Ballybeg

[Irishrailwayman]

Some of Ballybeg's alternate railway buildings have been given a re-vamp/spruce up to keep them fresh:

[David Holman]

Those buildings have come up really well.

[Irishrailwayman]

During lockdown I am working on a variety of my (7!) layouts including Ballybeg. I am currently working on some Studio Scale Models kits (thanks Des) to increasingly ensure Irish features predominate. This includes the level-crossing gates which I intend to add working lamps and to operate using servo motors in time. Here they are loose-fitted to Ballybeg:

[enniscorthyman]

The LC gates look great,as do the building.

[Irishrailwayman]

Ballybeg is getting a refurbished (lifting) viaduct as part of an overall upgrade:

[Irishrailwayman]

Ballybeg viaduct ready for installation of tracks and wiring. Note different scenes under each of the arches.

[Noel]

Stunning. Gerry, will that hinge just inside the door? Or is it for another part of the layout. Ballybeg is always a treat and a privilege to visit.

[Irishrailwayman]

1 hour ago, Noel said:

Stunning. Gerry, will that hinge just inside the door? Or is it for another part of the layout. Ballybeg is always a treat and a privilege to visit.

Thanks Noel, the viaduct will hinge from the right as you enter the door making it easier than "duck and dive" as before. Drop over again sometime when the restrictions are lifted.

[Mike 84C]

Ballybeg viaduct is rather good! I did notice the different scenes under each arch. Really sets the whole thing up, excellent.

[David Holman]

Shades of Ballydehob and Roaringwater Bay. Fine work.

[Irishrailwayman]

1 hour ago, David Holman said:

Shades of Ballydehob and Roaringwater Bay. Fine work.

Thank you all. This is just a Metcalfe kit but it fits together well and looks the part. The inspiration from an Irish railway perspective is that it echoes the viaducts at Kilmacthomas (which also inspired my Ballybeg village where the house roofs just reach the rail level) and Borris.

[Irishrailwayman]

Other upgrades to "Ballybeg" include rebuilding the two signal cabins in plastic sheeting and quoins (corner blocks) to replace the printed card which was becoming faded:

 

A new alternate engine shed was developed from a Ratio kit complete with lamps from Studio Scale Models:

 

Studio Scale Models wooden pole lampposts were also added to the Goods Platform, Cattle Dock and Coal Stages:

 

Finally, SSM steel lampposts are prepared to replace the existing UK-style gas lamps on the station platforms:

 

[Irishrailwayman]

Fitted SSM Irish Station Lamps to platform at "Ballybeg" along with Peco SmartSwitch servo system to operate the SSM Irish level-crossing gates and Home and Starter signals all with working lamps!

[RedRich]

That all looks amazing. Des has produced some amazing kits. Making the gates operational must look really cool.

Rich,

[Irishrailwayman]

10 hours ago, RedRich said:

That all looks amazing. Des has produced some amazing kits. Making the gates operational must look really cool.

Rich,

Thank, not sure if the video uploaded here (I am using a rather old camera) but I posted videos of the working gates and signals on Facebook.

[Patrick Davey]

Amazing scenes at every corner of this layout!

[Irishrailwayman]

1 hour ago, Patrick Davey said:

Amazing scenes at every corner of this layout!

Thanks! I have "Ballybeg" taken apart at the moment to upgrade each board with new SSM lamps, working level-crossing gates and signals (5 in total), renewed track in part, viaduct upgrades, railway building lighting and a new Peco motor for the turn-table. Perhaps some day I will exhibit "Ballybeg" again having shown her at 10 exhibitions in the past!

[Noel]

On 28/11/2020 at 12:59 PM, Irishrailwayman said:

Thanks! I have "Ballybeg" taken apart at the moment to upgrade each board with new SSM lamps, working level-crossing gates and signals (5 in total), renewed track in part, viaduct upgrades, railway building lighting and a new Peco motor for the turn-table. Perhaps some day I will exhibit "Ballybeg" again having shown her at 10 exhibitions in the past!

Ah that explains my confusion looking at one of the photos of the LC at one end of the station, I could not place it in the room, nor see the window. Sounds very interesting.

[enniscorthyman]

Some action from Ballybeg a few nights ago.

[Galteemore]

Lovely. It’s the details that help here - ‘Irish’ signals, phone box and crossing gates set the scene even before trains appear !

Edited December 28, 2020 by Galteemore

[Billycan]

Nice train sound and track sound too.  

[Irishrailwayman]

On 28/12/2020 at 9:43 AM, enniscorthyman said:

Some action from Ballybeg a few nights ago.

It's probably just my computer but I don't see any video on my screen?

[Georgeconna]

1 hour ago, Irishrailwayman said:

It's probably just my computer but I don't see any video on my screen?

Same here. Download it too only sound.

[Irishrailwayman]

I have converted some Bachmann "ESSO" oil tankers to Irish liveries: Class A with silver/red livery to "Irish Shell" and "Irish Shell and BP Ltd" alternating on each side. Similarly, I have converted 14 ton Class B oil "ESSO" black/white livery to "Irish Shell" and "CIE Fuel Oil" liveries as above. I used Studio Scale Models decals and weathered the wagons on completion. I understand that these and the ESSO versions all ran on Irish rails in the 60s/70s but am open to correction.

[the Bandon tank]

Very nice, are the Irish Shell decals from Studio Scale Models?

[Noel]

Beautiful job Gerry. Love the subtle weathering too. Can't beat two axle wagons of that era. The very essence of model trains as I was introduced to them.

[Irishrailwayman]

33 minutes ago, the Bandon tank said:

Very nice, are the Irish Shell decals from Studio Scale Models?

Yes, that's right.

 

[Irishrailwayman]

A couple of prototype photos from this forum some time ago:

[Irishrailwayman]

Ballybeg is undergoing some scenery refreshment in preparation for showing at the Wexford MRC's Autumn Exhibition on 9th October 2022. Trees have had fresh "leaves" added, static grass has been added to improve realism and some minor repairs have been made:

[MAL]

Hi Mike

 

Which original date had the picture of New Irishlines Magazine you posted once?

I would like to understand when the Murphy Brothers 7 plank vehicles were in use.

Thanks!

MikeO wrote:

>Gentlemen thank you for your contributions to this issue. I will keep my Murphy Bros wagon as is for now( a mustard/yellow colour).

>I have found a copy of the extract and photo from the New irishlines magazine (have not got the issue number to hand).

>as this is already in the public domain with appropriate permissions it should be safe to have it on the forum.

 

[MikeO]

Hi MAL

The short answer is that I do not know at this point in time which issue the extract was taken from.

This link will take you to the full archive if you wish to run through them all.    https://newirishlines.org/archive 

I do not think there was much more useful information beyond that which I quoted.

If it is of any help this is my N gauge version.

 

 

MikeO

[Irishrailwayman]

In a further refresh for "Ballybeg" I have fitted a new backscene with Peco cloudy sky underneath a cutout from Gaugemaster GM703 "Open Field Large Photographic Backscene":

[Gabhal Luimnigh]

That works, well done. 

[Irishrailwayman]

I have "Ballybeg" down in the workroom to prepare it as a "modern image" version for the Wexford Exhibition in May 2024. I have (temporarily) substituted the "steam era" cattle-dock, goods shed, engine shed, water tower etc with a diesel shed (borrowed from my "Diesel Depot" layout!) as well as tower lights and a new CIE oil storage facility. I plan to show a selection of "Supertrain" liveried passenger and freight trains on the Sunday of the exhibition and to show "IR" liveried trains on the Monday. I have fitted DCC controlled rural scenic sound modules also which give background birdsong, church bells, cows, sheep etc to set the scene.

Edited February 13 by Irishrailwayman

[Gabhal Luimnigh]

Exquisite scenes