MOGUL

The caption has a date of 23 September 1994.. I don't think the grain traffic to/from Ballina lasted very long, but is the only working i have seen a picture of that has the Amficon 20fts on a 42ft flat instead of a 20ft flat

At risk of sounding like i'm on commission, I would recommend looking at Jonathan Beaumont and Barry Carse' books for these.. Rails through the west has a good few pictures from Limerick to Ballina, and rails through North Kerry has some nice pictures of the wagons in Foynes.. I wont share the pics as they are not mine, but they look purpose built to me..

I think there was a set of 47ft wagons converted to carry 45ft containers in the early 2000s for Norfolk line.. So the 47fts have only ever done Kegs(build to 2006), Containers(early 2000s to present) and Sperry(2012-2020)

Hi Arran, Criticism/nit picking is like water off a duck's back to you at this stage I'm sure! I of course didn't consider the possibility that you had a different prototype to the tanks running on the rails over here! Regards Andrew

The coal wagons on the WRC were on 20ft wagons, so would would have to wait for project 20.. Although there is a picture in rails through the west of a 42ft flat with 2 of the Amficon 20fts carrying grain from Foynes to Ballina..

Hi Arran, Perfect pick to go with the 42ft flats, my only criticism is the numbers on the tanks aren't accurate, but that's nit picking in the extreme! (For future ref/re-runs the Bruhns are BTEU2541xxx and the GCAs are GCAU79xxxxxxx!) Are these available now? Regards Andrew

Talk of Fenit makes me think that Patrick's layout wouldn't be out of place on the North Kerry line.. The gantry crane is very like Rathkeale, and the beet bank would fit right in somewhere the west of Ireland..

Surely Lough Erne would be ideal for this line? A nice tank engine, and I don't think the RPSI have any long term plans for mainline use

The gypsum looks like it's being attached to a LJ to Limerick local trip working.. The YM/Yang Ming containers in the front section were very common in Limerick carrying parts for Dell..

Is that picture recent Arran? Saw this picture of facebook the other day, 30ft Bell heading to the west of Ireland.. So there's is at least one around still in Bell Livery.. Fairly sure that I know who the operator is, next challenge is to get it onto the train, now THAT would be something!

Maybe that’s why the aircrafts ref is EI-AGW.. All going well is should take off!

I have one of the Oxford alone livery reachstacker on my desk in work.. it’s a very good model, and as ttco says nearly identical to both of the stackers in Ballina

The green containers on the bells were Consent leasing boxes.. I think Bachmann did a version a few years ago using their 13.6m container

Arran, Can you PM me your email.. I have loads of pics of DANAs tanks, in a few different styles.. Will send you over what I have regards Andrew

All customs duty is calculated on what is called the landed value of the goods I.e the total costs up to the point the arrive into the country.. so normally the value of the goods, plus goods in transit insurance and freight.. VAT is payable on the lander value plus the duty.. Luckily, railway models are zero rated so vat would be the only consideration post brexit

Here’s a thread from RM web that may be of some interest https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/83100-the-hairy-viking/ https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/87535-satans-containers-and-stuff/

Anymore pics of the ship George?

No, Dublin handles all modes, it's the biggest port in terms of both Lo/Lo containers and Ro/Ro trailers.. Rosslare is Ro/Ro trailers only, handling about 15% of national volumes with Cork handling a small amount and Dublin the remainder.. Container traffic to and from Europe is growing due to Brexit and also driver shortages, fuel costs and environmental consideration

"Most likely its more efficient/cheaper to use HGVs to feed into Ballina Inland Port rather than to drive to Dublin and queue to await unloading. A truck is not earning money when its queuing at a a port waiting to load/unload and eats into HGV drivers hours with a knock on effect on productivity." Correct and the train feeds to and from Ballina.. Dublin Port's container terminals are suffering from congestion due to increasing volumes as shippers changed mode from Ro/Ro to containers LO/LO.. Wait times into terminals can be up to 2 hours, worse at some peak times.. Volumes to other towns in the North West aren't large yet but when complementing existing business, it can be very cost competitive by intermodal..

Are you still looking for books? I have a bag in my spare room, may be some of use

Here’s before and after pics from the Dublin port website.. https://www.dublinport.ie/portfolio/alexandra-basin-redevelopment/ The Tara mines conveyor is the browny green structure on the pier extending out into the basin in the “before” picture It has been removed in the “after” artists impression to make space for two new Ro/Ro berths in the foreground

The existing conveyor and pier used to load ships with Tara’s product is being demolished to make space for some of the redevelopment.. A new conveyor in a better location will be installed.. I think the Zinc from Tara is going to be shipped ex Drogheda for a few weeks to facilitate the work..

IE don't directly own Rosslare port, but they run it on behalf of the F&RR&HC, of which they are 50% share holder.. The role of Rosslare port manager is a post held by the current IE Freight manager.. The land bridge tends to be time sensitive and moves in truck trailers, so isn't really suited to rail freight.. It's traffic moving from land bridge Ro/Ro services to direct container Lo/Lo services that provide the benefit and potential for IE to capitalise on Brexit..

The CLDN vessel is a new bigger ship on a service that has been running for a good few years now.. The 'Brexit Buster' tag was just a good marketing buzz word that the press picked up on at the launch party.. The EU-Ireland market has two main service offerings, Lo/Lo containers and Ro/Ro driver accompanied trucks.. What Brexit seems to have done is make people re-examine their options for shipping to their European customers, and realise that their are options that avoid the UK completely already available.. Approx 1 train per week of the current IWT service is product bound for the German market in containers, which is completely unaffected by the whole Brexit scenario.. I would think that a good few of the bigger Irish shippers are in a similar situation.. A lot of the press coverage of Brexit has been influenced by what they are being told, with very few questioning the source or where it's interests lie.. The IRHA have hijacked the narrative, and are steering the conversation to suit their own agenda.. Hence all this talk about Rosslare (their president is from Wexford and would be a big user of Rosslare Port).. In reality, most freight forwarders and shipping managers (the ones who control the mode of transport) are aware of their options and likely have plans in place to avoid the UK completely after March if at all possible.. Hopefully, what this means for rail freight, is more business moving in containers and less in trucks.. That creates a bigger market for moving containers, which rail can be very good at..

Interesting article http://www.munster-express.ie/business/port-bids-to-restore-rail-connection/