Noel

Congrats to the IE team behind this. Great idea well implemented.

Class job

Hey you are far too hard on yourself - for a 1st brass loco she looks more than impressive. Tweaking the running can be done retrospectively. Hat's off to you - well done.

Thanks for posting that link. Superb sequence of nostalgic photos and scenes.

Some work perhaps. Looks like it was dipped in a blue chocolate fountain.

Are there still some parts of the network that have 201 restrictions due weight? Guess some 071s could be re-engined if their lifespan needs to be prolonged and there are emissions issues coming down the tracks. They don't need to be capable of 90mph for freight duties. Mind you one would miss the GM sounds.

Would it be correct to assume like other 071s she may get a major overhaul with body panel repairs when she gets resprayed into freight grey livery and becomes 7072?

This looks stunning Eoin

Nice models, but too modern for my preferred era. My Irish modelling interest ceases from about 1980 onwards, nostalgia memory homing, childhood memories, etc. I find modern image stock quite smart looking, but can look quite out of place on typical 00 radius model layout curves I got rid of my bogie freight stock and BR Mk3 coaches many years ago because they were too long and I didn't like the way they overhung curves. You get a lot of poetic license with swb 2 axle goods wagons and 57-60ft coaches, enabling longer trains that look more realistic. Perhaps N gauge might better accommodate scale length modern image formations, but alas UK outline!

Spotted a number of discounted 071s on eBay for €150 but the €12 postage seems steep considering its from Ireland http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Irish-Rail-Murphy-Models-Class-071-IE-Black-Silver-071-MM0071-/322087937353?hash=item4afdefe549:g:MdYAAOSw1DtXH9BN http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Irish-Rail-Murphy-Models-Class-MM0086-Class-071-CIE-Supertrain-/322087943325?hash=item4afdeffc9d:g:oG4AAOSwiYFXH9Dm http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Murphy-Models-MM0073-Class-071-Irish-Rail-Diesel-GM-EMD-OO-HO-DCC-Ready-/322087945739?hash=item4afdf0060b:g:e3oAAOSw-tNXH9G4 http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Irish-Rail-Murphy-Model-MM0078-Class-071-IE-or-blk-078-Irish-Diesel-Loco-/322087931549?hash=item4afdefce9d:g:sC4AAOSwKfVXH8-j

John from SF has been pretty decent on delivery lead times for my last few orders on GSVs. Usually less that 4 weeks and offered gentle weathering at no extra cost.

Well buried on the site but very nice storage units. Do they have padding or an anti-rub surface on the inside floor of each compartment?

Nice Job. Just tested it with a little order

Sure, different product alright. The GH is more like the cruise ship travel experience - unpack once but visit many different places. For €10k though couples may expect a 5-star coach experience more like the GH specs.

Some super pics of real trains and locos - and almost, just almost a 22k tram free zone

Oh how we children out on the sidings dream of the tooth fairy leaving class'ay treats under our pillows as we sleep.

Nice serious of photos here on the thread Kieran - real trains, real locomotives. And not spoiled by a single photo of a 22k tram - Bravo.

For that kind of price one might expect more 'Pullman' style coach interior comfort instead of modest refurbished craven interiors. (i.e. €10k for a couple on an 8 day break = €1250 per day). It costs less to stay full board in top 5 star hotel for over a month. Belmond Grand Hibernian is nearly twice the price but seems in a different league for a 'first class' service.

Thanks Fran. Ah it was just an idea, thought a few 20ft Bell containers on a mixed goods traffic formation with open wagons, vans and a break van might look well behind a B&T 141 (i.e. circa 1970). I don't do brass, only plastic kits, which doesn't seem to suit container flats.

Are there any suppliers of decent RTR flats suitable to put these 20ft and 40ft containers on, especially 20ft container flats. Haven't the time nor inclination to build brass kits.

There is plenty of railtrack ones on eBay if you fancy a respray.

Looks fab. Is it 4mm scale?

Gulp!!! Stunning

Forgive my ignorance is it a DD or Mk4? Livery looks nice.

We should have made our 'kingsbridge' layout 7mm scale. That building could have fitted in perfectly. Very nice.