Colin R

With out going into detail, I would guess that the Irish model railway market is very much based on the Irish railways of the last 50 years or so. It is after all what most of you guys have been brought up with. In the UK, we have had a much longer period of model railways going back to the 1930's and also a big section of scratching building from the 1940’s to today. I can't see where the demand will be for a genuine RTR Irish steam loco, if anything ( yes we have had a couple of RTR steam locos in small batches, but nothing compared to the Diesel locos from MM, this will remain in my view very much a kit and scratch building arena. By comparison to the huge American market the Irish model railway market is almost like a cottage industry. I would encourage cottage industries within the Irish model market if you want to see more models, I would suggest we could do with someone on the lines of Narrow Planet:- https://www.narrowplanet.co.uk/collections/loco-kits Good 3D printing is coming and the printing machines are getting better, so may be with in 5 years who knows, it may well be that someone will develop the models to a point where a number of prints of different members of each class will be available, it will then be down to the individual to get it painted, but then this too may create another cottage industry by one person buying and custom painting these locos for the individual, as I see it, the market is full of possibilities right now. I think what ever happens in the Irish model railway market; it will come down to a few people who either have the talent or the will power to contribute to the market in someway, what we can’t allow is from either side of the puddle the detail suppler to disappear, while we have a number here in the UK a number of them are getting on in age and I can for see the time when due to old age a number of the small companies pack up and these items are lost to us all. As much as I would love to see more rtr Irish steam locos, I can’t see it happening anytime soon, due to the numbers that would sell could be even smaller than the current market for a new run of class 201’s

Yes I did get them thank you, however the source has asked me to keep them under raps for a while until the model becomes available, copies of the drawings will be available at the model launch next year. The plan is to sell copies in support of Irish Railway Heritage projects. What I have seen is the best drawings of a loco in years, believe me I want to share them with you but I have to honour the agreement I made to get them, if you want to start saving up for a live steam C&L 4-4-0T loco then I would do so, you will not be disappointed. I will start a new thread once all the bits I have ordered turn up to start the build of these 00n3 locos. I have five kits, but I am only planning to build two at this moment in time. I also have a number of other 12mm narrow gauge loco kits that have been half started so I do need to sort these out at the same time. Colin

Hi Guys can you spare a few miniutes to support the Donegal Railway project? They are seeking our help to secure some much needed funding, please follow the link:- https://a.cstmapp.com/voteme/900417/641543168?lc=eng&ep1=mail or https://a.cstmapp.com/voteme/900417/641543168 Thank you all Colin Rainsbury

When Hatton’s spoke about the Genesis project, I did ask them if the liveries where fixed to those they had announced, at the time they could not confirm that but they where interested in the possibilities of further livery suggestions.

Haven’t a clue where that one came from, I must have been thinking of something else I guess, but yes heritage Irish steam loco they could add a bit of varity to anyone’s layout, according to Wikipedia there are 16 Standard Gauge Irish locos that have the possibly of having either kits or RTR model made of them. In my opinion if you are going to do just one Irish steam loco then it has to be the one from the film the quiet man the American market would make sure it sold well, and better still if is also came with a train of carriages. Once you have a working 4-4-0 Chassis it might be possible to develop a number of other Irish 4-4-0 loco types. Colin

I supposed you should never say never to anything, there is of course for those who prefer steam the locos at Whiteheaven or Downpatrick to consider and possible new models, I know some have been done but there are also those in Cultra as well to think about. Colin R

Hi Robert, this may sound selfish but this could kill off any more Irish model kits being produced over here in the UK. I was going to go into rant mode but have stop myself from doing so. All we can do is hope the trade deal is successful and it works out well for both sides. Colin Rainsbury

The Cork Blackrock and Passage Railway is one I can't wait to see what other photos there are of this line, I hope they have some photos of the carriages as I am trying to find out what some of them looked like, I hope I can convince Worsley works to update thier basic CB&PR coach kit. Also if there are new photos of the Cork and Muskerry that would help modelling wise, I happen to like Photo albums as they give so much more information about a time and place that is now lost to us all. Regarding sales in the republic, I wonder if someone like the Donegal lads would take a bulk purchase. Colin Rainsbury PS put me down for one

Now if they had done a model version of say Blarney Castle, well that would have been better, I do need a small Irish Tower model for the backscene of the freelanced 00n3 layout Colin R

Thanks I don't have a copy so I will watch this one, unless anyone else wants it. Colin Rainsbury

Thank you Leslie for lets us all know, I really liked his style of modelling, I hope that it can be kept as a collection in one form or other for others to enjoy his modelling. After reading his Blog? I went and brough all the Railway modellers he used to build his Coaches with, I think I may very well have this winters modelling programme sorted. Colin

This is the back head of a right handed drive loco There are a load more photos on line just look for backhead details of a steam locomotive, I am not sure which side of the loco the CB&P locos where driven from, but you get the idea of what could be in there. regards Colin Rainsbury

Numbers getting out of control and Liverpool is at the centre of things with a level 3 lockdown in place from this weekend so nothing going to happen anytime soon. This could be followed by a full lockdown in a couple of weeks when the schools in Liverpool shut for half term, they are talking about a full two weeks of closure nothing in or nothing out. Colin R Its a long way to Tipperary.........

Thats nice, very nice

Thanks for the correction I knew it was an early one. Colin

Thanks Paul that is the one we are looking for, it would be great to find her again and if the 009 Society don't get her then the guys at Donegal would be the better place for her to be displayed. Please keep a look out for her, it is sad when people pass on but may be some good will come of this. Colin Rainsbury

Hi Guys I wonder if anyone has come across a model of one of the Swilly 4-8-0 Tender locos that was given to the Swilly board of directors in the 1960's. I know the swilly company no longer exists, but I just wondered if anyone knew what has happen to the model, I am hoping that it has gone to a local museum in Derry or the public records office in Belfast. This is part of the search of where narrow gauge model locomotives from the 1960 have ended up, if It can be traced then I plan to let the 009 Heritage collection manager know about it, they already have a number of 009 and 00n3 locos in the collection from that period and as this is one I recall, it would be great to find out what has happen to it and get it preserved. Colin Rainsbury

This was the station many years ago that I wanted to model in 00n3, but I didn't have enough space for it, I think it works out around 20ft+ x 3ft at the widest point in 00n3. I would like to return to this one at some stage, but I have other stations to model at the moment, If I recall there was a magazine called railway archives, i am sure it was Issue 1 vol 1 it had a a big article about Victoria Road station, I still have it some where in the mess. This would be my main reason for taking a weekend trip to Derry to take measurements of the remaining buildings and of course to hopefully look at the 3ft stock in store as well. Colin R

One of those horse boxes would make a greta touring van for today tourists. A mate of mine in Wales has converted a horse box into a camper van, but unless you looked inside, you would not know. Colin

Yes very true I am awaiting a number of kits for the IOM and some irish lines to make another appearance, notable a number of Donegal loco and carriage kits. Allen tells me he is willing to do more Irish standard gauge kits if he can get hold of some decent drawings. Colin

Hi David, just in case you can't resist any longer, see Worsley works kits he does all his 4mm irish kits in both 7, 3 and 2mm scales, in 7mm I think you need to find wheels, motors, and castings etc, but the basic etch is there if you want it Colin R

Hopefully you can find some to use, 5ft 3 is a bit rare around the world, Over here in the UK some one had 3 or 4 swedish gauge locos as static exhibits, may be a source for a rebuilt 5ft 3ins gauge steam loco, I am not sure if they are 5ft or 5ft 6in, as they are of no use to anyone else it might be worth having a look at them for the future, also not sure about Indian either as they have 5ft 3ins gauge lines so might have the odd 4-4-0 in a scrap yard still.

I take my hat to you guy’s fabulous work; I hope you can get hold of a couple of the ex BnM wagonmaster locos before they all get sold, this is going to be a great railway project, how long is the run going to be? Carry on looking forward to getting over to see you at some time next year. Colin Rainsbury

Hi as I understand it it is still under development, I am not sure if there has been any other attempt to make a kit for them in 7mm. Colin R

Hi did you ever find the drawing for these locos? if you don't mind the scratch aid route then why not send them to Allen at Worsley works. Colin Rainsbury