Garfield

Still recovering after the show, but to answer questions about the B&T scheme worn by A39R in traffic, here’s a photo of it passing Ballinasloe in 1975: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2371824

Hi Noel, As Fran said above, all liveries will be based on photographic evidence, specifically from when the locomotives were in CIÉ/Irish Rail service. Thanks for your order, and for your continued support of IRM and our products.

Oh, that's this weekend!? Erm...

Spoiler alert! A further hint here: https://media.giphy.com/media/LwzCyTYWVNMPwznqzi/giphy.mp4

Sorry to hear that, Leslie. Hopefully we'll see you at the Warley show?

What sort of speed are you running them at?

Five ounces = 141.75 grams. That seems excessive if you're adding that weight to each of your 15 wagons as you're expecting the loco to haul the equivalent of over two bags of sugar (albeit with less rolling resistence!). To put it in perspective, P4 finescale modellers are advised to have 25g (0.88 ounces) per axle in order to prevent derailments, and that would be considered overkill for standard OO gauge (our Accurascale 24.5t hoppers weigh 26g in total and we have had no reports of derailment issues from any customers, including finescale modellers). If you're experiencing derailments, it's more likely due to an issue with a particular wagon (a wheelset may have the incorrect back-to-back measurements, for example), or there may be a problem with the track - either a manufacturing flaw or in the way it was laid.

The plough van and hoppers all appear to be of GSWR origin...

A couple of photos @Warbonnet took of the Cemflo EP on the latest addition to IRM/Accurascale Towers:

Hi Noel, The Taras, 42' series, etc. are fitted with kinematic couplings. The arm between the spring and the NEM pocket allows for some flexibility.

This excellent photo of the loading point at Lisduff in 1961 by James O'Dea was posted to the National Library of Ireland's Flickr account this morning. It looks more like something you'd expect to see on an American railroad, rather than in County Laois! Note the aerial ropeway for delivering stone to the silo from the quarry...

Nice video, Tony - probably the fastest train ever to traverse the Derry Road! Good to see the layout coming together.

Is Patrick referring to the original '60s B&T version of 141, which Paddy also produced without the roundel?

Hi Kevin, The ballasts (and consequently the bubbles and plough vans as they share the same chassis design) are subject to the design restrictions I mentioned above, but the Taras and 42ft wagons have bogies with longer axles, so you can increase the width. However, if you're working to P4 standards you will need to remove the OO wheels and replace with finescale versions.

Hi Brendan, Thanks for your feedback. Regarding the W-irons, with the ballast wagon we were constrained by the fact that we did not have direct control over the manufacturing process until a very late stage (documented elsewhere). When you contacted us in relation to the W-irons on the ballast, we listened and made adjustments to the bubble chassis. However, we were again constrained by the fact the same chassis design was required for the bubble, as well as minimum manufacturing tolerances. If we had made the W-irons any thinner, the structural integrity would have been compromised and they likely would have warped while the plastic cooled after exiting the mould. We used the same method to accommodate re-gauging of our Accurascale 24.5t hoppers and customers report being able to drop-in EM and P4 wheelsets with little or no adjustment required - the difference being we had complete control of the design process for this model from the outset. Regarding the wheelsets, the recognised tolerances for 21mm gauge are governed by P4 standards, which means that RTR RP25.100 OO gauge wheelsets are incompatible and require replacement in any case. As you say, the the Taras, etc. have wider axles and it should be possible to fit P4 wheels directly to them. Regards, Patrick

I think it’s an improvement, personally. The search function is much better now.

Fixed your post, Dave.

FYP

The TNT worked a treat...

Clearly I pasted the wrong link...

With the prospect of a hard version the the 'B' word becoming increasingly likely, the effects of any improvements in paths and line speed will be nullified by border checks...

Didn’t the MGWR use a slip coach on the Sligo line, dropping off at Inny Junction for Cavan?

Just checked again and everything is as it should be...

Hi Noel, per Bosko's post directly above:

I heard it didn’t last... they just weren’t compatible.