Maam Road/Bóthar an Mháma

[Irishrailwayman]

Some of you may know of my GWR UK outline O gauge layout "Buffers Lock". I have detailed the story of it's build and exhibition life elsewhere on irm.com (see: Buffers Lock). Basically, this is a 16.5 feet long exhibition layout with a scenic area of 8.5 feet by 26.5 inches. Two four foot long fiddle-yards (three lines each) feed trains from either end allowing through trains to be run. One fiddle-yard is a traverser and the other is a train turntable. Originally the electrical set up was DCC to run trains and the point motors/semaphore signals. The "brick" outline station building, signal box, goods shed and other fittings are all typical of GWR practice. The backscene is of a UK village in the middle distance (Ross-on-Wye I believe).

I have now started a project to develop the layout to allow for alternating use as an Irish outline layout. To accomodate a variety of rolling stock that might become available, I have rewired the layout to be easily changed from DCC to DC use with Double-Pole Double-Throw switches. DCC control will continue to use the Roco/Fleischmann's Z21 system while DC power is now supplied by a Morley Controller Vanguard Zero One unit delivering 2.5 Amps per track. In either mode the signals and point motors will be controlled by DCC.

In time, I am working to have suitable alternate buildings developed with a "stone" outline matching actual Irish prototypes. These will fit directly in place of the GWR outline buildings when running in irish outline mode. CK Prints (Enda Byrne) has developed Irish outline brake vans in flying snail grey and roundal brown versions. Enda plans to produce other Irish outline wagons in time including beet and other wagons. Alphagraphix have a range of MGWR outline locomotives and passenger carriages available in metal kits which are worth considering. Once the layout is further developed, I plan to invite other modellers to run their Irish O gauge rolling stock on this layout perhaps attending exhibitions together as a joint venture.

The alternate layout has been named "Maam Road" translated in Irish to "Bóthar an Mháma" (which means the road to the mountain pass). Many rural irish railways had stations some distance from the towns they served and so had the "road" designation. My idea is to situate the layout somewhere in the West of Ireland within a wild mountain landscape similar to those the Clifden or Achill lines ran through. There was a station at Maam Cross/An Teach Dóite but my layout is not intended as a copy of that station.

I have mounted a suitable backscene on new boards (to alternate with the existing "Buffers Lock" backscene). I attach a few photos to show what the scene looks like without buildings.

[Patrick Davey]

Excellent!!!  Great plan!

[David Holman]

Good way to increase a layout's usefulness. Should I ask how you are going to widen the track?

[Irishrailwayman]

2 hours ago, David Holman said:

Good way to increase a layout's usefulness. Should I ask how you are going to widen the track?

Hi David, good question - but for my own sanity I will stick with the (incorrect) Peco track for now! I am looking at the Alphagraphix brass kits for MGWR locos (G2 and J18/19) and 6-wheel carriages. I hope to begin kit building/soldering soon with help from a more experienced friend - are these kits suitable for a beginner?

[Galteemore]

Wouldn’t start with a tender loco like a J18 or G2. The J26 is better. Best option of all is probably to start with a Jim McGeown - Connoisseur Models - beginner’s 0-4-0T which will teach you all you need to know. The loco can be made to look subtly Irish! As a bare minimum I’d go on Jim’s site and read the instructions for his beginner loco. That will show you what’s involved..see this pdf 0 Gauge Starter Loco pdf print off.pdf

Edited Sunday at 13:15 by Galteemore

[jhb171achill]

Delighted to hear of this!

If modelling a line which would have been operated like the Achill branch, it's a diet entirely of 4.4.0 D16s 1903-1925, an a mix of these and "foreign" 4.4.0s after that. The odd G2 2.4.0 crept in there too. In its very earliest period (1895-1901) the G2 2.4.0s (MGWR "D" class) and also their "E" class (GSR J26) 0.6.0T. 

The Clifden line probably had the least variety of motive power of any line in steam days; in early days the 2.4.0s, but quite quickly replaced by J18 0.6.0s, which would be the sole power on the line after that. 

However, imagine this; your line is actually a GSWR one, from maybe Tuam or ballyglunin, heading through Headford and Cong to the other end of the Maam Valley. That gives you an excuse to use GSWR stock, which was more varied and plentiful!

Bearing in mind Galteemore's comments about four-wheeled locos and their layout-wandering quirks, and the availability of the Hattons 6-wheelers (which are close to a GSWR design) and 00 Works J15s, as well as Provincial Leslie's GSWR brake vans, perhaps a scenario like this might be an idea?

As it happens, this is precisely what's behind my own Dugort Harbour. There is a real Dugort - it's a small village on the north side of Achill Island, and at one stage there was a vague proposal to extend the Achill branch across Achill Sound (on what would have been quite a spectacular bridge over a narrow bit of sea containing a quite vicious sea current). It was my original intention that the layout was to be based on this extension as it might have been.

With no JM Design 2.4.0 G2 as yet on the scene at that time (as I would have bought 3 or 4!) but various British 0.6.0s available which I could butcher into a vague equivalent of a J15, I thought I'd switch it to West Kerry, wher you'd lines like Valentia and Kenmare and Newmarket which rarely saw anything but J15s. I had also considered a Tuam - Headford or Tuam - Cong branch. Had such a thing been built, it would have been originall WLWR, then GSWR.

So several interesting scenarios there. I'm a great fan of both detailed models of actual locations and "might-have-beens".

Wandering off-topic, a thing I am more adept at than actually doing anything about it, two other "might-have-beens" which i had seriously considered were both based on the Achill line; in one, it survives into the diesel era with B141s on all trains; in another it was nrrow gauge, survives to the modern era, and becomes a happoy stamping ground for F class diesels, a transferred Dingle 6T after the C&L closed, Walker railcars and so on..........

[Irishrailwayman]

6 hours ago, Galteemore said:

Wouldn’t start with a tender loco like a J18 or G2. The J26 is better. Best option of all is probably to start with a Jim McGeown - Connoisseur Models - beginner’s 0-4-0T which will teach you all you need to know. The loco can be made to look subtly Irish! As a bare minimum I’d go on Jim’s site and read the instructions for his beginner loco. That will show you what’s involved..see this pdf 0 Gauge Starter Loco pdf print off.pdf

Thanks Galteemore that's very helpful. I presume that the Alphagraphix 6 wheel coaches would be a bit simpler?

Edited Sunday at 16:50 by Irishrailwayman

[Galteemore]

8 minutes ago, Irishrailwayman said:

Thanks Galteemore that's very helpful. I presume that the Alphagraphix 6 wheel coaches would be a bit simpler?

They would, although there is a little bit of brass shaping to be done. Jim’s loco instructions will give you an idea of what’s involved in making a kit - you can also check out his 6w coach instructions which have much in common with Roger’s kits. 

[Irishrailwayman]

3 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

Delighted to hear of this!

If modelling a line which would have been operated like the Achill branch, it's a diet entirely of 4.4.0 D16s 1903-1925, an a mix of these and "foreign" 4.4.0s after that. The odd G2 2.4.0 crept in there too. In its very earliest period (1895-1901) the G2 2.4.0s (MGWR "D" class) and also their "E" class (GSR J26) 0.6.0T. 

The Clifden line probably had the least variety of motive power of any line in steam days; in early days the 2.4.0s, but quite quickly replaced by J18 0.6.0s, which would be the sole power on the line after that. 

However, imagine this; your line is actually a GSWR one, from maybe Tuam or ballyglunin, heading through Headford and Cong to the other end of the Maam Valley. That gives you an excuse to use GSWR stock, which was more varied and plentiful!

Bearing in mind Galteemore's comments about four-wheeled locos and their layout-wandering quirks, and the availability of the Hattons 6-wheelers (which are close to a GSWR design) and 00 Works J15s, as well as Provincial Leslie's GSWR brake vans, perhaps a scenario like this might be an idea?

As it happens, this is precisely what's behind my own Dugort Harbour. There is a real Dugort - it's a small village on the north side of Achill Island, and at one stage there was a vague proposal to extend the Achill branch across Achill Sound (on what would have been quite a spectacular bridge over a narrow bit of sea containing a quite vicious sea current). It was my original intention that the layout was to be based on this extension as it might have been.

With no JM Design 2.4.0 G2 as yet on the scene at that time (as I would have bought 3 or 4!) but various British 0.6.0s available which I could butcher into a vague equivalent of a J15, I thought I'd switch it to West Kerry, wher you'd lines like Valentia and Kenmare and Newmarket which rarely saw anything but J15s. I had also considered a Tuam - Headford or Tuam - Cong branch. Had such a thing been built, it would have been originall WLWR, then GSWR.

So several interesting scenarios there. I'm a great fan of both detailed models of actual locations and "might-have-beens".

Wandering off-topic, a thing I am more adept at than actually doing anything about it, two other "might-have-beens" which i had seriously considered were both based on the Achill line; in one, it survives into the diesel era with B141s on all trains; in another it was nrrow gauge, survives to the modern era, and becomes a happoy stamping ground for F class diesels, a transferred Dingle 6T after the C&L closed, Walker railcars and so on..........

Thanks JHB and glad you like the concept. The challenge working in Irish outline O gauge is of course absence of RTR or kits. The layout can encompass many "might have beens" to accomodate whatever stock comes to hand.

[David Holman]

The Alphagraphix J26 is pretty simple, especially the chassis. It's a single etch, so you just solder in the wheel bearings before folding up the sides and folding down the frame spacers. No alignment jobs required. I've built two and you can have a rolling chassis in a couple of hours.

 Very satisfying and very effective.

[Irishrailwayman]

3 hours ago, David Holman said:

The Alphagraphix J26 is pretty simple, especially the chassis. It's a single etch, so you just solder in the wheel bearings before folding up the sides and folding down the frame spacers. No alignment jobs required. I've built two and you can have a rolling chassis in a couple of hours.

 Very satisfying and very effective.

Thanks David, I very much admire your O gauge Irish models and have seen some of your layouts at exhibitions. Have you posted photos of the J26 build or finish by any chance or of the other Alphagraphix MGWR coaches?

[jhb171achill]

6 hours ago, David Holman said:

The Alphagraphix J26 is pretty simple, especially the chassis. It's a single etch, so you just solder in the wheel bearings before folding up the sides and folding down the frame spacers. No alignment jobs required. I've built two and you can have a rolling chassis in a couple of hours.

 Very satisfying and very effective.

I’ve seen a couple of these made up and they look great. 

A word of caution on Alphagraphix coach kits; in almost all cases, the liveries are badly wrong!

Edited yesterday at 13:43 by jhb171achill

[Galteemore]

1 hour ago, jhb171achill said:

I’ve seen a couple of these made up and they look great. 

A word of css as union on Alphagraphix coach kits; in almost all cases, the liveries are badly wrong!

Won’t matter as they are brass so you’ll have to paint it yourself anyway - is not like the card preprinted kits.  I have made up a J26 and 2 MGW coaches. Straightforward as David says / they are also designed for 32mm primarily rather than 36.75, and most of my building heartache came from the 5’3 bit!

Edited yesterday at 13:19 by Galteemore

[jhb171achill]

That loco looks VERY nice!

[Irishrailwayman]

4 hours ago, Galteemore said:

Won’t matter as they are brass so you’ll have to paint it yourself anyway - is not like the card preprinted kits.  I have made up a J26 and 2 MGW coaches. Straightforward as David says / they are also designed for 32mm primarily rather than 36.75, and most of my building heartache came from the 5’3 bit!

Wow, these look great! Thanks for sharing.

[Galteemore]

No worries. David’s two look better ! 

[Irishrailwayman]

12 hours ago, David Holman said:

The Alphagraphix J26 is pretty simple, especially the chassis. It's a single etch, so you just solder in the wheel bearings before folding up the sides and folding down the frame spacers. No alignment jobs required. I've built two and you can have a rolling chassis in a couple of hours.

 Very satisfying and very effective.

Is this similar to the currently listed Alphagraphix MGWR G2 Class 2-4-0 or MGWR J81/!9  Class 0-6-0 kits?

[Galteemore]

14 minutes ago, Irishrailwayman said:

Is this similar to the currently listed Alphagraphix MGWR G2 Class 2-4-0 or MGWR J81/!9  Class 0-6-0 kits?

It is similar in the basic design philosophy Roger uses, but as a tender loco there’s more work. Have a look for David’s build on the J18 - it needed a lot of work on boiler and cab IIRC. The G2 is lovely but a 2-4-0 tender loco can require a bit of fettling to run. A simple 0-6-0T or similar is the tried and tested route into loco kit building - wish I’d started that way ! 

Edited yesterday at 19:59 by Galteemore

[Mayner]

Richard Chown's original Castlerackrent Irish outline 7mm broad gauge layout was apparrently based on a WLWR branch line running westwards from Tuam into Joyce Country, potentially Maam Bridge or even Leenaun on Killary Harbour

While the Alphagraphix J26 can be modified relatively easily to GSR or even MGW condition by modifying the smokebox and boiler fittings, the Alphagraphix G2 and J18 are based on the locos in late GSR/CIE condition with superheated belpair boilers and modified cabs, requiring major modification to model either class in MGW or early GSR condition.

[David Holman]

Starting halfway down page 27 of David's Work bench is a step by step account of how I made the Alphagraphix J26. 

[Tullygrainey]

21 hours ago, Galteemore said:

Won’t matter as they are brass so you’ll have to paint it yourself anyway - is not like the card preprinted kits.  I have made up a J26 and 2 MGW coaches. Straightforward as David says / they are also designed for 32mm primarily rather than 36.75, and most of my building heartache came from the 5’3 bit!

What a little beauty!

[Galteemore]

28 minutes ago, Tullygrainey said:

What a little beauty!

Thanks - first effort at lining a loco! Hopefully some day it will appear at a show alongside Mr Hs! . @Northroadermade one too, so there’s a few about!

Edited 12 hours ago by Galteemore

[murrayec]

I have one on the way, a McGowan Kit, though I haven't seen it in a while, I think the attic fairies snook it away!

https://irishrailwaymodeller.com/topic/6358-gsr-class-551-j26-ecmbuild-in-7mm/

Eoin

[jhb171achill]

Mine would have to be 115 “Achill”; not only named after my favourite branch line, but which worked the line regularly in its first few years. 

After 1925, 115 became the famous 560, the last of the class in use. Right to the end of steam in 1963 it was the Tralee pilot, far away from home, and making the odd trip out to Fenit, and (even rarer) to Castleisland.

During its career it had also worked on the Tramore line and as such, was one of a trio of the class which had an extended cab to increase coal capacity. Between its sojourn in Waterford and Tralee it also spent a couple of years in and about Wisht Caark, boy!

 

Edited 5 hours ago by jhb171achill

[Horsetan]

1 hour ago, jhb171achill said:

Mine would have to be 115 “Achill”; not only named after my favourite branch line, but which worked the line regularly in its first few years. 

After 1925, 115 became the famous 560, the last of the class in use. Right to the end of steam in 1963 it was the Tralee pilot, far away from home, and making the odd trip out to Fenit, and (even rarer) to Castleisland.

During its career it had also worked on the Tramore line and as such, was one of an t trip of the class which had an extended cab to increase coal capacity....

All the more reason to model it. By 1963, of course, some photos suggest it had gone black rather than weathered grey....

[jhb171achill]

1 hour ago, Horsetan said:

All the more reason to model it. By 1963, of course, some photos suggest it had gone black rather than weathered grey....

They do indeed, and I had thought it was. However, I was fortunate enough to acquire one of the cast numberplates (which the three Tramore ones kept, as opposed to haveing painted numbers) about thirty years ago, and it was still in original condition. The rim & numerals were what would be expected, a very pale faded nondescripot creamy-pale-yellow colour, but when scrubbed, the background was unmistakeably very dark grey. Would you believe, at the time I was unaware that 560 had originally been "Achill" (115), so I ended up selling it some years later when finances were tight... pity, I wish I had it now. 

Anyway - it seems to have been a bit like the famous West Cork tank No. 464, so often seen in colour pictures of that last finale gricer's express in 1961 (it arrived back at Kingsbridge just about in time for the youngest participants to claim their pensions) - very definitely looked black, but wasn't. 

What often happened was they rubbed them down with oily cloths, which made soot stick to them. The dark oil also tended to colour them. The matter has, of course, been discussed many a time! What we DO know, though is that in its very last 12 months or so, No. 90 actually WAS repainted black! I think I've mentioned it before, but in the last conversation I had with the late Bob Clements before he died, he gave me details of what engines hye claimed were actually black. It was a case of ("none of class X, Nos. A & B of class Y, about half of class Z", and so on.....)

Naturally (if you saw the state of my study), I've long since lost that list! 

Having four steam locos myself painted in actual colour matched GSR grey, and heavily weathered (you'll see them on the Dugort thread), they actually look like weathered black. So I suppose if a model was initially black, and covered with seven layers of gunk and filth like they had when they ended their days, for all a viewer of either the model or the real thing might know, underneath it all they could be painted in pink, lime green and gold, with red and white spots!