Noel

I know, I know, JB, but I had to start sometime and late 1950s like your wonderful books seem as good a time as any

Glad you liked it. I've since edited the video to add some 'aged film' effect and some old black and white cine film effect. Cheers Jason. I'm more than pleased with 'Wheel Tappers' DCC sound running on LokSound chips with new 'Power drive' mode (i.e. similar to ESU's 'Full Throttle' software). That's a very impressive container rake Dave. I see a mix of 40ft and some 20ft pairs on the clip, and a few refrigerated ones too. What are the container flats (kit, RTR, brass, resin)?

Stunning photo Fran. Also like the 'fruit pastille' look of the cables on the valance. 073 does look stunning that freshly painted, especially with the original IR logo.

Will publish the results on Friday Thanks to all those who have already participated.

Just for fun - A really simple poll to find folks favourite passenger train livery that ran in ROI. Hope I haven't omitted any of the mainstream liveries used on main line rail and commuter rail services since the 1950s: Poll Here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RSMK7NL

Nice. Two interesting sets of photos guys. It's strange the orange livery that was once so familiar looks rather bright and loud compared to the refined subtleties of contemporary liveries. 073 looks fabulous in the IR tippex livery if not a little 'Fisher Price' beside the blandness of the Belmond coaches.

Short video clip of model CIE mixed goods train formation about 1972 Video Clip edited to add some "time machine" effects

Bell containers tagged on to the end of an 1972 mixed goods train. Woodvale junction busy with goods traffic movements

Just bought a copy of Rails Through North Kerry. It exceeded my expectations. Superb again. Thanks Jonathan and Barry for another treasure. The caption hints are really clear and a clever idea.

Thanks Fran. Looking forward to it.

Fabulous. Love the scenery, the figure placement, the emergency services, and the house fire.

Love the photos of Ardnacrusha. I'm glad to see they have improved the visitor centre. It should and could be one of the biggest tourist attractions in the country. The "Ardnacrusha" story is incredible. Biggest civil engineering project in the entire world between end of WW1 and 1925, finished on time, in budget, ran the entire national grid from renewal energy, first country in the world to have 100% renewal energy long before the term "green" had ever been coined, broke world records for tons of concrete used, cost 25% of GDP, triggered Ireland's economic development, . . . , etc Inside the upper lock chamber Turbine floor tour Info display in the new control room - Ardnacrusha is fully remote controlled from ESB Hydro in turlough hill. A pals vessel in the lock Parteen Wier - Like a giant valve gate diverting the Shannon I recently found these photos on the internet of the railway line to the power station. ESB Archives https://esbarchives.ie/2017/02/06/irrs-tour-of-ardnacrusha-september-1962/

Some new rolling stock arrived on layout today. Bell 20ft containers. I decided to try a pair before investing in a rake. The 20ft Bell containers are from C-Rail and the container flats are Irish Freight Models 2 axle skeletal wagons. Personally I like the way short wheel base container rakes look on layout curves. 20ft containers straddle the era between loose coupled pickup freight and modern era uniform bogie freight, and could be found in mixed rakes with goods vans and open wagons. 1968-1972 yummie era. B121 shunts two 20ft Bell Container wagons Bell 20ft Containers from C-Rail. Love the detail on these containers and they look right at home on the 20ft two axle container flats. B121 waits to enter the goods sidings after the morning goods train to Kingsbridge has departed and freed the road. B141 hauling a ballast load passes in the up line loop.

Hi Eoin. I agree with you. I've stopped bothering to DCC convert anymore of my split chassis steam locos. Not worth the hassle. Noel

Hi Eoin. Well done. I found the same running issues with Bachmann split chassis after DCC conversion. Effectively due to the stiffness after putting the chassis sandwich back together again they needed to be run-in again. I've never managed to get a split chassis running as smoothly again once I had split it such are the minute tolerances. I blew one decoder such was the high current, so created temporary wiring connectors so it could be run as DC for running in, and left for an hour to run around an oval. It was an improvement but never quite as smooth as it had been out of the box. However with your model engineering skills I expect you will have greater success. Noel Sides back together after reassembly.

That is awesome scratch build modelling

Hi Fran. Do you know of the likely shipping date in September? Anticipation is growing as it's now just weeks away. Thanks Noel

Hmm, it has a sort of NIR look about the fabrication.

All that's needed in that pic is a 121 in delivery grey/yellow livery to synchronise:)

Stunningly well composed photo scenes from superb layout.

Vaguely reminiscent of the Ratio and Hornby Dublo concrete foot bridges

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/iarnród-éireann-claims-rise-in-accidents-linked-to-smartphones-1.3188877

C-Rail may have what you are looking for. http://www.c-rail-intermodal.co.uk

JB, having just re-read "Rails through the west" I have to thank and congratulate Barry and yourself for a truly superb production covering the pinnacle era of Irish railways. Absolutely Fabulous and a wonderful resource for future generations of modellers. It's hard to single out any single image from the superb collection of photos, but the image of Gort station on page 29 with the busy goods sidings and classic array of goods wagons being shunted is probably my favourite image of Irish railways. A single 20ft Bell container hidden at the end of the train forewarns the end of this golden era was not far off at the time. Particularly liked the Tuam and Claremorris coverage as well. Just ordered a copy of "Rails through North Kerry" as a companion book Noel

Hi David. FYI, I got this GJ05 static grass applicator on eBay from China for only €15 (i.e. one tenth of cost of the Noch). So far it has worked well. The seller was dreamlixy2009 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GJ05-Mini-Flocking-Static-Grass-Applicator-SCENIC-MODELLING-NEW-/372043273554?epid=1187999198&hash=item569f81d552:g:Yo4AAOSwax5Yz1Kg Btw, Clogher Valley is looking superb. Noel