Colin R

To throw a huge spanner in the works, would 0.75mm over gauge be to much of a problem for anyone considering TT Irish 5ft 3inch? Colin Rainsbury

Hi Guys for those of you who find OO a bit big take a look at the launch of the 1 to 120 scale TT scale from Peco and Rails of Sheffield https://railsofsheffield.com/blogs/news/heljan-tt-gauge-class31 If this takes off then I wonder how long it will be before we start to see some TT scale irish models other than those on the exhibtion circuit? Colin

Wow thanks you the GNR(I) station is much bigger than I though. Colin

Thanks Chris for those, out of interest what scale are they drawn too? Colin

Thanks Guys for letting me know about the approximate age in this group, this is not only a very good thing for Irish modelling but for engineering as a whole. As Mayner said above that was the typical set up of a model railway group in the 1970's. My own intro to model railways was via a local model railway exhibition, this lead from one thing to another. I did start with the Hornby Triang stuff of that period, but found it did not excite me enough, it was at this point that things took off, I first meet a life long friend Dave Brewer, a narrow gauge nut if every there was one, while he was exhibiting his layout of Linton (Lynton and Barnstaple Railway in North Devon). Big locos on a narrow gauge (2ft) railway WOW now that's the thing I was looking for, or so I though. Enter my local library and lol and behold what did I find in the railway section? yep you guested it, Patterson's book on the Lough Swilly Railway BOOM! I was hooked on yet bigger locomotives on narrow gauge railways and a great colour print at the front of one of the 4-8-4 Tank locos. As I was young about my mid teens and before girlfriends/cars/work etc all got in the way, I thought this must be heaven, a couple of early 009 layouts and an attempt at 7mm 16.5mm gauge modelling happen around that time. After that and for a long period I got into Steam Railway Heritage and the formation of the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway in North Devon was a big pull at the time, I only got back into modelling as such after reading an article or two by the late David Lloyd his layout was called Coolcalaghta (I will leave that one up to you guys to pronounce as I don't have a clue) in the mid to late 1990's. It was an 00n3 (12mm gauge) 4mm scale layout, indirectly it was this layout that saw a number of 00n3 brass etched kits hit the market around that time, today there are still a lot of kits about if you know where to look and how to ask for them. Sadly for me I think I must have a butterfly brain, as I happen to not only like the Irish narrow gauge, but this has developed a liking for many 3ft to meter and 3ft 6in gauge railways around the world. Finally if I can pass one bit of modelling advice on to anyone, it would be don't give up and prepare to try again, it is not a sprint but more like a marathon, I do know my short comings in modelling and it is only now 40+years later do I think it is ok, there will always be someone better than you at this don't take it personally if you think they have just made a great model and you don't think you could do just as well, don't forget to get to that stage takes a long time and a modelling apprenticeship as well. There back to where I think I started. Happy Modelling to you all. Colin

Apprenticeships are the life blood of all engineering sites, that said try getting some of the kids today to think in terms of a worthwhile living and they would prefer to be playing donkey Kong or some other such computer game. No disrespect intended but just how many of us are under 30 on here? For what it is worth I am 63 (64 in September this year) Colin

Thanks Flange, I didn't get there myself, but having seen the same effect at the local traction depot (Slade Green, Erith. Kent) a few years ago with a BR class 33. Colin

It might be me but it still looks like a bit of a bend upwards in the middle of the frames, this may be due to not having an engine or other parts not yet in place at the moment.

Hi all beside a few wrong techy bits, I find the programme very funny and that is what it is all about enjoyment, it is a shame that there have been so few good programmes that have been picked up by the BBC and other UK based media outlets on this side. Sadly, I used to like the very first series of Red Rock, but I think it then lost the plot and quickly became another soap, for some reason I have not quite got in to Father Ted, yet what I have seen so far I have found funny. I guess Irish humour is a bit like Guinness, it sometimes doesn't always travel well outside of Dublin (but that does not stop me from trying to find the best pint) .

Sadly this month pay check has already been spent, thanks to the hike in both gas and electric costs. If I could find away to have one on hold I would certainly do it. Colin

Sorry guys for lowering the tone, but has anyone seen the last episode? It was about a day out from Derry/Londonderry to Portrush. as it was set towards the end of the troubles, you get the sub plot of thinking the IRA are in the background, it turns out they are no were to be seen. The point is while you may laugh at the programme, it still winds me up that they had a through station for Londonderry (no Derry bit on the name board) and it look like they had for one back scene the IRPS sidings with a stored van in BR Blue? In the UK and I suspect NI as well it is on again Friday evening Channel 4 around 9pm, what and when it is on in Eire, I don't have a clue, sorry. but it is worth doing a catch up on all 3 series if you can. I think this last series is just about pushing it as the main school girls character are now all in there later 20's early 30's and it shows. Colin

Do you happen to have some photos of the good shed? Thanks in advance Colin

Now that is a simple layout, however for Ramelton I need something like a cross of Tooban Junction and Fahan as close as it can get. Sadly the famous warehouses in Ramelton are on the wrong side of the in let, but lets be honest here, a big bit of modeller licence might be the way to go, also from Google maps I notices that Ramelton has a converted tannery and water mill as well. Falcarragh station building looks the part as well.

A very useful looking building

The wee man in green told me about this thread, he has been giving me a few shape taps over the head with his shillelagh of late to get my A*** into gear. Now while I am a Donegal fan first and foremost, this has not stopped me from looking over the fence at that other 3ft gauge railway in Donegal that is the Swilly. As try as I might to read the book 'That Old Sinner' something comes up and stops me from getting on with it. That said what I have read so far has inspired me to think of a branch of the Swilly leaving Letterkenny heading towards Ramelton then heading North towards Milford. The line then splits into two the left hand branch head north towards Cranford and Downies, while the right hand branch head north east towards Rathmullen, The line then carries on towards Glenvar and Portsalon and finishes at Doagh Beg and the Fishing Harbour*. The thing is most of Donegal was known as the congested district and in 1889 there was a fund set up of £600,000 pounds to build railways in that part of the country to help out. Well Lord Leitrim had ideas to build part of this proposal anyway, anyhow in the smoke filled rooms of his London Club and over a good claret or two the Lord and he pals decided to modify the route. As can been seen the line had very little advantage to the local people of Donegal at first, in fact if anything it just made a lot more people decide that they wanted to head to America and start a new life. My branch line only took off after the first world war as this part of Donegal found itself as part of a tourist boom. Following the Second World War, Doagh Beg found itself as a storage port for a whole load of ex-German war ships and submarines. Later in the 1950 and early 60's tourism started to take off again and a small group of enthiastic railway supporters found that the Swilly wanted to lift the track to cut its loses and to concentrate on the improved road transport of the time. The CIE not wanting to shoot a gift horse in the mouth found that a number of its 3ft gauge locos and rolling stock could be leased to the project and thus began the collection you will see one day. Well that's my excuse for now what do you think? I should say that I still need to find some very simple track plans for this one. * in real life I don't think there was one, but there are a number of small Harbours around Ireland that I could base it on.

Angus Sorry about the delay but if you want more info about Signalling try these guys here https://signalbox.org/ I am not sure if they are related but I was advised to get a book called the 'The Signal Box' by the Signalling study group, I am sure they will be able to give you chapter and versus about your signalling requirements https://www.s-r-s.org.uk/archivehistory.php Regards Colin

Dose anyone have a list of standard CIE bells codes? The reason I want to use them is that I am thinking in having them on my next layout at some point. I have just been reading an article about an old layout by Peter Denny or better know to modellers of a certain age as Buckingham, complete with bells, whistles and a timetable etc. I think it would be a good Idea if I can find out a bit more about them. Colin Rainsbury

Try Simon Thomas of Old Time Workshop at Stevenage. He has a fair range of decals and linings available, he may be able to help out http://www.oldtimeworkshop.co.uk/Pricelists/4mmPriceListTransfers.pdf Regards Colin Rainsbury

That would be typical of model railways

Hi Guys. I am not sure if anyone will be able to help me, but I have had a good look on the web but nothing new is coming up, I am looking for photos or details of any of the 3ft gauge bogie coaches from this line. I have got the Joe Begley and Steve Flanders reference book, which is a help, however some photos appear to show coaches which Worsley Works have not made. The 2 compartment /Saloon 3rd is easy enough to rebuild from one of the kits, however it is the old Brown, Marshall & Co coach drawings which I need to try and find, any information would be welcome. Colin

Hi JHB I am with you on this, as I too find railway history interesting along with the models I see on here, compared to the usual UK based GWR or LNER layouts this is just so much better, some UK modellers take things far to seriously sometimes. This reminds me of a story I told about a fictitious 3ft gauge Irish railway project up in those hills of Donegal, it linked both the Donegal and Swilly railways as well as a few other places not served by any railway at any time, at the end I did say this was pure fiction, but I still had one or two people taken in and one person was convinced that he had actually been on the railway in question and had seen Paddy McGinty's goat to boot. Terry Wogan has a lot to answer for .

Well you learn something new everyday, I didn't know that

Hi Lambeg. I think I know what that payment was for, they con people into taking out an Amazon prime account thinking they will get books etc a bit cheaper, what they don't say is they don't make it easy to cancel the account, as you have found out, I guess your good lady kept it going thinking she was doing every one a favour. Amazon work on the basis of people being lazy or not understanding how to close an account down, I too have had issues with them in the past over an account I had with them, even now I still get text messages and emails saying what great opportunities I am missing out on............. right like I need a hole in my head Amazon. I just use them now to find books or something I want and once I have the details, I just go look on the Web, I have found so many times stuff I want a lot cheaper than on Amazon. Just a note to all if you are stuck with an unwanted Amazon account, you can stop payments to them on your home Amazon page, its a bit fiddly but once you have done it, you don't have to pay them to just look at the c**p they try to sell you, also it is a good idea to let the other half know the details just in case. It is sometimes worth the grief you get from them to know they are not going to get rip off in the future. Colin

Hi all having trouble finding that one book on line? Then try World of Books or https://www.wob.com/en-gb I am not the owner of this site or have anything to do with them, except I am a very happy buyer of books from them, so far I have not had any issues so I can give them 100% support have a look and see what they have they are cheaper than Amazon. Colin Rainsbury

Its times like this that I can see another modelling website being set up, but then you also have faceache as well to contend with, the sad thing is that while it is a pain to have adverts it does stop the mods/owners asking for money to keep the site open. I am not sure which I would want, the thing is of course that Irish model railways is such a small operation compared to some state side web groups such as the NMRA, but then that is what I like it is small and compact and friendly