DoctorPan

The last word that was said on them.

20 minutes ago, LARNE CABIN said:

The Jeep looks fantastic. Looking forward to seeing it emerge from the paint shop. @DoctorPan, can I ask what paint you used for the GNR(I) carriages? They look pretty good as well.

Thanks. Its a custom mix job of Humbrol 62 and 174, I think fairly 1:1 ratio. 

A parcel delivery on Friday finally saw the last bits arrive for the Jeep project. Here's what 4 current looks like awaiting a trip to the paint shop.

2 hours ago, Noel said:

Brilliant photoshop. Trams in tippex? Wow that livery might have helped keep the mk3 fleet in service until today (Ie their end of service life, not early in 2011).

Mk3s were not scrapped because of the livery change, they were scrapped because they were knackered.

Also if the ICRs had been delievered in BnT, doubtful we'd have seen the climb in passengers carried since their introduction. Even now, the BnT livery is synomous with the public of late, dirty and unreliable trains. 

Two GNR(I) coaches ready for service now.

Having done two of the GSR/CIE Pullmans, I was left with a spare and I fancied adding some GNR(I) brown to my carriage fleet which lead me to ponder how to justify Dundalk purchasing a Pullman. An exploration of a "What-if" scanerio developed between a friend of mine and myself after disucssions on how things would have changed on the railways if certain key decisions went the other way. This being, what if Dundalk had build that Ten Wheeler proposed by Clifford in 1911 and what would have happened to the GNR(I) rippling out from this?

On 30/5/2023 at 3:13 PM, Westcorkrailway said:

Can you give me a link for ones that would work well with the bandon tank (the lining I’ll be able to do is around the water tanks and boiler banding I think the coal bunker and running board are beyond me to line!)

You've two options, go for the LNER white/black/white lining - something I used myself on my 801 model: https://www.fox-transfers.co.uk/general-white-black-white-lining-58401

Or order white lining and black lining seperately and do them seperately. If you look at the Fox's website and filter down to 00 gauge lining colour of choice, you'll get packs of straights and curves. Pick the ones you need.

1 hour ago, Westcorkrailway said:

But he can’t do the lining. I’ve seen the fox transfers white on black lining looks good. Where would one get that lining?

 

Order from Fox direct. Them and Steve from Railtec are extremely helpful, quick and never seem to get the notice of Customs!

1 minute ago, hurricanemk1c said:

Incidentally, while DART+ will have an impact, it will likely be less than people imagine. There's also due to be increased service levels for NIR which is equally never discussed. Always, always DART to blame.

 

We're always the boogeyman. DART is always in a constant state of being prefect/needs changes/don't change it.  The rail usage, and customer demands and expections of 2023 are far different then the demands and expections of 1947...

1 hour ago, leslie10646 said:

A couple (?) of strategically laced loops would do the job and cost a lot less. It's hard to believe that quadrupling is necessary in Ireland.

You would think but when you have a planned frequency of DART services of 3-10 mins, hour directional Enterprise services, existing Dundalk services and Tara Mine trains, quad tracking becomes the easiest option with the most resilence.

There was originally part of the scope of DART Coastal North to produce a quad tracking report or an addditonal project around the same time but got dropped.

9 minutes ago, leslie10646 said:

Thanks for bringing this up Skinner. Speaking as an enthusiast, of course it would be good, but the practical part of me asks - "Is there a dual carriageway road paralleling the route?" If so, where is the traffic?

Speaking with the day job's cap on, there's is a potential set of traffic flows that could open up with that section opening up in conjuction with what is being done further south with Foynes. Dublin Port is growing busier and with the reopening of Foynes, Ballina liners could be diverted down the WRC and down to Foynes, saving paths on the congresed Port- Athlone section and having to run around on the mainline at Kildare for Waterford liners. 

Again highly dependant on IWT and XPT switching ports to Foynes but who knows...

While having the MSR fleet lined up for the first time in a while, I became aware of Duke's less then ideal finish and general unhappniess with his look, so a strip back and repaint has him looking far better. Still need to get around ordering lining and nameplates for him, but he can sit there, looking more like how No.1 should look like.

6 hours ago, Galteemore said:

Lovely little fleet you’re building up 

Thanks, narrow gauge just has this charm to it.

As one of the engineers involved in DART +, there's no obstruction to electrifying the network. Tunnels can be lowered, bridges raised or diverted and rebuilt and some of the suggested timelines for that amount of work is laughable. Remember a brand new underbridge spanning the Sallins bypass was installed in a weekend.

Electrification is coming, we have carbon emission targets to reach and already we are paying harsh penalties for failure to meet them. 

071s and 201s are old tech and have good lifetimes but technology has progressed and its time for their replacements. Enterprise fleet advisory tenders are out and its dual electric locos with a small diesel power-pack is what it looks like it's speccing

Latest addition to the narrow gauge fleet, No. 4 "Stuart".

Some photos taken during yesterday's duties. Both GNR 4-4-0s were in fine form and gave brilliant performances.

I'm guessing they're refering to the red of the NIR logo and what RAL number or equalivant it would be.

I've always joking refered to the random platform in the car park near Platform 10 as Platform 8.

2 hours ago, irishrailways52 said:

the first leg of the journey is going to be by an 071 so 131 will have the time to go to Dundalk from whitehead

Edit - misunderstood.

26 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

I’m intrigued to know what a ‘family stowage area’ is….some sort of cage for holding parents and kids ? 

Wider gaps between seats and areas to store buggies instead of lumping them in with wheelchair users.

Now with black roof, looking far more like it should. A BnT GSV ready for some Cravens and a BGM.

12 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

Love to see that "Jeep" in progress! I remember watching them daily on ballast trains............   black roof for the CIE coach the final touch?

 

You finish a model and think there's something off about it and couldn't put my finger on it. Aha the black roof! Currently drying in the booth to refitted. 

The final addition to the NIR engineers fleet.

Muck, rust, earth, stone and bit of grease and oil streaks and this battered hopper is on its last legs.

Now just needs something blue to haul the rake. 

4 hours ago, Ballinacraig said:

The RPSI have given the following timetable for Saturday 1st April. Apologies for my ignornace, but based on these times, how could it be coming through Newry at 14:39?

I don't know, that image doesn't load in for me.