spudfan

110hp for €56,000 as Chinese brand aims to shake up Irish tractor market or so the headline says. 110hp for €56,000 as Chinese brand aims to shake up Irish tractor market (msn.com) Prices excluding VAT: 25hp €19,995, 40hp €23,495, 75hp €32,995, 90hp €52,995, 100hp €54,495, 110hp €55,995, 130hp €64,995. Wonder how this venture will go. Could tempt someone in the market for a second hand known brand. Quality control and parts availability will determine whether these tractors succeed here or not.

I know this has been in the news as of late but this paragraph from Mr Ryan caught my eye. .Ireland’s Minister for Transport, Climate, Environment & Communications Eamon Ryan commented that ’in the 1920s, Ireland had one of the best rail networks in the world. We’re reviving that network with new lines for people and freight, half-hourly frequencies, higher speeds, electrification and an all island approach.’ Here's the full article. EUROPE: The draft All-Island Strategic Rail Review has been published, making 30 recommendations for development of the railways in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. These include expanding the total network from 2 300 to 2 950 km, along with electrification, higher speeds and more frequent services. In 2021 the Department of Transport in Ireland and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland jointly commissioned engineering firm Arup to produce the review. This was intended to inform the development of the island’s railway system to 2050, in line with Net Zero emissions commitments in both jurisdictions. The report makes 30 recommendations. EUROPE: The draft All-Island Strategic Rail Review has been published, making 30 recommendations for development of the railways in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. These include expanding the total network from 2 300 to 2 950 km, along with electrification, higher speeds and more frequent services. In 2021 the Department of Transport in Ireland and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland jointly commissioned engineering firm Arup to produce the review. This was intended to inform the development of the island’s railway system to 2050, in line with Net Zero emissions commitments in both jurisdictions. The report makes 30 recommendations. 1. Develop and implement an All-Island Rail Decarbonisation Strategy. The proposals include AC electrification of inter-city routes, with battery or hydrogen trains on slower or shorter journeys. 2. Develop plans to invest in skills, supply chains and rolling stock to deliver decarbonisation. 3. Procure hybrid and electric rolling stock in the medium term. Inter-city recommendations 4. Enhance the cross-country rail network to double-track, with four-track sections in places, and increase service frequencies. 5. Upgrade the core inter-city network for 200 km/h operation; the review concluded that the benefits of a fully segregated 300km/h high speed rail ‘would be significantly outweighed by the costs’. 6. Develop short sections of new alignment on congested corridors. 7. Develop an east-west tunnel across Dublin to connect the Dublin – Belfast corridor with Heuston station. Regional and rural recommendations 4. Enhance the cross-country rail network to double-track, with four-track sections in places, and increase service frequencies. 5. Upgrade the core inter-city network for 200 km/h operation; the review concluded that the benefits of a fully segregated 300km/h high speed rail ‘would be significantly outweighed by the costs’. 6. Develop short sections of new alignment on congested corridors. 7. Develop an east-west tunnel across Dublin to connect the Dublin – Belfast corridor with Heuston station. Regional and rural recommendations 15. Develop the railway to boost connectivity in the North Midlands: reinstating the railway between Portadown, Cavan, Mullingar, and Athlone would address several regional connectivity gaps. Building a new link between Maynooth and Adamstown and double-tracking the railway to Mullingar would also add capacity to support services to this region 16. Integrate bus and train timetables to connect communities where direct rail access proves to be unviable, in places such as Donegal, Enniskillen, Cookstown and Downpatrick. Sustainable cities recommendations 17. Connect Dublin, Belfast International, and Shannon airports to the railway and improve existing rail-air connections. 18. Double-tracking between Antrim and Monkstown to enable more frequent local services to the north and east of Belfast. 19. Segregate long-distance and faster trains from stopping services. 20. Explore the case for developing new stations in the Belfast, Cork, Derry~Londonderry (including a spur to Limavady), and Limerick-Shannon city regions. Freight recommendations 21. Develop sustainable first and last-mile rail access for Dublin port , as ‘without this connection, there are limited options for growing rail freight’. 22. Reduce track access charges for freight, which are ‘very high’ compared to other European railways. 23. Strengthen rail connectivity to the busiest ports including Foynes for Limerick, Waterford, Marino Point for Cork and Rosslare Europort. 24. Develop a network of inland terminals close to major cities on the rail network; potential locations include the Upper Bann area for Northern Ireland, Limerick Junction, a location north of Cork, Athenry for Galway, Sligo and west of Dublin. Customer experience recommendations 5. Continue to invest in initiatives that deliver a seamless customer journey, such as improved information provision and catering. 26. Continue to benchmark and monitor service quality and deliver continuous improvement. 27. Ensure future rolling stock specifications are aligned to the infrastructure-led interventions, including increasing the size and/or speed of the fleet. 28. Improve integration within rail and between rail and other transport options. 29. Clock-face timetabling. 30. Develop structures to improve the effectiveness of cross-border infrastructure and rail service planning. Next steps The last date to submit feedback is September 29 2023. It is anticipated that the final review will then be published around the end of the year. Each of the proposed projects would be subject to feasibility, option and environmental assessments. The implementation timelines involve three periods: short-term interventions to be completed by 2030, medium-term between 2030 and 2040, and long-term between 2040 and 2050. The capital cost of full implementation in Ireland is estimated at €27·6bn at 2023 prices, and £7·7bn in Northern Ireland. Responses Ireland’s Minister for Transport, Climate, Environment & Communications Eamon Ryan commented that ’in the 1920s, Ireland had one of the best rail networks in the world. We’re reviving that network with new lines for people and freight, half-hourly frequencies, higher speeds, electrification and an all island approach.’ Irish national railway Iarnród Éireann said the review ‘is hugely welcome, both in setting a strategic framework for the future development of our rail network and services, and in illustrating how central rail will be to Ireland’s sustainable transport network’. It ‘builds on our existing investment programme, which is seeing record investment in both passenger and freight, at a hugely exciting time for all’. Rail Users Ireland said the proposals would ‘go a long way to address many of the shortcomings and gaps in the current network and passenger experience’. However, it said ‘little from the previous 2003 review was done and there are reports going back to 1975 still pending’, and so ‘the challenge is to convert the theory into investment and to make this real. This is not government policy nor is any element funded.’

Cleaned out the car after the Mrs has been using it.

HoW de YiH NO if DeH spilll ChEKKKeR iS WURKinG ON DIh LuPTiP?

Came across this unusual item Though to HO it would look well on any layout. It's gas cylinder bottles in cages. HO Cargo gas bottles | HO gauge (modellbahnunion.com)

You mean to say that you are not all young, single, good looking females here? I thought we were communicating in code. My day is ruined now. Whoever heard of grown men talking about model trains on the internet?

"Brake sparks when braking hard." is listed in the specs. Wonder how they do that. Probably more noticeable in the dark....fire extinguisher to hand! 2

If you nothing better to do you can compare the specs on this HO gauge class 77 (the European class 66) and the forth coming Accurascale ex Hattons 00 gauge class 66. diesel loco Class 77 MEG DC/AC Digital Sound | HO gauge (modellbahnunion.com)

This is part of an interview with Jim Meade the Chief Executive of Iaranrod Eiteann. It is a very wide ranging interview. Hope you can read this. It runs to six pages in the latest issue of Railway Gazette International.

Something useful for keeping your tracks in order, but I do not think it is compatible with Peco track.... TransAlert.Com Bookstore

What I got from this is the following. It may not be a "new" flow per se but with the volume of 20 containers a day it would be a dedicated stand alone flow. Also the rail connection to the company's premises implies a steady flow of traffic.

Iarnród Éireann has begun transporting containers of medical products from Ballina to Waterford for Baxter Healthcare and XPO Logistics. Planning is underway for a rail connection to the Baxter Healthcare site in Castlebar, with traffic envisaged at more than 20 containers/day. ‘We know Baxter and others are ambitious to do more, which is why our Rail Freight 2040 Strategy envisages a five-fold increase in rail freight services’, said Glenn Carr, IÉ’s Director of Commercial Business Units. ‘We are working with industry, logistics companies, and government agencies to develop the infrastructure and ensure the policy framework exists to meet this demand.’ Taken from World rail freight news round-up | News | Railway Gazette International

It seems with model trains getting more technical with decoders and powerful speakers the ESB are recommending you upgrade your electricity connection if you plan on running more than one locomotive on your layout.

Three different forms of propulsion to enter service, battery, diesel and hydrogen. Joule battery loco unveiled ahead of trial | News | Railway Gazette International First Dr19 diesel locomotive enters service | News | Railway Gazette International Hydrogen shunting loco plan | News | Railway Gazette International

Well according to the news tonight there is a shortage of over the counter medicine. Probably claim it is to relieve stress caused by wrongful arrest...

Because my order was over a certain threshold I got to chose something free up to a certain value. I chose this to help the track maintenance crew.

Modellbahn Union have a freight sale on until 15 May. In the Dapol section they have inner Yeoman O and K JHA wagons for €25 and outers for €30. Tiphook telescopic rail wagons for €20. Yellow IOA bogie ballast wagons for €12.99. As they are in the EU ordering should be straight forward. Delivery either DHL or UPS. Dapol - Freight wagons » Gauge H0 & 00 | Model Railway Union (modellbahnunion.com)

The Mrs had hung some washing on the clothes line, including some of her underwear. All I said was "Who owns the parachute?"

I do not think that electrification of our rail network will happen. A lot of our tunnels and bridges just have the bare minimum clearance for the current stock. To get over head catenary throughout would probably need a complete rebuild of these. That effects the road as well as raising the bridge or tunnel means a complete new road approach and alignment. This would not be a close the line over night or at weekends effort. This would be a major shutdown of the line for months on end. Even if there are parts of the network suitable for electrification there will be other parts where non electrified traction would be needed. Maybe third rail electrification might suit but that has other issues. I do not think it is anyway "green" to ditch the 071 class purely on emissions based reasoning. They have been modified since first entering service and no doubt will continue to be. To mine raw materials, manufacture parts, transport them, take into account emissions caused by people travelling to work to make a "greener" loco it will be better to leave the 071 locos in service. If we lived somewhere like India where they are building new railway lines, some specifically for freight, then buying new traction makes sense.

Fair enough the heart wants what the heart wants. Some of this pricing brings to mind the old adage "A fool and his money etc...." or in some cases "A fool and his wife's money..."

Yes, I got some of this stuff a few years ago in kit form from Hobbylinc, in the USA. Very easy make. Here they are. They look very well even if they are to HO scale.

The replacement loco arrived this morning. Great service from Hattons.

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