Ardree Quay

[David Holman]

Few of us have enough space for our projects, so compromise and flexibility is usually the key = good ideas! Your modules will be a nice way of experimenting with scenics, regardless of whether they get much use.

 Getting a first exhibition invite can be tricky, though mostly it is about finding who runs them locally. Easier this side of the water, where there can be anything up to 30 or more show every weekend throughout the year. Just look at the Events section at the back of any Railway Modeller. We probably have more shows in a month than the whole of Ireland has in a year and another factor in this is as soon as you attend one show,, several invites occur for future ones.

 So, talk to the organiser/club running your nearest local show and tell them what you have. They will want to see photos, but also need basic information like layout size, power requirement, lighting, is it self supporting, number of operators and likely expenses. On the latter, always better if it can fit in your car as van hire is expensive. If a show is a long way from home, overnight accommodation is a factor too, for you and/or the organiser.

 Once you have invites, plan carefully. I've done well over 100 shows and still don't always get it right. Taking a layout apart, bouncing for miles in the back of the car to a show, reassembling and hoping it will then work is not a gimmie. Practice (ie play trains) at home, so you know there is a good chance it will be reliable, but be prepared for things to go wrong. At the very least a spare controller and spare engines. Organising setting up to minimise time and effort is both a science and an art form! And above all remember that when taking your layout to a show, you are on display to paying customers, who will want their money's worth.

 I could go on, but honestly, it is great to see you wanting to get into exhibiting and it can be very rewarding and well worth the effort because you learn something new every time. 

[LNERW1]

Thanks, presume the next exhibition I could realistically get the layout finished for will be the 2058 MRSI show, so look out for it then…

[LNERW1]

This lovely product was picked up at Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway today. As per above advice I will repaint it into CIÉ green. I’ll work out where to get another one, maybe also a brake coach so the boat train looks the same going either way. What’s a good paint to use for CIÉ green, and where could I get suitable, light-green lining? Thanks.

[gibbo675]

27 minutes ago, LNERW1 said:

This lovely product was picked up at Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway today. As per above advice I will repaint it into CIÉ green. I’ll work out where to get another one, maybe also a brake coach so the boat train looks the same going either way. What’s a good paint to use for CIÉ green, and where could I get suitable, light-green lining? Thanks.

Hi @LNERW1

You can get all you need transfer wise from Railtec Transfers. I have linked various sheets below, search the site and you will find lots more:

https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=1205

https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=1263

I don't know what shade of paint to use though !

Gibbo.

[LNERW1]

I do have a Humbrol paint pen I want to use to paint green over the red of some Hornby Skaledale buildings for the layout. A bit off for carriages maybe but probably good for sun faded paint on a poorly maintained shelter. I might just look in Marks Models for the equivalent paint though as it doesn’t look awful and is on a similar base colour. Not having to prime the coach would be nice and I could say it was red before CIÉ ownership.

[Galteemore]

Here’s one I did years ago. Rover Brooklands Green aerosol. Sold on to another modeller, for whom I returned it to MGWR russet brown!! 

[LNERW1]

Looks a bit dark, is that just the camera?

[Galteemore]

3 minutes ago, LNERW1 said:

Looks a bit dark, is that just the camera?

Yes. It wasn’t especially well lit. In reality it’s a nice mid green. 

[gibbo675]

1 hour ago, gibbo675 said:

Hi @LNERW1

You can get all you need transfer wise from Railtec Transfers. I have linked various sheets below, search the site and you will find lots more:

https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=1205

https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=1263

I don't know what shade of paint to use though !

Gibbo.

Hi @LNERW1

I've done some digging and UTA green is quite close to Southern Railway Dark Green although I'm not sure how close that is to CIE Green.

Gibbo.

[LNERW1]

Honestly SR green, especially on Hornby coaches, looks indistinguishable from CIÉ green to me. I could just look for that.

[Galteemore]

UTA green is darker than CIE.

[LNERW1]

Definitely. BR(S) green I believe is darker than SR green so you could use an equivalent paint to that if modelling the UTA.

[LNERW1]

@jhb171achill need a hand please, is grey OK for a 121 in 1963-69? I know green went (nominally) in 62/3, but would grey have lasted longer? Keep in mind this is a rural line as well, and I don’t mind bending history a little to fit what I have. In my history the 121 arrived in ‘62, so maybe just before wholesale black ‘n’ tan repaints, and left in ‘65. Could I get away with grey in that case? Thanks in advance, LNERW1.

[jhb171achill]

4 hours ago, LNERW1 said:

@jhb171achill need a hand please, is grey OK for a 121 in 1963-69? I know green went (nominally) in 62/3, but would grey have lasted longer? Keep in mind this is a rural line as well, and I don’t mind bending history a little to fit what I have. In my history the 121 arrived in ‘62, so maybe just before wholesale black ‘n’ tan repaints, and left in ‘65. Could I get away with grey in that case? Thanks in advance, LNERW1.

 

On 22/9/2024 at 8:45 PM, LNERW1 said:

Definitely. BR(S) green I believe is darker than SR green so you could use an equivalent paint to that if modelling the UTA.

 

On 22/9/2024 at 8:38 PM, LNERW1 said:

Honestly SR green, especially on Hornby coaches, looks indistinguishable from CIÉ green to me. I could just look for that.

Firstly, the grey. The 121 class arrived stiull in the green era, when almost everything was the later lighter gree, but with some newer stock still very dirty silver, and other very old stock (pretty much confined to a few 6-wheelers) still in the older dark green. The 121s, of course, were never green - they were delivered in grey and yellow, a completely unique example on the railway (later repainted black'n'tan). First repaints of 121s into BnT were not all that long after they were new, but there were quite a few in grey and yellow around 1965. As far as I am aware, the last in greay and yellow was about 1967 or so. By 1968/9 they were definitely all BnT, but since Cravens were introduced first in 1963, a grey one could have hauled Cravens for a short time. A 121 on a branch would have been a rarity, but they certainly were seen on the North Wexford line in its last full year (when they were new).

It is perfectly plausibe, though, for a 121 to appear on a branch (one did once in the final days of the Ballaghaderreen branch, albeit on an enthusiast special) in 1962. In such a scenario, since diesels weren't allocated to particular lines like in steam days, it wouldn't be that single one which would stay there until 1965, but various members of the class. In 1962 all were grey; in 1963, 4 & 5, some were, with others in the new BnT livery. So between '62 & '65 it's perfectly realistic.

Rolling stock then was a mix, with some stock still in green, a very small number in dirty silver, and even smaller number of ex-GNR coaches still in either their brown or their navy & cream; but most, and increasingly most, in BnT. All wagons, without any exception, were all grey. Of nthese, most still had the old flying snail, but increasingly the new roundel logo was appearing on them. Chassis of wagons were also the same all over grey.

Southern Railway green is not the same as either CIE shade, nor the UTA.

[StevieB]

You have to remember that Southern green came in two shades, Maunsell’s olive green and Bulleid’s malachite green.

Stephen

[LNERW1]

Thanks JHB, all very helpful as always.

Re 121s not often being seen on a branch, I thought I’d twist history a little. Galway-Ardree in my version of history was a more important line, as is evidenced by its closure as late as 1971 as opposed to a much earlier 50s or 60s closure. A single 121 was allocated to the branch for often very long full-line pickup goods, dropping most of its train off at Ardree before bringing the last five or so wagons down the last half mile or so to Ardree Quay station, the reason being few of the train times lined up with boat times and the quayside had little storage to cope with the entire train being left there.

Generally only goods intended to be used by quayside merchants, traders, workers, ships etc were actually brought as far as the quay with the morning pickup goods, with most of the rest of the goods being unloaded and brought on to the ship by lorry. This is a nice little excuse for having little Irish goods stock as well as minimal goods facilities at Ardree Quay. Maybe this practice might change when I have enough wagons, who knows?

And Re SR/UTA/CIÉ green, you are of course correct but I do think Maunsell is closer than Bulleid for CIÉ. To my untrained eye it looks the exact same and the camera probably won’t see it either, so hopefully no problems until/if/when I bring the layout to an exhibition.

[Mayner]

Although not rostered as 'branch loco" main line locos were sometimes rostered to work branch line trains between turns on main line duties.

For instance the A Class of North Wall-Dundalk goods trains worked the Dundalk-Carrickmacross goods, locos of Mallow-Tralee goods trains also worked the Tralee Castleisland and Listowel goods.

Seems to have been a similar arrangement between Castletown West and Dugort Harbour

Its rumored* that for a short while following their introduction B121s (in grey) worked Galway-Tuam passenger trains between turns on main line duties and (even turned the loco steam loco fashion to run bonnet forward like some US railroads) (*It may have been Jack Kennedy prominent enthusiast and photographer owner of Green Studios. I occassionally would drop into his studio where he was usually happy to talk about trains and give me some photos of steam and diesel locos.)

Its just about possible that the loco of the 'Night Mail" or an overnight goods would have been available during the day time to work Galway-Tuam trains and carry out shunting duties at Galway.

Edited September 30 by Mayner

[LNERW1]

Video posted later, but how do I get the body off of a Mainline 57’ LMS coach? There seems to be clips holding it on but I can’t figure out where…

[LNERW1]

 

Also does anyone have a photo of the interior of a permanent way hut? Anywhere in the world works, preferably 40s/50s/60s. Thanks.

[Galteemore]

Very basic. Stove, tools or storage for same, and benches.

[Galteemore]

21 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

Very basic. Stove, tools or storage for same, and benches.

Pic courtesy Hall Royd Jnc website 

[David Holman]

No water, no power and certainly no 'en suite'. Different world...

[LNERW1]

20241101_231855.heic

An unfortunate lack of activity on any current modules (Don't worry, there'll be some eventually).

I say any but currently; there is actually only one, BUT I am working to right that wrong and am currently planning the only other board that will have points- above is the current plan for said module. As I said a while ago regarding modules, there will be a large shed area, which this is. There is some track missing but that will be added in due time.

The track furthest left is the running line. The three spurs at the top of the picture are as follows:

Left(incomplete)=coal siding

Centre= shed road

Right(incomplete)=shed road

The line past the bottom turnout is a headhunt.

The bogie sitting between the running line and sidings represents a joint with insulated sleepers.

The four points used here are all I have at the moment, but if anyone thinks they may have a better track plan using the space and points available, feel free to suggest it. However, please do keep in mind if you do that there are a few limitations:

I only have one controller I can use for this

I'm not super confident with wiring, but I can make isolating sections. However, I already have to make one so it'd be nice to only have to do one. 

Of course you don't have to suggest anything but I'm not as confident in my layout planning ability as I am in the ability of some people on here. 

Regards,

LNERW1

[DJ Dangerous]

14 hours ago, LNERW1 said:

20241101_231855.heic 437.62 kB · 4 downloads

An unfortunate lack of activity on any current modules (Don't worry, there'll be some eventually).

I say any but currently; there is actually only one, BUT I am working to right that wrong and am currently planning the only other board that will have points- above is the current plan for said module. As I said a while ago regarding modules, there will be a large shed area, which this is. There is some track missing but that will be added in due time.

The track furthest left is the running line. The three spurs at the top of the picture are as follows:

Left(incomplete)=coal siding

Centre= shed road

Right(incomplete)=shed road

The line past the bottom turnout is a headhunt.

The bogie sitting between the running line and sidings represents a joint with insulated sleepers.

The four points used here are all I have at the moment, but if anyone thinks they may have a better track plan using the space and points available, feel free to suggest it. However, please do keep in mind if you do that there are a few limitations:

I only have one controller I can use for this

I'm not super confident with wiring, but I can make isolating sections. However, I already have to make one so it'd be nice to only have to do one. 

Of course you don't have to suggest anything but I'm not as confident in my layout planning ability as I am in the ability of some people on here. 

Regards,

LNERW1

 

Attached image is in HEIC format, largely exclusive to iPhones.

May be an idea to switch to a more commonly used format.

[LNERW1]

I took and posted the photo on a Samsung phone, running on Android. It just showed up as a file when I inserted it. I usually just insert photos or videos straight into the post, not as files. I can take another photo and edit the post to insert it? I’m back on my iPhone now.

Edit: still shows up as just a HEIC file.

(screenshot)

[DJ Dangerous]

4 minutes ago, LNERW1 said:

I took and posted the photo on a Samsung phone, running on Android. It just showed up as a file when I inserted it. I usually just insert photos or videos straight into the post, not as files. I can take another photo and edit the post to insert it? I’m back on my iPhone now.

Edit: still shows up as just a HEIC file.

(screenshot)

JPEG attached.

[Tullygrainey]

It's the .heic format that causing the problem. You'll need to convert your pics to .jpg format

[DJ Dangerous]

34 minutes ago, Tullygrainey said:

It's the .heic format that causing the problem. You'll need to convert your pics to .jpg format

When I first started using the iPhone, around the start of the year, the default image format was HEIC.

Found a setting and changed it to JPEG, problem solved.

HEIC are higher quality than JPEG but less accessible. Very strange to hear that Samsung are also using HEIC now.

It’s in Spanish on my ‘phone but I’m sure the layout is the same in English. Go to Settings, then Cámara, then Formats.

 

Edited November 2 by DJ Dangerous
Added screenshots.

[LNERW1]

I can’t promise anything (as usual), but be prepared for a large(ish) update this weekend. It should effectively eliminate the main roadblocks I’ve struggled with recently- space and motivation.

Some maths still to be done though.

[Metrovik]

Bring it on!

[LNERW1]

Maths done, off to mark and cut some wood.

[LNERW1]

OK, so I can't cut the wood- don't have anywhere I can do it outside and I've missed the sun. Sorry, ye'll have to wit till wednesday.

[DJ Dangerous]

On 19/11/2024 at 9:20 PM, LNERW1 said:

I can’t promise anything (as usual), but be prepared for a large(ish) update this weekend. It should effectively eliminate the main roadblocks I’ve struggled with recently- space and motivation.

Some maths still to be done though.

 

On 23/11/2024 at 2:11 PM, LNERW1 said:

Maths done, off to mark and cut some wood.

 

On 24/11/2024 at 5:15 PM, LNERW1 said:

OK, so I can't cut the wood- don't have anywhere I can do it outside and I've missed the sun. Sorry, ye'll have to wit till wednesday.

 

 

 

 

[LNERW1]

I. CAN. EXPLAIN.

in school, I always have a half day on Wednesday, so I get home at 3 instead of 5, UNLESS I have a match, in which case I leave school at 11, travel to Dublin or Limerick or Tipp or somewhere to play and get home far later. I didn’t think I’d be picked for the match as I didn’t go to training yesterday, plus it was an A team only game and I usually play in the B’s. However I was, and in fact I did play well and enjoy it, but instead of getting home at 3 and having some daylight to work in, I got back at 8 and so it was far too dark outside to be using power tools. I have training again this evening, so, unfortunately, I’ll have to cut the boards a week late. At least we won.

[derek]

13 hours ago, LNERW1 said:

I. CAN. EXPLAIN.

in school, I always have a half day on Wednesday, so I get home at 3 instead of 5, UNLESS I have a match, in which case I leave school at 11, travel to Dublin or Limerick or Tipp or somewhere to play and get home far later. I didn’t think I’d be picked for the match as I didn’t go to training yesterday, plus it was an A team only game and I usually play in the B’s. However I was, and in fact I did play well and enjoy it, but instead of getting home at 3 and having some daylight to work in, I got back at 8 and so it was far too dark outside to be using power tools. I have training again this evening, so, unfortunately, I’ll have to cut the boards a week late. At least we won.

Do it all in your own sweet time. You won't enjoy anything if you do it under pressure. This is supposed to be a hobby to be enjoyed and not a job with deadlines. You will get enough of that later in life. 

Edited 9 hours ago by derek