Noel

Yes remember the year on year exponential increase in CPU speed every year from 1985 and especially in the 1990 with CPU power doubling every 6 months. Same looks like happening with battery density and chemistry. BEV sales have hit over 25% of market share here, the tide is flowing in one direction at the moment. As the new ICE ban gets closer year on year a tipping point may be achieved causing residual values of existing ICE vehicles fall off a cliff edge. 2040 is still 16 years away and 2035 eleven years before new ICE sales banned. Consumers seem ahead of policy on adoption of alt energy, with the explosion of heat pumps, BEVs, and homes with Solar PV. Where will it all end Ted? Will we all end up driving Pat Mustard's milk float at only 4mph? Looking forward to the quiet swoosh of electric intercity on CWR to Cork in the future, perhaps eventually quad tracking of Dart lines to Connolly, sooner Dart link to Houston and Dublin Airport, and I asked Santa for an IRM C class for Christmas. With a rake of laminate CIE coaches.

The cost of installing hugh pressure H storage tanks underground and pumps at a forecourt is massive and the distribution costs massive, its a very expensive form of road fuel. There are zero public H pumps in Ireland and only 5 in the whole UK. There are over 5000 electric car chargers in Ireland already as well as the 50,000+ homes already with 32amp type 2 sockets already installed, and the rest of Irish homes that already have a 3 pin socket. The national grid is the most efficient way of delivering kWh from source to a car (ie compared to H road tankers and all the expensive safety gear that entails). Well to Wheel H is brutally inefficient and expensive compared to battery electric cars (85% efficient). Its a free market consumer choice will probably rule the day in the end. HFCEV makes sense for HGVs and Buses due to the limited refuelling infrastructure needed (ie depot refueling rather than public forecourts). 25 years ago I'd have bet my shirt on HFCEV for cars, but then along came Tesla and they proved BEV could work conveniently in half decent looking cars, and the entire motor industry was disrupted and followed suit with the sole exception of Toyota (ie potentially the new Kodak). It'll be fun to watch from the sidelines but glad Ireland has woken up and got in gear (forgive the pun). Existing diesel and petrol cars are allowed remain on roads until 2040 when NCTs will no longer be issued. Only time will tell how all this affects rail transport. RPSI might buy one of the 201s from the scrap line, and get their hands on one 071.

Interesting a H ICE. If Ryanair introduced the Hindenburg air ship I probably wouldn't be flying with them, and on a train I might be sitting in coach G at the very back of the rake (ie in jest). HFC has very few moving parts to maintain H ICE has more mechanical moving parts. Your dead right if not HFC they'll make noise.

The same as vintage and classic cars which won't be effected by the ban on the sales of petrol, diesel and hybrid cars. RPSI and preserved railways will be exempt (eg coal fire steam locos), due to the tiny cumulative amounts of CO2 they will emit over a whole year. We'll still hear the trash from preserved 141, 142, 146 and A39, etc, but perhaps a dart like whine from 071s and 201s. Some of the 201 scrape line could perhaps be saved by HFC conversions. The big cost down the road could be ditching the diesel power plants in the growing tram fleet (ie 22k ICRs), or converting 22k to electric.

Problem with H cars is there is zero refilling infrastructure in Ireland, and only 5 forecourts in the entire UK, so one cannot even drive to scotland and back, or outside the state of california. Whereas the BEV charging infrastructure is already wide spread through the EU and here, as well as every home has a 3pin socket. Bare in mind 95% of BEV drivers do 98% of their charging only at home on cheap night rate electricity at about 16c/kWh instead of 71c for high power public CCS chargers. Some folks even charge their cars for free from roof top solar panels 7 months a year, and night rate grid during mid winter. The only constant is change, but clean energy has a compelling economic argument despite it being fashionable for folks to dislike the green party. Ireland is on target to achieve 80% renewable no carbon fuels for our electricity grid by 2030, augmented by cheap french nuclear electricity via the celtic interconnector. The rate of invisible change going on under the radar is phenomenal, like it or not we'll all end up driving egg whisk powered milk floats within the next 7 years. Some ecomony models manage 0-60 in 6 seconds which is not bad for an egg box milk float. Rail has the advantage of depot refilling for H and the option for electric via catenary of 3rd rail. Our rail track milage is low so capital cost is not too high to electrify all the main lines over the next 15-20 years or so as per the recent strategic rail review. Its not rocket science when Ireland achieves energy independence electrifying every thing will make economic sense.

Yes and the 201s could follow suit, but the 071 chassis seem more reliable. Sweat your assets, keep renewing and overhauling. In this era of urgent climate action and in particular the amount of dangerous NoX diesel 071s, 201s and the ICR trams spew out its only a matter of time before diesel traction is banned here and across the EU. This is a good first interim step, next step is to electrify the intercity rail network and all commuter routes, darts could be extended using batteries to line extents lacking catenary or 3rd rail. That could rid us of diesel transport. Road HGVs and Buses look like going Hydrogen as most can use depot feeling infrastructure. Athlone already has a fleet of BEV buses. All change but for the good. It will alter the noise, they'll be almost silent. A HFCEV makes no noise except for the electric motors, wheels, gears, etc. The GM notching roar will be gone.

Hi Leslie no problem and no need to apologise, I just wanted to bring to your attention that the list of kits and list of products was no longer on the website. You used to have a nice listing with photos. PM sent with enquiry. I was also interested in some CIE H-Van kits, you were out of stock last time we exchanged emails. All the best. Noel

@leslie10646 FYI, the link on your web site to your products is not working. 'Kits of model Irish railway wagons' has no hyper link to a products page. Was interested in ordering some of these wagons. Cheers Noel

Claremorris circa 1970 would be an incredible project. 5 Lines once the countries busiest railway metropolis, I can see 14 coach formations with two GSVs making up knock specials with dozens of black'n'tab breeding, park royals, laminates and cravens taking up all the sidings, and the new fangled mk2 rakes behind orange CIE A classes filling every siding and racked up stabled down the line to the burma road for knock specials. The sheer diversity of goods and passenger traffic that once linked westport, ballina, sligo to Dublin, Athlone, Limerick, Galway and Cork. Only a single line system but the twin track station layout with the double track crossing is epic, and looks like a twin track mainline station. Looking left towards Athlone, to the right Athenry, Gort, Ennis, Limerick, Foynes, Cork, Tralee.

Ever since Murphy Models announced re-runs of refreshed baby GMs, there seems a good supply of second hand original MM/Bachmann 141/181s for sale these days on eBay and FaceBook at sensible prices compared to the ebay Rip offs up to last year. Is this Lima junk heap for real: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126084988109?hash=item1d5b403ccd:g:cLsAAOSwK2hk-1q5&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4H7A9PqdHeNNp42Rvalq8lyE1%2B%2BkmzoGDDUbqHqfsGs0CHt6hVrgc7WqpPNeZBZTeGiTey%2B7NInF3XFcAiXp5JPDc2SUWwOh3ZDVxAuhx7NqV7EdizUq6whhH6Geb8256j0oiU5D2K%2BcOniw6xqabi2ZhXn6RFmOIpdYyV%2Bh%2FeYXQlQ8xZRRRlO2GM0ciwlgrHm6MkaDCdnWG5%2BK9qp3UcBAjTLGXWSzF4zm8%2BzTn7pzu4qjCB5Pr5EjkHAmq8OzL2acaAyLcIukb0TSTY3Tc3jVYcUUeilB9rP%2BcQshzuov|tkp%3ABk9SR6KYoZ7eYg I've two of those hideous Lime class 33s painted orange pretending to be A classes in the attic for decades and don't think they are worth much more than a door stop nor a paper weight, perhaps static scrap line scenery on a layout. Pure junk, how this clown thinks there are worth €40 0+ is beyond belief. They don't look remotely like an A class even at 20ft.

For completeness in this thread, 4 min video of kadee' shunting in action with uncoupling and delayed uncoupling demonstrated. The layout only needed one strategically placed under track magnet. With short 2 axle wagons it helps to ensure the wagons are close to NMRA weights for reliable coupling and uncoupling (ie without bounce or axle magnet hopping). There was a post over on the main FaceBook model railway group asking about Kadee's this thread might be a useful resource to those converting from tension locks to kadee's or those who wish to shunt stock without the hand of God from the model sky uncoupling wagons and coaches.

That good, glad it worked. Thanks for letting us know.

To avoid brexististan duty you could order blank decoders from the Euro zone (eg Model Bahnshoplippe) and just buy the serial number locked sound file direct from Neil (via email) if you have access to a LokProgrammer to upload the sound file. His 121 sound project is far superior to the generic ESU one murphy models sold. Better lighting arrangements and infinitely superior prototypical driving characteristics. Blank decoders were about €85 the last time I ordered a batch.

They more than pass the 2ft rule for me. These unpainted dapol wagons are the mainstay of my CIE era layout along with repainted assorted Bachmann BR big 4 vans vans. Even got a flying snail in there. Kadee draft gear box couplings help with closer coupling and reliable uncoupling when shunting formations. I think the main difference is Irish wagons didn't have corrugated ends.

Yes the old castle layout was an amazing and stimulating assault on the senses it was so full of movement and light, ships trains, trams, constant movement in all directions. It was not fine scale but a visual feast of movement and most entertaining especially to under 10s. Glad to hear the original operating layout models will find new homes.

PS: Remember after the reset the decoder it will lose its previously programmed DCC address and revert back to the default address of 3. Just in case you think its dead.

Just do a decoder reset with only that loco on the test track or main track. Set CV8=8 in program mode.

Yip & My last new holland tractor cost less than those Chinese prices.

Confess was stuffed for a deposit some years ago by one of the former cottage model makers before they decided to go into hiding. Small claims court next.

Wonderful to see they have a few old B&T coaches as well. Great that ROI will finally have a proper 5ft3in operational heritage rail line in the future. Great results so far. It will be a time capsule back to the glory days of rural MGWR. Are they basing it on Jonathan's Dugort layout?

Well done so far. Enjoy it. Its the learning and trying new stuff that's the best bit.

Stunning scenics and track laying

Agree 100%, I was fortunate to join a few years ago and have learned so much from this amazing and diverse group of friendly, helpful modellers. They manage to blend innovation and daring with, the best scenic traditions, and camaraderie and joyful collaboration. I don't even live near Wexford but get down now and then to club nights on Tuesdays. There is a great popup restaurant in the car park beside the club house so handy for Saturday visitors. Like the Chinese they are a great bunch of lads. Was privileged to be invited to my first exhibition at their big layout show last May. A special time when a special group of people have been drawn together with an abundance of talent. I would not be surprised if your new book was the inspiration for a large new modular layout comprising the principle south wexford stations including Wellington junction's beat loader.

Wow this is progressing more than nicely. Wonderful to observe the ongoing developments. Class.

The expats down there must be pretty upset