Colin R

So does this mean we have a 2 mmfs, a 3mm layout, a couple of EM/P4 layouts and a 7mm Broad gauge layouts. Well that can't be a bad thing.

I think this is down to how the railway was operated in the first place, in the UK everyone was in a hurry and space and construction costs where/are at a premium. If you then go to Ireland you don't have the same amount of traffic on offer and space was more available to build railways plus by then everyone had learnt how to keep things simple in railway building terms. You don’t need to build a dual track system unless traffic demands it and from what I have seen so far there are only a few places in Ireland that requires this:- Dublin / Cork / Belfast those links are important and are used a lot. It is by far easier to build passing loops along one track and maintain it as that. If you look around the rest of the world you will see this is more of the case, in the UK it was all a big experiment and everyone learn from the mistakes at the time. One of the other major points about the railways of Ireland is, they where used to transport people to America or around the rest of the World and as a result you also had a lack of hard working skilled labour. One other point Ireland never really required the same size of steam locos as we had in the UK the humble 4-4-0 Tender loco type was very popular, only on the main line between Cork/Dublin/Belfast did you get to see 4-6-0's on such services as the mails, some of the Woolwiches may have traveled around a bit more than anything else, but the whole Irish railway system has a charm all of its own, even today.

Just found this link I have been looking for, if anyone wants help in building track take a look at this site:- https://www.clfinescale.co.uk/knowledge-centre I am not the owner but this is the site I reconmend to anyone. Colin

It is Ironic that cast crossing noses are coming back in to fashion with high speed rail projects, nothing new there then.

Rich that is great stuff and a great link thanks. The bit of the W&LWR that I am looking at as a possible model I think the prototype still has flat bottom even though it hasn't had trains run over it for some time.

Yes some very fine layouts, we should not forget that this forum has some wonderful modellers who use OO gauge as the track gauge as well. We can (and do) all learn from each other, carry on the great modelling everyone, I may have been around for years in modelling, but that does not mean I know the best way to do something. regards Colin Rainsbury

Hi guys you might want some midnight reading:- https://www.scalefour.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5273 One of my problems is I read the book years ago, but never used it so I need to re read it again, one of the problems with this system that very few of us have the time to sit down and read this from cover to cover or we just assume we know what we are doing, it then turns in to a dogs dinner and the air turns blue because what we have tried is not working. So as Mike says in the intro forget what everyone else has told you about the system, sit down and read it for yourself so you can understand it. If you want the book you can find it here:- http://stenlake.co.uk/book_publishing/?q=flexichas&page_id=497 Enjoy Colin Rainsbury

To be honest this is the first I have heard of it (today 8th August 2020), I suggest they need to find someone who knows there stuff about media and setting up websites and facebook etc. I have two facebook pages one to support alll the Donegal Railway projects (132 members) and the other a community group in support of the Somerset and Dorset Railway projects (400 members). Once they have a facebook page I can link these two groups to them and others can then find them. Colin Rainsbury Thankyou John for the link. I hope to use it next year when I can get over. Colin R

Thanks for the details about the local Hotel. Do you have a web site and phone number to go with that? This sounds like a brilliant idea, Ireland is full of possible railway tourist opportunities, it is just you need the people to back it up. Tourism is going to play a big part in most of Western Europe in the coming years and heritage railways can play a vital part in telling the story about Ireland. The guys have made a great start and let’s hope it continues. I am a great believer of having a proper legal frame work from the start of the project. As much as it is all boring stuff trust me, once you have done it, everyone can sing from the same hymn sheet and you won’t get any misunderstandings on how it will all operate and factions forming with in the group. I could go on for ages about how some of the more successful UK groups have gone about doing things and if an example is required then contact the L&BR in North Devon and ask to speak to someone who is willing to help you. https://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/ Good luck and long may it continue. PS as to a 3ft gauge steam loco has anyone considered an IOMR 2-4-0T on loan? Or how about one of the locos that was at Lord Neils Place? As for 5ft 3ins gaugue steam I reconmend you seriously consider building a new loco and carriages from scratch, unless you can find a load of old coach bodies on farms or other out the way places around Ireland. Regards Colin Rainsbury PS just remembers that the IRPS has a number of coaches which it can't use on the mainline anymore may be they could come up with a coulpe of coaches for you in the short term.

Thanks John for that, The kit is looking very good. I have just purchased an engraving taken from the Engineer of a W&LWR 2-4-0 Tender loco designed by J G Robinson GSR Class 276 or Inchicore class G3, while it is a GA I need to find out a bit more about the shape of the frames, it very nice to look at, but it needs to be broken down a bit more, so it can be more useful for anyone who would like to either make a model or design a kit of it. The next ones on the list are the GS&WR Classes 37 and 27 4-4-2T, this is because I like the looks of them. Colin

All I can say is WOW in 7mm it is impressive but 4mm well that takes it to the next level, I don't think i have the patients to do what you do. 5 star stuff Regards Colin R

Very nice looking model Ken, what scale is it it look like 7mm or have I got that wrong? Colin

I think I may have that one if it done by Tim Camer. thank you Will do thanks

Hi all, this is a bit of a reminder for me and anyone else. A couple of years ago there was talk about a few new Irish Broad Gauge Steam Loco kits com in both 4mm or 7mm scales, I think one was the Kerry Bogie and the other one was a D17 as featured in the film 'the Quiet man' can anyone recall what the state of play is with them and if there is any news from new manufactures. I have been trying to obtains drawings where I can but as a lot of these locos where built at Inchicore I am not sure where any drawing may still exist and whom to contact. Colin R

Hi Guys time to bring this list up to date, any new layouts planned? also does anyone have a contact address for Tim Cramer, I was wondering if he has any more unpublished loco and rolling stock drawings. Colin Rainsbury

thats a great tip wished i had though of that one. Another link for you to look at http://www.zen98812.zen.co.uk/track.html Don't think about this gauge but it is the way they do things down that small hope it help, I think at this moment in time RichL would be the best person to give you a demo as most of my stuff is packed away thanks having to store stuff for other people right now.

A decent soldering Iron of 30 /40 watts size A soldering Iron stand most important dont want to start to burn the worktop on your first attempt or burn through the Iron supply cable (yes I have done that). A flat screwdriver (to hold the rail down on the copper clad while you solder it, you don’t want to start to burn the fingers just yet) that is wider than the rail head so a 4 or 5 mm Flat should do. Rail cutter from your local model shop (the orange handle make are good). A disposable cheap paint brush for the flux (a kiddies type is good enough for this). Double sided tape for the bottom of your Jig (you stick one side to the base of the jig and this then holds the sleepers in place while you are doing your soldering). A standard pair of electricians Pliers. A set of long nose Pliers 6 or 7inch size will be good enough for now. A small 6inch flat file or two (get a modellers set ie flat, half round, round and Tri square ). A junior hacksaw for cutting the copper clad in the middle so you don't get a short Green washing up pads (for cleaning the copper clad). Roller gauges Disposable rubber gloves:- saves getting all that dirt and copper in the skin. I think that is all I use, but sods law state’s that I will have forgotten something. One other tip I forgot to mention always tin the copper clad before you try to solder the rail to the copper makes life so much easier. Colin Rainsbury I see both Rich and myself think the same things I forgot the Fibreglass stick which is most useful and another reason to get the disposal gloves. Colin

A few things about soldering:- 1) Make sure everything is clean before you start and make sure you use flux Practise 2) Make sure you have a big enough iron and you are comfortable using it. Practise 3) Practice soldering two pieces of copper wire together before you before you start work on copper clad. Practise 4) Learn just how much heat to use to make a joint. Don’t leave a soldering iron on the copper clad for longer that you need as it will delineate (ie the copper foil will come away from the Paxolin base. The following link may also help, the Carrs hand book on soldering is a useful item to have in the library. https://www.phoenix-paints.co.uk/products/carrs/soldering/flux/c1210 Also check out You tube for demos on soldering. Finally don’t be afraid of cocking it all up, we have all been there, read the book and brought the tee shirt. Rome wasn’t built in a day an hay have fun and enjoy. Colin Rainsbury

Richard Chown's Taking of all these Irish layouts who remembers a layout by the name of Killaney and built by a guy by the name David Walker? it was back in the 1980's as it appeared in the Novemebr 1985 RM. I wonder what happen to it. He was a friend of Richard Chown at the time. Colin Rainsbury

Personally I prefer to jig build plan track with just one rail and the sleepers in the jig then with the use of tracksetta lay the track out in the location and use roller gauges to install the second rail once on site. The plan is to build 21mm gauge track but to EM standards, while this is not so perfect, it does allow me to have a bit of leyway on back to back and clearances when it comes to building or converting locos and rolling stock. if you want something simple check this site out there are Hundreds of simple Irish railway plans on here it is the heritage verition of Google http://map.geohive.ie/mapviewer.htm I should add it will be up to you if you want plastic, wood and pin or copper clad sleepers, there are a number of modell trackbuilders on the web it is just a case of having a look out there the P4 society site is a good place to start as is the EM Society as well. Regards Colin Rainsbury

Hi Glover Just to let you know that you are such an inspiration, when it come to modelling the Irish Broad Gauge. I haven’t as yet made much progress with my own project, but the planning is almost finished. One thing I did notice was the footbridge on the layout, can you recall where you got it from or who made it, as it looks really good. If you are still up to it, would you mind taking some more photos of your layout for us all to enjoy. Having been through this before with a friend over here please make sure your family or friends know what to do with you models and who to contact, as I have seen collections end up in the dustbin as the family did not know that some one out there may be interested or could help out. Take care and look after yourself, it has been wonderful to read about your layout. Colin Rainsbury

Thank you will be on my next list Colin

the Isle of Man used to have a load of carrigaes which had that fault and they keep on using them. That said it is a concern that a relative new loco has deveolped such a problem bring back the Heitage collection of ex CIE diesle locos. Could be that Inchicore are in for a lot of rebuilding with new chassis's or a building a new jig to put each one right as they go through a full service, out of interest how many do they need to run the current service and just how many do they have in total? Colin R

Hi guys I have the Patrick Taylor book on the WCR; however I am looking for a source of station building, engine sheds and good shed drawings. I am looking for the following stations:- Kilrush Kilmurry Milltown Malbay Lahinch Ennistymon I have a half started layout based on the WCR which I acquired a few years ago as the owner was not happy with it, this has now been taken apart and a number of bits saved for the new layout. The plan is to rebuild it with typical WCR features if it is possible. I have on order enough timber to build something based on Milltown Malbay which will be about 4 meters in length. I also hope to build Kilrush in 00n3 at some point in tribute to the same fellow modeller who has recently passed on. However it will be over 6 meters in length to do it justice. Colin Rainsbury

Hi can you give the title of the mag please? Colin Rainsbury