybrid traction, as well as the potential impact of proposed electrification of the Czech line from Klatovy to the border station at Bayerisch Eisenstein which would reduce the need for electrification islands in Bayern. The report is expected later this year. The Land and DB Netz are also discussing how axleloads could be increased to permit the use of modern rolling stock. ‘In terms of climate protection, rail travel is already vastly superior to the car’, said BEG board member Thomas Prechtl. ‘Nevertheless, we would like to further expand this advantage and make regional transport completely climate-neutral. Which traction technology is most suitable depends to a large extent on the rail infrastructure; there is no one-size-fits-all solution. That’s why we are taking a very close look at each individual route.’ Deutsche Bahn has put forward plans to electrify the route from Nürnberg to Amberg and Furth im Wald, raise the maximum speed of sections to 160 km/h, and enable long freight trains to pass at Hiltersdorf and Freihöls.