DoctorPan

1 hour ago, murphaph said:

Oh is that certain that any expansion of the wires will be 25kV? That's really good news if it is. Does that include the more imminent Dublin area expansion(s), especially DART+ West? I have long believed that we are at a point that still allows us to "escape" from 1500Vdc rather than try to roll it out nationwide. We delayed electrification for so long that it allows us this advantage at least!

DART + will be the last new 1500 DC voltage, with the plan to be any further expansion be 25kV AC and new rolling stock to be dual voltage with a transistion fleet of new DARTs to allow back conversion of the existing network to 25kV. Now we're talking decades of a timeline but as stock is replaced, the conversion will occur. 1500 DC has been ruled out as not suitable for mainline electrifiction as per Jacobs report in 2019 IIRC, DART + South West isn't touching the fast lines, meaning that in theory Cork mainline electrifiction could be authorised tomorrow and wouldn't impact the DART rollout.

21 minutes ago, Westcorkrailway said:

I suppose that could also become the nee theory. That would mean electrifying the cork area.
 

are we sticking with 1500 DC or switching does anyone know? That could be another reason the additional darts were ordered

Batteries for the moment for Cork. Expansion of the wires is going to be at 25kV AC as per Peter Smyth's presenations to Engineers Ireland back in 2019.

On 27/2/2023 at 10:22 AM, Westcorkrailway said:

The theory at the moment is that when the new darts land (2026)…..the 29ks will be sent to cork to work this new service. I don’t think it will mean the end of the road for the 2600 class though 

That was the possible old theory. The new one is the additional order of BEMUs is for the CACR packages as work package 6 is Electrification work.

https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/news/140008/irish-rail-alstom-xtrapolis-trains/

18 hours ago, Colin R said:

Hi do you have a link for the CRR requirements thanks

Colin 

Link to 036a itself: https://www.crr.ie/assets/files/pdf/crrg036a.pdf 

The rest of the CRR's guidelines can be found  here: https://www.crr.ie/publications/guidelines/

Just now, jhb171achill said:

He's ordering the deliveroo for the crew and they've put him on hold.

The van grub order is safety critical item along with the burco boiler!

RPSI visited Backwood yesterday on a railtour and visited the depot to water the loco. A flurry of activity to trim the tender and refill the tanker. Also the hydrant had been moved since the last visit. Willie's list will need updating...

3173 continued to get end details. Some Glenderg Models post 2004 IÉ tail lamps, steam heat, vac bag and a hanging coupling while waiting for Railtec to post its transfers.

It's BnT cousin got its decals ready and it's ready to enter service behind an A or BGM.

3173 has gained a friend. Now for my favourite part, the transfers...

While waiting for payday and transfers to come, finally pulled the finger out and started on finishing this half finished ebay conversion of a WT tank.

Put her into primer to assess the work done and identify any areas needing tidying up as well as drawing up a to-do list and shopping list for the project.

Once my snag list was drawn up, started work on it, replacing the stock lamp irons with etched ones, filing and adding filler to the cab and bunker changes. Need to add new steps to the bunker. 

That fueling depot not only seems to ooze atmosphere but the pong of sludgy oily ground. Amazing modelling.

Upgrades to the rear of 3173.

Finally getting this model close to the finish line.

16 hours ago, Niles said:

As it stands, private freight operators have had access for what must be a decade now. The fact that there's been no take up says a lot as to its perceived lucrativeness though...

More down to Irish Rail extremely high track access charges, a side effect of which has killed its own business case for a lot of railfreight as its too expensive to run

On 16/1/2023 at 1:58 AM, jhb171achill said:

What is needed is a fleet of bulldozers, and an exemption for all matters pertaining to planning permission, or any other type of permission, plus compulsory purchase orders dished out where needed and when needed - and no obligation for IE to have any "enquiries" or "local consultation" with "stakeholders". Just DO it. It's in the national interest.

And the times that happens, ends up with a piss poor infrastructure. I wouldn't trust parts of Irish Rail with those powers, too many hours of meetings spent with them as clients has been given over to inter company squabbling and empire building. NTA isn't the best at promoting the use of trains but then again that does come down to reading the tempetature of the local man on the street. The Irish want good public transport but not at the expense of the private car.

3 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

Very nice. How did you do it ? 

Cambrian Model C67 kits painted with a mix of Humbrol 16 Spray and 154 to bring out the contrasting shades for the panels I wanted to model of varying sunbleaching. Then a splathing of rust, oil, grime, track dirt, dust and smoke weathering powders and washes over the wagons with Railtec providing the transfers.

Christmas workings saw some Northern yellow fangled things roll off the bench.

Large amount of confusion on shed today as 92038 suddenly appeared. 

11 hours ago, BosKonay said:

First shipment t should be across to dublin in about three days. 

Can't wait for my one!

Datumn plates usually used to denote rail levels required for the platforms. No idea about the yellow markers, got a photo of them Jonathan?

21 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

Oh no, just curious! I'm all for retro stuff, as you might imagine!

 

But is a logo retro if its been in active use on the locos all the time?

Considering how design savy the team have been with projects, I'd wager on a Jeep or Mogul, with their common LMS parts would be a boost to an Accurascale LMS offering.

That or Fran wants a model of Pat or Sambo.

Back on the standard gauge and working on a few of Lesile's wonderful kits.

10 hours ago, Mayner said:

The pick up system used by OO Works picking up power through the loco on one side with the return through the tender or the "American" system was commonly used for tender locomotives.

It would be worth while converting the bogie wheels to live axle pick up by fitting "Shorting out Brushes" part 4M52 available from Alan Gibson Works sales@alangibsonworkshop.com or by leaving a message for Colin Seymour on 0044-161-679-1607

The best option to improve running and pulling power is to add weight to the tender and modify the drawbar to transfer weight from the front of the tender to the rear of the loco using 'the weighted tender' system. 

The simplest step would be to add weight to the cab to check whether it improves running before carrying out modifications to the tender or drawbar.

Locos with metal chassis and gearing like the OO Works locos require some 'running in' preferably on a continuous run to allow bearings and gearing to bed in to achieve reliable running as there is less in built slop than rtr diesels with plastic gearing.

MGWR 2-4-0 with Weighted Tender weights in front of boiler, below motor and front of tender.

Chassis schematic rigid drawbar and floating leading and center axle tender

Location of weight in tender.

The 2-4-0 continually hauled 21 IRM 4w wagons on test

 

Interesting, thanks John for the information. Certainly something to ruminage on!

10 hours ago, popeye said:

If the tender has pickup through the wheels it should get all the power it needs

over points. 

00 Works have a most unusal method for power pick ups on the Us, the driving wheels pick up power while the power return is through the tender, meaning that while wired for power, annoyingly the tender doesn't aid in pick up. Been meaning to rewire mine as its only let down by its poor running abilities.

Finished the new MSR stock enteries.

Showcasing the evolution of the MSR livery from the busy colours of the early 1890s to the plain 'sunshine' colours of WWI simplicity where manpower and resources were tight on the north west corner of Sodor.

No.20, a compo brake van, the early MSR filirted with provision of 1st class passengers but soon found that bar his Grace, the usilitation of such facilites were not worth the effort to maintain it and so soon downrated it to 3rd class only but seasoned travellers would know which compartments offered a little bit more comfort then the usual fare!

Nos 10 & 19, are Mid Sodor own builds at their works in Arlesdale to their own in house design, No.19 is fitted with side boards to allow usage on the ever popular "The Picnic", the service the MSR offered during summer to holiday makers, a request stop service that travelled the line stopping at local beauty spots and points of interest to allow holidaymakers to enjoy the Sudrian countryside.

1 hour ago, J-Mo Arts said:

This looks like it would do:

General white/black/white Lining (fox-transfers.co.uk)

I'd probably paint a thin line of black on the tanks and then use the individual white lining to cover the edge. Plan will be to use the green rattle can I used for my CIE coaches. 

Would this lining set also be useful for MGWR green? My J72 bash will receive that livery, and it's a bit of a large and expensive product for just one loco. 

It's what I used on my model of 801.