IRM Latest! All Aboard The Enterprise And Matching Hunslets!

[Tractionman]

14 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said:

but not the maroon/blue.

aha thanks, that explains things, it's the maroon/blue driving trailer that it looks like I have missed out on -- on pre-orders

 

https://www.accurascale.com/products/nir-mk-2b-bdts-812-nir-maroon-blue

 

 

Edited 19 hours ago by Tractionman
link

[Louth]

On 25/2/2026 at 12:05 AM, Mayner said:

There certainly seemed to be a greater interest in railway modelling in the north and east (particularly ex-GN,NCC territory) compared to the rest of the country, possibly because for a long time CIE was considered drab and un-interesting in comparison with the GN and NCC with their colourful (modernish) express locos smart rakes of uniform coaches. I once recall a railfan from Kilkenny speaking about finding the local early 50s railscene drab and boring and eventually modelling the GNR instead. 

NIR demonstrated a lot of courage and confidence in the future of the Enterprise (and the railways) with the early 1980s introduction of its 111-113 locomotives and two MK2 Enterprise carriage sets increasing the frequency of the Enterprise from 4 to 6 return workings daily at a time CIE Enterprise was made up mainly of Craven stock. 

Interestingly Model Irish Railways the main Irish kit producer between the 80s early 2000s was established by a group of Ulster based modellers, while during the last 20 or so years modellers in the "greater' Belfast area have been pro-active in encouraging Worsley Works to produced etched parts for  several of the distinctive railcar classes introduced by the UTA

Odd that there is only one good model railway shop in NI, Modellers Corner in Enniskillen. Nothing in Belfast area unless I'm missing something!

[Galteemore]

Nope. Used to be a few around but has always been niche. Mind you things in GB aren’t always much better. I live close to Swindon - home of the GWR - which has nothing. About to move to west London - again, nothing. On the other hand, we once lived in middle of Buckinghamshire and the tiny village within walking distance had a terrific shop! 

[Horsetan]

6 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

..., we once lived in middle of Buckinghamshire and the tiny village within walking distance had a terrific shop! 

Sounds like Aston Clinton, in which case that would have been Transport Treasures. That's also gone now.

No model railway shops worth the name in London, not since The Engine Shed in Leytonstone shut down following the sudden death of its owner many years ago. 

[Galteemore]

Just now, Horsetan said:

Sounds like Aston Clinton, in which case that would have been Transport Treasures. That's also gone now.

No model railway shops worth the name in London, not since The Engine Shed in Leytonstone shut down following the sudden death of its owner many years ago. 

Indeed it was. Yes, London used to have loads. Jane’s Trains Tooting is the closest in now I think. 

[Horsetan]

29 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

Indeed it was. Yes, London used to have loads. Jane’s Trains Tooting is the closest in now I think. 

There still is, I think, a model shop in Northfields, along the way from the Tube station. It's at 217 Northfield Avenue.

I visited a few times when I worked in Ealing. Run by a Polish fella - Witek is his name - and very chaotic - models and boxes all over the place. He only has limited opening hours, as he's actually a teacher/college lecturer. 

Edited 16 hours ago by Horsetan

[Galteemore]

1 hour ago, Horsetan said:

There still is, I think, a model shop in Northfields, along the way from the Tube station. It's at 217 Northfield Avenue.

I visited a few times when I worked in Ealing. Run by a Polish fella - Witek is his name - and very chaotic - models and boxes all over the place. He only has limited opening hours, as he's actually a teacher/college lecturer. 

Sadly he’s dropped off too….would have been handy for where we’ll be 

 

[Horsetan]

5 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

Sadly he’s dropped off too….would have been handy for where we’ll be 

 

That's the end of that, so.

It'll probably become another Turkish barbers / vape shop / mini-mart

[ttc0169]

8 hours ago, Louth said:

Odd that there is only one good model railway shop in NI, Modellers Corner in Enniskillen. Nothing in Belfast area unless I'm missing something!

I visited the modellers corner earlier today-Warren has a great selection of railways and was expecting a fresh delivery of model railways  over the next two days-needless to say I will return on Monday   

Edited 10 hours ago by ttc0169

[Colonel]

The decline of the local model shop is matched by the decline in what they can offer. With everything ever more ready to run, kits and especially scratch building materials are harder and harder to find. Plus since the demise of Maplin, a local electronics outlet is rare too, so basic stuff like layout wire, switches and connectors all have to come from on line orders.