heustonconnolly

top notch

Hi lads

not much progress on the layout so far as i want to finish some of the buildings first!!!!

thought I'd post this though ,i think its a great model ,john at silverfoxmodels agreed to do it for me

the only thing not authentic about it is the windows at one end which were plated over during the refurbishment ,but to be honest i dont really mind!!

anyone have any idea when murphy models will release the 201 class in the new 2015 enterprise livery?

Thanks for the advice some of ye have given so far on gradients,operations,and curves,I appreciate it as this will be my first proper layout, thanks for all the good comments also

Well I though this was something I could look at in my shed at some stage although I would like something like Swanage as my middlepart as a seaside Terminus and keeping the point etc down to a min due to cost. I was thinking of Starting the middle first as a removable exhibition piece and seeing how I get on from there.

 

The other issue I would have is the gradient especially as I have a lot of Steam suff which wont go up the slightest gradient unless banked or double headed.

 

Hope you start something on this as it does look fab.

Thanks George, this is exactly what I was thinking, a removable middle section which is the main part of the layout, then just have double track for the rest, I went a bit mad with the amount of track I used on the outer loops, but I have changed that yo double track, you could do something similar with your layout

Lads,im just going to forget completely about the rest of the layout apart from the middle section for the next 12 months, im going to build the baseboard for the middle section and get the station /yard completely done,,that wont mean much running of trains but I am willing to wait,

Hi Lads

a number of people have no suggested that i should have connolly(the center piece) and the rest just as double track all round

I think that is what I will do now ,then maybe in the future when the layout is finished i might build a freight yard ,but lets forget about that for now

i thought about a reversing loop at the start,but then i remembered lets say a Dietrich ,that when that would make it back to the terminus that it would be turned the wrong way ,and to be honest i dont want the loco in first and the terminus ,That would look quite odd ,just especially with a pushpull set

although that reversing loop would be great for all other stock i suppose

i have altered the plan so now its just the center piece(station) an the rest is just a shelf of double track ,and i have changes the gradient to 1:40 by starting the drop 10ft back and dropping it 3 inches

so now all the focus will be on connolly station and yard the rest is just double track...and maybe that reversing loop,not sure about it yet as some stock cant use it

I will post thealtered plan soon!!!!!

On second thought I think I will bring west Rd junction to the very left of the layout, giving a much less gradient, one question, how much clearence is ideal?, for instance with good accessibility?

Just a comment, the gradient transitioning from top level to bottom level occurs over what looks like 2'6", if thats correct and I apologise if Im missing something here, thats way to steep a gradient to be practical. IN reality 1:50 is about what can be handled by reasonable train lengths in model terms. With 75mm clearance , that 3.75 meters or the best part of 10 feet. Its even worse if you have curves on the gradient. its doable in 8 feet with transition curves and diesel only stock

the gradient starts at west rd junction which is at the top left and it drops to the next level which is 6 inches below the top level,it takes 9ft to get to the bottom which i think is enough ,although a gradient of 1:50 is ideal but i think this should work. i have never had a layout with a gradient before so any advice on the gradients is more than welcome

Very nice plan. You'll have some extra wiring for the reversing loops. The large Connolly station is going to look great in the middle of the layout. You could save a little floor space by doing away with the northern turntable, or by reducing its diameter. Love the terminus which looks like it will easily handle 7 coach rakes. What era are you aiming for?

Hi Noel

ya the terminus can hold a maximum of 10 coaches in platform 4 , with around 8 in platforms 2 and 3 and 5 or 6 in platform 1

the era i am going for is mainly a present scene!! but its 2006-present !!!

Hi Lads

I have decided to change my layout completely,I have made this decision because I have a new space in which to build the layout ,I think this is a great idea so I have decided to go with it!

The layout is 18x10

This is the plan for the layout and I hope to have it finished within 2 years

Let me know what ye think

Some updates:

Very little visible progress to date as most of the work has been under the baseboard

Once I complete the connolly yard and wire that up I can move onto the buildings

Engine shed

Carriage maintenance depot

Station train shed (roof)

Platforms

North dublin houses and buildings

I hope to get a lot done over the next month ,as I know there is very little done so far!

hi

is there any 00 gauge models that could be converted to a 29000 (as close of an appearance as possible )

Are all enterprise diagrams DD operated now with 9003 back? ,Connolly drivers are passed on them?

Hi Lads

just a Few quick questions,Does the Dublin based DD ever go to inchicore ,or is it always stabled in connolly,Im nearly certain the DDs have never been in inchicore ,but they probably have ,have they?

How long is it ,If ever to a Mk4 refurbishment ,not even a refurbishment but something like fitting plug sockets and carpets ,or just a good clean ,I think these coaches have a lot of potential ,even though the seats are hard id rather them more than any DMU

any finally ,will mk4s ever be used alongside the DDs on the enterprise in the near future ,i heard mk4s are going to be used on different routes ?

Sorry posted that twice :confused:

Will the sets work out of Connolly or just heuston?

I was thinking inchicore too, then I saw somewhere that its going to be stored somewhere in northern Ireland think it was whitehead, and I didn't think they stored "in service" stock at whitehead ever?

Will the set ever operate out of Connolly, or just heuston?

I was thinking inchicore too, then I saw somewhere that its going to be stored somewhere in northern Ireland think it was whitehead, and I didn't think they stored "in service" stock at whitehead ever?

Will the set ever operate out of Connolly, or just heuston?

Anyone know where the belmond mk3 rake will be stored when out of service?

Inchicore? York Road? Whitehead? Connolly V.P/sidings? Heuston/V.P could be opened to store the set?

hi lads

does anybody know if the refurbished de dietrich will be stabled in connolly over the weekend?

as engineering works are taking place between portadown and lisburn which means all enterprise trains terminate at newry

will 9002 be on the southern side of the works or will it be out of service for the weekend ? as the set is usually based in belfast

thanks

Me too. Sure its just a foreign choo-choo that links two EU states - what does the colour really matter. Wish the DT-DVT didn't look like the wrong end of a reliant robin though.

 

Personally,I love the new livery, and interior.....Everything about the DD's

On 1st April, all completed coaches are going to the DCDR for storage, pending the November 2018 reintroduction of the "Enterprise".....

Im confused

is 9001 the next set back ,anyone know when ,and then whats the story with 9003 and 9004 ? before summer?

One question

I have been on the refubished enterprise set 9002 3 times now and every time I arrived in Connolly /Belfast the PA said "thanks for travelling with northern Ireland railways. No mention of IE atal

Was this because the train was hosted by a nir crew or otherwise?

It is a joint service

Sorry I meant to clarify,.

I meant that it could be overhauled and repainted in the intercity livery with the new tri colour logo, I probably won't happen tho