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I took a break from running those beautiful IRM cement bubbles long enough to start work on modifing a Hornby footbridge for Glen More.

Christmas arrived again this Saturday morning unexpectedly in the form of IRM orange cement bubbles. There is really no logical explanaton for a bulk cement train on my imaginary South Waterford Line as I envision it but these wagons were always a favourite of mine and I just could not pass them up. Congratulations to IRM on another exceptional model and here's hoping CIE tank wagons are in the future!

Since the motor is part of the bogie on that model static electricity may attract fibers. Too much oil on the gears and running the model on track on the floor wouldn't help either.

Thanks everybody for the replys. My Bell liner shall remain solid bell containers and the yellow hopper operating wheels will get a coat of brown at some point.

A couple of things I have learned about designing a model railway, it's really easy to over estimate what will fit in your available space. It's also really easy to under estimate the amount of satisfaction a simple uncluttered layout designed to be operated prototypically has to offer.

Sounds like a very well thought out scheme John. With the rolling stock currently available you should be able to get realistic operations up and running at an early stage to keep up interest while working on more long term projects. I can't wait to see the mixture of green, silver and black and tan rolling stock at Dugort Harbour in the 1960's.

Two questions, would other containers apart from Bells be seen on Bell liners out of Waterford in the early seventies, and were the hopper opening wheels on CIE ballast hoppers always painted yellow? Thanks.

Install it before tracklaying begins. It will save a lot of aggravation.

Definatly go with a curved backdrop unless you can to disguise the the corner with a high building or senic feature. It's easily done using thin hardboard and while you are at it make them high enough. Mine are 2 foot high and really open up the scene. The photos show two curved corners and one where the corner was too tight to curve the hardboard. The difference is apparent.

Its Christmas eve and the driver and guard of the Glen More beet secial are anxious to get back home to Cork before closing time. Happy Christmas to all and here's to another great year for Irish railway modellers.

Foot bridges are on the to do list, at least for Glen More. The layout is not designed for exhibitions. Most of it is firmly screwed to the walls. A footplate pass will be issued to you however at a moments notice should you come over to visit to see it but be forewarned that you may be press ganged into service by the operating department!

Although the layout is not fully signalled yet both stations are or will be signalled for bidirectional running. Passenger trains use the platform where the station building is located wherever possible for the convenience of the passengers. I remember this was the case on the Tralee line in the seventies and eighties. Also trains which do not stop or do not cross another train are given the main line so as not having to navigate the diverging route through points. On occasion goods trains are diverted into whatever line is most convenient for shunting.

I never thought of that John despite the fact that on the two occasions I was fortunate to have travelled on the North Kerry goods that is how the tar traffic was handled at Lixnaw. The same wagon was picked up empty on the return trip. Keilys Cross is about three miles from Grange in the real world, the distance compressed of course on the layout, too far for such a move especially on a busy single track line where a derailment would cause serious delays.

The dolomite train takes the loop at Glen More and waits for the Waterford Cork passenger train. Both trains then proceed, the dolomite to the Waterford fiddle yard, the passenger to Grange and on to rhe Cork fiddle yard ending the operating session.

The Watdrford passenger train leaves Glen More and Cork goods leaves Grange and is seen arriving in the Cork fiddle yard. The beet special then leaves Glen More, swapping three emptys for three loads at Keilys Cross before heading for Grange where it crosses the loaded dolomite train heading to Quigly Magnasite East of Dungarvin.

The Cork goods proceeds to Grange where it takes the loop and waits for the Waterfprd passenger train. Meanwhile the beet special swaps four emptys for four loads, runs around its train and waits for the Waterford passenger train before departing for Cork.

Our neighbor Bruce runs the Waterford Cork goods West of Glen More.

My previous post is a series of pictures following a typical operating session on the layout. We imagine the action taking place during daylight hours in early October at the start of the beet season. The second photo, which is out of sequence, shows the Cork fiddle yard at the start of the session. The empty beet train takes the loop at Grange to wait for the Waterford Cork Bell liner and once that is clear swaps an empty beet wagon for a loaded one before continuing to Glen More, passing loaded wagons at Keilys Cross which will be picked up on the return trip. Meanwhile the Waterford Cork goods takes the main line at Glen More to wait the arrival of the beet special. To be continued...........

A marvelous piece of work. I am impressed at how much you get done so quickly.

A wonderful layout in the making. Looking forward to seeing more posts.

I suggest assembling a short section of track including a point or crossover on a piece of plywood and a couple of wagons to test the waters. The Dapol tank wagon kits mag be a good choice since they are inexpensive and if all went well can be detailed with the SSM detailing kit. John Mayer posted some information on this conversion somewhere on the site. If all goes well convert a loco and take it from there. As regards high/eye level baseboards, set up a section of track some rolling stock and some vehicles figures or structures on a high shelf and see for yourself how effective this approach is.

I am sure that as soon as a large selection of high quality Irish models are available ready to run we will finally see some incredible layouts from certin members on this site. In the meantime I suggest lighting a candle rather than curse the darkness.

A few more photos.

Re previous post, just trying to figure out how to post photos from my phone.