Tag Archives: irish

September 28, 2009 · 4:00 AM

A Pair of CDR ‘Twins’

Paul Titmuss

 

The twins: the van on the left is from Ninelines, that on the right (and next to the loco in the next photograph) is the Alphagraphix/Inscalemodels combination

The "twins:" the van on the left is from Ninelines, that on the right (and next to the loco in the next photograph) is the Alphagraphix/Inscalemodels combination

Maybe surprisingly there are two kits available for the County Donegal Railways 1893 Oldbury vans in 4mm scale. One is the ‘heritage’ plastic kit by Ninelines, introduced around 1989, the other a card kit by Alphagraphix from around 2002. I’d built the Ninelines kit many years ago when I had first started in 00n3. Very straightforward as you would expect and it is a shame that with the demise of Ninelines it may no longer be available. I was fortunate to acquire the card kit for this van as I wanted to use it for the Inscalemodels brass chassis kit designed for this van (and as a replacement for the basic Ninelines chassis).Care is needed in cutting out the parts for the card kit. I find the corners of the framing the most challenging. I followed the instructions provided. In 4mm scale I would not advise any backing of the timber framing with scrap card, everything seems to fit well without. The painting of the card edge can also be tricky. I used Humbrol enamel paint, applied along the edge, from the back, with a fine brush. It would be helpful to have a suggestion of suitable paint colour to use in the instructions as I’m very poor at colour mixing. With a range of greys in front of me I eventually opted for Humbrol Slate Grey, No 31, which seems a near match for this kit. Other kits will vary.

I’d already soldered together the frames, etc provided by Inscalemodels. They needed shortening a little at each end to fit the van body. I backed them with balsa wood so that they could be stuck to the mount board that formed the floor of the van. The masters of brass out there would do a more professional job I’m sure. I finished the chassis using 10.5mm diameter wheels from Alan Gibson. The roof is made from corrugated plastic-card glued to a balsa former and is removable. The vacuum pipes were completed with brass wire, wrapped around with iron wire for the hose, acceptable at a glance. A brass pin soldered to the pipe fits through a hole drilled into the end of the van and, glued from the inside, will hopefully hold the pipe in place without causing damage to the card if it gets knocked.

Shunting at Lispole... now how did two CDR vans get this far?

Shunting at Lispole... now how did two CDR vans get this far?

Close-up of the Alphagraphix kit

Close-up of the Alphagraphix kit

The Alphagraphix card kit takes much longer to produce and I’ll let the reader judge whether it’s been worthwhile! I find building three card kits a year is enough, though there is something addictive about them and they definitely should not be discounted. I’m currently building the CDR bogie wagon by Alphagraphix, and there is that wonderful combination of a card kit with soldering to tax one’s skills!

[Paul also tells me that his  Annascaul, Lispole and T & DR web sites have gone down with the expiry of his freeserve web address. The preamble from Freeserve said this would not happen, but then it became Wanadoo, and then Orange so he assumes that the rules have changed. At some point in the future he hopes to resurrect them, in a superior format.  Ed]

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September 28, 2009 · 3:24 AM

Some Irish Conversions

Denis Grimshaw

 

Whilst these models are not built to fine-scale standards, and certainly not to a professional level, they do reasonably represent the classes modelled. In any case, using 00-gauge track at in 4mm scale gives much larger discrepancies than slightly inaccurate driving wheel diameters or axle spacing. The WT-class 2-6-4Ts Nos. 4 and 57 are Hornby Stanier locos, modified with Comet tank and cab sides, the bunker rebuilt in plasticard, outside steam pipes and a top feed. Painting is in post-war NCC style, rather than UTA (albeit incorrect for 57: I must get round to renumbering this engine to the 1-10 series). The VS 4-4-0 is a Hornby Schools, with a new brass sheet cab and other modifications in plasticard. The GNR SG3 0-6-0 is a Mainline LMS Class 4 with a new brass sheet cab and firebox, and other alterations (particularly the tender) in plasticard. It needs a new dome with a rounder top. The GSR B1a 4-6-0 is a Mainline Royal Scot, with modifications in plasticard, and repositioning the dome. All are hand-painted – some better than others! As my main interest is in operation rather than precise modelling, they give an adequate effect at relatively minimal effort! Whilst most of my models are NCC (with a layout based on Coleraine and Portrush) some poetic license has allowed other railway’s trains to occasionally visit! Scenery will hopefully be improved once I retire and have a bit more time at home.

GSR B1a Macha

GSR B1a 'Macha'

GNR(I) VS class No. 210

GNR(I) VS class No. 210

GNR(I) SG3

GNR(I) SG3

NCC Jeep

NCC Jeep

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September 28, 2009 · 1:27 AM

Converting the Murphy-Bachmann 141 Class Diesel to 21mm Gauge

Denis Bates

 

The General Motors 141 Class diesel of CIE was introduced in 1962, and for over 40 years has been among the most successful of the Irish diesels.  So it was not by accident that Murphy Models chose it for their first foray into a completely designed Irish model (the previous Woolwich Mogul and the NCC Jinty were of course repainted versions of the English models).  So, although my main interests are in steam days, and particularly the BCDR, I couldn’t resist purchasing one, with a view to re-wheeling it to 21mm gauge and P4 standards.  The prototype is described and drawn in two of the model magazines: by Tim Cramer in Model Railways for March 1977, and by Shane McQuillan in Practical Model Railways for June 1986. The latter article describes also the building of one, from a kit by the Model Irish Railways group. Comparing the Murphy model with the drawings, I could find nothing amiss – except for the buffer spacing. The buffer centres should be at a spacing of 6’3”; on the model they are at 23mm (5’9”). I presume that is to match the spacing of other Murphy-Bachmann models, at English spacing.

I first determined that a P4 wheelset would fit between the bogie frames, and it does, just. My main mistake was to dismantle the loco as far as possible – this is not necessary, as the bogie frames can be levered off. They are similar to those of the Bachmann Class 20 diesel (described by Keith Norgrove at http://www.norgrove.me.uk/index.htm). A screwdriver is used to prise out the frames, which appear to be identical on the two bogies. The wheelsets can then be prised out of the bogies. Each wheelset has an offset plastic gear wheel, two brass bearings which are a push fit in the sideframes, and brass wheels with insulating sleeves. Measure the distance of the gear from the ends of the axles, before tapping out the wheels and sleeves using a small drift and hammer. The gear wheel can similarly be tapped off the axle.

If the model is to be converted to EM gauge, all that is necessary is to cut 2mm steel rod to the appropriate length, and put the gear and wheels on. Although there is a spline on the original axle for the gear, it seems tight enough on a plain rod (a smear of loctite could be used to anchor it firmly). To keep the axle laterally in place, two brass sleeves, or an appropriate number of washers, should be added between the gear and the bearings (or between the bearings and the insulating sleeves (see figure). For conversion to P4 and 21mm, the original brass wheels can be used, but have to be turned down to receive P4 rims (these are obtainable from Alan Gibson on special order). It is also possible to turn down the existing rims to P4 standards. For those without a lathe, it may be possible to purchase P4 wheels to suit. Before finally inserting the wheel sets, the pickups need to be adjusted so that they bear on the backs of the wheels. On the Bachmann wheelsets, the hub projects further out than the rim, and does not fit easily between the sideframes. However, the insides of the frames can be filed out (about 0.5mm or more) to give clearance. I used a cylindrical dental burr to do this, held in a drill press, and hand held the frames. Once finished, the loco ran just as well as it had done on 00 track. Now to try it on Adavoyle Junction, out of period though it be!

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September 28, 2009 · 12:58 AM

Something New; Something Old

David Malone

 

Several modellers have had a go at fitting sound chips into the Bachmann-Murphy 141 although some seem to be using slightly larger speakers than I did. To replace the unusable round one supplied. I did no filing, just snipped the corners off the oblong speaker’s plastic frame, and soldered the wires from the cut off speaker to the new one. I did not know that there were speaker terminals on the lights board. I have fitted my two, black 141 and 181, with Ultrascale wheels, to 21mm gauge. The wheels are intended for the BR “Western” class, and feature protruding hubs. I removed these using a chisel shaped hobby blade, wider than the tyre diameter. They can then be shaved off, using the outer tyre face as a limit stop, a few minutes work per wheel. I had to reduce the supplied axles length by 0.75mm.  The little gear wheel sits on a splined bit of the axle, and slides on the 2mm axle, but a touch of Locktite is all that is needed to secure it. I made the mistake of mounting the gear central on the axle, it should be slightly off set to fully engage the gear in the bogie, I will tweak mine over.  The pick up phosphor-bronze strips need bending out to touch the back of the wheels, and act as a side control spring. Now came the big test, would it run? It worked fine on my 3’ length of straight track, but what about my 5’ length, with a reverse curve 4’ 6” into 4’radius, with rail depression in excess of 1mm staggered in the curve: how would the rigid axles cope? Well, much to my pleasant surprise, they stayed on the track, no problem. Since then I decided to file about 0.5mm off the inside of the side-frames, just to provide a little extra clearance, and reduce the chance of the paint on the wheel disc wearing away.  Looking at the removed wheels, I think the protruding rim of the tyre could be turned off until the tyre is scale width, and then the flange could be turned down to P4 or EM profile, thus avoiding a twelve week wait and the expense of Ultrascale wheels.

Treated and untreated bogies. The untreated one is my CIE Supertrain liveried 181

Treated and untreated bogies. The untreated one is my CIE Supertrain liveried 181

Two versions of the 141 on 2mm gauge track

Two versions of the 141 on 2mm gauge track

I am now doing a bit of weathering on my 141/181s. I overdid the exhaust staining on the roof of the orange one, fortunately using acrylic so it washes off. On the sound chipped ones, I removed the grey bridging plate, and turned the speakers over, so they are face down into the
flywheel void, thus creating a sound box. It does seem louder, even with the hearing aids turned off. A dab of black acrylic on the silver speaker back makes them all but invisible through the grill. The next job is to fit all the plumbing to the “Pilot”, and try to combine the very neat etched coupling links with Exactoscale bits to form a strong coupling. The supplied ones are extremely neat, but I don’t think the little plastic pins would last long in service.

The J15 is finished, at last. I started it in 2006, having had the kit since 1985!!!  I found that the tender spring hangers that I mentioned were on the fret all the time. I thought they were the loops that some tenders had around the springs. A case of read the instructions.  In the RAF and civil aviation, the instructors always gave advice before you went into any written exam: “Read the d*** questions!”  Translated into model building this becomes: “Read the d*** instructions!”

J15 on 21mm gauge track

J15 on 21mm gauge track

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September 28, 2009 · 12:31 AM

GNR Butter Van

Alan O’Rourke

 

In the days when everything went by rail, some companies found it worth while building highly specialised vehicles for perishable traffics, which attracted premium rates, even if it meant those vehicles must have spent half their time running empty. One such traffic was dairy produce, and the MGWR, GSWR and GNR all built special “butter vans.” In the era before electrical refrigeration, these vans employed various cooling mechanisms like double roofs and  multiple small vents in the body, presumably to make full use of the draft when in motion. I have not seen detailed plans of the internal layout of these designs, but I am guessing that they may have been “double-layered” with ice between two skins of planking, or may have used some sort of system where the evaporation of water from a porous surface (as in the older type of terra cotta milk or wine cooler), by taking latent heat of vaporisation from its surroundings, could effect considerable cooling.  I seem to recall a school physics experiment which demonstrated this phenomenon rather well. It involved bubbling air through ether in a copper beaker, the beaker sitting in a small pool of water on a wooden block. By the time all the ether had evaporated, the whole apparatus was so cold that the beaker was frozen to the block by a lump of ice! Alphagraphix now make a 7mm and possibly a 4mm kit for this vehicle. I am grateful to the IRRS archives and Mr Brendan Pender for access to the GNR drawing and permission to reproduce it.

GNR butter wagon

GNR butter wagon

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September 28, 2009 · 12:19 AM

Lineside Details: GSWR Mileposts

Alan O’Rourke

 

Irish railways used a number of methods to mark distances: the symbolic steel sheet squares, diamonds, triangles and arrow-heads of the MGWR were probably the most original design. Other companies used metal, stone or wooden markers. The GSWR used substantial granite mileposts on its original lines, but later, and on the absorbed WLWR routes, used the smaller cast iron patterns shown here.  These diagrams come from drawing in the IRRS archives. I am grateful to the Society for permission to reproduce this and Brendan Pender for his help in accessing the archives.

Quarter-mile marker

Quarter-mile marker

 

Half- and three-quarter-mile posts

Half- and three-quarter-mile posts

Side and front elevations of the top section of a whole mile marker

Side and front elevations of the top section of a whole mile marker

Side and front elevations upright. Height from bottom surface of base plate to lower edge og the numeral plate is 3ft 4.5in

Side and front elevations upright. Height from bottom surface of base plate to lower edge og the numeral plate is 3ft 4.5in

GSWR stone milepost and cast iron quarter milepost, both from near Nenagh

GSWR stone milepost and cast iron quarter milepost, both from near Nenagh

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September 27, 2009 · 11:58 PM

Norwich to… Cultra?

Steve Rafferty

 

Of all the numerous visits to model railway exhibitions I have made, only once have I been rewarded with sight of an “Irish” layout (Adavolye at Epsom). Putting my faith in providence, my money on a budget airline ticket and my reliance on a relative to provide one night’s sleeping accommodation, on Saturday 15th November 2008 I travelled to the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum at Cultra to see the ‘Friends of Cultra’ model railway day. I was in search of something Irish, and I was not disappointed. There were thirty-three layouts and stands to view amongst the magnificent setting of the main hall at the museum. The “hook” for many younger visitors was no doubt “Ffarquhar,” the very original Thomas the Tank Engine layout built by the late author of the books. There was a wide variety of other layouts, British, American and Continental themed, all of a very high standard, but as my quest was for something “Irish,” it is these layouts that I wish to comment on. 

For me personally the most interesting layout was “Killagan” (OO gauge). Why? I trust our fellow member Colm Flanagan will not be offended if I say it was a “basher’s” delight. I have no skill when it comes to working with kits or etched brass, etc. Therefore I tour the swap- meets looking at second hand carriages with a view to “now what could I hack that into?” The standard of Colm’s work I consider both exceptional and inspirational. The sight of the Mogul and the Jeeps hauling near ‘true’ UTA stock, as well as the MPD’s, the MED and the ‘Class 70’ set, all running in a credible Irish setting, were on their own worth the trip. It demonstrated to me just what can be done with proprietary coaches and a flair for imagination to achieve a real “Irish” looking product. Did I mention the “North Atlantic” set – delicious!

For the narrow gauge enthusiast, Alan Gee’s “Donegal” (OOn3 gauge) is a must see. The very accurate replication of Donegal town station and the CDRJC trains is complemented by the moving road vehicles system which forms the back drop. This year’s show was the first outing for the North Down MRS’s “Ballymoney” OO gauge layout, featuring not only a credible representation of the original broad gauge station, but also the 3’ Ballycastle Railway. Moving to a larger scale, Norman Bailey and John Pollock’s layout “Ardkrowin and Duncluchan Town” (O gauge) was impressive. While Duncluchan Town is fictitious, Adkrowin is loosely based around the layout at Ardglass as it was. Another ‘first outing’ was Paul Green’s “Kilbrandon” (S gauge),  an exceptional example of not only going “Irish”, but back to a time before any of us were born – April 1900. The layout is inspired by and based on Killorglin on the defunct Valentia Harbour branch, with the addition of an imaginary branch line to increase operating interest. The whole layout (mainly scratch-built) is to a very high standard.

A simple yet entertaining layout was the South Dublin MRC’s “Rosslare Strand” (OO gauge). The end section scenarios, especially the Bray Head one are a demonstration of how three distinct scenes can be accommodated within the strictures of a small (-ish!) layout. Another small, yet interesting, layout on show was Jim Poots and Gareth Hutchinson’s “Slieveroe” (OO gauge), based on an imaginary border location in modern times. Moving back to the narrow gauge, “Ballynure-Doagh” (OOn3 gauge) is a commendable effort by the Ballyclare High School MRC. Although not built as an “Irish” layout, “Ballyrichmond” (OO gauge) is a layout built by the Model Railway Society of Ireland as a Southern Region branch line. However,  with the use of some Irish rolling stock and a few judiciously placed features, I think it just about succeeded in masquerading as an Irish location. Lastly it is fair to say I was in awe at the superb modelling standards demonstrated by the (static) display of 7mm scale models built by Messers Mulholland, Aspinwall and  Crockart. Shame they were not actually running. Together with all the above, Allen Doherty of Worsley Works and Des Sullivan of Studio Scale models were on hand with trade stands. A very large selection of Irish railway books was also on sale.

Was it worth it for just one day and a return air flight? You bet. I, for one, will be attending next one. My thanks to those exhibitors, especially Colm and Ian, who took time to answer my questions, and to the Friends of Cultra I say: “well done.”

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September 27, 2009 · 11:40 PM

Something a Bit Bigger…

 

I am grateful to Neil Ramsay for these photos of his wonderful 15mm scale model of CDR  six-wheel saloon no 1. The bodywork is cut from plywood, built up in layers to produce the panelling, the  use of real wood in this scale gives the  effect of the grain, and imparts more ‘atmosphere’ to the model. The axle-guards were gravity cast (from Neil’s masters) in white metal by John Campbell, who also provided the lamp-tops.

The interior is fully detailed, always a good idea for saloon stock, and especially in the larger scales. The internal mirrors are cut from old CDs with real French-polished woodwork and carpeting from dolls’ house wallpaper. The dining chair is a dolls house model in 1/24th scale, with a new seat from Das modelling clay. They are not really proper scale models of the originals, but give the right ‘feel’ when looking through the windows.

The chassis is built with  simplified Cleminson units,  a mixture of home made components  and sprung bearing assemblies from Ron Grant. The centre wheel assembly is shifted sideways by the linkage to the outer wheels. The problem in a model like this is trying to achieve maximum lateral movement of the centre wheels, as this determines the minimum radius (just about 5’) it will go round.  Springing greatly improves the running: in fact Neil’s  six-wheelers run better than bogie coaches and suffer less from buffer lock as the ends don’t stick out so much on curves. Wheels are Slaters gauge 1 split-spoke 37mm diameter. Neil recommends  Slaters 31mm diameter spoked wheels for the 2’ CDR and LLSR wheels. These wheels are coarse scale G1 and work really well in the garden.

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September 23, 2009 · 10:32 PM

News & Views

Despite the recent increase in our subscription rates, several members included donations with their renewals, and some people said they still consider New Irish Lines as very good value for money. I’d like to thank all those who sent a bit extra, and some of you were very generous. As with  all donations, these sums will go to the newsletter’s general funds. Several folks also commended the quality of the articles in the issues last year, and how they have used some of the information given for their own modelling project, so I would like to pass on these complements to our authors. Please keep the articles coming. We now have about 150 paid up members, but there is always room for more!

Bill Scott has pointed out that the caption on p.31 of the May 2008 issue should of course refer to GNR loco 177.

Peter Swift has reminded me, following on from the article on ballast wagons in the November issue, that Hurst, Nelson  [sorry, my typo] and Company of Motherwell, the rolling stock manufacturers, had no connection with Neilson Reid, the locomotive builders in Glasgow, which later became part of the North British Locomotive Company.

Desmond Coakham writes: 
The article by “A Moyner” in the Nov issue is a masterpiece of  nostalgia. My family moved to Rathmines in 1930, and Ranelagh became our nearest railway station, mostly used for summer trips to Bray, where the council soon prohibited sea-bathing from the sea front and sent prospective bathers on a long walk to a place called Naylor’s Cove. You will know of course that LUAS is driving towards Bride’s Glen and on to Bray eventually*. It deviated from the old DSER line to its terminus and depot at Sandyford, which turned out to be only yards from Stillorgan station on the old line. Denis Bates’ model of poor old D1 looks splendid, but I must tell him they tried it to Ardglass when new and the gradients were too much for it. I am currently sorting out the woeful performance of the Ardglass DE number 28, which they eventually gave back to Harlands and were given a few quid back.
*See Railway Bylines, Annual no 5 for an article by Desmond on this area.

Francis Shuttleworth, who kindly allowed me to reproduce some of his photographs of the GNR drovers’ vans in the May 2008 issue, asks me to clear up any potential confusion, from the note at the end of the article in which  I attributed the collection to “Tim Shuttleworth.” as This  implies, that F.W Shuttleworth collected the photographs, rather than took them, and secondly that “FW” may now have  passed on and that someone called Tim (possibly his son) is in charge of the collection! F.W. and Tim, are, of course, one and the same, and very much alive and well!

While browsing recently, I discovered that there is even a short clip of the Cork & Muskerry Railway in the now quite celebrated  Mitchell and Kenyon collection of early films. I haven’t been able to view it yet, but the details are:
British Film Institute archive: http://www.bfi.org.uk/about/
Use the search option at: http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/searches.php and search under “Muskerry”:
Mitchell and Kenyon, 243 ride from Blarney to Cork on Cork and Muskerry Light Railway (1902): Leemount station (fenced, creepers growing up the trellis, a gaslight). To the right is a single rail track and a hill beyond. The camera is at the rear of the unseen train. The train pulls away from the station and passes heavily wooded scenery. There is snow  [sic] on the ground (00.34). A uniformed station worker walking along the track, which is now no longer single. The train passes a truck on the line and two horse-drawn carts on the road at the side of the  track (00.50). A wide road with buildings to the right with signs on the walls, which include `Sunlight Soap’ and `Sutton’s Coal’ [adverts]. Train passes a horse-drawn cart, a tram (marked W.S.10), a bridge and the backs of  gardens or allotments (1.20mins).

The following link takes you to some archival footage of B156 on one of the last regular passenger trains from Cork to Youghal, just at the time  that the green “flying snail” livery was giving way to the early “black  and tan” finish. It’s wonderfully atmospheric, with a “mixed” train, staff exchange at Cobh Junction and footage of some of the intermediate stations. Even that late, Youghal services seem to have offered first-class accommodation: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=z4U5MWhTpnM

Another interesting Youtube   link deals with the Waterford & Tramore Railway: no cine film, but a fascinating collection of still shots all the same:  http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=p8HoJnffb98&feature=related

David Chambers ( davidchambers082@eircom.net ) would be interested to hear from anyone with any further information on the four CIE 30’ six-wheel heating /luggage vans no. 3153-6, introduced in 1964. The only references to come to light on these vehicles are in the Doyle and Hirsch booklets on Locomotives & Rolling Stock of CIE and NIR, a photograph in Des Coakham’s coaching stock book and a short note in Modern CIE Coaching Stock (paper by D Kennedy, IRRS Journal no. 37, p. 159), saying that they were intended for larger winter trains. They were fitted with two Spanner boilers each capable of producing 1,000lb of steam per hour, with 500 gallon water tanks and batteries (which no doubt accounted for their weight of 28tons 5cwts), but which were mounted inside the bodies rather than underneath as on the better known four-wheelers to allow space for the centre axleguards. Each van also had two 160 gallon oil tanks, one under each headstock, Timken roller-bearing axleboxes and a width of 10’ 2”, The body profile, large windows and grab rails seem uniform with the contemporary Craven’s stock, and they had roof hatches at either end. They seem to have been withdrawn sometime between 1982 and 1987. I only came across two specimens, one at Inchicore on a visit in 1982, one on a Sunday morning  Dun Laoghaire-Heuston boat train in May 1980, when I think CIE was suffering a rolling stock shortage and such a service had to make do with whatever was available.

I am also grateful to David for the following website, which gives details of the extension of the Interconnector from Heuston to Inchicore, and includes a map of the proposed Dublin integrated transport network: 
http://www.irishrail.ie/projects/pdf/0904%20DART%20Underground%20route%20maps.pdf

The Irish National Inventory of Architectural Heritage: http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/ includes details of a number of railway structures. In each of the counties surveyed, use the “Advanced Search” option and look under the categories “Locomotive Sheds” and “Railway Stations.”

Following the demise of the MSN site, Irish Railway Modelling has been
re-launched at: http://irishrailwaymodelling.yuku.com/

The following link from the NI Transport Holding Co may be of interest to those who study civil engineering. Scroll down to the fourth message in the string for a spreadsheet listing bridge information on the company’s railway network:  http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/bridge_numbers_on_nir_network

Neil Ramsay’s live steam CVR Atkinson Walker built around the Worsley etch features as the Model of the Month for August 2008 on the 16mm Society website: http://www.16mm.org.uk/

David Thom from Ontario in Canada has drawn my attention to the website: http://www.geograph.org.uk/ which includes many photos from Ireland including some of current railway locations.

For anyone having difficulties locating Kinder eggs to make cement bubble tanks from, I am grateful to Jim Hughes of Belfast who has identified an alternative source for the tanks: the covers of toys called Flash Pop Rings (i.e. plastic children’s finger rings with flashing lights). The two main sources appear to be:

Shelton Distributors, Unit 17 Greenogue Industrial Estate, Rathcoole, Co Dublin Tel: +353 1 4018455(1) or
JTS (International) Ltd, Candy House, Crystal Drive, Smethwick, West Midlands B66 1QG Tel: 0121 5521661. 

Recent writings on Irish railways include: 
Berkeley T (2008) Ireland needs a dose of competition [short article on rail freight] Modern Railways 65 (772): 14-15 (Nov) 
Anonymous (2008) New Luas routing at Red Cow [news paragraph] Tramways & Urban Transit  71 (851): 412 (Nov) 
Anonymous (2008) Galway lobbies for light rail [news paragraph] Tramways & Urban Transit 71(851): 413 (Nov) 
Anonymous (2008) Dublin co-ordinates projects [news paragraph new rail and light rail connections] Tramways & Urban Transit 71 (851): 414 (Nov) 
Ferris C (2008) Irish News [Nenagh, Dunboyne and Middleton commuter
services; rail-freight; Dublin smartcard; Interconnector; WRC; new cement  wagons and maintenance vehicles; DART fleet; Ulster funding; rail  funding] Today’s Railways UK 83: 24-6 (Nov) 
Jackson P (2008) Light Rail News [Luas Red Line reopens; weather hits  Luas; Galway light rail] Today’s Railways UK 83: 30(Nov) 
Gray A (2008) Donegal [0-16.5 scale model railway] Railway Modeller 59: 766-7 (Nov) 
Pritchard R (2008) Swansong for Irish Rail loco-hauled Today’s Railways UK 83:46-53 (Nov)
O’Rourke A (2008) Two Irish Models Historical Model Railway Society Journal  19(12):  387-9 (Oct-Dec) [WCIR four-wheel coach; MGWR loco coal hopper wagon]
Anonymous (2008) Metro North moves ahead; Dublin unveils potential 15km LUAS routes to Lucan [news paragraphs] Tramways & Urban Transit  71 (852): 455; 457 (Dec)
Anonymous (2008) Rail escapes budget cuts Railway Gazette International 164 (11): 864 (Nov)
Anonymous (2009) Dunboyne work starts; More trams for Dublin Modern Railways 66 (724): 71 (Jan) [news paragraphs and photo] 
Anonymous (2009) Details for Dublin’s new Luas line to Grangegorman unveiled Tramways & Urban Transit 72(855): 85 (March 2009) [news paragraph and photo]
Anonymous (2009) It’s ‘go’….work to start on Luas extension to Saggart village Tramways & Urban Transit 12(856): 124 (April) [news paragraph] 
Anonymous (2009) Dublin to ban cars from centre to make way for Metro? Tramways & Urban Transit 12(856): 127 (April) [news paragraph]
Anonymous (2009)Northern Ireland academy opens Railway Gazette International 165 (4): 57(April) [short report and  photograph, Translink driver and signalling simulation training facility]
Anonymous (2009) Four bids in Dublin Railway Gazette International 165 (4): 18(April) [news paragraph on tenders for Metro North]
Anonymous (2009) Luas Cherrywood line completed Tramways & Urban Transit 72(855): 87 (March 2009) [news paragraph]
Anonymous (2009) Interconnector still ‘as planned’ Tramways & Urban Transit 72(855): 88 (March 2009) [news paragraph]
Anonymous (2009)Construction work has started on Dublin’s Docklands commuter line; Cuts may affect Irish [Transport 21] schemes; Dublin [LUAS] cars to gain advertising; new Metro West route announced; late  [Christmas] LUAS Tramways & Urban Transit 72 (854): 45, 47, 48 (Feb) [news paragraphs]
Anonymous (2009) Construction work has started on Dublin’s Dockland
commuter line; Galway accesses light rail; Cuts may affect Irish scheme; Dublin cars to gain advertising; New Metro West route announced Tramways & Urban Transit 72 (854): 45; 47 [news paragraphs](Feb)

Allan Doherty has been busy adding to his range of etchings, and recent releases include:

The four GSR built Pullman coaches (see New Irish Lines May 2003): 
* Pullman coach (sides and ends only) 62’4″     £20-00 
* Pullman coach (sides, ends, floor, battery boxes, fold down trussing) 62’4″ £30-00.

Schull and Skibbereen Railway: 
* Passenger brake vans nos. 53 and 54    £15-00
* Goods brake van  no. 46     £13-50
* Vans 36-45  (body including riveted strapping, chassis with brake gear) £9-00 

Castlederg and Victoria Bridge
* No 28 three-plank wagon (later CDR 228)   £13-00
County Donegal Railway
§ Wagon no. 6 (ex-CVBT)    £13-00

Payment by sterling cheques drawn on a UK clearing bank only, payable to  “A Doherty,” to: A Doherty, 19 Douglas Road, Worsley M28 2SR. See the website for details of the full Worsley range of kits: http://www.worsleyworks.co.uk/index.htm Allen Doherty allendoherty@worsleyworks.co.uk

Studio Scale Models has gone on-line since the last edition of New Irish Lines at http://homepage.eircom.net/~studioscale/index.html The site provides full details of the kits with drawings and photos and also order codes for suitable gearboxes, motors and wheels (OO gauge only), which can also be ordered at time of purchase. Various contributors have provided photographs of SSM kits they have built: you may recognize some of them from Alan and Stephen’s Modelling Irish Railways. Thanks to Harry, Eric, Alan and Eamon! SSM are delighted to announce the availability of several new kits. Pride of place goes to the mighty V-Class Compound 4-4-0 Merlin and modellers of the CIE era will be delighted with the trio of Bredin designed first class coach,  composite and mail van (all formerly of the TMD stable). The Victorian six-wheel coaches are also now available separately, good news for those who may want the third class brake with ducket and birdcage roof! All coaches come complete with appropriate seating and transfers. New transfers include the IR/IE Arrow, 2700, 2800 and 29000 IE Commuters, Intercity Mark 4 sets and the DART. Finally, proposed items for development include a Mark 3 EGV etch and transfer pack, and the distinctive Aspinall GSWR D17 4-4-0 loco (as seen
dropping John Wayne off in The Quiet Man). Watch for updates on the new wishlist section on the website and feel free to email or write to: Des Sullivan, Radharc na hInse, Ballybeg, Ennis, Ireland to make your  suggestions for a particular loco, coach, detailing kit or transfer pack.

New release from Alphagraphix include the following 7mm card kits: 
Ballyconnell station (CLR) £12 CC73 GNR Butter van £2 
Florencecourt station (SLNCR) £10  CC74 CIE standard box van (grey) £2 
CC70 Ranks grain hopper wagon (red livery) £2 
CC71 Ranks grain hopper wagon (grey livery) £2 
CC72 GNR Guinness bogie van £4  CC75 CIE standard box van (brown) £2 
CC76 SLNCR horsebox no. 1 (ex-WLWR) £2 
Most of these kits are or will shortly be available in 4mm versions. In 7mm, Roger is also working on an etched brass kit for the MGWR Fairbairn 2-2-2WTs (Elf, Fairy, Bee), with castings to finish. Alphagraphix, 23, Darris Road Selly Park Birmingham B29 7QY E-mail: sirberkeley@tiscali.co.uk

I gather that a company called  ‘Transcale Trains’ have advertised IÉ railcar kits in 4mm scale on the internet at: http://transcaletrains.blog.co.uk/ However, it appears that this maybe a scam: I have heard from some of our members that having accepted some payments, the owner of the website has now stopped replying to messages, and it seems that the models were never actually made.

Marks Models now offer several Irish railway buildings, from the Bachman Scenecraft range: GNR(I) style signal cabin, based on Donnabate, with green woodwork, code: BA44250
Single track loco shed (based on Westport), pale stone finish, with a good deal of soot / oil weathering, code: BA44251 
Single storey stone station building, described as based on Clonmel, code: BA44252. This one  appears closer to one the smaller WLWR stations, like Carrick-on-Suir, but it may be the single-storey section of the main building at Clonmel immediately next to the road overbridge, although the stone finish is also much paler than Clonmel. See: http://eiretrains.com/Photo_Gallery/C/Clonmel/slides/DSC02248.html
Marks Models: http://www.marksmodels.com/?cid=51 or shops at: 14 Hawkins St., Dublin 2, Tel 01 6715809;  339 Dun Laoghaire Shopping Centre, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin,, Tel: 01 2845855;  136 Oliver Plunkett St., Cork,  Tel: 021 4277100 

Paul Taylor sent this picture of GSWR 12-t goods brake, built to HO scale, from plasticard and various items from the “bits box” It runs on Gibson open-spoke wheels and is standing on SMP EM gauge flexible track, which is quite a good match for 5’ 3” in 3.5mm scale (do the maths!). Paul has also built a GSR  bogie rail truck from a Rivarosi FS flat wagon and a two-plank ballast wagon using Slater’s 4mm  body sections on a Lima HO chassis.

HO scale GSWR 12t brake van by Paul Taylor

HO scale GSWR 12t brake van by Paul Taylor

Following on from the article on GNR double-decked sheep vans, it seems that in 1942 the company built ramps for loading and unloading these vehicles at Antrim, Armagh, Ballyroney, Banbridge, Crumlin, Castlewellan, Dromore, Markethill, Poyntzpass, Strabane, Derry, Newry and Maysfields.

 

From Railways February 1951 12 (2): 29. I havent been able to check the original reference. Could it have been some sort of April Fools?

From 'Railways' February 1951 12 (2): 29. I haven't been able to check the original reference. Could it have been some sort of April Fool's?

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June 20, 2009 · 12:37 AM

Christmas Quiz

Today, we have naming of engines… the following are all clues to names carried by Irish engines, although some may not quite line up with the reasoning of those who bestowed the names. See how many you can get before you reach for your Irish Steam Loco Register. Answers can be found by scrolling to the bottom of the page.

  1. Nocturnal flying mammal.
  2. A class of battleship, which produced the political slogan”we want eight and we won’t wait!”
  3. One of the archangels.
  4. Possibly a musical percussion instrument.
  5. King of the Fairies in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
  6. Arthurian Wizard.
  7. …the Whig view of history.
  8. Large, aggressive freshwater fish.
  9. Roman (not Greek) name for the goddess of war, poetry, medicine and wisdom.
  10. Greek hero, who fell in love with his own reflection.
  11. Patron saint of the diocese of Ossory.
  12. Singer in Greek mythology, who descended into the underworld to try and bring his wife back after she had been bitten by venomous snakes.
  13. Jacobite military leader in the Williamite wars.
  14. Saint whose martyrdom included being barbecued to death.
  15. Greek hero, whose most well known exploit  was slaying the minotaur and escaping from the labryinth.
  16. The… Ascending, musical piece by Vaughan Williams.
  17. Planet discovered by William Herschel in 1781.
  18. Volcano, which last errupted in 1944.
  19. Princess, and grandmother of the current King of Spain, who spent over 30 years in exile.
  20. In Greek mythology, the archtypal woman, whose dowry contained many terrible plagues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers:

  1. Bat (MGWR 0-6-0T No. 110)
  2. Dreadnaught (WLWR 0-6-0 No.49)
  3. Gabriel (SSR 4-4-0T No. 1)
  4. Lambeg [drum] (GNR 0-6-0 No. 154)
  5. Oberon (DWWR un-numbered 2-2-2WT of 1865)
  6. Merlin (GNR 4-4-0 No. 85)
  7. Progress (WLWR 0-6-0 No. 7)
  8. Pike (Cork & Youghal Railway 2-4-0ST No. 5)
  9. Minerva (GNR 4-4-0 No. 136)
  10. Narcissus (GNR 4-4-0 No. 83)
  11. St. Kiernan (DWWR 2-4-0T No. 45)
  12. Orpheus (GNR 4-4-0 No. 157)
  13. Sarsfield (WLWR 0-6-0 No. 24)
  14. St. Lawrence (DWWR 2-4-0T No. 28)
  15. Theseus (GNR 4-4-0 No. 114)
  16. Lark (MGWR 0-6-0T No. 106)
  17. Uranus (GNR 4-4-0 No. 131)
  18. Vesuvius (GNR 0-6-0 No. 14)
  19. Princess Ena (GSWR 4-4-0 No. 304)
  20. Pandora (GNR 4-4-0 No. 156)

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