jhb171achill

No, not at all. The black'n'tan started appearing in earnest in late 1962, but was really making itself known from 1963 on. It had been trialled in 1961. So BnT is fine in your era. The "supertrain" version (all orange / tan, with broad black stripe covering window level, orange roofs etc., was first introduced in 1972, though Cravens would never carry it. Only locos and air-con stock. So, through the era you're looking at, mid 60s, you have this, in terms of visitors from CIE to the north (UTA): A class: Some black, some black with yellow panel on end, some black'n'tan; mostly to be seen on goods. 121 class: 1962-5 - grey and yellow, but gradually becoming BnT; I think the last one in grey was about 1967. 141 class: never anything other than BnT (until "supertrain" era post-72). 101 class: a very. very rare animal indeed north of Dublin; indeed most of their activity was always in a rough triangle Cork - Limerick - Waterford. However, the occasional visit north, usually on the goods, would have seen a green one head for Porteeedown and then probably go back to Dublin. I am unaware of any 101 ever making it to Belfast, and the only pics I've ever seen of them on the GNR are taken between Dublin and Dundalk - it's possible they mightn't even have got north of there. An A class made it to Monaghan at least once, while BnT 141s with CIE stock made it onto the Derry Road during 1963. As far as I'm aware, no C ever went north of Dundalk, though i stand to be corrected on that. In your era, CIE coaching stock was a mix of let's say 10 BnT coaches to every one still in green. The green used was what was applied to the TPO at Downpatrick and G611 before they were as badly faded as they are now, or the diner in Cultra. The RPSI is not known for correct liveries, unfortunately, (and nor is Cultra....don't start me!) but that one's about right. The loco-hauled "Enterprise" was a mix of ex-GNR coaches now in CIE livery, and things like laminates or Park Royals. Cravens would appear in the mix - but never a full rake - until the troubles were in full swing, when they went back to laminates as they didn't want to risk having good carriages blown up in the north. The UTA / NIR "Enterprise" went through phases. The GNR AEC railcars were in use in the 60s on this service. the last steam one was about 1963, as far as I remember - I saw it (with UTA ex-GNR stock). The railcars were all in UTA dark green (not unlike what the Whitehead Mk 2 set has today) by about 1962/3, having been repainted out of the GNR navy & cream. Next, the new 70 class started on the Enterprise. These were what would become the familiar maroon and light grey - but this was still UTA days; NIR, on their inception some 18 months later, would use this as their standard livery until the maroon and blue appeared on the new Hunslet-drawn Enterprise in 1970. For a while in the mid 60s, some of the old GNR AEC sets were repainted in a mid-blue and creamcolour system, with silver roofs, for the Enterprise. This was very short lived, as were several other "regional" liveries used by the UTA for a year or two. Most stuff, of course, was dark green. A bit of a clumsily put together account, but I hope it helps.

Sam, if you're looking at the time when NIR was coming into existence, you've just missed the last GNR locos. NIR started off with one of the Sligo tanks, restricted to York Road and docks, and nothing else but Jeeps. A RTR "Jeep" is long overdue, but with such a small market probably not likely to appear any time soon. All varieties of NIR railcars of the day are best scratchbuilt, though reasonable approximations can be made by serious kitbashing of some British types of railcars. It all depends on your wallet, available time and skills. You will find the community here to be of immense help with every possible aspect of railway modelling, and along the way you will gain great inspiration from some of the amazing layouts you'll see scenes from here. If you go back just before NIR, say mid 60s, you've got the Derry Road and Warrenpoint branch as inspiration, both with superb scenery, and a few GNR locos still bumbling about. U and UG classes will predominate, perhaps a D class 0.6.0, and of course the occasional 4.4.0 still - though no longer blue! Either ("S" class) in lined UTA black, or covered with such a layer of filth and grime that virtually no blue is visible at all..... For loco hauled stock, it you can get something to resemble a Jeep - some sort of British Stanier tank with surgery carried out - you can use a number of standard RTR Hornby / Bachmann carriages of LMS parentage, just repainted either UTA green or the early NIR loco hauled livery of all maroon, with a 3" light grey line at waist level. So there's your Sunday School specials to Portrush covered.

Absolutely top class as always, Jason.

PM me, sayhall, I may be able to help.

I’ve a few dozen of these from the last half dozen years or so. Can meet in Dublin or occasionally Belfast. Price: zero europounds.

As described - my dad had it. Initials “H.H.” and “J Mc V” scored on it. £30 / €35 ......and whoooo hoooo! The pics are the right way up!

It would be common enough, especially on local workings, to see engines working tender first......

Show us the actual track plan you have at present and suggestions can follow!

No official announcement yet, but I am aware of what's going on in the background. Funding is available and budgets finalised. Archictects, designers and others are working on it as we speak. A meeting this day last week started the ball rolling with all of the various advisors and interested parties planning the practicalities of a way forward. Email exchanges in the last few days have finalised further matters, and all concerned with putting the whole thing in place will meet with local councillors shortly. While it's impossible to be certain, the plan is that it will be substantially advanced on the ground next spring.

Just thought of another thing.... if your model is based in UTA times (1958-65 for the Derry Road), while in reality highly unlikely, it is certainly possible that a UTA coach of ex-NCC origin might have appeared there. There are a number of British LMS wooden-bodied ready-to-run coaches which are like types the NCC had - so a coat of UTA green and away ye go!

Superb stuff. How much longer before the Greenway Lycra Taliban get their mitts on it?

Tony - SSM do a kit of a K15 and a matching brake 3rd, in brass. I know they're not ready to run an that your main emphasis is on freight (Leslie's GNR vans, open wagons and cattle wagons will be an essential buy). And typically, a train in Omagh would have more likely had a wooden panelled brake third, not a steel-sided one. I seem to recall seeing several RTR British coaches which while not at all suitable for purists, with a coat of brown paint and some SSM transfers, would make a reasonable approximation to some GNR stock. I'll try to remember which! Two carriages would do you well. If IRM, or anyone, ever do a RTR 2-car AEC set, there's another for you. A set in navy and cream, and one in ITA green would look amazing! Glad you've got the GNR locos. I suppose an appeal now and again for anyone selling one might get you a third for a bit of variety - another 0.6.0 maybe.

That's very nice, Tony, and it shows the value of perseverance and thinking it through thoroughly. It's better to try different things, as you have done, rather than settle for something which could be better. Despite the available space, which like in my own case is limited, those are very "flowing" curves and the whole thing looks great. You had said it would be "wagons only" but a set-up like that would certainly allow future inclusion of the sort of two-coach train seen on Derry - Strabane - Omagh locals, and indeed on Enniskillen trains in latter days. I've seen photos at Fintona Jct. of the "main line" train heading from Enniskillen to Foyle Road, consisting of a U class and just two carriages. Your goods yard also looks great - the buildings are superb too. The curved sidings seem to fit in perfectly. Looking good!

I'll keep trying, Steven.... could be my PC as the interweb reception here isn't great the past few days.

Fran, Pat et al; I am sure I speak for the vast majority here in appreciating your practical approach to your various projects. It is refreshing to see this type of interaction (same as with ECM trains a few years ago), where the manufacturer engages with potential clients. Not all is practical, or ever will be; but where it is, this is the best way to go about it. It simply isn't possible to realistically model the 1980s / 90s without beet, fert and bubbles. How often we see superb layouts, with excellent locomotives and coaches, all perfectly modelled, weathered, and in keeping with the era portrayed; then around the corner comes a 141 or a 201 trailing an identical rake of BR ventilated banana vans with a BR brake van endowed with a CIE roundel! Leslie, for the four wheeled era, SSM and IRM, also Irish Freight Models and others I may have missed, have made this unnecessary. It is equally impossible to model 1950-86 - a FAR longer period, without AEC railcars. A powered and unpowered one are really needed. The unpowered one could have an option of being used as a pre-Dart push/pull as well. Such a basic body shape will cover the GNR, CIE, UTA and NIR, through three decades almost. They never ran singly, therefore a pair would be necessary. For what my tuppence ha'penny is worth, I'd certainly want two pairs, maybe three. Despite this post not being up 24 hours, as seen above others have already indicated a similar interest. Liveries included GNR navy & cream, UTA green, NIR maroon and grey, CIE green and black'n'tan. (I'd hate to see one in ICR or NIR "red bull" livery!). Also, I would echo what others have said in terms of buying a good few Park Royals or whatever you decided to do from the CIE 1955-70 stable. Shtick me on the order list.

I'm digging this up because the title of the thread is relevant. IRM have, as we have lately seen, to be complimented on the way they ask questions of their customers and listen to the answers, then explain what issues THEY must deal with before producing another high-end model. The ballasts, cements, and now ferts are a great addition. I wonder, though, would IRM consider perhaps taking one of the varieties of laminates not already covered by other manufacturers, or even an AEC railcar, and making an equally high-End RTR model of one of those?

That is an absolutely superb story. Best wishes to your daughter.

That didn't seem to work either......

Link doesn't work.....?

This is an absolutely stupendous feat of modelling! I know this area very well myself, and have done since I was a small child, so I'm well aware of how perfectly it has captured the atmosphere of the area. A strongly built-up cityscape is an extremely hard thing to do convincingly and this has carried it off so well. Once "scenery-fied", it will be an absolute masterpiece. Very well done, and like many here i look forward to seeing progress taking place, Doubtless many of a certain age here are aware that under the brown paint on the balconies of the flats, are tiled murals of black'n'tan carriages...... These were put in place in the 1960s.

Wowwww!! Superb stuff....I recognise some of my American tourists in the Emerald Isle Express.... !

The wheels, and things like buffers bought off the shelf, and perhaps other bits and pieces, will tell whether a model looks right. I suppose that track can be scratch built to any scale or gauge whatever.

I do have SOME exposure to 0 gauge, as jhbSenior had a vast coarse-scale 0 gauge enterprise in his loft many years ago. It had a double track main line, a branch loop which returned as a reversingloop to the main line, and a separate branch line. All 1920s stuff. I used to "play" with it when I was 12-14. Sadly, in his late old age he dismantled it and sold the lot.

It's all do-able, of course! I like the "Trump's IQ" bit - must remember that!

A "mini-Inchicore"? Excellent and unusual concept, best of luck with it.