DiveController

Does anyone have any info on the internal layout of 547 RB which was initially 21S then 22S when converted. Looks like the first 3 bays were seating but how was this laid out? Was there a full kitchen to prepare meals in the remainder and a side corridor? Incidentally what is a Restaurant Buffet coach in NIR term or is that supposed to be a Restaurant Bar coach? Iirc wasn't there in seat dining with table side service at one point or was that provided in the FO coach

Just so modelers of an earlier era don't feel like that have been left wanting for choice, here's another 'golden oldie' so to speak. There is a model but unfortunately it's HO by Walthers. Anyway, A12 heading cross border from BELFAST with an orange cement bubble and ...... (c) John McKegney on Flickr Manchester Liners switched to container traffic in the late 1960s but declined in the 70s due to competition from larger container companies and industrial disputes in the UK and was absorbed intimately into OOCL c. 1988

Did you mean a CIE MK1 generator would not fly? If anything has been learned form the MM MK2ds I would say that a loco hauled train not providing HEP always requires a generator van no matter how few coaches are being hauled even on a short branch (with a few obvious exceptions of course)

Thanks @jhb171achill. So in essence designed for Enterprise use only with one or more of the DBSOs in use as standard coaching stock when topped-n-tailed with the unused coaches in the sidings in the winter months.

Just looking at the original NIR Mk2 stock from 1970 before the addition of the Mk2c stock in 1972. A restaurant, FO, four SO but TWO DBSOs. Why 2 driving trailers in this 1970-1972 period? The composition is great for an 7* coach enterprise drawn by or double headed by the new Hunslets with a trailing DBSO which would make the second DBSO redundant except maybe for servicing? Did the second DBSO also run to strengthen the rake in any case? OR Did they run two shorter 3-5 coach trains like on the winter service either with restaurant & FO or without? This would provide purpose for the second DBSO. Was there an increased frequency of these shorter trains and was that on the Belfast-Dublin route, or did the second formation go further afield say to Derry in that early? OR Was the second DBSO acquired to just run with something else entirely (I realize 811 was converted to run with 80- class but not until 1988)

I suppose you'll be expecting a Dutch Van to go with that??

Probably with a chip off the old block

Misinterpreted the year in the late night as it does look a few decades more modern than that with the 071 in retro livery ( I have amended my original post)

Difficult angle I know but looks like a 40' box ...... Ballina to North Wall Dublin at Glasnevin (c) Darren Hall on Flickr

@iarnrod The table you posted will give you most of what your need. Something very similar in Jonathan's Allen's 35 years of the NIR 1967-2002. If you let me know your modeling era and need more info I'm happy to look it up and send to you if you PM me. Many of the 800 numbered stock disappeared fairly early either physically or were renumbered into the 900 series with newer stock

I agree. And since the bogies are part of the lighting system. I have a lot of MM coaches that I'd like to be able to reguage, which may be overshadowed shortly by IRM bogie stock and coaches. That would leave the Baby GMs of which there are many Thank God the As will be easier In order to keep the number position on the coach correct, it might be possible to obliterate the original number with a black decal over the stripe followed by the number over that. Not sure if you would need to seal between each layer of decal.

Hi Fran, Great to hear about earlier stock. We're going to have to hold you to that! Sorry if my comment was cryptic but I was indeed referring to the brake gear which was correctly interpreted by another member. In my opinion it seems intuitive that if you going to go to the trouble of tooling both a B4 & B5 that you may a well make it prototypical rather than compromising the brake gear in favor 16.5 mm (which now that it's tooled will be a persisting feature in all models based on this tooling) I not sure if you interpreted this comment correctly. I was simply trying to say that a lot of effort had gone into researching these and this was intended to be complimentary as was many other things I have said on this thread. I think IRM has been around long enough at this point to weather the opinion of one of its loyal customers, surely?

546 may even have been one the cards as Richie had been looking for information on it way back on New Year's Day 2017 but had lots of info on 547 at that time. That's really how long these have been on the cards for development especially as both coaches are still extant I believe. I put my order in on the weekend for all packs although the bumblebee is not so much my era but I do have 112 to run them behind so they'll get an outing or two anyway (or maybe just a Baby GM in SupIR livery for that matter)

So yes then just by removing the end boards I guess. Must have been draughty with a DBTS as the lead operating vehicle

The two initial DBSOs were 811 and 812 in 1970 but a 24S DBFO was added in 1972 Any idea if the DBSOs had regular gangways to allow passengers to move thorugh the train when used as regular coaching stock within the rake?

Nice shot here from IRRS of 111 with red warning rectangle with the light blue and 'grey' livery c. 1981. Actually it was pretty much only the roof that was anything like grey in fact https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/49734221398/in/photolist-2iLQTiQ-2kKjw4A-2kKoQU6-2kKpmV4-2kKpmVz-2kKjDSG-2kKoQWF-2kKoUCV-2kKoR1t-2iLTEZt-2kKpn5x-2kKk7fm-2kKoUt1-2kKoUx4-gQ3XNr-imw6gm-iE8ntC-gRCviE-cfHe95-e42BB9-iL46Ag-q31ZrJ-e42HwQ-gqEnWP-gQ3Zdv-pqa3Ty-cWfLAU-ovLwT7-8QaKAS-cUUm27-dS55zo-gQ4TYZ-gRCwbG-d5h7Yf-hZsJmX-gQ3YRY-dRYtpP-of9RtJ-d5hnc5-arhXzo-d5hR8S-arfiXn-dS55zE-iL519T-2kKoUDM-2iLTF27-2kKjDYo-2kKoopC-2kKoomS-2kKoUui/ @Blaine Actually I have an image of a red board with white diamond but it must be the maroon and navy boards with diamond on the DBSOs that you referred to Here's one from IRRS in Connolly in 1983!! https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/51030549422/in/photolist-2iLQTiQ-2kKjw4A-2kKoQU6-2kKpmV4-2kKpmVz-2kKjDSG-2kKoQWF-2kKoUCV-2kKoR1t-2iLTEZt-2kKpn5x-2kKk7fm-2kKoUt1-2kKoUx4-gQ3XNr-imw6gm-iE8ntC-gRCviE-cfHe95-e42BB9-iL46Ag-q31ZrJ-e42HwQ-gqEnWP-gQ3Zdv-pqa3Ty-cWfLAU-ovLwT7-8QaKAS-cUUm27-dS55zo-gQ4TYZ-gRCwbG-d5h7Yf-hZsJmX-gQ3YRY-dRYtpP-of9RtJ-d5hnc5-arhXzo-d5hR8S-arfiXn-dS55zE-iL519T-2kKoUDM-2iLTF27-2kKjDYo-2kKoopC-2kKoomS-2kKoUui/

A passable model considering how poor surface finish was but the basic product is very rough indeed, your first photo speaks volumes. Nail in the coffin right there for me. This thread has been very instructive for me

Noel, thanks very much for putting that together! With my Doyle and Hirsch editions in hand you just saved me a whole lot of work

Very nice indeed, I have only the one Candian loco. For added realism, however, you might need a goose ..... https://pixels.com/featured/train-chasing-canada-goose-steve-boyko.html

Also agree about this being produced at all. Pretty much every other IRM gamble seems to have paid off. I think these will be very popular even among southern modelers. It looks like that board might be press fit and removable. An optional white diamond end board in the bag of bits would be nice.

That's why I was going start with something straightforward , but maybe not then. Thanks for that input @Andy Cundick

Incidentally, how did you solve any issues with light bleed from the coaches? Is there a black skirt at the cantrail level or no joint there if the body is removable as one unit? Light bleed at the floor level is usually less of an issue, and through the windows not at all @BosKonay

Just wondering and I think I know the answer but is the 'Enterprise' board on the front of the DBSO removable or all one piece. Frequently the front of the driving trailer had the wine diamond so wondering if that came as an alternative or additional piece. If i recall the DBSO was converted form gangway stock and may have had the board fitted and possibly removed when later used as a coach only even if it ran next to the genny which itself had passenger accommodation.

Quite the range indeed. Might try one of the wagons just to see the finish

Yes, I have to agree with that. Although I am a little despondent at not having any early Irish coaching stock, these really are a lovely product, thoughtfully done wrt the lighting, lighting control, ultra close coupling and easy access to the interior. It's clear lessons have been learned from earlier products like the plough vans which suffered from some flickering which will be nullified by inclusion of capacitors on the lighting system. Purists might argue that we might have to leave those out if early stock is produced for prototypical realism!! (I seem to remember many flickering lights on coaches as a boy although I don't recall if these were TL or dynamo driven lighting) Access to the A class and the coaches is much better than MM products (and many modern products, no offense intended to MM products superb for their time). Luckily I picked up some 111-113 at various points after they had sold out, difficult with the limited editions for sure, and there may well be a market for a re-run of these. Looking forward to those MM Mk3 Supertrain livery in all new tooling hopefully to a similar standard as these. Other than some persisting issues with 21mm reguaging I have to say these are really wonderful, a superb job by IRM, I'd say.