Noel

Thanks Stephen. Most of our layout curves are 900mm radius with a few 750mm, do you think the Kadee 17 or 18 might work ok? I'm not keen on the visual intrusion of the drop bar on kaydee's, but like the narrow coupling. Are there shorter versions of the Bachmann tension lock style couplings that would pull coaches closer together? I suppose I could cut off the kaydee drop bar on couplings between coaches and leave them on the end of rake coaches. Noel EDIT: Apologies, just found this post http://irishrailwaymodelling.net/showthread.php/2268-kadee-s-and-Hornby-couplers nirclass80 video gives a great idea. I could cut the drop bars off the couplers between coaches and just leave them on the two end coaches of each rake.

Hi Folks Being a relatively recent returnee to the hobby I am well out of date on model technology like couplings. As I understand it most products nowadays including Murphy models use an NEM type coupling. My questions is are there shorter versions one can purchase for use on coaches that will run on large radius curves? It would get the coaches a lot closer to get there. Cheers Noel

Thanks. The 18-105 is such a versatile and light lens. We just need to find a suitable 'tardis' and send you back to 1965 for a few days to photograph real trains in colour. Cheers

Hi RR Yes as far as I know. See link below: http://www.themodelshop.ie/graham-s-resprays-mk2-egv-ie-livery-black-roof.html Cheers Noel

Some very atmospheric pics. Liked the motion blur shots too, especially the 201 streak. If only there had been somebody with your photographic skills out there 30 or 40 years ago recording rail scenes when there were interesting looking trains operating on Irish rails instead of wall to wall 22k buses. You must have a very long reach lens or do you crop those long shots?

Passing mid day expresses on Crinkle Wood line. 183 destined for Kingsbridge, rear of 073 for Crinkle Wood Crinkle Wood junction - somebodies kicked in one of the windows on the goods shed on platform 1 Kingsbridge with new arrival 2-6-0 CIE Mogul Once the preserve of British outline steam locos, Crinkle Wood junction is now taken over by Irish trains. Can't wait to get started with the scenics next month.

Apologies for the out of focus pics and awful DOF, was rushing and didn't have time to change lens. But you can get the general view of the Park Royal. She will receive a bit of mild weathering over the winter. A black 141 seems the right partner for Park Royal, or a black & tan 001. 183 approaching platform 3 Atmospheric blur - DOF very very narrow

I've ordered one in IE livery (e.g. MM5602 livery) from Seamus Graham's model shop in Portlaoise. He can offer resprays of MM5601 in IE livery so it ends up looking the same as MM5602. I guess he could probably also do an orange roof version (i.e. like MM5609). Looking forward to seeing it. Better value than most ebay prices plus postage from UK. The recent ebay £80 seems a crazy amount of money for a €49 coach. Have almost completed the collection of a few Irish coach formations, all that is missing now is the EGV, and Dutch GSV and a few more Park Royals. Kingsbridge will then have a nice fleet of Irish trains to run on it and not just GWR, LMS and LNER (i.e. while I do the scenic work this winter).

Entertaining story Leslie.

But definitely worth it. They are unique hand build scale models of an iconic coach that ran on Irish rails for many decades. Park Royals with their distinctive shape really add character to a coach formation and a layout. I'll post a few more pics later. The build quality is excellent. I wasn't sure what to expect as sometimes 'specialist' low volume kits and custom RTR stock can fall a somewhat behind the quality of major manufacturers, but certainly not in this case. My expectations were exceeded and I will be ordering more now that I have received this first sample and it has measured up.

The postman brought a Park Royal coach today from IFM. Yipee - its superb. Congrats to Tom for producing such a gem. Park Royal right at home with cravens I'm a really thrilled with this coach. Top class model. The poor phone photo doesn't do it justice. Will take a proper daylight pic tomorrow. She looks at home in 'Crinkle Wood' station

The coach came in a set with LMS Princess Elizabeth loco which had a working smoke generator.

Ah, OK. I thought MRSI was an overall model rail association for Ireland. Didn't realise it was a north side club. Do SDMRC run similar exhibitions?

What about the IMI Conference centre in Sandyford (i.e. the large hall)? I think its only used on weekdays.

Very nice. Is this a new MM product or a respray? If the latter, hats off - excellent. Like the curtains.

Having just watched a DVD on Irish Railways 1967-1997 I am consolidating my jurassic tendencies - Yes it's 1960s and 70s era for me even more after the memories stirred by the video. All the unbraked freight wagons, mixed passenger and freight trains, Bredins and Park Royals, loose wagon shunting - wonderful operations. Makes me wonder if I will need less Cravens and more Park Royal and Bredin/Laminate coaches?

Hotels with big conference rooms sometimes offer deals as they will get food and bev trade from the visitors. Personally I think its nice if there is at least a cafe on site or even F&B for those who've travelled long distances. Folks may stay longer, spend more! And at least there is somewhere to sit down for a rest!

Thanks, that seems a good suggestion. Watching a recent Irish Railways DVD it brought back memories with clips of 001s and 141s pulling a few coaches with assorted goods vans and wagons attached and a brake van. Must have needed an interesting 'braking' technique in those mixed formations with the unbraked loose coupled wagons behind the passenger coach(es). The driver must have been careful to initially slow the train gently so all the wagons closed up on their buffers before applying more braking action (i.e. avoid multiple shunt bumps against the passenger coaches as each wagon closed the gap between buffers).

Thanks, that's interesting cause I have a lot of them in 'Corrination Blue' livery which could make suitable donors both for olive green livery and B&T. I travelled a lot on them too in the 60s and early 70s. After watching some Irish Railways DVDs I'm beginning to think I may need more Bredins and Park Royals than Cravens for the Kingsbridge layout.

Please forgive, but why tasty, is it not just the Galway mk2 livery EGV with an orange roof instead of black? The Galway livery like the original 201 livery never looked attractive (i.e. from a marketing point of view).

Wills - when used with balsa structural members it can work quite well. I used to build structure with balsa 1/4" strips and then cover with plasticard sheeting.

Thanks guys. (slightly embarrassed). It has great personal nostalgia value so I will run it despite its odd prototypical pedigree. I'll put some weight in it and change the wheels. It may inspire me to repaint these LMS Staniers which are close enough to CIE laminates in appearance. But I'll learn to use a spray gun and masking tape this time. LMS Stanier as donors for CIE Black and Tan laminate stock

Everard Junction video series covers every aspect of modelling. Top notch videos. He as loco paint videos and coach weathering videos.

Well I promise not to wait over 40 years before the next paint job! Was about 12yo when that botch was done. What's next for me is foam blocks and modelling plaster to get some landscaping done on 'Kingsbridge', then paint, scatter, and may attempt some static grass.

Fabulous pictorial resource and nostalgic