GNRi1959

Glover, a small treat for you. No. 171 arriving in Omagh 1956

Heres a sad looking Omagh North Cabin taken 1966 after closure. Would anyone know if there is a commercial signal box kit that closely resembles this or would I be better scratch-building?

As a child I travelled to Belfast with my mum a few times from Omagh but I recall little about it. Where we lived we could hear the permanentway men working on the lines. My grandfather was a GNR(i) permanent way man for 43years, including a stint as foreman too. During his spell with the GNR(i) he also took up the position of crossing-keeper at Edenderry, a position which gave you a free home next the line. My dad and his brother hated being out of the town and would cycle in every day to Omagh. We'd watch the steam engines pass the back of the house very day. I also remember the comfort of my bed and sounds of the late night goods trains.

With some fine tuning of the layout arrangement I can get what I'm after. Also, I have decided that a portable layout is the way to go. Homeless are selling a sturdy wallpapering table with metal frame for £23. A bargain and also very rigid measuring 2m x 600mm.

The track on the right would be either shortened or run inside the shed.

Back to topic, attached is a track plan that I have put together using Peco templates collated to a paper background measuring 1800mm x 300mm exactly. Apart from a signal box in the mid/lower part of the baseboard I am considering the goods store at the right end side. Can any experienced modellers/shunters here see any problem with this compact arrangement?

Was never aware of a siding but there certainly was a siding at Nestles factory on the Derry Road.

Those flax stores were revoted when Dunnes opened there and are still in use today, if only as storage.

I have memories of it after closure only and when it became the local pig market.

From memory the Market Branch layout is of little interest and there were a lot of sidings. I think i'll freelance with an Irish rolling stock theme. The attached picture shows the branch with some goods.

I think you are right. I am able to get half of it onto a 2m x 400mm board but already it is taking over the space I set aside. I was in a model shop recently and I saw a beautiful little layout measure 1.5m x 200mm. There was one piece of track only and a station and halt at either end. The engine was powered by a gauge master shuttle and I could have stood looking at it all day, it gave me great pleasure. That was one of the reasons I decided to model again so maybe I should stick with my original plan.

I have a plan which incorporates curved points and with the addition of a few sidings, it appears that the overall size will get wider. I initially wanted to keep it small and simple and as soon as I get to the design stage I forget about my limitations and problems arise. Maybe I should forget about the Omagh North plan and come up with something original and simple.

I actually reduced the file size because I couldn't load it initially.

Heres a much closer look at the track, maybe from the wrong side though to see your point

Does anyone currently do GN (Irish) waterslide transfers for 00 gauge on the market?

I am considering Omagh North Cabin which is an area just outside of the passenger station. Lots of points and curves. I'm still a bit concerned about the number of points in a short space and it may restrict things however I can simplify things to make it all work.

Would a layout measuring 2400 x 300 for shunting end to end be adequate? There are about 8 points contained in it.

I've just been given the wife approval to stay indoors with my new model railway project and not build in the summer house. Provided I don't start nailing batten or brackets to the wall I have a nice room (the music room)where I can build a small layout using a board that will be supported by ikea bookshelves underneath. Now that I've got her approval, I'm away out to the garden to do a bit of weeding, and gain a few more 'brownie points'. Happy Days ahead!

GNR(I) PP Class 4-4-0 No. 42 at Market Branch on IRRS Special leaving Omagh

Market Branch junction

Dave, thanks I think thats a good choice then. In my experience Peco point motors are quite noisy, do you know if the smaller Peco point motor that fits beside the lever on top is any quieter?

With a board space of 2100 x 325mm I will have to redesign to allow for some reasonable shunting only using a shuttle controller. I purchased Gaugemaster twin-controller, super-shuttle and some flexi Peco streamline. I have gathered some wagons and a nice 0-6-0 loco to get me started.

Many years ago I was lucky enough to get a package full of GNR(i) drawings from Paddy Mallon who was foreman at the Dundalk works. Over the years these were mislaid. Is there anywhere on the web that I can get some of these drawings replaced?

I have a few from negatives, need to reduce the resolution because they are huge files and I cannot upload at moment.

I have a large collection of almost 200 photographs showing general views of Omagh General Station and Goods Yard 1920s - 1966. These pictures show many GNR(i) engines and rolling stock that could be useful for modellers. If you have a particular request do get in touch. I don't mind posting of sending by private email. I've posted one typical example, Happy Christmas!