Noel

Scary thing is during the suspension a risk they discover it might cost less to transport by road point to point than by rail. Didn't something like this happen to cement traffic after a rail strike many years ago?

If your interest is in British outline, USA or continental, great for N, but as regards Irish stock, my only observation is that effectively there is no Irish Rail nor CIE RTR stock available in N gauge, so you would have to convert, kit bash, build your own stock using BR RTR donors possibly with the aid of some of the 3D bodies available (shapeways) that might fit on Graham Farish loco chassis. Not inexpensive and not an easy path.

Hats off. First class job done with patience, care and precision. Result. Very crisp, sharper than a nuns starched habit. Excellent.

Hi Stephen, any photos of the blue versions in traffic (ie weathered)?

Good to hear. Still holding out hope for CIE era laminates, some 2 axle vans and open wagons somewhere in the future.

Great pic of a classic Irish train scene.

Yummie. I'll send a 141 light engine straight away to collect some of those. Gorgeous and great to see this golden era of Irish railways finally catered for in terms of RTR wagons.

Signal box diagram for the virtual signal box lever frame set. Points are in red, signals in purple. Will add a few manual ground signals on for fun too (ie track side levers).

Gort had 6

Its interesting, we are a small island with short distances and only one major population centre so no legacy of mass rail transport unlike our neighbours with their many dispersed large cities, longer distances and larger population where mass movement of people has been going on for the past 150 years. Comparatively we moved mainly cattle and agricultural produce by rail, but few people. Also the UK has had a long tradition of railway preservation and railway heritage due in part to population density. Per square mile practically nobody lives on island of Ireland compared to our EU neighbours. UK also has a long tradition of old trains in period dramas and movies. We only had Sean Connery balancing precariously on the roofs of six wheelers running through the curragh for the 'great train robbery', and perhaps John Wayne getting directions at Ballyglunin. There seems a similar issue with heritage canals here.

Superb, 7th heaven. The Golden era of Irish railways. Reeks of atmosphere and realism.

Looks like part of an old world anchor chain roller/limiter

Just check its not HO scale (ie undersized compared to 00 Scale)

Yip pricey. I was perhaps fortunate to buy 3 at Stillorgan toy show for €30ea a few years ago. Had to walk across the road to ATM to get cash as the trader didn't have ability to process card payments.

£45 extra for a fine dusting

€163 out of the box unweathered €215 lightly weathered by airbrush,ie €50 extra for the weak airspray

Looks a little bland perhaps. Wonder if they were sent slowly down a conveyer belt in a line past an automated spray station. About the only thing you can say is it takes the pristine plastic shiny plastic look off them. Lots of airbrush shadows where pristine plastic was missed.

Desk jockeys, don't you love it

Treasure for only €65. Noticed this rare mk2d IR/IE tippex orange roofed restaurant coach went for a song today. Glad somebody got it at a sensible price. https://www.ebay.ie/itm/124730178165?ul_noapp=true

Nothing significant going on, just snagging out minor tweaks to ballasting and painting. I placed snag markers anywhere I was unhappy with ballasting so today was correction day. Think I've finally figured out how to ballast point without gluing them seized. As all the platforms and all major scenic items will be removable and held in place by magnets today I ballasted right up to the edge of the platforms which have been masked with grease proof paper or masking tape for release in 3 or 4 days time when the PVA mix has 100% dried hard. It just didn't look right without ballast running right up to the platform edges. When this is bone dry have some point rodding to run along the track work up to the signal box. Hey ho it never ends.

Precisely and SWB wagons as well. Nothing looks as well as 15 or more two axle wagons behind an A class, nor short coaches of the period. This will be especially so on a layout. We are fortunate to have large radius curves on Kingsbridge but even with those mk3 stock just doesn't look right, nor even mk2. The 57-60ft coaching stock looks more natural on a model layout. Looking at most of the old Youtubes from the 60s and 70s of A classes in traffic they are usually hauling large rakes of mixed 2 axles loose coupled wagons comprising mainly of H-Vans, Cattle wagons, Open wagons and a few short flats carrying a tractor or a car, etc. The old aerial photos of the marshalling yards at places like Kingsbridge, and Tralee show goods sidings packed with two axle vans.

Excellent videos. Love your layout, stunning

IMHO we also need long rakes of 2 axle Beet wagons (Bulleid Open) and 2 axle H-Vans to run behind the A classes.

Looks like they are using code 75 for the new track sections. Interesting to see wooden sleepers too on the non-point sections.