Noel

I was looking for a video clip of a GM starting off slowly with a heavy train, found this and realised it was a light train, nearly quit youtube but just spotted something rather scary at 5m12s into the clip!!! 20 years ago.

Will download the app and try it out. I resume you can play the sounds through the app to see how the mix is working. Did you download the 200mb template pack which seems to be their entire sound library?

Thanks, very interesting. Would love to see a video of some of your ESU sound work sometime if you get a chance to post. If I made a mess of a sound mix and blew it onto LokSound V4 chip, I presume with the programer I could just restore the 071 or 201 sound files to get back to the decoder as shipped by MM?

roflmao PS: The Bachmann/MM baby GMs are the best geared and smoothest running chassis I have ever seen compared to other Bachmann, Hornby and Athern.

Thank for that explanation. Wonder why they just didn't do the same with the Intercity 201s that cross the border instead of a third livery.

Forgive the pun but that 'sounds' great. If I was to get a lokprogramer and download the sound files from the ESU site, where would I get the sound tracks for Irish horn, station announcements, platform whistle, etc? Presume brakes and flange screech are on US files?

Does anybody know why at the introduction of the 201 class the locos and coach liveries did not match? This old pic from IT highlights how visually odd the combination looked. Was there originally a plan to repaint all the coaches that got put on hold? So is this bizarre black'n'grey livery because these two locos are backups or spares for the enterprise service, whereas in the past it was ok to use 'green and silver' intercity locos as enterprise backups because the previous intercity logo didn't have an 'Irish Flag' in the logo?

Agree. Just saw the trailer, looks good. Hope they don't overdress the true story with too many 'hollywood' explosions and special effects. Will watch it on Netflix oct 7.

Hi IT, that's a huge improvement that allows more control over sound. I presume one would have to reprogram MM/ESU decoders yourself with a software update from V4 and reload sound files? Noel

It depends on the demographic age profile of today's Irish market, nostalgia memory, etc. Anecdotally one might be forgiving for making the 'generalised' assumption that the dominant age profile in terms of numbers involved in the hobby are 60+, post mortgage, children left home, disposable income, etc. (ie very crudely observed by attendance at shows, swap meets, etc). But as stated that's just a crude and highly generalisec observation. It's also an age profile that is not as 'social media' hungry. A child in the toy segment today probably just remembers Darts, Luas, 2x00, 22ks and 201 hauled mk4s, or containers, or timber, etc. Photos like these are seen by kids as the olden days, when traffic lights were black and white, cars were black, and their great grand parents may have lived in areas without electricity or running water.

Don't know is the quick answer. Sure one could change acel and decel CVs on ESU chip, but that won't simulate 'coasting' nor direct application of brakes (eg F4 on Zimo). Have a google for some video showing real drive. For example if I get an MM 141/Zimo up to scale speed of 70mph and then zero the throttle she will continue 'coasting' around the layout barely loosing any speed for some considerable time unless brakes are engaged on/off using F4. On the ESU when you pull the throttle fully off the CV4 deceleration CV immediately slows the loco at a rate, no active application of a brakes input needed. You get used to both methods of simulating the inertia of a heavy train being brought gradually to a halt. With the ESU I find I progressively reduce throttle with '-1' speed step decrements as the train approaches, with the Zimo I do nothing but start brake input to control the rate of slowing.

The MM 071 sound chip is pretty good and it's on an ESU decoder. MrSoundGuy sells a Zimo decoder with 071 sound which is also pretty good. The main difference is the 'real drive' throttle and braking control on the Zimo which includes coasting. Some folks love it, some hate it and prefer the ESU deceleration method. Personally I like driving locos with the Zimo sound chip as its closer to the real thing. To stop the loco you have to apply breaks using F4, so timing the correct stopping point at a platform is interesting. But I also really like driving my 071 with the ESU. Splitting hairs needed to separate them. I prefer the sound of brakes on the ESU, but prefer the coasting and braking procedure on the Zimo.

Nice shots of 22024 in the falling light

From Met Eireann Hope her stabilisers are working! Try F10 in Biscay! On another occasion remember coming back from the Heineken Cup final in Cardiff in 2011, the Leinster supporters were in good cheer and in party mode, but within 5 seconds of the ferry exiting Fishguard harbour into a westerly F8 the ship went silent.

Stunning work

Has it been modelled? http://irishrailwaymodeller.com/showthread.php/2669-The-Gort-Layout-at-The-B-N-S-Kinvara

Thanks Fran

Old Blarney your evocative description makes one almost feel like they were there. Is there still a plan to evaluate the feasibility of reopening the Youghal line?

Its easy to forget how busy these little stations used to be with pick up goods traffic. I remember spending hours watching B&T and early ST locos shunting loose coupled stock in places like Galway yard, Newbridge, Portarlington, Gort (visiting Uncle), Waterford (home), etc. It was mesmerising with very interesting movements including signalling which I never fully understood. The constant change in pitch of the baby GMs as they patiently shunted stock, often a single wagon off a passing mixed goods train, or some times on the western lines coupled to the rear of passenger trains. It was a golden era alright and so much more interesting than push-pull and fixed rake formation. These stations were alive with activity interspersed with hours of nothing happening except for trains passing each other on loops. We can't stop progress, but there is nothing stopping us modelling trains when they were interesting to operate, almost Rubik's Cube like mental agility needed by the CIE staff when shunting stock off trains into sidings in the right order. I can still hear the noises, voices, humming engines, metal to metal clinking and clacking, flanges screeching, and couplings being slung unto hooks. H&S today would never have allowed youngsters my age back then line side. Some of the CIE staff gave me amazing amount time telling yarns and explaining how it all worked, what was controlled from Dublin and what was from the local signal box, and what they could do within the station confines off the main lines, and what procedures they had to adopt to keep trains running when analog signalling systems failed.

Thanks guys. I guess I'll have to make do with no 210 which most retailers seem to have in stock. Actually the number 201 is not the attraction for me it is the name 'River Shannon' where we spend a lot of time. River Erne is our next favourite boating spot.

Hi Guys, First question is did Murphy Models produce running no 201 "River Shannon" or was no 201 a Lima? If the former I'd be interested in a new or pristine boxed MM0201. As you know I'm not a fan of the prototype because its not my era but I probably should have a single example of the class. Can't find any record of MM0201 on any of the retailers web sites. Cheers. Noel

I posted this before somewhere a few years ago, but this is what I mean by smooth ultra slow speed running under DCC when the chips are optimised. IMHO, scale models should be able to start smoothly and not at scale speeds of 25mph. Some lovely scale models are let down by toy standard mechanicals on their chassis.

Classic Irish goods yard scene from early 70s. Photo Ciaran Cooney Loose coupled, non-braked pick up freight. Trains dropped off a wagon or two at each station, and picked up one or two.

I didn't want to drift the news thread on IRM, so separate thread here. Some pics of the wagons that would be great to be able to buy one day as quality RTR models. I know there are some suppliers of kits and low quality RTR, but it would be fab one day if high quality injection moulded fine scale models were available of some of these wagons, especially the Bulleid beat wagon and H-Vans. The most numerous wagon to ever run on Irish rails and the back bone of freight from the late 50s through to the early 70s These Vans were found in every siding of every station. Pick up freight when locos shunted and movements were interesting. The quintessential open wagon. Loose coupled non-braked pick up freight Loose coupled non-braked freight All copyrights to the photo links acknowledged

Yes looking forward to getting the Ballasts in October. Would be great if projects 3 or 4 were either Bulleid corrugated beat wagons, or H-Vans. Both along with the double height beat wagon were the most numerous and quintessential stock that ever ran on Irelands railways. Probably the most hauled goods wagons by 141/181 and A class locos. Apologies for my interest in these wagons, they were the essence of Irish freight stock from the 50s through to the mid seventies, every siding or passing loop was full of them. It would be great to have 'quality' RTR stock of either or even both one day.