Noel

Congrats TDR. You will enjoy DCC. Its easy to convert a DC layout initially. Just connect two wires from the DCC controller to where your previous 12V power supply used to connect, and switch every block section on. Remove all DC locos from the layout, install a few decoders and hey presto, your layout is DCC. In time I would recommend adding some more track feeds (i.e. called droppers), especially to remote parts of the layout because it will ensure no voltage drop over any dodgy fishplate connections and give some protection from short circuits. As to sound decoders, thats a personal choice and lots to choose from. Suggest play some of the videos on the forum to hear sounds. For non-sound decoders I have been using Lenz silver+ both 21pin for MM 141/071/201 and the wired ones for steam locos and Silverfox A class (Hornby class 55 chassis). Will be trying out some Dave's Lais decoders. Enjoy the experimentation and fun. PS: If you had any Relco electronic track cleaners just remove them completely.

Yes I know and nice kits they are for resin, but unfortunately not injection moulded RTR with the kind of precision IRM are offering with their new wagons (eg: €27 for a kit v €42 RTR). I appreciate many will prefer to build kits and finish to their own preference, but I tend to prefer injection moulded RTR.

I'm still hoping IRM will do one of the corrugated sugar beat wagon variants, especially the iconic bulleid.

Thanks Stephen. The drawings are looking good. Are the bubbles and ballasts expected to ship at the same time? PS: FYI, for some strange reason Fran's two photos are appearing upside down on my Mac and PC, but right way up on my iPhone.

Super pic Noel. Pity the MM 121 pre-production didn't make an appearance.

Thanks Sulzer. I remember them well especially the black and white ones. A bygone era where nearly every boy by the age of ten had received at least one train set for Christmas or a Birthday. Hence the age demographics of our hobby.

Unfortunately it looks like I won't be able to get to the show, but hopefully there will be some nice photos and video clips posted next week. Hope all enjoy it.

Sounds very promising. Any rough idea of planned delivery date (i.e. +/-3 months)?

A railway can indeed be a vital social service on some routes, and within reasonable parameters some services should be subsidised to a degree. Many of our European cousins do this and find a way of circumventing EU state aid rules, especially the French who have always had a very enlightened view of national infrastructure. The new motorways have made non-stop intercity express bus routes very attractive and indeed many city to city journeys are now significantly faster door to door by road. The French model doesn't necessarily scale down to the small geographical size of Ireland nor our tiny population. But, I like the sound of JB's plan. Obscure routes may need time to build more traffic volume and that means services scheduled to suit commuters, not just middle of the day time tables.

Now JB I, can't believe you of all people could get hyperspace mixed up with mere warp drive. "You’ve never heard of the Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx? … It’s the ship that made the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs." "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought" "Would it help if I got out and pushed?" "I've made a lot of special modifications myself." "She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid."

I love your superb layout. 6mins was not too long for me. Enjoyed watching it.

MF

Leaked report on future of IE leaked to Irish Times. Not pleasant reading - warns of multiple line closures http://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/iarnród-éireann-funding-crisis-puts-lines-at-risk-report-warns-1.2840355 If 'true' the piece paints a bleak picture. One might be forgiving for wondering if the leaked report is really about the closure of two lines rather than the extensive cuts it hints at.

That's a shocking accident!!! Even the photographer and his tripod must have been knocked over by the derailment. The emergency services hadn't even arrived by the time you took the pic. Seriously, enjoyed the video. Some lovely stock and I love your layouts back scenes. Did I notice intercity mk4 at 2m32secs?

Any dimensions, track plan, etc?

Super series of photos. Thanks for posting. Love the photo under the canopy of Athenry station and the railway architecture of the period.

That's really great. A place to sit down, take a rest, and chat with folk over nice cup of tea. Mind you a rasher sandwich would be great as well. Well done organisers.

Congrats Dave. Best wishes for the business.

Thank you very much for the link to that incredible photo archive and notes.

Thanks IT. The new FT behaves and sounds really great on your video. So far I have 3 different DCC sound chips, but not yet a LokSound with FT (Full Throttle drive mode), and I like all of them. Previous version of LokSound with MM mix (eg 071 and 201) LokSound with DcKits mix - LeggomanBiffo (eg 141) Zimo mk1 and later mk2 MrSoundGuy mix (141) The original Zimo mk1 was good for its time, but the mk2 a huge improvement in terms of realism. Of the three I have, so far the LeggomanBiffo sounds the best, but the MrSoundGuy one drove the most realistic with 'RealDrive' which wasn't in the mk1 Zimo (i.e. modelshop belfast mix you once had). The LokSound 'Full Throttle' software looks like it has caught up with the Zimo for drive/sound prototypical realism and quite possibly surpassed it. I can't wait to get one to play with and compare. I have no brand loyalty and will change following wherever the steam of innovation flows. Now with a choice of FOUR different DCC sound mixes - we are spoilt for choice. The bar continues to rise. Happy days. Thanks again for the info, its very interesting. Noel PS: Have you had a chance to drive a mk2 Zimo? I can't wait to try LokSound FT.

Thanks for making that. FT looks great. BTW, love your rake of Mk3s in ST livery. Did you burn new FT esux files onto a standard V4 chip and mix with some of the sounds from the MM071 esux project (eg horn), or did you have to buy a later rev chip, or perhaps upgrade the firmware on a V4 one you already had? If possible it would be interesting if you could video a train running on a loop showing effect of drive hold, coast and brake over a longer period (eg: simulating a train starting off gradually building to cruise speed, then simulate approach and stopping at a station). PS: You have some great looking stock.

existing 'Street view' could have prevented todays mess. I was only delayed 20 minutes but the 'rabbits in the head lights' had already been there quite a while before I arrived behind them.

Hope so. I felt sorry for the poor chap who foolishly drove an artic HGV down the tiny rural lane near where we live today. He had to reverse 1/4m all the way back up to the minor road, and then reverse a further 500m to a point he could turn the thing. If he had used google street view to preview the road he'd have realised he'd never have fitted, had no turning space, and not enough head room to get under the trees. There were four 'rabbits in the headlights' suvs behind him 'dooh what will we do' and I had to convince them to reverse back up to the top road so he could reverse back. Then I had to prevent further commuters heading down the lane again until he got clear. Took 20 minutes to clear up. Back in 2010 in the bad snow, on multiple occasions, tourists blindly followed sat nav to sally gap and wicklow gap, duly getting snowed in until mountain rescue got them out. S-61N Rescue 116 was called out to one 'foolish driver' stuck in the snow.

I don't know any specifics on this, so I guess I shouldn't jump to conclusions, but it does seem a real shame. I thought in recent years Ireland had progressively revised planning regulations to preserve our architectural and industrial heritage.

Thanks chaps for your encouraging comments. Looking forward to getting some work done on the layout over the winter months. Thanks, 1980s? Apologies it was just a dream, I've woken up now and its back to the 60s. Return of the empire - Black'n'tan strike back