amdaley

You're welcome. I've edited the post to include some more information. Tony.

Hi Keith. I used AI & this is what it came up with. Might be of some use to you ? Tony. https://www.google.com/search?q=Cashel+Railway+Station+(Tipperary)+plan&sca_esv=2d9245e2f52acf9d&sxsrf=APpeQntdY_t-yTxsoYOULhJhnkLw7BMdfw%3A1787326878451&ei=kXGIaozCCqyphbIPg_64-Q0&biw=1920&bih=951&uact=5&sclient=gws-wiz-serp&fbs=ABfTbFVyMZGZf1hfvX9uKjN_-G8c4u0nXx4bEIpwm1lnNH832foyYVA4mIlEKZ0sItIm3LbxU-AJ80DOjQOV6DbioVNL0F3PMHWuEJbg1N39GrV2akz5kJP0rl5WA6e2EcAJ_GV2sQf-CNlKNeUAUeeO0AiTCoJa6RQJrpPK1mJiMmgFUQHvU8qX2G_xjy0m6Wt1vqnoE3cx&aep=10&ntc=1&mstk=AUtExfBrJ_Uk8f3PiC-TYq6mp_2a8hGYm_8pVDthhjpyVPtRGsTJ3lNwzqDDor63IvWvXlpgkU0Kpt4OJdoaIig-GkyhXmN8w7RIL5XDKoSMo2UXN-Ui4xQPS52WxsxkE4h8OmNpW60ngmx2rW7dyqIBpQSaj3hOzM2C3sw9PH3oWdrJJi_RLe8Q1rO-L7J8zD5JVAxH6XCSvLFP_45XO6fH-I3bNTJRr81yNWS6ccu5SCyIp8D2zZ_XkoHrMeBxuDkRY0gr2y9t8UtYADEcZEc-bkBncbGYkOMwIfU&aioh=3&csuir=1&cs=0&atvm=2&udm=50 You said: Cashel Railway Station (Tipperary) track plan Cashel Railway Station (Tipperary) track plan 16:43 An accurate schematic track plan of Cashel Railway Station (Great Southern and Western Railway terminus) reveals a remarkably compact, textbook branch-line design. [1] The entire operational area can be easily replicated using standard modular model engineering formats. Schematic Track Plan text [Water Crane] | Line from +--------*--------+ [Goods Shed] Goold's Cross / \ ===================>========================*=====================*======== (Buffer) (Fiddle Yard) \ / [Run-Around Loop] [Main Platform] \ / *====================*-------------------------------- (Buffer) \ [Cattle Siding] \ +-------------------------------------------------- (Buffer) [Single-Engine Shed] Use code with caution. Step-by-Step Track Flow and Key Components The Approach: The single-line branch from Goold's Cross entry point drops straight into the layout's initial catchment points. [1, 2] The Main Run-Around Loop: The line instantly fans out into a passing loop system. This allows incoming locomotives to uncouple from arriving trains, move forward, reverse down the parallel loop track, and re-couple to the opposite end of the stock for the return trip. The Passenger Platform Line: Positioned on the upper side of the schematic layout. This single-sided terminal platform features the main station house structure and a dedicated line terminating directly at a set of buffer stops. The Goods Yard Siding: Stemming off the main loop, a single line routes freight wagons past the corrugated iron goods store and onto the cattle pens. A dedicated water tower crane sits prominently near this loop intersection. The Single-Engine Shed Siding: A bottom-facing trailing turnout provides access to the small single-stall engine shed, used for housing the branch tank locomotive or J15 overnight. [1] Modeler's Sourcing Toolkit To convert this schematic into structural CAD designs or exact 1:1 scale templates, refer to these primary research hubs: Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi) Historic Maps: Search UCD Digital Library or the official Tailte Éireann archives for the County Tipperary 25-inch scale maps (1:2,500) from the 1900–1920 revision cycles. These outline the exact alignment of the track turnouts and signal point placements. [1] Reference Threads: Review the ongoing scratchbuilding and geometry projects on the Irish Railway Modeller Forums, where community builders regularly archive custom turnouts and historical track blueprints. [1] Modeling Specs by Scale When adapting this prototype to commercial modeling standards, choose your dimensions based on your available space: [1] Scale / Gauge Standard Track Gauge Suggested Baseboard Size Minimum Turnout Radius OO Gauge (4mm/ft — most common) 16.5mm (Standard Streamline) 7 ft × 1.5 ft Medium Radius (Peco Code 75/100) O Gauge (7mm/ft — high detail) 32mm 14 ft × 2.5 ft Large / Fine Scale N Scale (2mm/ft — ultra compact) 9mm 3.5 ft × 1 ft Small Radius Note on Prototypical Accuracy: The real Cashel station used Irish Standard Gauge (5 feet 3 inches). Finescale modelers working in 4mm scale sometimes use 21mm gauge (TMD) track instead of standard 16.5mm OO gauge to replicate the exact broad tracking of Irish railways. Key Scenic Elements and Buildings The scenery of the Golden Vale creates a distinct, highly atmospheric backdrop. [1, 2] The Rock of Cashel Background: A painted or photographic backscene featuring the iconic Rock of Cashel rising from the landscape is non-negotiable for this specific layout. [1] Station Architecture: The main station terminal was a modest, single-story stone structure typical of late GS&WR builds. Scratchbuilding via plasticard or laser-cut MDF is required, as no ready-to-run models of Cashel exist. [1] The Corrugated Iron Goods Store: A small timber-framed, zinc-plated shed that sat adjacent to the tracks. Prototypical Rolling Stock To keep the layout period-accurate, run short branch-line consists matching the Great Southern and Western Railway (GS&WR) or Great Southern Railways (GSR) eras: Locomotives: The branch was famously served for most of its life by GS&WR 101 Class (GSR J15 Class) 0-6-0 locomotives (such as Locomotive No. 74). Ready-to-run models of the J15 are available in OO gauge from specialized Irish commissions (e.g., Murphy Models). Passenger Traffic: Typically just one or two 4-wheel or 6-wheel coaches, or a simple branch line composite coach. Goods Traffic: Short rakes of open wagons, corrugated goods vans, and open cattle trucks representing local agricultural freight. [1] Sourcing Historical Map Data Because the branch line closed in the mid-20th century, commercial track plan books will not carry it. To map your turnouts exactly: [1, 2, 3] Search the Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi) Historic Maps archive. [1] Look specifically for the 25-inch (1:2500) map sheets from the early 1900s, which clearly print the positions of the tracks, buffers, and signals at the Cashel terminus. [1, 2] To fit the Cashel track plan onto a physical baseboard, here are the calculated dimensions and space requirements for both OO Gauge (4mm/ft) and N Scale (2mm/ft). These dimensions account for a prototypical train length of a J15 locomotive + 3 small wagons/coaches + a brake van. OO Gauge Dimensions (1:76 Scale) The most popular choice for Irish railway modeling due to available rolling stock. Minimum Baseboard Size: 7 feet × 1.5 feet (213 cm × 45 cm) Optimal Baseboard Size (with Fiddle Yard): 10 feet × 1.5 feet (305 cm × 45 cm) Turnout Requirements: 4× Medium-Radius Left/Right Hand Turnouts (e.g., Peco Code 75 or Code 100) Track Length Breakdown: Run-Around Loop Length: 30 inches (76 cm) — Provides plenty of clearance for a small locomotive to clear its train. Goods/Cattle Siding Capacity: 24 inches (61 cm) — Holds roughly 5 to 6 short-wheelbase wagons. Engine Shed Spur: 12 inches (30 cm) — Perfect for a single J15 engine. N Scale Dimensions (1:148 Scale) Best if you have highly limited space or want to model the surrounding Tipperary countryside. Minimum Baseboard Size: 3.5 feet × 1 foot (106 cm × 30 cm) Optimal Baseboard Size (with Fiddle Yard): 5 feet × 1 foot (152 cm × 30 cm) Turnout Requirements: 4× Small or Medium-Radius Turnouts (e.g., Peco Code 55) Track Length Breakdown: Run-Around Loop Length: 15 inches (38 cm) Goods/Cattle Siding Capacity: 12 inches (30 cm) Engine Shed Spur: 6 inches (15 cm) Key Track-Laying Tips for this Plan The Fiddle Yard Extension: Remember that the station requires a hidden "fiddle yard" or staging track on one end to act as Goold's Cross. If space is tight, use a 3-foot removable cassette system or a folding baseboard extension so it doesn't take up permanent space in the room. Buffer Stop Alignment: In reality, the platform track and the loop track ended parallel to one another. Ensure your terminal buffers line up cleanly to make scratchbuilding the stone platform wall much easier. Uncoupling Points: Place uncoupling magnets (if using automatic couplers like Kadees or tension-locks) at both ends of the run-around loop so you can run around your trains smoothly without using the "hand of God." Historical Photographic Archive The original Lawrence Collection postcards from the early 1900s document the layout's unique character: The Approach View: Images from the curve leading into the station show the sweeping nature of the single track as it opens up into the run-around loop. The Infrastructure: Photos clearly capture the corrugated zinc goods shed, the simple platform canopy, and the modest stone station master's house. Motive Power: Several historic photographs prominently feature standard Great Southern and Western Railway (GS&WR) steam locomotives—such as the ubiquitous J15 class 0-6-0—waiting on the loop or platform lines with short rakes of timber goods wagons and six-wheel coaches. Wonderful view of Cashel Railway Station from The Rock. Must have ... Facebook Station Cashel Co Tipperary IRELAND RAILWAY OLD PHOTO ... eBay UK Railway Station, Cashel, Co. Tipperary TP-00327 - The Historical ... The Historical Picture Archive Wonderful view of Cashel Railway Station from The Rock. Must have ... Facebook Visual Details for Model Scratchbuilding If you are using these images to design structures for your scale layout, pay close attention to these specific features: The Canopy Construction: The platform canopy was a relatively lightweight timber-and-iron awning supported by simple columns, rather than a massive brick terminal roof. Ballast and Ground Texture: Ground photos show highly weathered, dark ash ballast typical of Irish branch lines, with grass and weeds growing close to the siding tracks. tructural Details & Material Textures The Main Station Building: An unusual feature for a GS&WR layout, the two-story station structure was constructed primarily out of timber and corrugated iron rather than heavy stone or brick. For model scratchbuilding, corrugated plasticard sheets or laser-cut iron roofing card are essential. [1] The Goods Store and Canopy: The freight area sat tightly alongside the loop line. The goods store featured standard timber framing clad in zinc-plated corrugated iron sheeting. Its awning was a lightweight, angled canopy supported by basic timber brackets attached to the main structure walls, rather than decorative cast-iron pillars. The Cattle Pens: Positioned at the extreme end of the goods siding, the cattle infrastructure used a heavy, thick timber post-and-rail fencing format. The ground around the pen layout was deeply grooved and textured with stone sets, which quickly became heavily weathered with dark mud and straw deposits. Signaling and Trackside Details Signal Post Design: As a standard late-period GS&WR layout, Cashel utilized classic lattice-iron or timber posts featuring standard lower-quadrant semaphore arms. Because it was a compact, low-speed terminal branch, signaling was minimalist. You only need a main home signal protecting the station throat approach, plus basic ground disc shunting signals near the loop turnouts. Point Rodding: Mechanical point rodding runs along the edge of the sleepers from the station cabin to the turnouts. It was mounted on small cast-iron stools placed just above the dark ash ballast level. Water Crane Structure: A lone, rotating water crane sat near the loop junction. It stood on a simple concrete base and featured a flexible leather hose attached to the swinging arm for filling the tanks of local 0-6-0 J15 steam engines. Scale Dimensions for Scratchbuilding The two-story station structure was unique because it was constructed using timber framing and corrugated iron sheets rather than heavy stone. This choice makes scratchbuilding the layout highly accessible using plastic materials. [1] Structural Blueprint Dimensions (OO Gauge / 4mm Scale) Building Element Prototype Dimension (Approx) OO Gauge Model Dimension Recommended Modeling Material Station House Footprint 40 ft × 20 ft 160 mm × 80 mm 1mm Plain Styrene Substructure Station Wall Height 22 ft (To roof apex) 88 mm Corrugated Styrene Sheet (Pikestuff/Slaters) Goods Store Footprint 30 ft × 15 ft 120 mm × 60 mm Corrugated Styrene Cladding Platform Canopy Projection 8 ft out from wall 32 mm Clear Acetate (Glazing) & Fine Wire Struts

A couple of the mills have names now. I suppose I better put a name on the warehouse as well ? I'd forgotten all about the poor warehouse Next is lighting in some of the buildings & on the platform I think. I also need to get that junction signal working. I'll try to tie it in with the point at the end of the platform. I'll see if I can work it off the IP Digital point motor ?

More detail added. Yard surface has been finished, entrance gates have also been added. Ballasting is also finished. Junction signal near the signal box & RAC box plus advertising hoarding. There's also a post box somewhere in there. Lots more detail to go but that's it for now.

I finally started to tackle the ballasting. Here are a few photos of progress. Still more to do.

Nothing much happening at the moment. Much too hot for modelling up there even with the room well insulated. It is part of the loft after all. Humidity is very high down here & there's no wind at all I did paint up & install a few buffer stops & a couple of loading gauges. I also did some maintenance work in the fiddle yard. I had a small point installed on a curve with a head shunt off it. This was causing a problem for one particular loco so I ripped it out & replaced it with a curve point. Much better now.

We now have a couple of cranes in the yard. Fiddly to make up but worth the effort I think. I have a list a mile long of things to do but that's what it's all about.

The station platform now has a canopy & the engine shed has a small coaling stage. Both are from Ratio kits which anyone who has made one will testify that they can be hit or miss. The coaling stage is a modern version which I only got this week but the platform canopy is much older as I've had it in stock for a number of years. The instructions for the canopy were a bit confusing so it ended up as a make it up as you go along kit. The coaling stage had a good diagram of the parts & was much more enjoyable to make up. They've both been painted but will need a little weathering. I now need to see where I need to install Kadee magnets & after that ballasting (maybe)

If anyone is buying from either Rails or The Model Centre in the UK beware. If you are buying items from The Model Centre with a value under €150 you can pay for them but have them stored in a trunk system for you for up to 3 months in order to build up the value of the order to €150. Once the 3 months are up or the value of your items reaches €150 you can have them shipped together & therefore avoid the extra €3 per item customs charge. If you are buying from Rails of Sheffield your items will be shipped straight away as Rails don't provide any kind of trunk service for customers. This means if your order contains say 5 different items you will be charged €3 Customs charge plus Vat on each item which is this instance would cost you an extra €15 plus Vat. This could make the order very expensive very quick If your order contains 5 of the same item the charge will be €3 on the whole order plus vat. Both The Model Centre & Rails ship items with British vat removed so you will pay €3 per each different item in the package plus Irish vat plus An Post handling charge of €6.95 if the total is less than €150. If the value of the package is over €150 you will pay Irish vat plus An Post charge of €6.95 as normal. I know a lot of people will already know most of this but the information may be useful to those who don't. Tony.

The yard now has a new coal merchant although he's yet to get a delivery The position isn't fixed as I'm still moving things around. Next up is a canopy for the station platform.

Bring your own billy can

A railwayman's canteen & store made from an old Triang Clerestory LNER coach that i had lying around I replaced the roof with one in card & covered with tissue paper & then coated in black acrylic paint. The body is just painted in dirty brown colour.

Facia has been fitted. Facia & shelf have been painted. Finishes off the front of the layout I think. A few buildings needed for the yard next.

All cobbles are done now. The rest of the yard between the yard cobbles & the station area will probably just be dirt / gravel ? I need to get a few buildings like coal merchants for the yard to utilise that long siding. I haven't decided yet ?

Believe me the temptation was there We've all been guilty of that.

Some granite sets put down. Just waiting for some more sheets for the station area.

Small update. I've finished some walls & railings around the warehouse & engine shed area. The next job will be to do groundworks around this area. I will have to raise the level of the ground to track level so I will use some 2mm card to being up the level before I put down some cobble sheets.

I had difficulty in deciding where to place the signal box. Where I wanted to put it would have meant that to face the main point work of the station would have meant that the front of the box would be facing the back of the layout which wouldn't be ideal. If I wanted to see the main features of the box & have the box facing the main point work of the station the only suitable place would be the end of the platform. The box was too tall to be placed on the end of the platform so I shortened the platform & the box now sits at the end of the platform.

They do indeed Norman. Some of the details are a little delicate so a couple of changes had to be made. With a little patience you can make a very passible model. Tony.

Thanks Colin.

Signal Box has been built. I've also fitted an interior & lights. Built from a Ratio kit with added interior details & lights.

Yes, great care but possible because I've done it.

I just used the cork as an underlay. The track is yet to be ballasted. You cut a hole in the baseboard & the uncoupler fits from underneath. I used a hole saw. It's easier if you fit the uncouplers before laying the track but its possible with care to fit them after the track has been laid.

I have been installing these Rapido Railcrew magnetic uncouplers for use with Kadee couplings. They are very affective. They come with everything needed & run off 12 volts DC. This is what they look like when installed. This is what the control panel end of the uncouplers look like.

Very strange George. They normally deduct the Uk vat on new items. Did you query it with them ? I presume you had it sent to you direct & not through An Post Address Pal or something similar ? Tony.