Tara Junction.

[ttc0169]

Happy Christmas to all fellow Irish railway modellers from the Chief operating officer of Tara junction.

 

[RedRich]

Great Noel. The fact that you work for IE and get to go home and enjoy the layout is a win win situation if there ever was one. Enjoy the festive season yourself.

Rich,

[ttc0169]

3 minutes ago, RedRich said:

Great Noel. The fact that you work for IE and get to go home and enjoy the layout is a win win situation if there ever was one. Enjoy the festive season yourself.

Rich,

Cheers Rich thank you,many happy returns to yourself

[JasonB]

37 minutes ago, ttc0169 said:

Happy Christmas to all fellow Irish railway modellers from the Chief operating officer of Tara junction.

 

Happy Christmas Noel. Looking forward to upcoming updates from the fantastic Tara Junction in 2019.  

[ttc0169]

Wishing all Irish railway modellers a Happy new year from the Chief operating officer of Tara junction.

Here are a selection of photos from the Christmas and New year period which seen an intensive passenger timetable on the lead up to Christmas eve and some New years eve freight liner operations.

The passenger operation seen over 40 passenger carrying vehicles with a total seating capacity of 2,806 excluding EGV and GSVs,

The use of the 10 piece MK2 a/b set was a welcome addition alongside a MK3 3 piece push/pull hauled/pushed by 234.

On the freight side there were six trains operated carrying Guinness ,oil, containers, fertiliser ,cement  both in bulk and pallet form and ore from Tara mines

 

[Past-Avenue]

Great photos and happy new year Noel

[Gabhal Luimnigh]

Lovely pics, happy New year

[JasonB]

2 hours ago, ttc0169 said:

Wishing all Irish railway modellers a Happy new year from the Chief operating officer of Tara junction.

Here are a selection of photos from the Christmas and New year period which seen an intensive passenger timetable on the lead up to Christmas eve and some New years eve freight liner operations.

The passenger operation seen over 40 passenger carrying vehicles with a total seating capacity of 2,806 excluding EGV and GSVs,

The use of the 10 piece MK2 a/b set was a welcome addition alongside a MK3 3 piece push/pull hauled/pushed by 234.

On the freight side there were six trains operated carrying Guinness ,oil, containers, fertiliser ,cement  both in bulk and pallet form and ore from Tara mines

 

 

Lovely shots Noel. Unfortunately the majority of these movements have been lost for good in the real world. But luckily they can still be seen on fantastic layouts like this. Happy New Year 

[Rob]

Brilliant, looks fantastic as always!

[ttc0169]

I have been working on a diorama in the form of an ore loading facility and permanent way storage sidings underneath the main Tara junction layout over the last few months,

Having powered up the section over the weekend the first train to use the facility was a HOBS train hauled by 0117076 followed by Tamper 751.

It is the intention to operate the excellent Tara mines  bogie wagons to the loading point and simulate the shunting and loading process as can be seen in the Markle DVD-From Tara to Clara.

Here are a few photos of last weekends operations...

It is still a work in progress...

 

[jhb171achill]

A truly amazing layout and one of my favourites. Noel - can I ask - what's the background to the ferts you have? Can we see a closer look?

[ttc0169]

1 hour ago, jhb171achill said:

A truly amazing layout and one of my favourites. Noel - can I ask - what's the background to the ferts you have? Can we see a closer look?

Hi jhb and thank you-the ferts are kits from the MIR range, they are nearly ten years old at this stage-I will post up a photo when I get a chance.

[ttc0169]

On ‎1‎/‎7‎/‎2019 at 6:32 PM, jhb171achill said:

A truly amazing layout and one of my favourites. Noel - can I ask - what's the background to the ferts you have? Can we see a closer look?

As requested jhb -fertiliser wagon 35079 is a slightly weathered CIE version,while 35088 was recently outshopped from Limerick wagon works sporting an IR logo having received an overhaul to its bogies and a repaint.

 

[ttc0169]

The new permanent way sidings have begun to get busy with the arrival of the laden bogie spoil wagons this evening,

Here we see 0117076-(which has been allocated to per way duties) propel the wagons to the unloading area under a floodlit scene where the dump trucks and JCB excavator await.

 

 

[ttc0169]

Prior to the introduction of the 201 class locomotives to Ireland in 1994/1995,an 001 class locomotive-(019)-was repainted into an experimental livery to see what the proposed livery would look like on the 201s,

The livery was subsequently adopted and was applied to all 32 locomotives before they were delivered to Ireland , although a different logo was chosen in the style of the plug and socket type.

Here we have a selection of photos from Tara junction paint spray facility of 019 being hauled out for the first time by locomotive 181 for a daylight viewing by the CME and fleet controller,

Locomotives 160+192 arrive at the MPD for fuelling while C class 226 and 071 class 075 await their next turn of duty.

 

[JasonB]

Brilliant Noel.There's a photo in Irish Railway Rambler of 019 carrying that livery sitting in the paint shop in Inchicore. Is there anything that doesn't turn up on Tara Junction  

[ttc0169]

4 minutes ago, jason brady said:

Brilliant Noel.There's a photo in Irish Railway Rambler of 019 carrying that livery sitting in the paint shop in Inchicore. Is there anything that doesn't turn up on Tara Junction  

Thanks Jason,

 That's where I got the inspiration to repaint the model-and there is another photo of 019 in the Irish railways traction & travel book on page 65-(1994) edition.

Is there anything that doesn't turn up on Tara Junction -Anything is possible......

[ttc0169]

25 years ago tonight 21/01/1994 and into the early hours of the following day-the final mail trains operated in Ireland,

The Galway liner mail departed from Connolly station behind locomotive 073 at 21:30 and arrived into Galway shortly before 02:00,ending over one hundred years of mail by rail,

Here we see the liner mail arriving into Tara junction station where the P&T vans await its arrival,

The formation of the train is as follows; Locomotive 073 ,TPOs 2974.2975,GSV 3189TLA and three bogie 62'9'' air braked wagons-30501,30510 and 30540.

 

 

 

[ttc0169]

EM50 Track recording vehicle No'700 makes an appearance on its monthly tour of Tara junction,

After 073 had worked the liner mail train it shunted the TPOs and the GSV to a siding , It is seen here arriving into the Lakeview freight yard with the bogie container wagons where they will be unloaded for onwards distribution.

 

 

[ttc0169]

After spending nearly ten years in storage, locomotive  204 was shunted to the MPD by retro liveried 071 for an assessment to take place,

It was then decided to remove its power unit and send it to a specialised engine rebuilding firm.

So with the use of a mobile crane and flatbed truck the operation began.....

071 was coupled to a 20' barrier wagon as the braking system on 204 has been removed and used to move the locomotive,

Here are a selection of photos from the operation which took place earlier today...…...

 

 

 

[Robert Shrives]

Hi At Totton a 66 engine comp hood doubled up as a bike shed for a while - saved leaving a wagon under load I guess. 

thanks for photo story very well composed and like the depot mangement in the resulting oily void discussing the next move. 

[Noel]

Fabulous I love it.

Wonderful scenic story telling as ever. The little clastic people on your layout are becoming quite famous, did they have to join irish equity? I trust no little plastic people (LPPs) we’re harmed nor exploited in the making of these eipic story productions 

ps. What 201 class model was used as the donor for this production (ie was it a Lima or MIR, etc)?

[ttc0169]

49 minutes ago, Noel said:

 

 

ps. What 201 class model was used as the donor for this production (ie was it a Lima or MIR, etc)?

Many thanks Noel,

The 201 is a Lima model which was in storage-just like the real thing....

The motor and pick ups have been disconnected to avoid any potential damage when on the DCC rails.

[murrayec]

Excellent Noel

[JasonB]

Brilliant as always Noel. Where did you get the power plant if you don't mind me asking. 

[ttc0169]

On ‎2‎/‎3‎/‎2019 at 2:03 PM, jason brady said:

Brilliant as always Noel. Where did you get the power plant if you don't mind me asking. 

Thanks Jason- I bought it on eBay  

[ttc0169]

The power unit of 204 undergoes load bank testing under the watchful  eye of the CME at the MPD on Tara junction.

 

[ttc0169]

Some welcome visitors to Tara junction in the form of sound fitted 001 class locomotive 011 and steam locomotive 372,both received some works attention and were both given trial runs before returning south to their home depot.

 

[JasonB]

That's an extremely rare visitor to be seen amongst the usual swarm of Diesel Power working on Tara Junction Noel  

[Ribérac]

Just read it. A wonderful layout. Thanks for the pics.

 

[ttc0169]

The Sperry train had a first today when Belmond liveried locomotive 216 hauled the train from Cobh back to Cork after 083 had hauled it to Cobh and Midleton  earlier,

Here we see the train being hauled by 083 through Tara Jctn and later on hauled back by 216.

 

[ttc0169]

In preparation for the forthcoming RPSI 071 double headed West awake rail tour on the 13th April 2019,the CME at Tara junction MPD selected six 071 class locomotives to undertake some multiple working trials,

The locomotives selected were 076+078, 072+080, and 077+083 with all locomotive's fitted with a blue multiple working jumper cable.

So on Saturday morning the trials commenced with the exception of 071+073 which were not used because these were successfully tested a few years ago.

Here are a few photos from an enjoyable operating day...….

 

[JasonB]

Very impressive line up Noel. Raging I'm going to miss this one. Away the week leading up to it, back on the Sunday  

[ttc0169]

20 minutes ago, jason brady said:

Very impressive line up Noel. Raging I'm going to miss this one. Away the week leading up to it, back on the Sunday  

Thanks Jason,It should be a great tour and with the gradients on the Mayo line it should make for some impressive power and sounds.

[CFD]

Fantastic livery on the loco's, thanks for posting....I have never seen this livery for sale, but then I have come to Irish rail modelling just recently. I assume these all sold out when the 071 was released and are no longer available?

I see plenty of 071's still in Marks Models and online in various places...but just in the various orange livery..