Noel

Your wonderful layout reeks raw 1950-60s atmosphere. From colours, to track, to scenics, stock choice - perfect nostalgia. I can understand how soothing it might be after stressful work.

It is a shame the local councillors got successfully lobbied by local business interests more interested in generating tourism footfall and accommodation bookings, hospitality than the greater need for local commuters living in Youghal who work in Cork. The rail line would also generate seasonal footfall for B&Bs, hotel, hospitality from summer tourism, but no where near as much as a greenway would. Route looks rather boring and flat from a leisure cyclists point of view unlike Westport and Dungarvan. The bigger economic picture is Ireland Inc, needs more high quality commuter infrastructure as our population rapidly grows and climate change makes rail idea from both a cost/return and environmental point of view as well as quality service for customers/commuters. Commuters need to form a lobby group to counter the vested interests of the local chamber of commerce members.

Stunning. Isambard Kingdom Murray

Sublime as ever Patrick. My favourite layout ever on any forum.

Yes I noticed some of the Murphy Models Mk2d black roof stock sold well last week getting about GBP£80ea. But seems a better deal and less expensive to buy new new MM Mk2d supertrain from Marks Models and add the tippex IR white stripes oneself. Relieved I stocked up about 5 years ago at about half those prices. The orange roofed IE/IR seem like bitcoin, rare and much sought after. Seems more and more of this stuff is being carefully released onto the market. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Murphy-Models-Mark-2-coach-5217-IE-Intercity-black-roof/114111332245?hash=item1a9190bf95:g:JgwAAOSw7NVeRD20 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Murphy-Models-Mark-2-coach-5210-IE-Intercity-black-roof/114111327993?hash=item1a9190aef9:g:6AUAAOSwuNxeRDE2 IR/IE Mk3 EGV for sale https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Scratchbuilt-CIE-MK3-Intercity-Liveried-EGV-suit-Murphy-Models/333526022720?_trkparms=aid%3D1110001%26algo%3DSPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D225114%26meid%3D606d6df4712e4f1c9968860267e4fdb3%26pid%3D100012%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D133329831990%26itm%3D333526022720%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100012.m1985

That's very impressive. The profile looks spot on. The material looks like Frosted ultra detail?

I'm not a rivet counter, but for my personal tastes these don't even pass the 'duck test' let alone the 2ft rule

@WRENNEIRE Nice to know you were entertained. Its free of charge. Perhaps the real knockers were some who character assassinated SF and IFM models over the years. AAMOI have you ever sat on an ICR as far as say WestPort or Tralee? Point taken about eye of beholders. There may probably be a market in the toy segment for the Bachmann 2600s and ICRs which suit roundy-roundy on the kitchen table of a Christmas morning or on the carpet. As you know I'm no rivet counter but the doors on the Bachmann are not alone in the wrong place, but the windows are nothing like IR 2x00 class DMUs. As you know I don't really look much at the gubbins below the sole bar but somebody who knows about this kind if stuff I'm sure might have issue if a modeller with the Bachmann's difference to the Irish prototypes in that area. Nuff said. See you in Bray sometime.

Interesting cause I can understand local business interests may favour greenway due to the tourism boom they bring to scenic areas, but local residents/commuters would favour public transport and green transport. Commuters cannot cycle 30km to Midleton and then catch a train to work in Cork, not in Irish weather. Commuter rail can be an aid towards access to affordable housing outside of cities.

Yes as our population continues to grow, any long term planning taking housing, commuting and climate change into account could not but see the benefits of rail for commuters. Here's hoping, but I won't hold my breath. I am a leisure cyclist, but when it comes to a choice between weekend cycling or daily commuting railways always gets my personal vote over a greenway. Do we not have enough greenways already as it is? Westport and Dungarvan are stunning. Do we really need more. Tow path along the royal canal does not interfere with the rail line and could be beneficial for cyclist commuters.

Yes indeed. How this: Is supposed to be a model of and look like this: (Photo Railpictures.lnet) Is beyond me. I was offered one of the Bachmann models a few years ago at a very good price but felt €120 was too much to pay for a door stop or a paper weight. It was a decent paint job, but of the wrong model biscuit tin suitable for short commutes.

Would love if some day in the future IRM decided to produce any of the following. Wishful thinking I know but no harm in asking. Now that I have so much IRM stock I'm restless to have the same quality for old coaching stock and older goods wagons. No harm in just asking. CIE Park Royal mainline coaches CIE Laminate/Bredin coaches CIE AEC 2600 class DMU (I know I know a DMU but its old and ran in the 50s and 60s and 70s) CIE ex-2600 Push pull suburban sets BR mk1 GSV CIE 20/30 ton brake vans IFM IR/IE Park Royal Resin RTR in later tippex livery - can only imagine one done to IRM's amazing specs IFM CIE Laminate Resin model RTR CIE 20 Ton brake Van RTR 3D BR Mk1 GSV (BSK or BCK variant) - Only Silverfox RTR available at the moment. IRM have raised the bar so high they are making us hungry for more Irish stock to their hyper standards.

Stunning David. Your track work is also supreme.

Dear RQ I started this thread to express a) my observations about the bachmann class 170 commuter DMUs which were supposed to be IE ICRs not commuter DMUs, b) express my dislike of prototypical ICRs based on experience travelling on them in Ireland, and c) My dislike generally of DMUs from a modelling perspective because they offer are operationally extremely boring (ie no shunting, no runarounds) just shorties running back'n'forth or round'n'round. I did not intend to start a rant fest, you are the only person who has responded such. I apologise if it sounded like a rant, I just dislike the dam things and very glad not to have any DMU models, they are also too modern for my personal liking as you well know my favourite era is late 1950s to mid 1970s before the modern era rolling stock came in from 1972 onwards and especially after 1974 (ie fitted brake and bogie goods stock). The railways seemed to become operationally boring after 1974 with uniform rakes of fitted stock, and uniform rakes of coaches, which from a modelling perspective for me anyway offers little operating interest on a layout (ie compared to shunting 2 axle wagon formations and marshalling variable coach formations at terminus stations. As a traveller I used to very much enjoy travelling on mk3 services, DD to Belfast and now the mk4 CAFs to Cork, but as already explained not a fan of the ICRs either as a traveller or rail enthusiast. I remember fondly travelling on rickety but exciting and interesting Craven, Park Royal, Laminate and Bredin variable formations in the 60s and 70s. Passenger trains splitting in two at midland stations to head to different towns. But I do understand from an economics point of view why ICRs exist and what cost savings they offered (ie no loco marshalling needed, ability to ditch the ageing 141/181 fleet, no runaround track formations needed at stations and associated maintenance, less IR employees needed, faster turnarounds, etc). There was a time you could eat a fry or a stake on an Irish intercity train, now its a kit-kat or just a processed sandwich. Travel by rail is not what it used to be, and rightly or wrongly I associate same with cost cutting and the widespread adoption of ICRs. I cannot imagine I would ever want to watch boring prototypes in operation, unlike loco hauled trains which have appeal. It appears I am not alone in that view. Good evening.

OMG if RTR model versions of these ubiquitous classic CIE coaches ever got the IRM/AS treatment we'd be in for a treat supreme. Don't think any of the fab four are old enough though to have even seen them let alone traveled on them. Modern era Mk3 is probably their age groups nostalgia! Who knows perhaps one day in the future there will be folks looking back fondly on todays plastic ICRs and even RPSI specials to remind folk of the era before Hydrogen powered trains. When folks hark back to the diesel era. 071s may seem like steam engines, somebody may even dare to like remembering 201s. PS: But they would run perfectly with the new IRM A class as well as the existing Murphy Models 141/181/121 class locos.

Very fair prices

IRM Fertiliser Wagons get their first proper run today. Delighted with these superb wagons. Just caught the end of the CIE golden era

Fertiliser wagons got a running session today. Pleased to report they ran free and well. Only got the first two weathered so far, six more to do. Baby GM MM0182 was easily able to haul the rake of 8 fertiliser wagons. Ran well over some complex paintwork formations in forward and reverse. 8 Fertiliser wagons passing through woodvale junctions express loop as the ballygowhatsit pickup goods train waits on platform 2. Taras in the background and a further infestation of modern containers behind stabled in woodvale goods yard. First two weathered six more to do

If you have one for sale at the next Bray event?

Saw models of ICRs on sale last year at one of the toy fares in Stillorgan. The box looked impressive but inside was a Bachmann class 170 commuter DMU resprayed into IR Silver/Green livery. Wasn't impressed despite the excellent respray job. They just didn't look like Irish Rail's Rotem ICRs, doors totally wrong making them look odd, front not quite right either. ICRs are not my personal cup of tea anyway as they are operationally very boring for a model layout, just back'n'forth, no loco, no soul, you wouldn't want DCC sound because outside they sound so lame. Inside the prototype you end up with a headache after the first two hours Killarney-Dublin such is the engine noise under the floor, vibration and firm seats. No proper catering either. In recent years on some routes they have become like sardin cans due to overcrowding. As a regular intercity rail traveller my heart will drop if the loco hauled mk4 CAF sets are ever replaced with these hideous boring yo-yos. If I got a model of an ICR as a present I'd give it away to a child who'd appreciate it better and enjoy watching it race around the top of a kitchen table in frantic circles.

Those loads look fantastic. All you need now is a fork lift truck. Wonder if I would be brave enough to model an open door on one of those lovely wagons for a yard scene such as this.

Those two nice pics above are welcome respite from images of souless 22k trams 073 still looks magnificent in that retro livery.

I've seem them on O gauge coaching stock. Many of the RTR O gauge coaches in WMRC have magnetic couplings. The idea doesn't blow my skirt up as I cannot see how they would work with a shunting layout, but good alternative perhaps to Roco close couplers and Kadees

Here you go a GAA special bound for Waterford

Kadee no 18s works a treat with your Taras, Container Flats and the Fertiliser Wagons. Much closer than the tension lock. The kinematic stock really benefits layouts with tighter curves.