DiveController

I'm sure that's why. People were finally able to complete existing rakes. A re-run of the orange roofs EGV would probably sell out again, not to mention we never saw more than a few individual numbers in the coaches themselves. I could do with a few more to be honest

Was there a physical connection between the power cars to enable MU e.g thru the unpowered coaches. They were usually separated within the formation from each other, no different from a PP service though, I guess. If any one has a photo of these continental gangways I would be interested to see how they appear

Thanks, Kieran. Might get a copy

Kieran, does it mainly cover the NIR or the rest of the island also?

Hi Kieran, Although you would know vastly more about the NIR system than I would, the following information may be useful. The 900 which had a cab at one end of the vehicle only, has run in formation with the 700s which were cabbed at both ends of the vehicle. BUT supplied 900s to the GNRB in '57/58 to "be run in formations of up to 8 cars in conjunction with the 700s". UTA crested ex-GNR 6car formation Derry-Belfast 1958 had 2x900s at the ends with two unpowered cars and 2x700s, (Irish Railways in Color, A second Glance, Tom Ferris p88) CIE BUT Green c904n Macmine Jx, 1962 with ex-GNR coach, B'n'T coach and ?4w TPO van p26 same ref. EDIT: Enterprise often consisted of only a 4 car set on weekdays in winter 133(900)-562-583-121(700),GVS 1968, Norman Johnston's Parting Shot p67 Also 128-594/594-131/134, another 3 car set ? (maybe Belfast-Derry route), p68 123-591/592-121 class also seen alongside, p69 Also 133-572--584, GVS, (1968) p72 I am not sure if these rakes particularly the last are complete or just what was recorded in the shot Portadown June 1968, 2.30pm GVS-Dublin Enterprise 133-562-552-556-123-125-584-12x?, probably the traditional full set for summer runnning, p81 I have the impression that Class 70 took over about =69, then the Hunslet PPs K

The only thing I could see was a steamer shunting a vintage green ex-MGWR 6w postal van at Sligo in 1956, followed by a luggage van in silver . I'll have 'A Second Glance' tomorrow and look for it

Very nice! Really shows the models well.

Glad you got your hands on a copy CIE E407 at Kingsbridge 5/9/62 with a silver 4w PO sorting van (mostly out of the shot unfortunately) https://www.rcts.org.uk/features/archive/search.htm?company=IRISH+RAILWAYS+%28CIE%29&subtype=1&class=&location=&srch=&page=0

I agree that a passing loop on the main line would add to the appeal and running. The refueling area line might be that with some modifications. Relocate the refueling area to bottom left or even right. If you keep them, maximize the length of your branch loops by extending the top road further right with a point releasing the loco back onto the bottom road.

If you are planning what sounds like a superb plan for a layout, I personally would not 'spoil' an Irish scene by adding non-protypical stock unless that can be converted into something more prototypical. There is a lot available in OO but less in N, especially rtf Peco has good track work and points and is suitable for DC or DCC. DCC involves getting a 'cab' to control the locos independently (instead of the DC controller) and apart from adding a few extra wires to track work to ensure good electrical conductivity of the DCC signal, it's not that hard What era are you considering? This may not be your timeframe but maybe lookout some of the N layouts on the site for ides like this one which is modern http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/2403-Connolly-Station-in-quot-N-quot/page4 I'm not sue if the 2-6-2 can be bashed into anything prototypical. Someone will comment no doubt There was an actual branch line to the Curragh from the mainline until the early 70s, not sure when it closed There is an interesting photo of it in Barry Carse's book Earlier from the O'Dea collection with steam http://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000306452 Lots of info on the DCC sub-forum

Best of luck, John. Long may they continue. Is Book Depository the best way to acquire a copy for those no longer resident in the 51st state?

It's a shame we do not see more photos of that livery. Always caked in cement, what a shame. This livery is growing on me. Since 8/9 of the IRM rake of 12 would be in this livery, I would have been tempted at the Raheny show I think this B'n'T is hauling either grey or more likely orange bubbles. I don't remember exactly when the liveries changed at the moment http://catalogue.nli.ie/Search/Results?lookfor=bulk+cement+hazelhatch&type=AllFields&submit=FIND&filter%5B%5D=format%3A%22Photo%22

They did't always run in block formation in the orange livery unless you had a Guinness to break the monotony A rare® picture of them in the non-cement livery with CIE logo

Lovely job, Kieran. Looks very well with the lower tan band too

On the return flight I got to read the rest of the book and I was interested in the buffer beam colors on the 201 class. In black livery post 1964 they had a red buffer beam but when the ends were painted yellow so was the bufferbeam. C203 appears on p36 thus liveried in 1968. B233 is also on the same page with a red bufferbeam and yellow end panels in 1969. Was this peculiar the Maybach engined rebuilds 233 & 234 as the C201s when rebuilt were turned out in B'n'T livery

The Dublin-Cork mainline speeds increased to 90ph in 1984 and prior to that a substantial portion of the mainline was relaid with new track panels with concrete sleepers. One other area that had concrete sleepers in the late 70s would have been the single line from Tara mines, presumably as the old GNR track had been lifted, and if not would have been unsuitable for ore trains that weighed almost 900 tons.

I think the continuous loop from lower to upper levels will help to optimize the gradients. A cutout with a removable scenic where the Avoca is might help, along with a baseboard height high enough to get underneath if necessary if the board can't be moved. Access to the tunnels?

You're going now, Richie! Great history, looking forward to the progress

Apparently, it's not;) Anyway, JB, I used the term Motive Power Depot as I couldn't be bothered to type it all out on the go. It's not just Multi Purpose Diesels that are a rare breed on the railways these days

The only physical differences seem to be the presence of a full ladder on the side of 181 (vs. grab irons) and seven little grilles on the front under the headlight

Don't worry. I think everyone realized that, including the two members above:)

If you look through photos of the bubbles they averaged maybe 12-16 wagons even though they could be longer. They frequently did not exceed a dozen wagons when in a mixed freight train, particularly when in the orange livery. Longer trains seem to be more common in more recent times particularly in the ivory and black livery. Since you're unlikely to have a scale model of one of the routes, a scaled back train of maybe 9 wagons would look the part

Was reading my copy of Barry Carse's book on Irish Metro-Vicks, which reminded me of this post. It states that A46 was the first A class to be painted in the darker green (and possibly the only one with a waistband, I'm not sure), but seemingly abou a dozen A class (named in the book) were painted in dark green in the period 1958-9 (likely due to existing in dilapidation in original silver). The lighter green became the new norm c. 1960. It goes on to say that A46 was the only one to go from the darker green to the lighter green, which in itself is surprising after such a short time in the dark green with the new B'n'T livery around the corner in 1961 I have looked for but not managed to find a photo of C234/109 (as it seems to have been used so little with the NIR) It would seem that the port window was lost when she was rebuilt with the Maybach engine but there may have been no necessity to change this back when she got her GM 8-654E, I suppose.

Is there a time frame that you'd prefer this to be set in? It seems like your locos are Supertrain and IR which would put your timeframe in the 1970s- mid-90s. This might be useful http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/content.php/368-CIE-to-Iarnrod-Eireann-Timeline I presume the water tower is a remnant from pre-dieselisation or maybe for passing IRRS railtours etc? If you develop the Oil Depot you may wish to ensure that you have enough room to get the wagons onto the mainline with sidings to shunt and store full and empty wagons. The components of the MPD should connect to each other and maybe to the Oil depot as well as the mainline

JHB, I think you advertised 141 and 165, both B'n'T. I think he is after 161sa Supertrain