Ballinacraig

[Ballinacraig]

I've been meaning to create a thread for my layout for some time, so now's the time I've actually got around to do it!

 

Ballinacraig is a fictional town set somewhere in County Wicklow or Wexford, along the Dublin to Rosslare line.I have always been particularly fond of this part of Irish Rail's network, especially as I used to holiday in Wexford as a child.

 

The layout is set in the Summer of 2004, on the eve of modernisation of the line, which would see the total replacement of trackwork and signalling, along with the end of locomotive hauled passenger trains. I'm endeavouring to strictly adhere to this period, which means spending a bit of time doing research before building or adding anything.

 

The layout is still in the early stages of construction, with many fixtures such as walls and buildings not glued down yet. The trackwork is Peco - Bullhead Code 75.

 

All the buildings and structures are scratchbuilt. They are based on actual buildings from various locations along the Dublin to Rosslare line. For example, the station is a slightly scaled down model of Wexford (O'Hanrahan) station. The railway road bridge (still unfinished) is a scale model of the bridge over Esmonde Street in Gorey. The signal cabin is modelled on the one at Enniscorthy station. 

 

A special word of thanks to IRM member Warb, who very kindly drove up to Newry a couple of years ago and donated the station footbridge. It was from a previous layout of his that I had enquired about.

 

Paddy

 

 

[Bob229]

A fine start to the layout, the scratch built buildings are excellent, looking forward to seeing more of Ballinacraig

[Rush and Lusk]

Beautiful Modelling Paddy - well done.

George 

[JasonB]

That is some seriously impressive modelling. Looking forward to future updates. 

[Patrick Davey]

Now that's how to do it - simply superb scratchbuilding! Looking forward to further updates. 

Edited June 27, 2022 by Patrick Davey

[Galteemore]

You should be ashamed of yourself- keeping this hidden away for so long! Terrific work - most inspiring.

[flange lubricator]

well done nice layout

[Rob]

Excellent quality- brilliant photos and great to see a 'modern' layout too !

Keep the photos coming

[Dempsey]

Brilliant images

[Past-Avenue]

Stunning layout and workmanship. Please keep posting pictures and updates 

[Robert Shrives]

Seconding all the comments - great work and buildings look brilliant.  I too look forward to updates.

Thanks for sharing.

Robert  

[Mayner]

Great to see a layout with realistic modelled buildings, structures and signals, the bullhead track and point rodding adds to the realism.

[jhb171achill]

Absolute brilliance! Superb stuff - keep the pictures coming!

[Georgeconna]

Lovely, the A waking up the people as it rundles along over the bridge which is a magnificent piece of work. !

Lads delighted for the no.8 to take them somewhere Daycent!!

Looking forward to some more pics!

 

[enniscorthyman]

Superb work

 

[Irishrailwayman]

Lovely layout. Particularly like the station. Any chance of showing the layout at Wexford MRC's Autumn Exhibition?

[Ballinacraig]

Thanks for all the lovely comments. I will of course endeavour to update the forum with my progress as I go. In relation to IrishRailwayMan's request - it is unfortunately a permanent structure in my garage.

 

Paddy 

[patrick]

This is lovely. I'm looking forward to seeing more.

[Noel]

That's a fabulous layout already. You've really captured the essence of that line, and at that time. It oozes wexford Atmosphere. Congrats, looking forward to following this.

[Niles]

Well done. Grew up in the area and you've captured the feel well, recognised Esmonde St bridge and all.

[David Holman]

Lovely stuff! Really like how the various scenes hang together. It is one thing to make nice buildings and structures (which they most certainly are), but assembling them into a coherent, believable whole like this really makes the layout shine. The bus outside the station and the overbridge scene already have that certain something.

 As others have said, more please and don't forget the track plan too.

 

 

[Ballinacraig]

An update on the progress of Ballinacraig. I have spent the last few weeks - with the help of my father - building a viewing box around the scenic part of the layout. On the ceiling of the box, I ran LED strip lights. Overall, this has greatly enhanced the viewing experience, however, I need to finish painting the backscene, which will be sky blue.

 

I have uploaded some of the latest photos of the layout, including the new surround box.

 

I am currently working on a row of shops for the main street. These can be seen in some of the photos. When they are finished I will post closeup shots of them.

 

I have uploaded some videos that my brother took of the layout. I have added audio of their real-life counterparts to some of these videos, which I think adds a touch more realism.

 

Paddy

[jhb171achill]

That is MIGHTY stuff - well done.

[Past-Avenue]

Great work i love the bridge like the in  Esmonde Street 

 

Enda

[DJ Dangerous]

Wow, incredible!

[MikeO]

I echo the comments above about the standard of workmanship. In addition I though that the sound in the various videos was very life like, the sound of the horn and the noise going over the tracks. just amazing.

MikeO

[popeye]

Beautiful scenes and great realism. The sound in the videos makes it seem real. 

[Patrick Davey]

Wowwwww

[StevieB]

A good advert for ‘less is more’.

Stephen

[Rush and Lusk]

This is fabulous Paddy - very well done. I love your "railway room" - great pictures and excellent videos with the superimposed sounds - lots to learn from.

George 

[Rob]

Great photos and vids-  great detail and love the 'modern' setting and rolling stock.

That bridge is amazing btw- really realistic.

[LARNE CABIN]

Would echo all that has been said above, Paddy. Lots of excellent work, modern image not my cup of tea, but you have captured a lot of detail there! As has been said, love the bridge, and the videos are excellent.

[murphaph]

Is there a fiddle yard behind the layout Paddy? I am a huge fan of the shelf layout "lightbox" concept. Your trains are the actors in a play. Brilliant stuff.

[Ballinacraig]

3 hours ago, murphaph said:

Is there a fiddle yard behind the layout Paddy? I am a huge fan of the shelf layout "lightbox" concept. Your trains are the actors in a play. Brilliant stuff.

Unfortunately, I don't have a fiddle yard as of yet, Phil. The line does run behind the layout, but space is tight, so there's only room for a single track.

[Fiacra]

13 hours ago, Rob said:

That bridge is amazing btw- really realistic.

Completely agree - very atmospheric!