DiveController

They don't fall well especially with the weight. They don't even travel well even in their boxes (if dropped). I had one damaged in the post. It was obviously dropped. It needed buffers and pilot beam assemblies both ends although under frame was undamaged. Some parts may fit back. The buffer beam assembly pushes directly up into the end of the body and buffers fit into it. If the body where these insert is damaged that will be more of a problem. POst some photos if you need advice from the members.

Another interesting photo, JB. The 20T 27101-27300 series flats were built 1970 and were hand and vacuum braked. I cannot appreciate where that (vacuum)is on this flat wagon. I presume they were built specially for increasing container traffic at that time? The container is interesting in that I had believed that all things brown and (sitting on something) fitted had white CIE lettering and surrounds but the roundel is black on these doors. Doyle & Hirsch book 1st. Ed also has 27430 20T flat with a Uniload container with entirely black letters and surrounds (on white Uniload pale ?white background). Now that I look at that uncoupled flat in the CIE & NIR ruling stock book, I do see a vacuum pipe below the coupler which would probably make sense as they may not have lasted very long in an elevated position like the gypsum/dolomite/magnesite/ballast wagons! Why were the latter positioned higher on a pipe on locos and these latter wagons?

Jim at Marks Models or write directly to Murphy Models via their website What's wrong with it?

The range seems limited for most lineside items except for the signal box. They do look well and the some of the others may find use in some layouts. It's a shame he doesn't actually do something that is, in fact, Irish. I've always thought it would be useful to have a resource section with photographs of a prototypical Irish railway places/items all in one place, with finished models or kits that closely resemble them alongside. The latter would be easily transformed to the prototype by the average modeler (repainting, nipping off some extra stairs or platform on a signal cabin etc.)

Lovely shot and very intereting:tumbsup:

The GN wagon seems to have lost its CIE "N" suffix. Any ideas what 181AX means. The X may be for scrapping. "A" would have been of GSWR origin which it's not, correct:confused: I was also wondering about the "C" on this van And the significance of 248X on the GSR van

Looks like 11814 to me. The tan surround would have been hard to see on that brown background. But if I understand your post correctly, grey H & Palvans had tan surrounds but GREY opens had white as this GREY brake vans. Which brake van is that at the back, JB?

Good luck with the club! Sounds great:-bd

Most decoders are one amp decoders so the maximum current draw that you will have per locomotive would be 1Amp. More than this and your decoder will fry. When the locomotive is stalled, you will have a high current draw, which will increase with a longer train and increase more I you have a gradient to climb. No matter what lighting etc., the maximum will be one amp per decorder or you'll fry the decoder. So maybe you need one amp per simultaneously running locomotive plus anything else you need to run. If you introduce carriage lighting or lighting on the layout, turnouts that you want to control by DCC, etc. you will want to account for that also. Consider what you want to do with the layout in the future and if any additional power needs will be required. Lots of people with a lot of experience with DCC on here. Just my 2 cents.

Great thread, Jb but you have just given me some more homework to do since I'm only familiar with 60% of theses wagons or liveries or both! Was the C352 NCC352 or Courtaulds (and that wagon is part of my homework)? Look like a poorly stenciled UT followed eventually by NIR's stamp. I like these wagons because of they unusual shape. A purpose built older ballast would have been a 2 or three plank wagon, I presume, and I presume the cutting was to allow it to be unloaded by hand or mechanical digger? The wagon behind is in NIR grey?

Ah Jayzus, John! ………..and me here with Rails through the West in me hand with B145 on the cover pulling a train with Bell Containers

Did you pick these up as a set or just the driving coach? which manufacturer? Looks good on the video

Hi Tommy, You asked me to report back on the Frateschi chassis when I got one, it finally arrived in the post during the week. It's a G12 chassis which I thought was the same as the G8 (and it may or may not be) having failed to get any definite answer from Frateschi in Brazil or the US distributor, so pretty much 'zero' for customer service. That said, it's definitely too long for the inside of the MIR kit and in all probability the bogies will foul in the inside of the chassis especially on curves. Haven't had time to get to it but will likely need a will a cut and shut to remedy this. So much for it being HO! Fortunately I did not invest a huge sum in it as it was purchased used in NZ livery on eBay, still significantly cheaper than acquiring on in the US or from Brazil (due to the postage cost) The bogies look prototypical versus the Athearn SW1500 chassis which Gerry is using but I'd bet the Athearn's running characteristics are better. The Frateschi is noisier then my lone Atlas switcher and way noisier than a MM 141. Max speed like the 141 is not that fast, slow speed is not that slow but it pulls very well. The catch is that he weights are mounted fore and aft snugly inside the BODY. It's likely they might not fit easily somewhere on the chassis under the MIR body without running a drive shaft through the weights, in which case there should be plenty of room between the flywheels and gear towers.

Interesting roof, looks like corrugated sheeting:confused: JB, you have us well trained now! I go to the kitchen for 7 minutes and three of us have turned the photo!!

That being the case, I wonder why locomotive-powered passenger trains persisted at that time versus dumping of nearly every locomotive in the 2000s in favor or railcars. Steam locos like the 800 were replaced by a fleet of diesel locos.

Probably the thin end of the wedge, JB. It's still strange that the romanticized 800 train is illustrated but the new 'ugly duckling' (no offense to lovers of railcars intended) is not, mere the efficiency of the new diesels alluded to. Were the new railcars well received by the traveling public then (by comparison with previous opinions on the fora that diesels locomotives were initially perceived as dirty, oily polluting beasts)?

Kind of odd that it illustrates a steamer (with it's sleek line of coaches as previously stated), then advertises "travel by Diesel Train and try the new Buffet Service. FREE CAR PARK AT THESE STATIONS. I suppose you'd be pressed to find any of these on the passenger network now.

Many thanks, both of you. Leslie. I'll look on your site again. I forgot about that. Yes, would be interested in the CIE version if you did it

Oh, C**p! I never get enough time to throw out the obsolete stuff. I'll PM you when space. Very sorry. EDIT: ok, space created

I knew that based on your posts. I ordered them and they wrote to me the following day to say it had gone. I'm glad a site member has purchased and I know they'll get good use with you! Anyway another will pop up at some time. I'd like to peruse them for some thoughts I had in mind

Had been wondering about your collection, Dave. Glad the deal worked out! BIG collection. Congrats.

I was wondering if you managed to get slide transfers and complete your tank wagons? Love the GSWR and MGWR wagons:-bd

Is there a good reference book for these older stock? Pender & Richards (1967) refer succinctly to 138 16T covered wagons on steel under frames built between 1954-1956 by GNR(I) for cement traffic. Are these the wagons being referred to? The H van series were CIE Covered Wagons numbered 18862-19753, 19269 in JB's photo. 892 were built between 1958-1962! Amazing that such a prolific wagon has not been produced as an rtr! As an aside, someone posted a late 1970s? 266XX? TANK wagon for MOLASSES in the last week, and I have been going crazy trying to locate it. If anybody remembers what I'm talking about would you please PM me so I can delete this request. Thank you!

Thanks, Jim. That one had been sold so still looking if anyone has a copy. Honestly, I don't know why someone hasn't reprinted these. PM me please if you have one. Many thanks

=))=))