Noel

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.

Thanks for posting. Very educational video footage. Looks like that line has been saved. Must have been one of the last lines with wooden railway sleepers. It was on the 'at risk' list. Hope the Wexford/Waterford line gets a new lease of life also.

Took some photos of 2021 version of Gort station today. water tower was disassembled and moved about 12ft about 18 years ago ticket office unchanged no longer in use so mostly bricked up. A few more in poor light. Looking south west towards limerick/Ennis looking north east towards Athenry direction. Signal box gone ticket office with iconic goods shed behind.

Ordered Congrats @jhb171achill and Barry on what looks like another fine and valuable book for modellers.

Here you go then

Respect

Its like a loco from a Bond movie, militaristic and menacing looking. Sorry the long 201 'Peat Briquette' doesn't blow my skirt up in any livery. If the ICR yoyo's takeover the Cork and Belfast routes retiring the 201s to freight, they may well end up in this smart freight grey livery.

As a matter of interest what is the status of 201? Is it on the 201 scape line at inchicore? Presume it doesn't have the PP gear? Was there a suggestion some years ago that some of the 'resting' 201s could have gone back into service re-engined with hybrid power trains? In the context of climate action, diesel locomotion's days seem numbered.

Yes I used to use similar strips of clear plastic wedged between sleepers for TLCs before switching to kadee delayed uncoupling magnets. However I found kadee magnetic uncoupling significantly more reliable and predictable.

Little Siddington - Virtual Show - Gauge O guild https://www.gaugeoguild.com/virtualnov21/doku.php?id=layouts:litsid This Irish built layout and the invisible engineering and electronics behind it are simply incredible, not to mention the scenics and fully operational and interlocked signalling. Bravo WMRC. https://www.gaugeoguild.com/virtualnov21/doku.php?id=layouts:litsid Wow this is layout engineering control and signalling on another level

c'est magnifique. Sublime, I hope you are well pleased, that’s a masterpiece of subtle reality and scenic photo realism. Holy moly that last photo in particular is hard to tell if it’s a model or an actual photo. The detail is off the scale. You’ve set a new standard and shown what is possible with artistic creativity, time and patience. Congrats. Is it portable or a fixed layout? If the former can’t wait to see it operating at shows.

Spotted this over on WMRC mailing list earlier. Thanks to Gerry Byrne @Irishrailwayman for sending it.

Yea don't want to end up with any of the UKs chlorinated duck fried rice with orange!

ABC - A class and C class meet, B188 waits for the road in the yard

Nice, love the Airfix loco shed.

Exquisite job on those MIR kits. Fab finish.

Yes Solar PV even at 53ºN here in Ireland seems a no brainer, and for 6 months a year can be used to also charge a BEV.

I seem to have made it by the skin of my teeth. Had a busy afternoon, last I heard 88 were left, by sheer chance popped on here for a look and saw the count down.

Class. Subtle blending. Like those platforms too.

Phew!

By way of balance this may be worth considering. Bare in mind that 'big oil' and legacy auto is not going down without one heck of a fight, and they have the financial resources to fund tactics to slow down or block transition. Big Tobacco tried back in 2002 to block governments around the world, but sense prevailed eventually, but not until hundreds of millions had been spent in carefully crafted misinformation campaigns delicately seeded through the media and arms length charitable research foundations producing bogus reports. The Hydrocarbon industry is vast, politically connected and the backbone of many economies. Only time will tell. I was a former super sceptic, but took the plunge to BEV over two years ago. All I can relate is it just works and was a painless seamless transition with none of the mythical tales of woe happening. Aside from the climate benefits it costs €8/wk on electricity instead of €85/wk on diesel, we can get to Kenmare or Donegal from Dublin at 120kph in mid winter with the heating on a single charge with ease. Two year servicing cost was €89 (as no parts used), 50% off tolls, quiet and relaxing to drive, regenerative braking with one foot is so chill out. The monthly fuel savings can make a big dint in financing costs, and for 8 months a year the car is charged off Solar PV so not even using the grid (ie indirect fossil energy). Having said that the Irish grid is now one of the cleaner European grids averaging 45% wind, and heading for 70%. We don't have to go back to living in caves nor do without the lights on, we just need to make intelligent adjustments to how we consume energy and food. The good news is all the alternative tech already exists, is proven, and makes a compelling economic case. I'm optimistic about the future. Don't believe all the scare stores, but retain a healthy scepticism and do the research to fact check. BEVs are no milk floats, remember Ernie was the fastest milkman in the west (aka Benny Hill).