Noel

The great thing about train sets in the 60s and 70s is the building element of handling and constructing track geometry had a lego’esque construction value, imagination could be let loose, beano hardback annuals used as platforms and socks as hedgerows, not only was geometry self thought, so also was resourcefulness and creativity. Train sets could be put down and taken up, moved from bedroom floor to table top, back into those iconic yellow and red boxes. Migrating to a 6x4ft piece of chipboard was a major advance.

It’s a certain amount of work but I spread it overtime having now converted most of my stock. Most did not have NEM pockets so I used raft gearbox NEM couplings. This thread below shows some of the different conversions. Where NEM worked I went with that, where it didn’t, I kitbashed, modified or used draft gearbox Kadee whisker couplings which enabled me to hide the box entirely under the wagon floor. IMHO kadee no5s are unsuitable as the project visible too much.

Personally I find tension lock coupling especially the more modern small ones very poor for shunting and running performance, especially in reverse. Kadee couplings are much more reliable for operations including reliable reversing, automatic uncoupling and delayed uncoupling. They also look less obtrusive and the great beauty is one can vertically pick up any item of rolling stock from a formation and remove it without the usually tangles mess associated with TLCs. PS: Kadee's also generally facilitate closer coupling with less gaps between rolling stock.

Hope all goes well and wishing you complete and speedy recovery. Thanks for posting those amazing historic images.

Yes at one stage around 2014 am I correct in recalling that a Lima 201 was for sale for €1200, but once the MM manufactured ones came on the market the Lima's were fetching €50. It doesn't seem that many years ago that 'The Modelshop Portlaoise' could not sell its stock of blue NIR livery 071s. They were listed for years, now gold dust?

Presume the 20ft container flat wagon was there as a barrier wagon. Interesting that the parking brakes can sieze up over time when laid up and the wagons needed a nudge to free up the brakes.

Sent email via PM to avoid spam harvester if posted here on an open forum. http://www.murphymodels.com/Aboutus.html

Suggest send it direct to Murphy models under warranty. I got great service and a replacement direct from MM within 48hrs. A middle man just adds delay and unnecessary pain. MM warranty service is excellent. PS on addressing note programming 121 as a loco address is treated as a long address by some DCC controllers and a short address (ie <128) on othe DCC systems due NMRA ambiguity. For example program 121 into a loco on NCE is not addressable by say a Z21 or Lenz and visa versa. As recommended above to mechanically diagnose a loco try on DC first with the DC blanking plate to illuminate all possible DCC causes.

Channel 5 - REPLAY - Great model railway challenge For anybody who missed this when it was broadcast live on Channel 5 two years ago here are youtube links. Entertaining viewing. Don't take it too seriously. Season 1 Episode 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HntwOejAYs8 Season 1 Episode 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q_BgURWmE0 Season 1 Episode 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6fEv8QL-MM Season 1 Episode 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QybpAwdovU&t=1063s Season 1 Episode 5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ApaDYQ4RZM Season 1 Grand Final https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK5AhXfKFnk

Thanks all, I just found my missing copy of 'Rails through the West' which has most of what I need. Excellent. Thank you

Kind sirs. By any chance would anybody please have a historic track diagram or signal box diagram, or even photos of Athenry station about 1960 to 1970 showing track layout including east of the road bridge and west of the level crossing before the Gort branch line deviation? Thanks in advance. Noel

I remember those on the roads in 1960s on the back of a CIE truck, in the days when CIE transported bloodstock and did furniture removals, and Aer Lingus did catering. Another era.

You could try the Hornby or Roco close couplings Or Kadee No 19s Tension lock couplings are poor performers and look awful. Dreadful pushing stock in reverse over paintwork and short radius curves. The Roco for fixed rakes of mk2 work well, or kadee knuckle couplings but slight fettling is required as the NEM pockets are incorrect height on the mk2d coaches (and the Cravens).

Love the IE/IR orange window frame modelled as a repair part

Wishing all my fellow model railway enthusiasts, their families and loved ones a really special, blessed and peaceful Christmas celebration. Take care all, keep safe.

Good luck to them, it’s free enterprise, free choice to sell, free will choice to pay that much. Not my cup of tea personally but I appreciate there is a tiny highly specialised niche for NIR/UTA stuff and collectors seem willing to pay for it. Good luck to them.

Stunnng modelling. Just spotted this amazing thread now.

Sounds like an excellent concept. Let us know when you've sketched up some track plans. (railmodeller pro on mac is good)

On a serious note diesel motive power won't be around for much longer, so all those 22k and 201s are going to need replacement power plants post 2030 if climate action demands it. Diesel has gone from 'good cop' back in 2007 to 'spawn of satan' nowadays. Electrification or HFC may be the way forward. But I'm sure IE procurement are weighing the cost benefit of these options against a revitalised turf condensing burner or dail hot air heat pumps.

Based on those prices I should perhaps sell all my toy trains and buy a new EV instead.

Excellent results. Subtle, realistic, not over cooked. Just right.

No, just spent 3 hours sitting in the coach right behind the DVT on Thursday, going a good lick over some uneven track work as the suspension was working overtime and I could see the DVT bouncing a lot, knowing 3200hp was pushing 8 coaches ahead of it. It just crossed my mind as we were doing 100mph at the time. With steel monocoque coach bodies probably quite able to handle a derailment, unless passing a bridge at the time.

Yes was on cork train yesterday and Monday. Tipping along at 160kph in places. 4006 was bouncing a lot yesterday, but comfy seats in the CAF mk4 coaches. Alas no food on board, not even trolleys (covid gets the blame). The Green'n'grey livery 201s look great matching their coaching stock. Noticed some of the 22ks got nicer seats recently, noisy though inside the cabin compared to the relaxing 'whoosh' of the mk4s gliding along on CWR. Often wondered what might happen if a leading coach or DVT derailed when being pushed at 100mph by a 201 (ie what are the fail safes, etc). Not sure what said inaccuracies might be, but I like my two Intercity green models 222 and 229. Nice smooth runners but as models just very long locos as are mk4 coaches, so never going to look very realistic on typical layout curves. Hard to fit a rake of 8 mk4 sized coaches.

Thanks, already have a full shed of the lovely A's

Yip you can see why govts all around the world are so keen to ban diesel powered machinery and vehicles. I doubt we’ll see much diesel locos and multiple units on Irish rails after 2035. These disgusting heavy polluters and health damaging yokes seem on a short wicket. Bring on electrification and HFC power.