Broithe

A search for 'Murphy models' often brings up pictures of the US model Carolyn Murphy - well, that's my excuse.

Mmm, you can always let the tyres down a bit - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-29963418 .....

The bag exchange system was still in use in GB until 1971. I saw it done a few times in the mid-'6os - very violent - do not post antique crystal decanters by this method....

The track ramps can 'nudge' the bottoms of Murphy bogies - not enough to derail them, but, you have to be careful.

In action.

That's the 'collect and drop' model. The cams to lay in the track can be a bit finnicky - and the bags are difficult to obtain, though you could make something suitable.

The brushes and the commutator in the pancake motor aren't always the best - and can dig in a bit where the brushes run over the breaks between the copper segments. The flywheel-effect of the rotor at speed helps overcome this, but with low-speed running, it will often stall. A bit of rounding off of the copper edges can help. This problem gets worse as the carbon brushes get shorter.....

Don't we get a free kick for off-side?

There's surprisingly little news attention to this story - http://www.itv.com/news/update/2014-11-08/police-investigate-reckless-attempt-to-derail-a-train/ - seems to have been rather a near thing.....

Ta.

The staff figure on the platform is particularly excellent - what's the source?

Indeed, and particularly useful for 12V 'grain of wheat' bulbs - I usually run them at around 8V - a nicer light and they last for ever - two in series off a 16V supply...

Can be adjusted by the judicious use of felt marker pens.

Further, though similar, musings - http://www.independent.ie/life/travel/travel-news/ireland-to-get-its-own-orient-express-30725822.html .

Pictures via https://twitter.com/IrishRail .

Another networking train - - out of Galway, this time. Complete with Mayor. .. there were sandwiches on the tables earlier - they seem to have gone..

Surprised you're not in it...... ..an added attraction..

Maybe they want to refit them themselves, anyway, to their own standards - possibly larger 'staterooms' - rather than conventional sleeper cabins..?

Fair enough - not quite sure what they're getting at......

^ Is that video visible to you all? I got this 'warning' after I posted it - "This video is unlisted. Be considerate and think twice before sharing."

Indeed, and I would have been reluctant to post this, if it hadn't come through Irish Rail itself. I'm sure that Belmond know what they're doing, far better than I do, but it does seem very ambitious on such a small network.

What more do we want?

You only have to look at the pictures of the Royal Scotsman clientèle to suspect that it might not be for 'us' - but, we can still watch it go by....

Another bus fire - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-29913960 .