RMweb Gold Accurascale Fran Posted October 26, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 26, 2020 One of the the highlights of our calendar is the Irish October Bank Holiday weekend, when we "play at home" as they say and exhibit at the Dublin model railway shows, held each year on rotation by the Model Railway Society of Ireland and the South Dublin Model Railway Club. That's where it all began for us five years ago, when the good folk of the SDMRC gave us some space at the very last minute (we will be forever grateful for it!) to meet the modelling public for the first time and announced our intentions to produce an Irish outline model railway wagon; the cute CIE hopper. This was the little acorn from where IRM and Accurascale grew. Back then we had approached DJ Models as a manufacturing partner (!) but soon had split from that particular arrangement (that's a caper we will save for the autobiography some day!) A lot has happened in those five years, as IRM goes from strength to strength and the Irish model railway scene enjoys support and growth like never before. And then there's Accurascale, which many of you know about! Of course, we didn't see that we would be in this position today back then, and certainly nobody could've predicted the strange times we are now in that causes us all to miss out on the Dublin show, but there's always positives ahead! We have decided to revisit that first model we announced back in 2015 amid much fanfare among those who knew us, but one that was missed out by many others who have only learned of our existence in recent times. Yes, our lovely little hopper is back, in a host of new guises and including the gypsum wagon variant for the very first time! Beginning with the ballasts, a mere 833 packs were produced in our first run as we tentatively entered the market for the first time. Since that run, we have gained many new friends and people "in the know" when it comes to research material, including a man who wishes to remain anonymous. Let's just dub him "The Archivist". The Archivist had some amazing research material which allowed us to bring back the ballasts back with a bang, offering a number of packs spanning three distinct eras with some unique and tasty markings covering their lifespan on the network! Beginning with CIE featuring their iconic roundels, before progressing into the IR post 1987 era sporting the points logo and text, and then entering their final years in IE guise with a smorgasbord of interesting markings and painted out patches. Of course, these hopper wagons were used for other services too. Hoppers numbered 26666-26694 were built by CIÉ in 1972 to cater for mineral traffic from Irish Gypsum’s railhead at Kingscourt in County Cavan, which served Irish Cement factories at Drogheda in county Louth, Castlemungret in County Limerick and Platin in County Meath. Initially, these wagons could often be found in mixed rakes along with ‘Bulleid’ corrugated open wagons. On such occasions the hoppers would always be located closest to the locomotive as they featured continuous vacuum braking, while the open wagons were loose-coupled and required a brake van to be included at the rear of the train. By the 1980s gypsum traffic was carried exclusively by the hopper wagons and this remained the case until the flow ceased in 2001. This long lived and widely travelled working featured A Classes, 141/181s as well as 121s during its life, even with the odd 201 featuring in later years in the Limerick area! We have tooled some all new loads to give the distinctive variety of shape and size of the gypsum as per the real thing! Ballast packs will be available in CIE, IR and IE bundle packs, with three packs per bundle along with their respective plough vans for just €370 (11 wagons per bundle including ploughs.) The gypsums are available in four packs of three wagons at €99.95 each or €375 for all 12 wagons. You can order the ballasts by clicking here and the gypsums by clicking here. Due to COVID restrictions on factory slots the production runs have been limited in size so order early to avoid disappointment. Delivery is due in late November 2020! 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold BR Blue Posted October 26, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 26, 2020 These look very impressive. I would be at the show today if it was on Great idea doing the ballasts and ploughs as a complete train. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damo666 Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 13 hours ago, Accurascale Fran said: Back then we had approached DJ Models as a manufacturing partner So it's all your fault! How can you guys sleep at night? Poor Dave. Seriously, well done guys, and congrats on the anniversary. Now, I'm just waiting here for my DJM Class 92 to come along, next deposit will be due soon, once he's back from the plane thing he's busy with. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoelG Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 Great to see a re-run of this your first superb product in different livery variations. Many who missed out on the original wagon 4 years ago will be well pleased to see this. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Accurascale Fran Posted October 28, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 28, 2020 On 27/10/2020 at 00:48, Damo666 said: So it's all your fault! How can you guys sleep at night? Poor Dave. No, can't take the credit for that one. The brief relationship was errrr, "interesting" though, and would make for a very good book. Maybe we'll write it some day; would be an Ian Allan best seller I could almost retire on... Cheers! Fran 1 1 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSpencer Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 On 28/10/2020 at 13:39, Accurascale Fran said: No, can't take the credit for that one. The brief relationship was errrr, "interesting" though, and would make for a very good book. Maybe we'll write it some day; would be an Ian Allan best seller I could almost retire on... Cheers! Fran It would instantly become a new drama series on Netflix following on the heals of their other great successes. I can see the trailor now: "I have heard tales of your kind Crowdfunder.... you're a mutant created by the RMweb.... roaming the forums...... proposing vapour wear.... for a price..... " Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Robert Shrives Posted November 19, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 19, 2020 IRM forum saying here very shortly, looking forward to Gypsum bundle , even if wallet no so sure! Robert 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold McC Posted November 19, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 19, 2020 45 minutes ago, Robert Shrives said: IRM forum saying here very shortly, looking forward to Gypsum bundle , even if wallet no so sure! Robert Correct, cleared customs and should be in the warehouse tomorrow 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Hawkins Posted November 26, 2020 Share Posted November 26, 2020 Very much looking forward to receiving mine. as i sadly missed out on the first run which was my fault for not being on the ball quick enough. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Hawkins Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 My Gypsum wagons arrived today (Packs A & B) and very nice they are to, but, i'm very puzzled by the pictures of Packs C and D on the website which show one wagon in each of these packs in silhouette, can anyone explain this please. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold McC Posted December 2, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 2, 2020 8 hours ago, Brian Hawkins said: My Gypsum wagons arrived today (Packs A & B) and very nice they are to, but, i'm very puzzled by the pictures of Packs C and D on the website which show one wagon in each of these packs in silhouette, can anyone explain this please. At the time the photos were taken we didn’t have complete samples. You can see the decoration images on the product page and we hope to update the gypsum photos in the coming day. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIRCLASS80 Posted December 5, 2020 Share Posted December 5, 2020 Couple of photos of the new Irish Rail ballast wagons. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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