patrick

1 hour ago, jhb171achill said:

Every detail of that layout represents what we must all aspire to - from concept, to historical accuracy, to technical brilliance, to layout, to scenic splendour...... keep it coming!

All you need to complete it is a small blue mini car with a "VIM" registration on a platform, with a youthful Barry Carse taking pictures for a future book 40 years into the future!

What a great idea!

 A39r on its first run on the layout. Operation on the South Waterford Line has devolved into running the new mags over and back across the layout behind the A class locomotives just so I can admire them!

An empty magnesite waits on the main while a Cork bound goods enters the loop at Glen More October 1974.

Thanks Robert, and Noel.  I thought it was here somewhere!

What Kadee  works with the mags? 

Empty magnesite train on the South Waterford Line. 

Assortment of CIE vans, most awaiting the paint shop. 

Also on the workbench awaiting some final details is the first of two ex GS vans which will be painted CIE grey. The chassis is from a Dapol meat van kit. The doors are adapted from the extra ones which came with the Parkside 12 ton van kit.

21 minutes ago, StevieB said:

Have you bought any of Mayner’s wagons? They are quite delightful.

Stephen

Yes, three brake vans and they are indeed delightful however after acquiring  seven A class and a rake of magnesite wagons this year it will be a while before I can afford anymore!

With four Crossley engined A class and a grey 121 added to the roster recently more grey loose coupled goods wagons were needed for sixties operation sessions. Here three Provincial Wagons GN 12 ton vans, a Parkside 12 ton van, a Parkside palvan kitbash and a Studio Scale Models 30 ton brake van await the paint shop.

Here is that second video again. Hope it will open for you John.

Waterford Cork goods leaving Glen  More and passing Keilys Cross level crossing.

CrossOctober 1969.

A23r on the Cork Waterford daily  goods train. 

The daily Waterford Cork goods leaving Glen More and passing through Keilys Cross in 1974. 

Waterford Cork goods passing Glen More 1973.

I never imagined these wagons would be available ready to run. Wonder what are the chances of some oil tanks to run with them?

On 24/4/2022 at 1:38 AM, Mayner said:

Manual uncoupling of Kadee Couplers is quite common among American outline modellers', some people use proprietary tools produced by companies like Rix Products or Kadee, others use tootpicks or  interdental brushes https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/maybe-the-best-kadee-uncoupling-tool-for-me-anyway-12298153

Remote uncoupling is not really an issue with an American style Walk-Around layout where the focus is on the operators enjoyment as opposed to producing a visually interesting display for an exhibition. 

 

Thanks for the tip John. I picked up a pack of interdental brushes and am very pleased with the results. One issue I had with the tooth picks was them becoming jammed between the couplers occasionally causing derailments when trying to remove them. This was exasperated by the much lighter two axel irish stock compared to the much larger and heavier US outline models. This issue has now been eliminated. No need to adapt the brushes to fit on the end of a dowel as shown on the video. The protective cover fits on the end extending their length allowing plenty of room to clear the roof of any irish rolling stock.

The IRM A class is the wrong gauge. Even the silver one!

Woodland Scenic models Mold A Scene Plaster is basically the same as Sculptamold and costs about the same over here in the US.

The lack of progress on the layout in the last months was as a result of Maureen and I seriously considering moving. That is now no longer under consideration so work can resume once more. 

One project where some progress was made however is the conversion to Kadee couplers. At this point over half the loose coupled goods stock including all the opens used in beet service and the end wagons of the Bell liner and bogie fertilizer wagons have been fitted along with about half the locomotives. Kadee #5 couplers in their own draft gear boxes have been used on most wagons which prove to be extremely reliable.  #19 were used on locomotives, the bogie  fertilizer wagons and the JM brake vans. Operatuon is so much better and enjoyable with the Kadees. I don't use magnets but prefer to use cocktail sticks for uncoupling, a method I have used since my HO American modeling days. The accessibility offered by the high layout height and walk around design make this method very practical. I was skeptical about using this method at first but quickly found that during operation that operators are so engrossed in planning shunting moves that the introduction of "the hand of god" above the trains was not a distraction..

On 11/4/2022 at 12:44 PM, connollystn said:

Can't think why anyone bought them in the first place, were Irish modellers that desperate, REALLY?

Remember many of us were glad to have the Silver Fox model in order to build and enjoy a layout which represented CIE from the fifties to the nineties before the IRM model came along. All of us accept some compromise in order to achieve our goals of building a realistic layout and I for one was very happy to have the Silver Fox models, four of them, which despite their shortcomings were important for the big picture of the South Waterford Line. Admittedly they were mostly run on through trains where they received less scrutiny!   I have said it before that the availability of an A class was a deciding factor for me to switch to Irish modelling over ten years ago. Have we forgotten how few Irish models were available before IRM came along?

I caught these images of mid seventies Irish goods trains while switching from a late sixties to a 1974 operating session. Hard to believe when I started the layout ten years ago the only rolling stock available which appear in the photos were the MM baby GM's, SSM open wagon Dapol Prestwin underframes and the Parkside 12 ton van. 

I wonder if manufacturers could release special collectors editions with say a different colour box at three times the price in order to subsidies the regular model for those of us who actually build model railways and run trains!

19 minutes ago, jhb171achill said:

In all reality, a black "A", with or without yellow patch (some had them, but some didn't; not all would ever get them) is as essential to any 1960s layout as an ICR or a 201 are to a 2022 layout.

I'm sort of half considering getting another.............better get my act together, as there are few left.

So true John. I panicked last week and ordered A12 before they sell out. An option for a second A55 would be to renumber  it to one of the prototypes which had the CIE roundal and different placing of the numbers.

Incredible views of Irish Railways in 1963.