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I picked up some strip wood which seemed about right for making sleepers at a craft shop yesterday and it led to an enjoyable one evening project. The roof is plasticard covered with fine black sandpaper. It still needs a door and probably should have a window, I could not find any photos of Irish platelayers huts online so much of it is based on my own recollections of a similar one which was once in Tralee.

I memory serves me well 40 loaded beet wagons was common out of Tralee in the evening during the beet season from Abbeydorney, Ardfert, Spa, Fenit and the North Kerry yard.

At 6:05 in this video there is a scene showing an A class entering Athenry from Limerick with a rake of 7 ivory bubbles.

I spent this evening running trains and taking photos. The second photo shows Cork fiddle yard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzScf7owAFo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaVbeg3D86I These two videos were recently posted on you tube. The quality is not great, copied from VHS tape but the content is excellent. Both these modelers and layouts have been a huge influence on my layout.

I looked into the Juweela beets but the suppliers online were charging an arm and leg for shipping. I settled for sesame seed which cost $2.75 for a pint carton. They could probably use some earth colored weathering though!

I would love to see Rails Through Waterford and Wexford.

Great news John. I cant wait to get a copy and would love to see the series continue.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/holycorner/6934023720/in/album-72157629831107647/ Here is a link to the photo. Check out the whole collection, the photos are priceless for anyone interested in goods wagons.

http://catalogue.nli.ie/Collection/vtls000148612/Home?lookfor=&type=AllFields&page=229&view=list Bitumen tank wagon from the O'Dea collection. This is a representation of one of these wagons using a repainted Bachmann tank wagon. Trying to remove the factory lettering proved so difficult so I simply gave it an overall coat of matt black using a spray can. The outline of the Shell lettering can be seen in the photo but is not at all apparent on the layout. The tank ends are wrong, I may go back and change then in the future and the lettering is simply done on my printer on paper and applied with a glue stick. If SSM dosn't come up with a set of decals I may have to print my on on white decal paper! I doubt if the large Tar Bitumen lettering lasted long on the prototype so I lettered it similar to how similar wagons were lettered in the seventies. The Bachmann model is also very similar to the fuel oil tank at Dublin port in my previous post although the brake gear is different.

http://irishphotoarchive.photoshelter.com/image?&_bqG=81&_bqH=eJxtT9tqAjEQ_Rr3raAti1TIQzYz3U51kzYXJU.himDtQ8SK0H59M4u0S2sgJ.eSkzD35vj.1NpV3L_k.c1.er49NTm71dcnzSb13WwyHvMuSAmcEpu3bUXJgfQ4qpuuG9UgBgYAGwADK5bFJp_Fxr9V_F_F61VFPvaf.RIzUSZob2MiZ1gaS6hLRkazJJcsLlA6hIt8HmpnrBdW6nnVT5akBnEqPDi0iUAEnnp3WE_P68d8CLlES7I.yEWSLWoV.VKVVJOoPFyqFxp.qH34pR1Tqbz42L4eN7tq2bfbHhXjN14JcQU-&GI_ID= I hope this link works. An nice photo of a tank wagon being loaded at Dublin port.

Goods train at Grange.

A50 on Waterford Cork goods at Keilys Cross October 1970.

If they ever produce a J15 I could see silver Metrovicks and green railcars in my future!

A view from the tunnel mouth looking East towards Keilys Cross level crossing. I think I will use a distant signal here between the telegraph pole and the point. Since the gates will not be operating the signal will be permanently set at clear. Any suggestion for this situation here? The point on the Right hand side is the entrance to Glen More passing loop. This is the latest progress on signal construction.Not as neat as assembling the studio scale kits following instructions but I don't have to solder small parts. Hopefully they will eventually operational using memory wire. Thanks to everyone for the information.

Thanks Garfield.

I have a question regarding semaphore signals which protected manually operated level crossing gates. Were these signals home or distant? Also what colour were the semaphore arms painted in the early seventies. Thanks.

While on the subject of the North Eastern railroads before Conrail here is a real interesting film on the plight of Penn Central.

I was't suggesting or expecting that accurate variations be produced but hoping that a painted unlettered model of the ballast hopper be made available or painted and lettered as dolomite and gypsum wagons. I imagine many of us would accept the detail differences between the prototypes. Sprues in a bag! Great idea. Lets hope it works out.

I have already ordered the ballast hoppers but would gladly wait for dolomite hoppers instead if they will be produced.

Is there any chance to produce some painted undercoated packs (without PWD markings and numbers) for those of us who want dolomite or gypsum hoppers?

Over the last few years I have been frustrated attempting to assemble SSM signal kits mainly due to the difficulty soldering small parts. Since the layout needs 12 signals an easier construction method was needed. Here is what I came up with. Substitute 2mm Plastistruct rod for the brass tube. 2mm square plastic strip is used for the semaphore mount and short sections of L girder is used to support the lamp. The weight arm is brass strip and all the pivots are track nails. Not as close to scale as the orignal parts but much easier to construct.

Nice choice of era and locale for a layout John. The railroads of the North East USA had so much of interest and character before Conrail. Thanks for posting, I always enjoy seeing pictures of this layout.

Beautiful modelling. An inspiration.