Colin R

I guess the trouble is that a lot of it is taken up by what rolling stock you have on site

You guys are doing a fine job can't wait to hear when you start to run the railway. Out of interest just how long is the standard gauge track now?

Hi John thanks for putting this up on here, over on the narrow gauge modelling forum we have discussed this and other 00n3 layouts in some depth, I think there is a generational thing going on here as it appears that certain layouts have had an influance over many of us in the past. As for me I think my love of big narrow guage steam locos is the key, the first book I got out of my local public library was Dr Pattersons book on the Swilly Railway and that has been my draw ever since, that said of course who could resist the big red locos of its neighbour on the Donegal? I often dream of what may have happen if the Donegal and the Swilly had been taken over and merged into one big railway operation, there was of course a plan to do just that, but sadly nothing came of it. It is however very interesting to find that even up to the 1920's and 1930's there were still proposals being made to expand both the Donegal and the Swilly Railways in all directions.

Hi Patrick taking on an NCC 3ft gauge S class is a major challenge in my book. A lot of people take one look at them and then give up, one day I will try it myself, but until then I have a load of other 00n3 locos and rolling stock to build, plus a layout as well at some point. They are a lovely locos and it is a pity that a basic etch has not been done for them, As I am sure they would be popular in all three versions:- ie as build: as modified with a rear coal bunker and finally as the monster 2-4-4 S2 version. Regards Colin

If this was done in OOn3 the biggest challenge would be to manufacture a working chassis for the locos. That said I am investigating an 4wheeled chassis for the wagonmaster kit https://paxton-road.blogspot.com/2019/07/commission-hunslet-wagonmaster.html Also an 009 version of the turf wagon https://www.chiversfinelines.co.uk/shop/p/rc815-009-bogie-steel-peat-wagon-kit

Hi JHB, I can tell you that any records from the Bristol W&C were lost during the war due to a fire in the archive building, which is very sad. The only source we have come across, so far, is if the railway concerned had asked for drawings or after the railway closed the local council run heritage centre was given them to archive. The same also goes for the Cork and Muskerry Rolling stock, again not much information is still about that line as well. Colin

Thanks Guys the photo above was not what i was expecting, does anyone know if there was a van compartment in the 27ft coaches that was also matchboarded finished?

Hi All Following on from my Cork Blackrock and Passage thread, I am also trying to find any photos and or extra details about the original 27ft coaches, mainly the brake 3rds, I am told there are no early photos available, but I do find that hard to believe with all the different photographers that visited the line back then.

Thanks Westcorkrailways, I will follow all this up.

Thanks Jhb, I have the book in question, but do not have the details of what some of the coaches looked like. I have a number of Worsley work etches which I hope to convert in to soem of the other types.

Hi Guys. I am just asking since if anyone was to know I am sure you will. I am looking for any photos but more so any rolling stock plans from the CB&PR mainly the carriages but I would be interested in the goods stock as well. Thanks in advance for any help provided. Colin

Bachmann Murphy Models OO MM0187 Irish Class 181 IE Orange No. 187 - DCC Fitted https://www.ebay.es/itm/175778414718 No bids for it and less than 8 mins to go

As much as I like them it could be hard to justify having anything built after 1960 which isn't Dark Grey or Green.

Books like this will given time drop in price, but that said expensive books well how about this I have all three books on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, each when new £60-70 pounds on a recent railway auction site each one went for over £200 pound each. I didn't buy mine as an investment, but for me to learn more about that railway and they have been read once and referred to many times but they still look like new, All I can say it just make sure to know what you are going to do with your own book collection when you are not here to appricate it

Hi Guys, I am sure some of you have seen this already but just out of interest but what would a Murphys models snack car be worth on E bay eBay item number:225619196646 As much as I would like it I don't have the cash to buy it so heads up to this community, he also has a couple of other Irish coaches as well for sale, so if you are interested check it out Colin Rainsbury

You could always enter into a biding war with him, not that I would suggest such a thing of course.

I have that issue all the time from outside of the UK I don't know if it has something to do with the different euro zones and I guess as the UK is no longer part of them, may be some one has cut the link. I currently have eBay accounts in the UK, Europe, USA, South Africa and Australia.

Hi Andy did you carry out any modification to the coach kits?

The last CDR class 5 kit unbuilt went for very silly money £2,000 I think it was two bidders on e bay. I stopped after it had got to £200.00 pounds but those two silly Bu**ers kept putting bids of £50 pounds on after each other until it ended. On average, as built I would suggest about £200. to start with, if it runs. If it is a non runner, then I would suggest you start at about £100.00 since they are a pain to take apart and to replace the motor and gearbox once they are built. These older kits do far better if they are not built and still in the green box, built ones for some reason don't always go for the expected value put on them by the seller. I have just updated this post since I have asked a retired professional model maker and he think he changed about £350.00 to build and paint one of these a few years ago so I would guess that if you charged say £10.00 per hour for a weeks work today that would be a mimimum of £400.00 and for painting add another £100.00 plus more if they are a reconzied professional and you would be getting close to £750.00 But who has that sort of money this day and age, I don't. The hold up with these kits is that Nev has not so far been able to source replacement wheels since the original supplier is no longer in production. If you can't wait then I suggets you have a look at Worsley works etches, yes you will need to provide your own wheels, gear box and motor plus a whole load of white metal or 3D print fittings, I can't recall who it is, but I think at one point someone suggested that they could provide all the casting as 3D prints, but I have not heard any more on that one. In order to complete the later CDR loco roster I just need 3 more class 5's, 1 more class 4 and 1 class 5A.

Yes is the answer to that the guy who designed the Porter's Cap made them mainly for the Backwood kits to start with the partnership was wound up and he then decided to go out on his own and basically they evolved into the High level gear box we have to day. Colin

I have been talking to Nev about this and he is also willing to produce one off kits for people if they have the etches ready to go, I don't know just how far he has got but he was looking to produce a new Cavan and Leitrim 4 wheel van body in resin, the trouble is the last time I looked at this I think there was a possible 70 odd variations on a theme which would make every C&L van unique if you were to model them. Just to give you guys a taste here are just some of the basic's Two types of body Low roof or High roof Three basic doors : paneled, half paneled and no panels. Vents of 6, 3, 1 or no vents at all on the sides left and right hand sides of each door could also be different Vents 6, 3, 1 or none on the ends but each end could be different Finally there where at least three different wheel bases due to rebuilding over time One other major item to recall was that the cattle vans, they had half opening doors that the bottom half would form the ramp into the van so again this was different to either the normal low or high vans, but it was also possible that either the high or low roof vans could have also been rebuilt for cattle traffic at some point as well. So you can see why it would be difficult to produce just one C&L van kit with the amount of knowledge that is known about these vans. I would suggest that by the later life of the railway I doubt if two vans were turned out the same from the works after a rebuild.

Worsley works do a 4-8-4T in 4mm but could blow it up to 7mm if you wish The big problem we now face is that with 3D printing many of the locos we would have build from brass are becoming available as a 3D print, so far no one has given a lifetime of these prints, but some people have said that after about five years or so the prints start to bend and lose their shape, so may be this is not the way forward. It a bit like trying to force everyone over to electric cars, what an environmental disaster waiting to happen that it. Colin Rainsbury

Hi Phil. Thanks for the up date about the etches, regarding instructions Worsley Works don't have any, as it just make things more interesting, good luck with the model. Colin

Hi Guys i think we may be going into the black hole of OOn3 modelling, I do know of a 3D print of 4T by Tom Bell, but again I am not sure what is happening with that. As for a chassis etch I was not aware of one. So I was wondering if the loco etch and the chassis etch are something that Phil has got done himself, I am not suggesting for one moment that he turns it into a commerical exercise, but that said if you can get say 10 others to buy them from you, you can often get a set done for yourself for free. I can think of four people not on this list that might be interested.

Hi Phil are those etches available to purchase by other modellers? Colin Rainsbury