Blaine

Another run to Kilkenny on 25th August http://www.steamtrainsireland.com/events/#marblecity

High insurance coupled with dwindling passenger numbers over the 4 tours that ran.... - unprofitable

Its under overhaul at the moment, taking their time with it though

No pity really - Lets just say, the tenant should not annoy the landlord.......

You should not be whinging, makes all your ones wrapped in cotton wool just that little bit more valuable....

Correct, the first mainline diesel to be officially preserved and paid for, not just 'put aside' like B103/113/4 were....

Click on the RAIU's website to read the reports on the Irish incidents, rather than photos taken of the computer screen http://www.raiu.ie/

You should have organised it all then - dont forget the funding and where to put the exhibits - given all 7 platforms are in regular usage.......

Doubtful, have seen him at most exhibitions over the last few years

Plenty of time for that around Lurgan this time next month

Glad Im not the only person who sees it as a 5 minute gimmick! I also dont like how some manufacturers try selling DCC purely for the sound, when DCC has all its other advantages over analogue control, lights, individual control, no need for switching sections etc. Then theres the price!!

Hopefully its just a small batch - but we had a 201 chip there too, and the small white sticker on the top had the same serial number - but I cant say if this number relates to the chip itself or what sounds/functions are programmed onto it

Despite being labelled 071/111 both had 201 sounds loaded onto them - hopefully they are not all like this

All the photos are good as they are scenes we will never see again

Its not set in stone, but its certainly the impression I got. Model Railways is a career for some, and certainly not the dream career many would make it out to be I think every forum group goes through a period of natural evolution

One or both of his sons will take the business on. As mentioned earlier €100k minimum is the starting point and the size of the market here would make it almost impossible. Some decent CAD drawings of any proposed model would no doubt get people to part with at least a 50% deposit. It must be money up front, as history dicates everyone is keen until it comes to parting with their cash. The market in the UK is massive compared to here, a good example would be the Kernow Class 205 Thumper DEMU's, a unit which only ran in a certain part of the UK, yet gained enough interest for a RTR model to be made by a major manufacturer in several liveries, albeit commissioned by a retailer. The only model worth making would be the A class, with 6 basic liveries - but dont forget you would need 2 sets of tooling for original/re-engined with EMD headlight versions so that could well be €200k needed as people might not buy it if its not right - but then again people seem ok to part with cash for certain highly inaccurate models so who knows. Re-liveries of existing models are of course cheaper (e.g IE Autoballasters) but the 3 major model retailers on the island simply would not be able to get the funding together to commission a RTR model. Im sure Model Railways are not the main earner for any of them (open to correction) but given the Model Railway only retailers that were here no longer exist its a case of make do with what is available/pending and appreciate it. If you have a six figure sum lying about and are willing to take the risk go for it

Funny you should say that - the SF model is basically a Cravens 105 repainted. He took too long to release his own models, got overtook by Bachmann and needed a way to get rid of what he had

A poorly named 'society' then, perhaps a name change is in order

If they have enough interest and their priorities in the correct order it could work.

His attempts are not the best a lot of the time. I recall the model of D0280 Falcon, you could see that it was a mould of a Lima 47. And dont get me started on the A/C classes.......

Par for the course

121/201 could work in push pull with the Mk3 p/p stock, but 071's and 141's worked with them as hauled stock sometimes, running round at the end of the journey And yes the footsteps were welded over, no doubt for health and safety reasons.... But 8208/209 still have the steps

Repaired, but never quite the same. Badly damaged by fire some years later and never ran again

Whatever happened to make one yourself?

The driver (or should I say engineer) stayed onboard until the last second, so kudos there. The youtube comments state that the freight was operating beyond where they should have been