Noel

Unfortunately 1509 is a very poor runner, it suffers the same unbearable wobble the RPSI livery cravens suffered. It requires a relatively easy to do user fix to stop the wobble via minor surgery between the bogie pivot and the coach body, or a brass Murphy Model shim washer that was made available through Marks Models. I appreciate getting the bogies off without damaging the coach poses a genuine fear issue for some owners. Same design tooling as the earlier coaches, just a different factory and different plastics. The orioginal MM Cravens run really well. To the naked eye or even with a callipers you cannot see any difference.

How to install a DCC decoder in a Murphy Model 121 class loco. This is the easiest MM loco yet to install a decoder into because it has an opening hatch and a built in speaker for folks who might want sound, so its easy peasy compared to the earlier 141/181 models. I was asked by a few folk how to do this by way of PM so thought I'd share it here. Perhaps I should have put it in the DCC section. Murphy Models recommend ESU LokSound V5 or LokPilot V5 21pin decoders, but any 4 or 6 function 21pin DCC decoder should work ok (eg Lenz Silver+ 21 pin). However with the Lenz not all of the lighting functions will be available just the directional running lights. Personally for sound I've used ESU LokSound V5 decoders supplied by WheelTappers DCC sound (Neil) because of their scale like driving characteristics, acceleration, coasting, braking, and the matching sound patterns. Unfortunately the Murphy Model sound project does not make use of ESU's prototypical new 'Full Throttle' driving features, but it sounds pretty good. Remove the bonnet decoder access cover. It easily pops off (see photo). Remove the 21pin DC blanking plate - I used a wooden ice cream stick alternating between each side using it to leverage the blanking plate ½ mm up at a time each side so as not to risk bending the pins. Once up enough it will come off using fingers. Install the 21pin decoder correctly orientated (see photos below). Replace the access cover (friction fits) The first thing is to pop off the cover on top of the bonnet. If awkward a wooden cocktail sausage stick will do. The top cover comes off really easily. Remove the 21pin DC banking plate plugged into loco's PCB. Gently lever it off the 21pin connector using either a wooden stick of 4-5mm screwdriver blade. Try a wooden stick (ie ice cream stick cut to shape). Gently lever alternate sides up 1/2mm at a time until the plate pulls free. If the wooden stick is not strong enough to get it to move use a 4-5mm wide small screwdriver blade. There is a screw head conveniently placed on the PCB under the corners of the blanking plate and you can rest one edge of the screwdriver on that rather than the surface of the PCB (ie to avoid accidental damage to the PCB). Use the screwdriver twisting it gently on alternate sides to leverage the plate up 1/2mm at a time each side of the 21pin connector. If done gently and gradually force is not needed. The decoder should not cover the dip switches, see photo below, it goes towards the cab end fitting under the panel in front of the cab windows. There are wires in there so it won't fit initially until you nurse it into place easing it gently past the wires Lighting wires make it awkward to slide the decoder under the body panel but with care its easy to fit. Note the 21pin strip of pins has one missing on the loco PCB and the decoder is missing one hole, this is so that you align the decoder correctly. Be very careful to get this blank hole and missing pin aligned ok, it is very easy to bend pins if one hasn't go this right and force the decoder down. I find the locos pins will fit the decoder loosely giving you a clue its lined up ok before gentle finger pressure to push the decoder down allowing the pins up into the decoder holes. Remember the decoders default address out of the box is 3 so when trying for the first time before you give the decoder its permanent address (eg 134 which is a LONG address btw). Note some DCC controllers treat the no 121 as a long address (Roco Z21), whereas others like NCE treat 121 as a short address. Hope this helps. Noel BTW, on one of my locos the speaker was perfect and sounded great, but on the other the speaker was faulty suffering severe distortion. MM are replaced the loco for me under warranty by return, excellent service. PS: I've another thread somewhere showing how to get a driver into the 121 cab (requires a little lego, meccano skills and a screw driver).

Wow. Two thoughts. 1 it hasn't actually sold yet that's just an asking price, and 2. Thank merciful hour I collected my MM rolling stock between 6 and 3 years ago. Just shows there scope in future for re-runs of some of this stuff with the newly expanded Irish market despite its relative small size.

Seems a expensive alright on Amazon for what will become a dust collector once its been perused.

Good observation. 00 gauge @ 16.5mm looks like the narrow gauge track in the Isle of Man.

Me too. Happy memories.

Cool find, 125 HO scale has the famous Lima coupling. I have two of the 215s, both run at warp speed, one runs ok, the other sounds like a tractor, no need for DCC sound. Back in 1976 I thought these were the Bees-Knees and the Cats Whiskers. The punny buffers looked most un-CIE A class like. I'll doubt that I'll ever convert them to DCC, they are part of my DC past. Lima got the colour right.

Hi Paul. Not sure if this is the sort of thing you were looking for. Diagram of Gort which is under construction at the moment Initially it'll be an end to end shunting layout for loose coupled 2 axle goods wagons, inspired by JHB's book "rails through the west" Photo courtesy JHB. I've added a heat shunt to the goods yard in case the layout ever grows legs with a continuous loop so shunting can carry on while trains pass through the station.

Reading between the lines on just some of the cork services due to CV-19 reductions in pax. Hopefully a year into a vaccine if and whenever that happens will see rail numbers return. Climate action is the next storm coming down the tracks and rail will have a role to play.

Hope this is temporary due CV-19 and not a trend. The end of loco hauled proper trains on the countries most important route would be a great loss. I refuse to travel to Cork on uncomfortable 22k plastic yo-yo toys.

Really nice job. Transformative to the pristine dayglo yellow

Thanks. Good to hear, is A class covered for next may also?

PS: Opps just thought of this. For anybody getting a decoder to run on a DC layout, please ensure your provider enables the DC bit of CV29 so that it will run on DC. If you have a DCC controller that's easy to do oneself, but assuming anybody getting a 121 decoder to run on DC won't have a DCC controller to programme the decoder. Alternatively visit a pal who has a DCC system, pop loco on the test track and make the setting. Some system have nice english menus that guide through the steps rather than you needing to know CV values. EDIT: The default setting for the DC operation setting may or may not be set out of the box.

Yea but customers of RTR products should not have to do that, only skilled enthusiasts perhaps. Products should just work out of the box as they do in this case, without need for modifications.

Yes to both. (ie on DC ) Sound and lights work. There is a more comprehensive explanation of the DCC functions on the MM ESU chip here: http://www.murphymodels.com/Class_121_DCC_Information.docx

I've no idea. A consideration for MM.

141/181 were manufactured by Bachmann for MM, 071 was pure MM production.

Excuse me, it was his arms I removed not his legs!!!!

Please tell him thank you very much from me, and I'm sure thousands of other Irish model train fans, including some not yet even born who will benefit in the future.

I hope this is not the case. Don't see any reason that there might not be commercially successful re-runs of models such as the Cravens or M2d coaches especially in IE/IR Tippex which are like gold dust. It's highly likely that this forum might not exist except for PM and his produce over decades that fostered the rebirth of the entire Irish railway modelling scene, and all that followed in his wake. We can hardly expect more, despite the understandable desire for more. PM ran a successful model business not a benevolent society, yes we are very grateful for the enjoyment his products have given us and the stimulus he provided to railway modelling in Ireland. No more do we suffer Hornby, Bachmann, nor Lima respray cast offs masquerading as Irish stock. We are fortunate that IRM/Accurascale may be the vehicle to continue the crusade started by Murphy Models, only time will tell, but so far its looking good, with the A class due next year not to mention the Irish Wagons to date (ie Ballast, Cement, Tara, Fertiliser, 42ft flats). Personally as somebody who hand painted BR stock in the 1970s to look vaguely Irish and CIE, the hobby was transformed for me the day I took my son to see the magnificently stimulating O gauge Fry model railway layout in Malahide castle about 2007 or 2008. After watching the mesmerising and action packed layout operation, we were passing through the souvenir shop, when almost by accident a Murphy Model 181 class no 182 in its box on display caught my eye. My jaw dropped! I was in utter disbelief that a fine scale model of a real Irish CIE locomotive existed let alone be on sale there and then. I'd never even heard of Murphy Models having been out of the hobby for about 15 years. I bought it on the spot despite what seemed a high price at the time compared to BR stuff, but by todays standard it was a steal. I rushed home, had to clean the track as the layout had not been operated for some years, turned on the DC system and ran the loco which blew my mind such was its precision engineering running quality. It was the catalyst that got me going anyway. Whatever MM's future plans may be, the company can hold its head up high, and I say thank you for the enjoyment your commercial products gave, and I hope you made a good financial return by producing them. CIE 182 - The actual model that rekindled my interest in this hobby, purchased at Malahide castle circa 2007 or 2008.

Patrick before your postings a few days ago 'back to backs' had never been on my radar, but since you posted I've seen them on IRRS video clips. Nice Job.

Stunning. Gerry, will that hinge just inside the door? Or is it for another part of the layout. Ballybeg is always a treat and a privilege to visit.

I have a cunning plan. Not sure if it will work yet but will report back.

A pair of grey 121's aged a little B134 B135