Ardree Quay

[Tullygrainey]

Yes, it’s time for a digital extraction procedure 

[LNERW1]

Most of my housemates (well technically family but housemates sounds cooler) are in Galway at the moment so I don’t have any additional manpower to exploit. This unfortunately means I have to wait until later to start clearing up, but rest assured the debris removal process will begin within the next 36 hours. Or maybe days. No, let’s go with hours.

[DJ Dangerous]

6 minutes ago, LNERW1 said:

Most of my housemates (well technically family but housemates sounds cooler) are in Galway at the moment so I don’t have any additional manpower to exploit. This unfortunately means I have to wait until later to start clearing up, but rest assured the debris removal process will begin within the next 36 hours. Or maybe days. No, let’s go with hours.

Don’t forget:

 

On 28/11/2024 at 7:59 PM, derek said:

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. 

 

[LNERW1]

It’s an estimate not a deadline. I think…

[LNERW1]

Progress report.

Just a quick one really. The railway room has been rescued from a suffocating layer of random debris and Ardree Quay has risen. No work has actually been done but the next project is to improve the track- soldering the track joints, painting rail sides, completing ballasting and re-doing the inset rails and quay surface in DAS clay. This is a fairly defined and straightforward task, and can be done with materials and tools I already have to hand, so hopefully I can do a little bit of this in the coming weeks, maybe as a way to decompress after school.

[DJ Dangerous]

1 hour ago, LNERW1 said:

Progress report.

Just a quick one really. The railway room has been rescued from a suffocating layer of random debris and Ardree Quay has risen. No work has actually been done but the next project is to improve the track- soldering the track joints, painting rail sides, completing ballasting and re-doing the inset rails and quay surface in DAS clay. This is a fairly defined and straightforward task, and can be done with materials and tools I already have to hand, so hopefully I can do a little bit of this in the coming weeks, maybe as a way to decompress after school.

Somebody posted a few years back on the Das clay, and I think that they said that running an old credit card along the inside of the rails provided perfect clearance and straight lines.

[DJ Dangerous]

It was @Sean posting HERE.

[LNERW1]

I do have older stock with coarser wheelsets so I prefer to use a 10c coin. Rolls along nicely too.

[meathdane]

I did it the good old fashion way, I had an old Hornby wagon with the massive wheel flanges and while the clay was wet I ran it through, cleaned off the wheels and ran it through again, did it a few times and It was perfect. 

 

Word of warning, if you're going to sand down Das, the surface layer will be dry after a day or two, depending on humidity and temperature, you want to leave it a week odd before sanding I find, to allow all the moisture to dry out completely, otherwise it's a task to get a smooth finish. 

 

Post a few pictures whenever you can, curious to see how you're getting along with this project

[Broithe]

We had inset rails all over the factory and the standard for the flange gap in the real world seemed to be just over half the width of ordinary footwear.

This meant that you could expect to walk over a track without much care most of the time.

But, if you caught it 'just wrong' and at a shallow angle, your ankle would fold under you, causing great hilarity amongst any onlookers.

[DJ Dangerous]

11 minutes ago, Broithe said:

We had inset rails all over the factory and the standard for the flange gap in the real world seemed to be just over half the width of ordinary footwear.

This meant that you could expect to walk over a track without much care most of the time.

But, if you caught it 'just wrong' and at a shallow angle, your ankle would fold under you, causing great hilarity amongst any onlookers.

My cankles are finally something to be proud of.

[LNERW1]

On 30/4/2025 at 12:18 PM, meathdane said:

I did it the good old fashion way, I had an old Hornby wagon with the massive wheel flanges and while the clay was wet I ran it through, cleaned off the wheels and ran it through again, did it a few times and It was perfect. 

 

Word of warning, if you're going to sand down Das, the surface layer will be dry after a day or two, depending on humidity and temperature, you want to leave it a week odd before sanding I find, to allow all the moisture to dry out completely, otherwise it's a task to get a smooth finish. 

 

Post a few pictures whenever you can, curious to see how you're getting along with this project

I think I’m going to try running over the clay with a lot of wet fingers. It’s a technique I’ve seen used often and it seems to work well.

[LNERW1]

When I woke up this morning, I liked birds. They are impressive creatures and make a lovely sound in the morning, and had never done anything to get on my bad side.

A few minutes ago, I was sitting at a table in my back garden, soldering together the track pieces that made up the goods shed road. I was getting a little bit frustrated. I had only managed to solder 6 track joints, they were all messy and only 3 were holding. It was becoming apparent that I didn't know what I was doing. However, I was still enjoying it and was listening to a good podcast, so I decided to keep going.

I was about to touch the tip of the soldering iron to the solder when a sound emanated from a spot about two inches from my hand. It was a mixture between a plop and a splat and came, more precisely, from the area between the loop and shed road I today scraped clean of clay. I looked up and saw a yellow-white sludge with a few black-brown nuclei sitting smack bang in the middle of my layout.

I no longer like birds.

[Mol_PMB]

On 1/5/2025 at 8:59 PM, LNERW1 said:

When I woke up this morning, I liked birds. They are impressive creatures and make a lovely sound in the morning, and had never done anything to get on my bad side.

A few minutes ago, I was sitting at a table in my back garden, soldering together the track pieces that made up the goods shed road. I was getting a little bit frustrated. I had only managed to solder 6 track joints, they were all messy and only 3 were holding. It was becoming apparent that I didn't know what I was doing. However, I was still enjoying it and was listening to a good podcast, so I decided to keep going.

I was about to touch the tip of the soldering iron to the solder when a sound emanated from a spot about two inches from my hand. It was a mixture between a plop and a splat and came, more precisely, from the area between the loop and shed road I today scraped clean of clay. I looked up and saw a yellow-white sludge with a few black-brown nuclei sitting smack bang in the middle of my layout.

I no longer like birds.

Ah, realistic weathering, if a bit over-scale!

 

On my O gauge layout based on the Manchester Ship Canal, I carefully added the seagull droppings below their perch:

[LNERW1]

Given I’m modelling a seaside location that would probably be a nice detail. Is it just a trickle of paint? Frankly if I was doing it more than likely I’d just use Tipp-ex.

[Mol_PMB]

9 minutes ago, LNERW1 said:

Given I’m modelling a seaside location that would probably be a nice detail. Is it just a trickle of paint? Frankly if I was doing it more than likely I’d just use Tipp-ex.

Yes, little trickles of white paint on the coping stones and a few streaks on the front wall. They would need to be very fine in 4mm scale though, a very fine brush would be needed.

I have five different species of gull on my Ship Canal layout and the row of dozens of them is quite prototypical for the present day but probably a bit excessive for the 1960s period I'm modelling, as there was more pollution back then. I enjoyed adding them to the layout though, and they help to set the canalside scene because I only have room for a tiny bit of water on the front of the layout. 

The bigger birds are sold for 7mm scale and are about the right size for large gulls (e.g. Herring Gull, Black Backed Gulls) but for the smaller gulls (e.g. Black Headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull) I used 4mm scale gulls. This is probably way more information than you wanted! I do like birds...

[LNERW1]

34 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said:

Yes, little trickles of white paint on the coping stones and a few streaks on the front wall. They would need to be very fine in 4mm scale though, a very fine brush would be needed.

I have five different species of gull on my Ship Canal layout and the row of dozens of them is quite prototypical for the present day but probably a bit excessive for the 1960s period I'm modelling, as there was more pollution back then. I enjoyed adding them to the layout though, and they help to set the canalside scene because I only have room for a tiny bit of water on the front of the layout. 

The bigger birds are sold for 7mm scale and are about the right size for large gulls (e.g. Herring Gull, Black Backed Gulls) but for the smaller gulls (e.g. Black Headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull) I used 4mm scale gulls. This is probably way more information than you wanted! I do like birds...

This forum is basically solely info dumping so your explanations of gull species are very much welcome. I do find birds in general interesting, despite having only a very basic knowledge of them. And when they're not using my layout/soldering area as a public toilet I must admit I don't have much against them.

[LNERW1]

As everyone adores and is deeply emotionally invested in this, let me just drop a bit of lore that will seismically change the lives of all who read it.

Been working out the route and lore of the Ardree line for a bit, so here's the general overview, as of right now anyway:

The line initially ended at Salthill, with a roadside tramway being established north of the city (at the time) in 1887, and in 1893 a more direct line was built, connecting with the Clifden line north of where the hospital stands today, west of the Corrib, crossing the viaduct along with its sister Connemara line- meaning the short section after the junction was open until 1974. After Salthill the line had stops at the following:

Knocknacarra: 2-platform passing station that had the line's eastern locomotive facilities (a 40ft turntable behind a 2-road shed) until absorbed by the GSR in 1925, after which the shed roads were used as wagon storage until demolition in 1966. The turntable bridge was removed in 1927 but the pit was only filled in upon tearing up of the line in 1981.

Silverstrand: Single-platform halt. Closed 1942.

Barna (Bearna under CIÉ): two-platform passing station with goods siding (siding torn up 1970)

Garrynagry passing loop is believed to have had short wooden platforms between 1879 and 1884, when two trains collided at the loop and caused a fire, killing 2.

Furbough (also spelt Furbogh and Furbo in printed material): 2-platform passing station with 1-road carriage shed and two goods sidings. Closed to passengers 1967 and to goods in 1969

Ballynahown: Single-platform halt with one goods siding (torn up 1936). Closed to passengers in 1942.

Doorath sidings: a 200m loop off the main line to allow transfer with a short-lived 18in gauge line that ran to a fishery (closed 1930) and a small sand quarry (closed 1931) on the coast nearby. The line was ripped up almost immediately and everything was sold off to try make a tiny bit of money. The loop was no longer used after except very occasionally to allow trains to pass. This practice ended when a minor derailment occured in 1946, when CIÉ removed the points at both ends of the loop. However, the loop itself, and the wooden transfer platform, stuck around until well after the line's closure, rotting away until removal in 2013.

Spiddal: 2-platform passing station, with a short branch to the pier that opened in 1882 and was last used in 1906, being removed as part of road renewal sometime in the late 40s. Station closed to passengers with the line in 1967. Beyond the pier line the town never had goods facilities.

Inverin: opened as a 2-platform station on Inverin loop in 1889, rationalised with the removal of the loop in 1936, and closed in 1945 with CIÉ takeover. (note: this served one of two communites named Inverin, this one being east of Loughaunbeg)

Loughaunbeg: actually located in Cornaron, single-platform station with a goods siding, however this siding was so rarely used it was thought to have been abandoned from construction until a photo of a train using the siding and an oral account from a driver on the line surfaced in 2009. The siding was built with the station in 1894, but was torn up around the 30s, likely 1936 as much rationalisation took place then, and the station closed in 1960.

Creggan: 2-platform passing station serving Creggan, Baile na hAbhain and West Inverin. Opened and closed with the line, no goods facilities.

Ardree Town (coloquially Ardree McKenna after the 1916 renamings in 1966, nicknamed after a local poet): 3-platform station (2 bay, one through) with a wooden overall roof akin to Foynes or Tramore and a 3-road goods yard with a goods shed covering the two roads nearest the station, and a 2-road engine shed with 60ft turntable. The through platform was for the Ardree Quay branch, one goods road (outside the shed) was removed in 1936, the shed was demolished in 1960, and the turntable was left in situ until 1990, when the bridge was removed and destroyed for scrap and firewood, and the pit was used for bonfires by local youth. The station closed to passengers with the line in 1967, but several IRRS specials visited in 1967, 69, 70, 72, 73, 74 and 77, after closure. The goods yard closed in 1974 and was torn up in 1981.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                However, the station was left largely intact, with the two bay platforms being repurposed to display four carriages preserved by local enthusiasts (two Cravens and two Park Royals), with the roof being refurbished and the bay platform used by the Ardree Heritage Railway in 2000 (see below)

Ardree Quay: 1-platform terminus station with a loop and goods shed, opened in 1882 on a short (1.6-mile) extension from the original terminus. Between 1882 and 1936, the line extended onto Pier A of the harbour, but this section closed after Pier A was struck by a ship and required rebuilding. The station was otherwise kept largely the same until a bridge was built over the station throat in 1962, allowing road access to a new ferry terminal, built to allow better access to Aran and Sheehaun. The station closed to passengers in 1967, and to freight in 1974, but the line between Town and Quay was not torn up with the rest of the line in 1981 as the cranes could not fit under a road bridge in Ardree. This allowed the Ardree Heritage Railway to reopen this section in 2000, operating with a CIÉ G class and a Mk2. This operation closed in 2009, but all stock was moved to Downpatrick and Whitehead, and was returned to the site in 2021, with operation recommencing February 12th 2024.

Obviously nobody cares but I needed something creative to do and I like worldbuilding. If there is anything particularly unrealistic about this please do point it out- I am far from the smartest person on this forum and so welcome any constructive criticism. I do hope someone finds this at least a little interesting. Thanks.

All the best,

LNERW1

[jhb171achill]

2 hours ago, LNERW1 said:

As everyone adores and is deeply emotionally invested in this, let me just drop a bit of lore that will seismically change the lives of all who read it.

Been working out the route and lore of the Ardree line for a bit, so here's the general overview, as of right now anyway:

The line initially ended at Salthill, with a roadside tramway being established north of the city (at the time) in 1887, and in 1893 a more direct line was built, connecting with the Clifden line north of where the hospital stands today, west of the Corrib, crossing the viaduct along with its sister Connemara line- meaning the short section after the junction was open until 1974. After Salthill the line had stops at the following:

Knocknacarra: 2-platform passing station that had the line's eastern locomotive facilities (a 40ft turntable behind a 2-road shed) until absorbed by the GSR in 1925, after which the shed roads were used as wagon storage until demolition in 1966. The turntable bridge was removed in 1927 but the pit was only filled in upon tearing up of the line in 1981.

Silverstrand: Single-platform halt. Closed 1942.

Barna (Bearna under CIÉ): two-platform passing station with goods siding (siding torn up 1970)

Garrynagry passing loop is believed to have had short wooden platforms between 1879 and 1884, when two trains collided at the loop and caused a fire, killing 2.

Furbough (also spelt Furbogh and Furbo in printed material): 2-platform passing station with 1-road carriage shed and two goods sidings. Closed to passengers 1967 and to goods in 1969

Ballynahown: Single-platform halt with one goods siding (torn up 1936). Closed to passengers in 1942.

Doorath sidings: a 200m loop off the main line to allow transfer with a short-lived 18in gauge line that ran to a fishery (closed 1930) and a small sand quarry (closed 1931) on the coast nearby. The line was ripped up almost immediately and everything was sold off to try make a tiny bit of money. The loop was no longer used after except very occasionally to allow trains to pass. This practice ended when a minor derailment occured in 1946, when CIÉ removed the points at both ends of the loop. However, the loop itself, and the wooden transfer platform, stuck around until well after the line's closure, rotting away until removal in 2013.

Spiddal: 2-platform passing station, with a short branch to the pier that opened in 1882 and was last used in 1906, being removed as part of road renewal sometime in the late 40s. Station closed to passengers with the line in 1967. Beyond the pier line the town never had goods facilities.

Inverin: opened as a 2-platform station on Inverin loop in 1889, rationalised with the removal of the loop in 1936, and closed in 1945 with CIÉ takeover. (note: this served one of two communites named Inverin, this one being east of Loughaunbeg)

Loughaunbeg: actually located in Cornaron, single-platform station with a goods siding, however this siding was so rarely used it was thought to have been abandoned from construction until a photo of a train using the siding and an oral account from a driver on the line surfaced in 2009. The siding was built with the station in 1894, but was torn up around the 30s, likely 1936 as much rationalisation took place then, and the station closed in 1960.

Creggan: 2-platform passing station serving Creggan, Baile na hAbhain and West Inverin. Opened and closed with the line, no goods facilities.

Ardree Town (coloquially Ardree McKenna after the 1916 renamings in 1966, nicknamed after a local poet): 3-platform station (2 bay, one through) with a wooden overall roof akin to Foynes or Tramore and a 3-road goods yard with a goods shed covering the two roads nearest the station, and a 2-road engine shed with 60ft turntable. The through platform was for the Ardree Quay branch, one goods road (outside the shed) was removed in 1936, the shed was demolished in 1960, and the turntable was left in situ until 1990, when the bridge was removed and destroyed for scrap and firewood, and the pit was used for bonfires by local youth. The station closed to passengers with the line in 1967, but several IRRS specials visited in 1967, 69, 70, 72, 73, 74 and 77, after closure. The goods yard closed in 1974 and was torn up in 1981.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                However, the station was left largely intact, with the two bay platforms being repurposed to display four carriages preserved by local enthusiasts (two Cravens and two Park Royals), with the roof being refurbished and the bay platform used by the Ardree Heritage Railway in 2000 (see below)

Ardree Quay: 1-platform terminus station with a loop and goods shed, opened in 1882 on a short (1.6-mile) extension from the original terminus. Between 1882 and 1936, the line extended onto Pier A of the harbour, but this section closed after Pier A was struck by a ship and required rebuilding. The station was otherwise kept largely the same until a bridge was built over the station throat in 1962, allowing road access to a new ferry terminal, built to allow better access to Aran and Sheehaun. The station closed to passengers in 1967, and to freight in 1974, but the line between Town and Quay was not torn up with the rest of the line in 1981 as the cranes could not fit under a road bridge in Ardree. This allowed the Ardree Heritage Railway to reopen this section in 2000, operating with a CIÉ G class and a Mk2. This operation closed in 2009, but all stock was moved to Downpatrick and Whitehead, and was returned to the site in 2021, with operation recommencing February 12th 2024.

Obviously nobody cares but I needed something creative to do and I like worldbuilding. If there is anything particularly unrealistic about this please do point it out- I am far from the smartest person on this forum and so welcome any constructive criticism. I do hope someone finds this at least a little interesting. Thanks.

All the best,

LNERW1

I've a whole fictitious history in my head about the originsof Dugort Harbour and Castletown West! Opened probably 1890s, closed to passengers maybe 1967, and completely 1976.....