Noel

What a total disaster and mess up. No working layout means no kids, no families, no footfall, no revenue, and probably failure and eventual closure. What a shame the generous 1.5m donation will be wasted and not used as intended by the visionary donor. Surely the current custodians of this historic layout can find another tourism interest or commercial operator anywhere in Ireland to put this layout back on display. Models in glass display cases won't cut it. Shame on the local authority.

Seriously Impressive. Congrats guys. The tension lock swan neck solution seems like the best compromise. Looking forward to planned delivery in 11 weeks. Ps. Any pre-production pics of the load?

Nice video of the wagons. The stiffness in the loco looks more an easy to fix mechanical issue than electronic.

Thanks Finbarr. Sone really fabulous photos in there. It's great to see so many interesting loco hauled trains on UK network. One photo in particular over the viaduct was so colour rich it reminded me of a spectacular layout scene. A relief from boring 22k luas trams. I was standing in Athlone marina last week with a great view of the white railway bridge, heard a train approaching the famous bridge, picked up my camera, but put it down without a click when I realised it was a boring tram. Btw, they have fantastic plans for the cycle Greenaway right through the centre of Athlone off the disused mullingar/Athlone line.

Having initially been impressed and very enthusiastic about DCC sound, I have changed my own view about equipping a 'fleet' of model locos. I've found that running more than one sound equipped loco at the same time doesn't actually sound great, instead rather a confused noise blurred into one indistinctive 'din'. Also simulated 'doppler' effect not currently possible with DCC sound. The distant rumble of a GM loco and horn was very unique as was coasting 'rail' noise. So just personally speaking I won't aspire to fitting DCC sound to more than a few 'party piece' models including one of the existing 141 sound chip in a 121 when they become available. The concurrent sound issue seems a bigger barrier than cost.

Existing Zimo and Locsound 141 sound projects should be close enough for a model

Whatever it is, it should be a class act

The website looks well. Unfortunately the video showing the i3 running didn't impress me, the chassis did not appear to be running free and started and stopped rather abruptly in an unprototypical manner. Could have been the hand on the controller or the apparent lack of double flywheel on the chassis. IMHO models need to be able to appear to operate prototypical accelaration and braking speeds smoothly and capable of ultra low speed running as well as look prototypical. One without the other seems expensive. In this day and age not having online payments on the web site seems an omission. Good luck to them.

** DELETEDED mistake

Bray Airshow traffic likely to be very heavy from 10:30 onwards. It can take over an hour to get into Bray on Airshow day if the weather is good.

Yes absolutely fab to have photos of the three generations of GMs in those liveries side by side and coupled in historical order. Thank you.

Hi Richie, would you like to elaborate? E.g: have you modelled that building complete with weeds and shrubs growing on it and gutters blocked with weeds?

The Red Arrows is a great coup for the air show. The Italian team are no slouches either. Hopefully the Air Corps will display some choppers and the Pilatus PC-9M rather than the heavily armed Cessna 172 stick insects

Fab pic. It's interesting to see the evolution of the loco bodies side by side in historical order from 121 through 141 and 071. Each evolution the side aprons under the sidewalks got shallower and shallower.

Thank you. Great photos. Pity about the lack of maintenance on Connoly shed with weeds and shrubs growing from the roof that will ultimately damage the brickwork. Locos look great though. Are the three locos going to be stabled there permenantly?

Thanks Dave. Does you remember what RRP they were back in 2007? I bought my first one new from Fry museum and vaguely remember it priced about €85 but I could be confused. I see the 4 eBay ones have been reduced from €165 to €150 with free post in Ireland. http://www.ebay.ie/itm/322193048295?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Noel

Yes as far as I know Chris Dyer still has new stock.

Cloud cuckoo land??? There are a shed load of MM baby GMs 161, 165, 188 and 182 for sale on flee bay, but for a staggering €165 each PLUS €20 postage, thats €185 each. Cloud cuckoo land prices when you can buy these new for under €120.

Very nice. I love the rural and natural atmosphere of this layout. It oozes nostalgia.

Who knows JB! Some commentators speculate that the exit may never actually happen, or if it does it may be highly diluted (EFTA, etc). Only time will tell and thats possibly two to three years away. I suspect common sense will prevail on trains here either way, just as it currently does on air flights between EU and USA, and flights between Switzerland and EU countries.

A truely superb piece of model architecture.

201s probably the least popular Irish prototype for models especially that bodge of a 1994 livery by IR

Travelling to Westport and back this week on a 22k it was refreshing to see plenty of freight trains, and decent lengths too.

Ditto

Incredible achievement. Pure class.