Junctionmad

http://www.ppw-aline.com/Blue_Point_Manual_Turnout_Control.htm

hmm, I certainly remember the plasser 07 series tampers in yellow, in 1975 and I clearly remember the Wickham inspection cars in yellow around the same time, Were not the 1977 plough vans ( i.e. the SSM model) painted yellow . or were they brown on build . my layout will be 75-80s , so what colour would the plough vans be ( have we any photo evidence of mid seventies - 80s ) ballast trains The picture I reference above of 24851, looks a very light colour ( yellow?)

when did the plough vans go engineer yellow do you know when plough van 8456 was modified by CIE ?

soon, I waiting for dart casting to send me some buffers and bits to detail it, Im going to scratch build plough van 8456 , again I waiting for lots of bits and pieces as Im rebuilding by parts locker. Ive got 28 mm axles from Gibson on the way , so Im half think of re working the SSM chassis to be the right dimensions Only trouble is I cut down the width of the plough ( slightly ) to look more correct on 00 gauge track , so I may have to rework that

Post more post more, I love the 70s CIE brilliant thread

The driver has remarkably short hair for the 70s !!

I think in the Odea picture 8146 is an ex-GNR hopper built by Pickerings in 1912, and transferred to CIE on the dissolution of the GNR as to the provenience of hopper 8415 , in the second picture, I dont know, but , its looks like a metal extension has replaced the wooden one in the odea picture ( the second hopper) I wonder is it the same series ?

That would make sense ( though interesting there was a CIE ( or GSWR hopper with a 9'6" wheelbase) Thats then leaves the question , of the " modern" 1970+ hoppers what was the differences between the three types ?? Did they all effectively end up as ballast hoppers as the other traffic died away , or were some cut up

post the pictures any way you like, better then none

my second query is always related to the Ballast Hoppers was there any diffence between the Ballast and Dolomite hoppers , and then was there a difference between them and the " Gypsum " hoppers , in Locomotives & Rolling stock ( first edition ) there is mention and a photo graph of each one , page 77,83, and 85 I understand from that book , that the " ballast hoppers " were series 24250-24263 , introduced in 1977 , with a 12' wheelbase whereas the Dolomites hopper was series 26612-26627 introduced earlier in 1970. interesting the entry on the " Gypsum hoppers " says these were introduced in 1972 , series 26666-26694 but is described as " converted from magnesite wagons " with a 9'6" wheel base ( yet the magnesite wagons introduced in 1969, were 12' wheel base) !!! Since the pictures seem to all look like the 12' wheelbase hopper , was there actually a gypsum hopper on a smaller wheelbase , and what did it look like thanks dave

Oh informed ones, Im currently half way through the SSM kit of the ballast plough , ( in preparedness for the hoppers ) couple of questions ( when did they loose the half doors ) did the lamps above the ducket serve the same purposes as the rear lamps or were they for another purpose, I notice the ordinary CIE 20 ton brake vans has the same arrangement Because these vans typically ran in pairs , I going to scratch build 8456, which was the last surviving GSWR plough van in service , I believe . here she is doing her stuff [MOD: image removed by request] Questions she was part of the GSWR build of 1906 and according to Locomotives & Rolling Stock , was on a 13' wheelbase. They were extensively remodelled by CIE , without outside sheeting, and enlarged windows Questions (1) When was the series reengineered , were all of the original GSWR done so and if so when were they scrapped (2) The running gear was all new roller axles , was the wheel base shortened ? (3) Has anyone an outline drawings of the plough van , in original GSWR or more usefully the reengineered version I did locate some very nice pics on the net of her in mallow, goo up close ones, and I cant find them again !!! OH, did these vans all run with 3-hole disc wheels or did they run with solid wheels ?? and when did CIE introduce " Engineering yellow "? Thanks, I appreciate any help

Very similar to BR heavy duty buffers. Available in 2' and 1'6" versions from dart casting for those of you in 4mm land

There's an American mechanical unit ( I forget the name ) that incorporates over centre springing and frog switching ability I'll look up the name when I'm home

its an interesting aside , as to what IE will do in the next few years as regards locomotives, the 201s are not really suited to general duties and the 071s must be close to life expired now. Then you have the issue of many of the 201s may never run again anyway. I can see IE having great difficulty justifying any sort of loco purchase for thunderbird duties and the odd PWD work. With the virtual complete demise of freight , is will be a tricky decision to justify new locos

I got a reply from Colin in AGW, he has 28mm pinpoint axles @12p each. You need to then buy the ordinary wheel sets and change the axles now to butcher the dapol prestwin to look right !

what could be used is the Bill bedford " internal " wagon compensation unit, it means pulling the wheels off , but thats not the end of the world. This fret has the wheels bearing in side the wheel on the axles, personally I think they should be reamed out to take 2mm bushes

damm, Im missed that sale , always wanted that book , difficult to find second hand

emailed colin in AGW, still waiting......... ( sometimes I remember how tiny the trade is , in this game )

actually , its it usually the case IR refurbish something and then sell it or close it or withdraw it , That what my mate in waterford said !!

hmmm, true This arose cause one of the models is SSMs ballast plough , but the prestwin is really a poor fit, aside from the axle boxes everything else is wrong. Does anyone know of the correct pattern whitemetal axle boxes PS: Richie, would you have an acrylic match for CIEs machinery yellow ?

Thanks for that Glenderg Where I encountered my issues was in the Dapol Prestwin chassis, If I widen this to correct dimensions , i then need to use 28mm pinpoints. Your idea is handy I could make little blocks etc and place brass top hat pinpoint bearings in them ?

Personally , compared to mid seventies, when I first started serious railway modelling, I think the hobby is in rude health. There's a plethora of niche manufacturers doing great work , one only has to look at the range available to Irish modellers to be astounded, we have two strong Finescale societies, multiple magazines, including specialist ones, parts suppliers, and all accessible via the Internet. Who'd have thought 30 yeas ago , I'd be ordering bits from Australa ! The hobby doesn't need hornby any more that's the reality, small specialist companies are doing beautiful work ( like the class 25) at not much more then higher end hornby. As for kids, model train sets were always expensive, and esoteric, at my primary school , no other kid in the parish had one for example. ( my first was an hornby Hymek ) If one looks at the hobby , we have progressed more and more into an adult , more Finescale orientated hobby, with prices to boot. I don't see that as a drawback , merely a change of market dynamics. To suggest that " modern image "( I hate that term) isn't attracting interest. Is to ignore the current buoyant uk railway scene. Loads of freight with big thundering diesels etc , multiple liveries , new freight rolling stock etc. Railway modelling moves with the epochs of the ages of the modeller , I see far less pre-grouping modelling now then in the pages of the " Constructor" in the early-mid seventies. I agree, that followers of Irish railways are left with virtually nothing to model these days. I don't see rail car dominated layouts generating much inspiration. Hornby may or may not survive and I wish them well, but they are not central to the hobby anymore. ( which is part of their problem I think ) Railway modelling has gone through peaks and valleys before and will into the future. I don't worry about its survival

I was specifically wondering how the IRM chaps dealt with 00 gauge and the positioning of the brake gear., as well. I presume the hoppers are wider then UK gauge wagons ?

thanks Really I was just looking for opinions , the easiest way is to widen the sole bars to the prototype 9' or 9'6" in a few cases and use 28mm axles, and suffer the 00 scale look of the wheels and brake gear being miles underneath !, if I ever get a belt to the head and go 21mm at least the work will have been done

In the middle of a few kit builds and a scratch built wagon, I was just trying to work out what other s do with the compromise between the wider Irish wagon sole bars and 00 gauge wheels. Perhaps the boys at IRM might comment. Wider prototypical width wagons means the 00 wheels are in even more then normal, brake gear begins to look very odd, but narrower UK 4mm wagons then look wrong DO people use longer pin point axles to handle the issue etc thanks everyone Dave