Junctionmad

One wonders what was behind the thinking at miltown and the way the direct curve attached to the limerick line , were they anticipating a double track arrangement that was being mooted for Limerick around that time ?

When I travelled through it regularity in the late 70s , platform 4 was quite often used by the cork to Dublin train , even though in the absence of trains in platform 1 that was the preferred stopping place for both the up and down trains, probably cause of closeness to the limerick platform Platform 1 is signalled in both direction, whereas platform2 was only signalled in the up direction, primarily because I don't beleive a crossing existed to get the train back onto the down line , that far south. ( nor would there have been any traffic advantage ) In fact on several occasions , I remember the two locos facing each other at platform 1 and 2 The other rather bizarre issue is that all awful lot of goods trains had to shunted into platform 1 , and the engine run around. This must of tied up that platform a lot

Thank you very much. Great great info I've now tied the track layout in the 75-85 period down and am working on the signalling , it's a wet dream as far as semaphores go, I wonder did anyone do a photo survey of the signals before they were all removed , there was a veritable forest. I've just seen a summary of inside the boxes both north and south. The south box controlled up to and including the scissors . The loop behind the station was split between the two boxes. The north box had the engine sheds, Keane's , the flat crossing etc The south box, seems to be an original from the 1800s. But the window style seems very modem, the original and quite beautiful. North box seems to have been replaced in 1967 ( around the tine the direct curve was added ?) with the very ugly 'modern' north box. That new box seems to have been moved closer to the station , possibly to allow both old and new boxes to coexist while they fitted out the new box. The pre 67 photos of the old box show it right beside the flat crossing, cie should have been shot for the design of the new one , especially the carbuncle that is the toilet , In fact the whole of the buildings at the junction are designed in a very austere and almost foreboding style, possible reflecting the fact that this station was seen as purely utilitarian with little connection to the hinterland I'm now on the signalling layout , again an area that's confusing is around Keane's points/milltown mainly as it's an area not well photographed. I think I have the inner homes mostly worked put. There was a transition at some point from some of the main line semaphores on the Dublin side to coloured lights. Hard to tie down when it occurred I'll try and publish as I go for comments. And I'm off to the national library to view sone signal box photos next week ( I happened to have a reading card ) As I said any help on trying the signals down would be great The more I look at it the more I just love this as a model layout, like all layout it will have a few (!) compromises, shortening the platforms will be the obvious one as will probably not carrying the layout beyond the inner homes , but that's weighted against the advantages of low buildings count, little town modelling , and interesting almost bizarre train movements , especially in the block train era , where shunting was almost non existent. CTC was the worst thing to happen to irish railways -grr ( and bizarrely I helped as I was involved in CTC data comms in the late 80 and early 90s ) ( all running on two DEC Vaxs ! ) All help with the signalling much appreciated

what amazed me re the track work is the "kink" in the up line as it diverged into platform 2 See the branch off the up line, into the station where it meets the siding, most unusual. normally that would flow in

thanks Glenderg This reprints one of the clearest views of the southern end, albeit from the nineties

Any photos of the ground Frame setup at Keanes, any photos of the setup signalling etc PS, Actually I agree re EM /OO. I am considering 00-SF , The main thing is that in effect HO track looks very very wrong in 21mm. sleeper spacing is terrible, The advantage of EM is the gauge begins to approximate 21mm better and there is standard track available from SMP and C&L/Exacto this avoids the huge chore of building track for out scene , like fiddle yards and the like. Ive scratch built lots of track over the years and don't fancy doing it for a layout this size. The fall back is PECO 75 , with all the webs cut, proper spacing and the points reworked to look better ( tie bars, frog switching or juicing !) As to stock, I have the advantage !! of starting from ground zero with irish stock. The only advantage I see is 00 would allow friends stuff to visit. I was set on EM. but OO-SF also look goods, if visually appalling as a representation for 21mm.

Glenderg, does that track layout drawing extend to cover the whole station , ( is that a planning permission drawing) On that drawings the sidings look cramped ( great find , what's the planning file number ta

josefstadt , a question, how did the track work west of Keane's points work out was that a loop , presumably the direct curve then rejoined onto the Limerick line further west. How /where did the single line electric train staff get handed over for a train taking the direct curve ? Thanks

Thanks very much, yes I had looked at those pictures before as they are from 83. And are the closet to the period I want to model Yes the shed was four roads , the southern end goods track work was the original small goods shed, which unusually seems to have been demolished Anyone any pictures of the area around Keane's points. Thanks everyone

Thanks for everything so far I'll study the OSI I do know that some small changes were made in the 60 a and after that.

Hi folks, Im a newbie, new to this forum, but am thinking of returning to the hobby after many years absence. I'm on the fine scale end of things, but all the new Murphy Models stuff has me drooling. Im thinking of doing a version of Limerick junction in around the period 75-85, centred on 1980. This is a period where I passed though the station regularly on the Limerick Waterford run, ( park-royals and 141's) . As many have said looking back this period was the heyday of loco hauled stock, and reasonable freight traffic. (even though at the time it was all doom for CIE,if I remember) Im not going to attempt to re-create all 1500 feet of platform, obviously that will be shortened in the model and arranging the waterford crossover is a challenge ( getting the track back around etc ) Couple of things people might be able to help, excuse all the questions, I was thinking of joining the IRRS etc as to see what they had ( anyone know if their journal featured Limerick Junction) (a) Anyone have track diagrams from around that time , essentially very few mods were done to LJ, until recent rationalisation, with the exception of the addition of the "limerick curve ". While I have the basic track layout from pictures and memory, Im unclear as to the exact arrangements on the East side ( engine shed to headhunt etc ) (b) I have most of the signals sorted, several questions remains b.1 I seem to remember a coloured light facing each way on the platform ( mounted under the canopy roof) , midway between the old 1 and 2 platforms, protecting the scissors crossing and acting as a starter signal. I see evidence of it in photos around the nineties, but less evidence in earlier ( 1983) photos, I know the old starter signal which poked through the canopy roof was long gone by the late 70s. b.2 The colour light gantry on the Dublin end of platform 1 , was added some time after 1983, I have photo evidence wasn't there in 83, just the tubular starter signals for dub and limerick lines. There was a ground mounted colour signal shown at that time, adjacent to the 'Up' Line , I think maybe the gantry replaced this ( sight lines etc ) Any Ideas? b.3 I have one picture of the signals south of the road bridge, ( three home signals,) , but has any one any definitive signal layouts of photos of the approach to LJ from Cork. b.4 I have the few coloured lights sorted , except memory fails me as to the distant signals , protecting "Keanes " points, and also the UP and Down distance, I presume these were all coloured light as was typical on CIE at the time. b.5 the southern/eastern aspect of the north box is often photographed. Has anyone any pictures of the west and north aspects , I also can't remember where the staff transfer platform was for the water ford line, my memory is it was just north of the cabin , but can't place it b.6 photos of the south signal cabin are rare , I have only a few long shots . any sources anyone knows of. Heres a few operations questions. There was a connection between the platform 4 ( waterford bay) and the mainline, at the end of platform 4) yet I never saw it being used, ( yet the rails were shiny ) , Did it ever get used and what was its purpose ( maybe it just acted as a loco release) Ive never heard a convincing reason why the bizarre layout of LJ came into being. was there a good historical reason As to the model. I think LJ offers fabulous modelling opportunity, ( And I don't know if its been seriously attempted , but it must have been ), Its offers lots of engine runarounds. Shunting in an era of block trains, plenty of through traffic, even obscure Permanent way stuff was often there. For me the signalling is fantastic, with many roads signalled in both directions !! ( not to mentions loads of shunting signals) Right now Im just trying to build sources of information ,pictures, accurate track plans and signalling layouts Im thinking of EM gauge as a half way house to 21mm. Ive build an awful lots of fine scale track in the past , and really think Im past that, thinking of using C&L fine scale EM track, Wheel flanges could then remain as 00, allowing tighter curves, which may be necessary to get the layout to fit. all DCC from the get go. And A final question, This would make a fabulous club layout ( DCC etc ), is anyone considering a new layout for a club,? has anyone attempted this layout in fine scale or pseudo fine scale with a approximate track plan. Thanks, in anticipation dave