Noel

A&E got my vote. I'm a bit lazy and lack the skills to build fault free 21mm track so modified existing Irish Models could run on it. Also decided I wasn't keen on re-guaging my stock, and the work involved with risk I would end up with fault free running afterwards as well as lack of interoperability on other layouts. So I was boring and went for the safe option of Peco Code 75 for Gort and with poetic license and ballasting seem to have got away with the general feel of the place. I still wonder about a 21mm diorama some day!

Yes they are green have six wheels and probably quack like a duck therefore they are ducks. they pass the 1ft rule ok

Ordered. Agree Park Royals and/or laminates after the 22k would be a long held wish

Yes great news 6 wheel coaches to go with all the OO Works and SSM's J15 locos out there. Happy Days, now the early steam era is covered and the 'Quiet Man' trains can be reenacted on layouts. Keen price too for a set of 4 https://www.hattons.co.uk/directory/versiondetails/article?id=1276&utm_source=klaviyo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=modvehid5011-hattonsgenesiscieannouncement&_kx=knwJxH1GcmmbtDjoANWwf_dp-fR1jFsmFdZ7b6nUZWc%3D.JGQeXh

Yip that's why I love 2 axle goods wagons, you can have realistic formations without taking up too much track and they still look ok on shortish radius bends. Similar which coaches, a rake of Hornby mk3 shorties actually look more authentic the the correct scale length coaches. Perhaps heresy to some rivet counters, I'll wait till the Rotem 22k ICR sets actually arrive but I've already given consideration to a cut and shut option to take one window length out of each coach to make them look more correct on a layout sized trackwork with layout radius curves, platforms, etc. I'll be shot at dawn.

147 missing a buffer? Or was it sent to Ukraine? BTW thanks for the pics. Does anybody know when the new Murphy Model baby GMs 141/181 are due to be in retailers? Any indication of when in 2023 or perhaps 2024? Likewise any dates for the mk3 sets?

Found this old photo earlier while tidying up folders.

Its hard to know but leaving aside the commuter potential Youghal is a domestic tourist honey trap for 9 months of the year, and bursting at the seams with domestic visitors. Rail link to Dublin via Cork opens up more economic potential for the hospitality and tourism sector. The Cobh line is hopping. Its amazing Dublin folks with the travel pass can go to Cobh for lunch. Last time we stayed in Cobh about 4 years ago, the place was buzzing, I'd hazzard half the folks were tourists. The CBSC west cork railways are lost beyond redemption but can you imagine the success today if rail link out to Kinsale, Baltimore, Courtmacsherry, Clonakilty, and Bantry still existed even with just frequent 2 car DMU sets.

However, sadly no mention of reopening the shortish stretch line from Middleton to Youghal. The track bed is still in tact and still owned by RPA and has not been encroached upon by adjacent land owners. Reopening the short line to Youghal seems a no brainer in terms of commuter numbers to Cork plus seasonal domestic tourism, and economically viable given the limited engineering works required to get the line back up and running. Very short sighted. History will not be kind to those responsible for dropping the ball, boarding on criminal incompetence in this era of transition away from roads to CO2 cleaner transport.

Love this, incredible. You’ve recreated the essence of Heuston. Love the video also. Congrats.

Good to hear your positive news Ken. Port Breige looks stunning, it feel alive with activity.

Kingsbridge before it was converted to CIE Irish Outline stock. Nothing but BR era stock in this photo.

Starting a model railway club where there is still a significant railway operating with an interesting railway history (ie MGWR+GSWR+CIE) might be a help. Athlone sounds a great central location with excellent road access. Having a club layout and/or access to club rooms could make all the difference to getting off the ground. Some local authorities may be able to make a room or part of a public building available. Athlone UCD or CIE may be worth contacting as they have a lot of empty building still over at the MGWR station site.

I've a pair of the 1970 variants in ST livery. I use them as scenic yard waste (ie rusting lines). Worthless IMHO, except for nostalgia reasons. CIE never ran anything that looked even vaguely like them. Just BR Blue class 33s covered with orange paint. Awful runners, they can do scale speeds of 200mph and sound like tractors as all junk heap Lima's of that vintage did. I have about 10 of these Lima BR Mk1s also. Again CIE had nothing like this except for highly modified BSK/BCK GSV (generating and heating vans), but these BR Mk1s don't even pass as Cravens or Liminates at 10ft rule. Only reason I keep them boxed away is childhood nostalgia as I bought these in the 1970s.

Didn’t make it to the show but enjoyed reading about it here and especially enjoyed the video posted a few days ago. Almost as good as being there.

Hi Stephen. You already answered this question for the mk2c coaches thank you, but if you don't mind me asking, will it be easy enough to open these for the purpose of putting passengers in the intermediate coaches and/or power driving units? Thanks. Noel The CAD images look stunning.

Yes the superb A class followed by a 22k seems like full circle, top and tails.

The size of some of these bulk carriers at Aughinish's loading quay was impressive. They are frequent visitors to the Shannon Estuary. On another point at one time 80% of Ireland's energy fuel arrived into Ireland via the Shannon Estuary (ie Coal, Oil, Pethertil, etc).

Agree. The power units must have been carefully distributed along the formation so that there was no undue pressure on the tight bends.

PS I may have applied a thin wash of oxide red over the grey before almost completely wiping it back off

Could IRM model record breaking Swiss Rail 100 coach formation? This happened in last few days, some stunning shots of the train overlapping its own formation in the mountains with tunnels and bridges.

The DCC sound will be very interesting to hear (ie do you simulate exterior sound or the interior sound passengers hear), those sets have very unique horns. Hope there is a rail flange noise included, but obviously there won't be any 'buffer clash' sounds needed. Is there sound on the intermediate car or the driving car?

At the big WMRC exhibitions the scones are DCC and lit.

Have a 37 on order to haul my BR ex-LMS coaching stock. In the meantime the superb Deltic will do.

It looks like the new MM mk2d release coaches featured above are a better shade of orange than the original release.