DiveController

Nothing that a thousand ton of rock would't cure. Not sure if that'll move the erosion point a little further on. In any case dumping some rock in there now would be cheaper than anything else later.

Some additional photos of the bridge for you http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=images&county=LH&regno=13620012 I'd take some time to find a workable plan as you may have regrets during the build or after

Well at least some defenses have been put in place over the last year or so. Looks like they stuck a good fence there now, sure, it'll be grand:rolleyes:

John, since I was not aware of the circumstances surrounding these accidents, for anyone interested in your comments, the Cahir accident was discussed on the site here http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/829-Cahir-crash-1955 The report into the GSR accident at Straboe during the Emergency seems to confirm your assertions that there was widespread non-observance of safe practices by drivers and guards, contributed to in minor part by equipment shortages including oil for train lighting http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/DIE_Straboe1944.pdf The accident at Dundrum was attributable to an signaling error by the signal man and failure to warn more then one train of a potential obstruction on the line. Once again in darkness with a contributory rear lighting failure on the first train

Amazon/AbeBooks doesn't have this. Wonder who's got reasonable shipping to the US?

Thanks for that explanation of the accident and rolling stock. I wonder if everyone had been in structurally sounder coaches such as Cravens and Park Royals whether the outcome would had been different.

Some decent photos of the MK restaurants plus roof detail etc http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/3717-IE-Mark-III-Restaurant-Coach-Roof-Details?highlight=mkiii+restaurant and this regarding donors etc. http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/4898-Mk3-Donors?highlight=mkiii+restaurant The Lima version from 15 years ago http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/content.php/187-IE-MKIII-Restaurant The more prototypical Irish version I can't lay my hands on the thread either, Richie, I think it's one of Wrenneire's. Will look later

Apparently the GL8 body is now made by a Brazilian company called Hobbytec and although a 'resin' kit actually is a fair representation of the exported EMD GL8s. At 160 Reals it is about US$40 or €37 Unfortunately, it is definitely HO and at 125 x 40 x 32 mm scales to only 31' 3" in OO but about 35' 9" in HO. The prototype drawing for 121 on the site is not quite as detailed as say the B Sulzer but I think the 121 is 36'2" over the sills. I think that I saw the bogies or side frames are available separately so, for the MIR kit, might be an alternative to the white metal side frames which seem to be oversized, in conjunction with say the modern Athearn SW1500 switcher chassis

Unlucky mileposts 77, it seems

That's still pretty good value Thanks for taking the trouble to do that, Noel. That's a very impressive test run versus the 141. The initial slow speed crawl id pretty amazing. Irishrailway (earlier posts) has been pretty impressed with the running of the newer Athearn SW1500 chassis and runs several. Mnay thanks for that video!

That's an interesting observation. I'm not sure whether the upper edge of the cab window is actually above the cab side windows or not, but it does look like it's somewhat lower on the model. The thread has definitely identified how complex the design of the front end of the Sulzers might have been, CAD or not. It is probably hard to replicate this on a resin model which creates a interesting problem for my adjacent 121 thread. Will post there later. Lower edges definitely have a plinth above the cab window level. Any help?

Hi Fran, Sorry, I did not mean to ruin it for everyone. However, one presumes that the thread is for discussion of the film. The film has been released for 11 or 12 days now and has been all over the media so if one has not had the opportunity to see it by now, one presumes that a prudent individual would avoid these media including a thread entitled "Star Wars Episode 7". We are all passionate about these books and films but it is excessive especially for a Mod to accuse me of being rude on this thread and remove my comments on the film when no offense was intended nor directed at any individual. Respectfully,

Dave, that's a typo, right? Which decoders?

Is that the hard-mounted in-the-cab version? There was also one on a shoulder strap that spewed out purplish inky tickets when I was a lad and buses still had conductors!

Hi David, that would be nice but I have a feeling that unfortunately the body on that one is a custom job already. Otherwise, while not up to your caliber, would still have a go. Yes, if MM landed have a dozen 121 liveries in the morning, I'd buy one of each. I'm sure they'll be beautiful if they come, just not sure when Thanks for that, Noel. Not as slow as your usual MM 071 vs. 141 challenge but certainly an adequate runner. Would be interested to see how that performs on DCC. Seems pretty smooth otherwise. I think it's a 21pin PnP DCC chassis but report back if you would if you're able to DCC her Looked up the Brawa, Ed. Wasn't aware of it before your post. What would the advantage be? I have never seen one run (that I'm aware of)

I must have missed a couple of pages of the SSM Sulzer Kit thread as really busy coming up to Christmas. Thanks for that, Patrick! That's encouraging, warning duly noted:tumbsup: I think most of the Brazilian heavy rail lines are 5'3" and narrow gauge at 3' 3"3/8. I think that's exactly what it is, a lowered cabbed version. I think ALL (América Latina Logística) the Brazilian logistics company have the closest to the 121 (high cabbed), but on US freight bogies, I think. I'm not aware that this was ever modeled The Athearn SW1500 chassis would be much better in the last 3-4 years. The chassis itself would be HO or 1:87 so if over scale that would be o my advantage. Wasn't sure if you were referring to the MIR whitemetal side frame castings which may be over scale, by all reports

The Tension lock couplers can be hit and miss. There can be problems with smooth coupling as well as unintended uncoupling since the hook has to rise to couple and hold in a vertical height of about a millimeter. I've had some problems with brand new stock out of the box on occasion if the coupler height isn't perfect. When you say slight gradient what are we talking about? It may be that at the bottom or top of a gradient, at the transition point, the loco or coaches change their orientation relative to each other, one is level, one on the incline, causing uncoupling. Also any areas of imperfect track, points etc. usually worse on tighter (or any) curves. What locos, stock?

Edited by warbonnet due to a truckload of spoilers.

G, thanks for your reply. I have a sneaking suspicion that your SW1500 is going to be the best option but since I don't see the 121s being available inside a couple of years at least for various reasons (all principally economic in one way or another) I'm exploring others. EMD exported the GL8 in various modified forms to several countries including Brazil which took the lion's share. All (except GA8s) seem to have had the same export bogies similar to the 121 class. The Brazilian model maker, Frateschi also produced a 1:87 scale model with bogies that appear relatively finescale and prototypically correct. I'm not sure about the axle boxes but they don't look bad and may even be correct. My main concern with this is that I don't know much about the running qualities of the model which would be important. I'm also not sure that it has any directional running lights or is DCC ready (or even compatible) Another concern would be that it's under scale at 1:87 not only the bogies as would be with the SW1500 but would also be physically not long/wide enough for the MIR OO scale kit (which is why I was looking for some specs on the 121 above) Most importantly if someone has any experience with Frateschi running qualities could you please post or PM me Thanks!

Would anyone happen to have the dimensions of the 121 to hand for comparison with the SW1500 chassis please?

I probably could but I simply don't want you to be strung up or banned by a Moderator for making blasphemous suggestions. I do have enough MM141/181s that I could sacrifice one but would I do it for something that looks like it was dipped in an orange chocolate fountain and not exactly fine scale. I'd probably feel obliged to butcher the body to add finely detail parts to the MIR:confused:

Hmm, I was told by someone that had built a kit that the white metal sideframes didn't suit the SW1500 chassis but I forgot to ask why I found some spec on the prototypical SW1500 switchers on a US website. I suspect that the SW1500 has been used as it was/maybe still is the closest to the 121 EMD SW1500 Switcher Engine Builder: EMD Engine: 645E 12 cylinder Speed: 65 mph Trucks: 4-Wheel Configuration: B-B Quantity Built: 807 Dates: 7/1966 to 1/1974 Total Length 44'-08" Wheel Diameter 40" Truck Wheel Base 8'-00" Center Bolster 22'-00" Center Front Truck to Front Pilot 2'-04" Center Rear Truck to Rear Pilot 2'-04" Distance between Truck Centers 30'-00" Now to search for some on the 121

Thanks for the advice. I had a look at prototypical Southern Pacific SW1500 switchers and found some good photos of the bogies / trucks. The 121 has bogies like 134 seen here at Dublin And the Southern Pacific like these The Athearn model has the same bogies as the SW prototype It may be that the bogies are similar but the side frames are not

Haven't travelled that in a while, Noel. Many seem to favor the motorways now. I suppose some sections of one line 21 years after the statement was made is progress.

Yes, I think the lower edge is in on the horizontal but they seem to slope away to the side at least in these