Noel

These resprays posted on RMI FB site by Daryl looked impressive even without buffers https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156785852622774&set=pcb.2137164726349667&type=3&theater&ifg=1 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156785852827774&set=pcb.2137164726349667&type=3&theater&ifg=1

Verified and adjusted track positioning was marked on the ply baseboards, then transposed onto grease proof paper roll in advance of the baseboards being sealed with grey primer.

Hi John. Thanks for the suggestion and it makes a lot of sense. I am already considering not proceeding with the head shunt I added to the plan and instead revert to my original track plan with just the authentic catch point. Gort had unusual shunting arrangements on the main line with traffic coming from the Athenry direction, hence the unusual goods loop which allowed a loco coming from Athenry to drop off a few leading wagons in front of goods shed and run around back to the main line, coupling up to the train and then proceeding on to Ennis and Limerick. Traffic coming from Limerick/Ennis direction used the main loop to uncouple from train allowing loco to simply shunt a few leading wagons by reversing them into the goods yard from the main line. I presume the driver would have needed the staff to do this movement unless there was another outer home signal a few hundred meters NE towards Athenry, but I can’t find any evidence of that. Reciprocal movements when picking up wagons.

No indeed. Most of the structures will have to be scatch built or kit-bashed. Platforms will be scratch built. B&T B141s will be the order of the day. PS: But I might run a Black'n'Tan livery GM 201 class through it just for fun.

Hi JB, Thanks, yes I knew that, I just chucked bits to approximate where the real ramps will go for sizing. The ramps will be as per the track diagram and not tapered. PS: And there will be no Hornby toy bits allowed on Gort!

Some progress this evening 'testing' the viability of the track diagram. Roughly laid out old bits of track and tri-ang toy structures to get an idea if the track lengths would fit as intended and if the loops and sidings would accommodate the amount of goods wagons that I would need for shunting operations. Checked points did not straddle baseboard joins and cross members would not interfere with location of point motors underneath. Spend a few hours adjusting rough track positioning and lengths to see what goods wagons would fit and how shunting might operate. As a shunting layout it fits on two 5ft x 2ft boards. Approx track positions marked and point motor holes to see if they were clear of the baseboard cross members and braces. Gort Station was primarily for goods traffic with limited passenger traffic. Next up seal baseboards with paint, drill wiring holes, apply cork surface, seal cork with paint, and then dry assemble code 75 track to double check all fits. EDIT: abandoned idea of cork because of its poor sound characteristics, instead went with closed cell dense foam, two layers, one over entire baseboard and a second layer for track bed. This ensures ballast glue never comes into contact with base board so no sound bridge.

More modular baseboards under construction. Under license from WMRC Cabinet maker dowels added. Now ready for glass tape to reinforce the joints. Its a very long time since I made baseboards. This alternate method is interesting yet very fast due to hot glue gun. In the past I used to screw and glue ply baseboard surfaces to wooden framing. I would have preferred 4x2ft boards for portability in any vehicle, but these 5x2ft will still fit in the back of many cars with the back seat folded down and despite being 5ft long they are light for carrying.

What a find JB. Courtmacsherry to Birdhill! That would have been an interesting route. Presume via Cork, Mallow, Limerick. Those West Cork lines could have been successful commuter and tourism routes today.

Railtec seem to have some Irish flying snail era transfers in eau-de-nil colour http://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=1014 http://www.railtec-models.com/catalog.php?&type=5&gauge=4mm&region=2&livery=203

Nice find. Wonder what the equivalent Acrylic colour is. Enamels being solvent/cellulose based are a no-no for me airbrushing in a domestic environment.

I was told one of the reasons for the PCBs was fault isolation and instant diagnoses via green or orange LEDs on each (eg track short, point short, loco short, broken wire, DCC voltage drop, overload, stalked motor, etc).

Thanks for info. That is most resourceful and impressive work on the part of the builder. Looks great.

Impressive looking custom track formation. Was it Marcway?

First Gort baseboard was constructed yesterday while on a visit to WMRC club house. Glass cloth used to strengthen the plywood joints.

On a visit to WMRC yesterday I was seriously impressed by the clubs new modular baseboard construction system, and the electronic PCBs they use to wire each base board independently. These include DCC power distribution, short protection, Cobalt point motor power supplies, point switch wiring, etc. Most of the PCBs have been custom designed by their own in-house electronics genius @Junctionmad, printed in China and are now used by club layouts and members layouts. Their baseboard design facilitates the mounting of these PCBs on fascia for ease of working with rather than crawling under boards. Baseboards are also small and light enough to be placed on their sides for ease of use installing point motors and signalling. One of the O gauge modular base boards Baseboards under construction. Each board takes about 15-20 minutes to assemble using hot glue gun, and a further 15-20 minutes to glass cloth all the joints. 6mm ply, except for the end boards which take cabinet maker dowels to precisely align boards when joined. Boards are light but extremely rigid yet stable from warping due construction technique.

FYI both links broken, they just return to this forum page.

Another interesting site comparing NMRA, Australian and NEM weight recommendations. The NEM figures seem more sensible weights. https://www.trainspotted.com/model-railroad/calculator/

Thanks for posting and the photos. It’s such a shame the 201 programme didn’t fully work out as originally envisaged when they went into service only 23 years ago. The ability of Inchicore to completely overhaul some of these locos back into service is very impressive. Of the 32 originally purchased how many are required in service now that the DMUs handle much of the intercity traffic?

For fun I just spent a few mins weighing an assorted mix of rolling stock and compared the weights with NMRA RP20 recommendations. I'm not sure the NMRA formula of 0.5oz per inch in length of a piece of rolling stock plus one oz works for short two axle wagons, which the USA never really have anyway. I've hauled 24 IRM cement wagons no problem but if I added the sort of extra weight NMRA suggests I'd have no chance with a single loco. The NMRA figures aren't far off for longer bogie stock (e.g. MM Cravens), but seems totally excessive for short wagons. When in longer rakes my beet wagons could do with a few more grams when mixed with heavier rolling stock. False lead floor methinks for light unladen open wagons. And as for 3D plastic 20ft container flats unladen, they need to be metal chassis for weight. No problem when the Bell container is on top, but shunting is a joke when unladen as too light and sometimes won't couple up. Anyway the left column is the actual weight of the wagon.

Thanks for info. Does that suggest the 071 class service lifespan could be longer than envisaged a decade ago? It's so impressive to see how these locos are overhauled like almost like new. Was there any substance to the rumour some of the older 201s were at one stage in the past considered for replacement power units, more suitable for lower freight track speeds?

Suggest each 4” two axle wagon including the added weight is absolute max 3oz or 85g and that’s still a bit on the heavy side for use with tension lock couplings. Those wagons should run ok out of the box. Wheels may be the culprit.

Are some of the mothballed orange 201s (i.e. without the push-pull gear) being used just for spare parts and being permanently put out to ferment?

NMRA weight recommendations are interesting reading. https://www.nmra.org/beginner/weight Suggests the minimum weight of say a typical 2 axle goods wagon 3 1/4 inches long (including any added weight) should be 2.6 ounces which is about 74 grams (eg Bachmann 1930-1960 era mineral wagon or van). You don’t mention the length of your wagons Joe, but it might be interesting to see if they are heavier than the NMRA recommendation for HO gauge in above link. Should also suffice for 00 as USA HO rolling stock has larger loading gauge. One of the other benefits of wagons not being too light is knuckle couplings like kadee operate more reliably when coupling and uncoupling (eg avoiding wagon bounce). In relation to your original question I’ve had no problem hauling 20 wagons (out of the box weight) behind small Bachmann bo-bo loco such as 141 or BR class 25, or six passenger coaches. Loco weight is a big factor, if the Hornby class 40 is of the newer metal chassis centre drive design, with both bogies powered, it should have no problem with 15 correctly weighted wagons. However if the older plastic chassis design with only one powered bogie it may have difficulty unless weight is added to loco (eg avoid wheel slippage).

It sure would. Even better a GM 201 class in B&T livery!!! I am half tempted to respray an orange MM 201 that I have in B&T livery.

They will look great behind your 141