The Barna Layout

[raymurph]

 

Hi All,

I started this layout about 2 years ago and have decided to start sharing photos of it's progress going forward. I hope people will enjoy it. I run both CIE/IR and US trains but will only post Irish trains here. The layout is not an accurate representation of any one specific time or place. My aim is that the scenery and urban areas can reasonably pass as somewhere in Ireland when a CIE train runs through it .

The layout is of a dead end branch line. My barna or shed measures about 4.5m by 2.5m internally. Minimum radius is 30 inches on the mainline.

 

 

Lowest level is staging at 65cm off the floor. Trains follow a 1.7% gradient 2.5 times around the room to reach the main sceniced layout level at 100cm. Trains travel once around the room to reach the first station and yard.

 

 

Then they climb a shorter gradient to reach the high line at 115cm where the mine and final terminus station and main industrial area are located.

 

Locos must then perform a run around and retrace their steps back down to main level and staging. The barna is not wide enough to accommodate any return loops. 

 

My next steps will be to plant lots of trees around the river area. And also to start work on the first station and retaininging walls.

 

Edited January 24 by raymurph

[Mol_PMB]

Wow. Superb scenery and it looks like an interesting layout to operate. 
i look forward to seeing more developments. 

[Patrick Davey]

WOW - that very first photo is incredible, the bridges, the rocks, the river, the waterfall and the camper cameo!!!  All amazing!!!

[derek]

Unbelievably good! Agree about the first pic- superb.  Looking forward to this one. One thing though- the ol t-shirt for a blind leaves something to be desired

[Paddy Mac Namara]

Fab, have you a track plan to show us?

[raymurph]

Here are the Anyrail track plans, above is staging, about half built so far.

 

 

 

 

Above is the main level at 100cm, the top wall is the most finished scenically, with the camper van next to the river. The trains climb around the room twice to reach here on the right hand wall behind the through station, then go all around the room to reach the station. Then cross the river a second time and climb a shorter steeper hidden gradient to the Highline.

 

 

 

 

 

Above is the Highline, trains enter bottom left,  cross the swing gate for the umpteenth time, go behind the main level station and then cross the high metal girder bridge over the river, pass the mine on the top wall and enter the main industrial area and terminus station on the left wall.

 

I've made a video of a train traveling this route and will upload it once I get a chance to annotate it.

 

Edited February 27 by raymurph
Images not displaying properly

[raymurph]

 

Finally got around to editing the video, here it is.

 

Ray

[Tullygrainey]

That’s an awesome feat of engineering. Wonderful!

[raymurph]

I've added retaining walls, by modifying the Metcalfe viaduct kit, to the approach to the main station. I'm also experimenting placing background buildings using test building prints from Sankey Secenics.

I've added platforms and some more retaining walls to the station.

[Patrick Davey]

Impressive!!

[Patrick Davey]

On 2/3/2026 at 9:12 PM, raymurph said:

 

Finally got around to editing the video, here it is.

 

Ray

Superb - would love to see a 'cab ride' view!

[raymurph]

2 hours ago, Patrick Davey said:

Superb - would love to see a 'cab ride' view!

I'd love to do that actually, don't have any suitable camera yet . A future purchase

[jhb171achill]

Very impressive - was it originally American outline? (Would explain "wrong-lione" operation on double track section?)

Love the scenery, and a good collection of models....

[raymurph]

6 hours ago, jhb171achill said:

Very impressive - was it originally American outline? (Would explain "wrong-lione" operation on double track section?)

Love the scenery, and a good collection of models....

Thanks JHB. It was planned to run both US and CIE outline, and for the scenery to be just about believable for either. This involves plenty of compromises of course. I opted for US style right hand running on the double main and Irish style high platforms for the station.

I can only sleep at night by reminding myself that unstereotypical things exist on both rail systems like some rare high platform stations in the US.

Actually is there someone on here more knowledgeable than me who can think of a right hand running section of double track in Ireland? Probably for some practical reason.

[Mol_PMB]

I'm not aware of any true right-hand running sections of double track in Ireland. I think there are some sections of double track that are bi-directionally signalled - GNR line north of Dublin? - but would normally run on the left.

There are some locations where there are two parallel bi-directional single tracks which later diverge (for example west of Waterford). 

At Mallow, trains for Kerry run wrong line for a mile or so giving the impression of right-hand running. 

[Galteemore]

At one time the line at Whitehead would also have given the partial impression of right hand running. The old tunnel line remained in situ for a while after the line had been operationally singled. So it looked as if the down trains were running RH. 

[jhb171achill]

8 hours ago, raymurph said:

Thanks JHB. It was planned to run both US and CIE outline, and for the scenery to be just about believable for either. This involves plenty of compromises of course. I opted for US style right hand running on the double main and Irish style high platforms for the station.

I can only sleep at night by reminding myself that unstereotypical things exist on both rail systems like some rare high platform stations in the US.

Actually is there someone on here more knowledgeable than me who can think of a right hand running section of double track in Ireland? Probably for some practical reason.

Right-hand running, per se, was never used on any Irish line and as far as I know not British either. However, many lines both in the past and today, especially passing loops, were / are signalled for bi-directional working, so there's your "link"!

My own layout, Dugort Harbour, is imagined to be in an impossibly remote west Kerry area, because some genius came uop with the idea of making it into a major transatlantic port in 1888 or something. A cursory look at any map shows that had anything remotely resembling it ever been built, engineering works through impassable mountains west of Macroom would have been necessary, doubtless resembling the huge viaducts you have!

[raymurph]

6 minutes ago, jhb171achill said:

Right-hand running, per se, was never used on any Irish line and as far as I know not British either. However, many lines both in the past and today, especially passing loops, were / are signalled for bi-directional working, so there's your "link"!

My own layout, Dugort Harbour, is imagined to be in an impossibly remote west Kerry area, because some genius came uop with the idea of making it into a major transatlantic port in 1888 or something. A cursory look at any map shows that had anything remotely resembling it ever been built, engineering works through impassable mountains west of Macroom would have been necessary, doubtless resembling the huge viaducts you have!

There's always a reason to explain away our follies and whims!  

Here's a photo with my newly arrived palvans. Retaining wall mostly finished. I'll have to widen the gap between the wall and track though.

 

It's removable so I can access the track to staging behind it and held in place by magnets.

[jhb171achill]

6 hours ago, raymurph said:

There's always a reason to explain away our follies and whims!  

Here's a photo with my newly arrived palvans. Retaining wall mostly finished. I'll have to widen the gap between the wall and track though.

 

It's removable so I can access the track to staging behind it and held in place by magnets.

Absolutely! I need to concoct a rationale for an IRM ICR appearing on a layout bnased in 1955-65......! Maybe if i put a "Tardis"-style "police box" in a corner in the goods yard....

The magnets are a very good idea.

Edited April 3 by jhb171achill

[raymurph]

I'm having fun trying different arrangements for the buildings behind the red brick viaduct. And I've started a grey stone stairs down to the platform, definitely the most challenging structure I've attempted so far.

Edited April 10 by raymurph

[raymurph]

Sorry I uploaded a pic I stead of the video:

 

 

[Tullygrainey]

Looking really well. That's a great combination of industrial buildings in the background. Very convincing

[raymurph]

Thanks Tully, I think I'll block up the bottom section of that window as well, too distracting and I don't need the light.

[derek]

4 minutes ago, raymurph said:

Thanks Tully, I think I'll block up the bottom section of that window as well, too distracting and I don't need the light.

Can't see that video for some reason. Think this laptop needs to get the road

[raymurph]

2 minutes ago, derek said:

Can't see that video for some reason. Think this laptop needs to get the road

Sorry about that Derek, sometimes I can download a video that won't play in the browser.

[derek]

2 minutes ago, raymurph said:

Sorry about that Derek, sometimes I can download a video that won't play in the browser.

Nah, it's probably my end. I've had this problem with videos from some of the other lads before. Think I need to download some update or other. Need to get the IT dept (my son) on to it

[Broithe]

18 minutes ago, derek said:

Nah, it's probably my end. I've had this problem with videos from some of the other lads before. Think I need to download some update or other. Need to get the IT dept (my son) on to it

Send him round here after, I'm only getting the sound.

[raymurph]

5 minutes ago, Broithe said:

Send him round here after, I'm only getting the sound.

Ahh jaysus! Things getting worse.

[derek]

On 10/4/2026 at 7:57 PM, Broithe said:

Send him round here after, I'm only getting the sound.

At least you're getting that much. Just use your imagination