islandbridgejct

The fantastic thing about the ferry model is that you can load a P87 continental freight in at one end and it comes out the other end in P4, or vice versa. Not bad for €765. (Doesn't work with HO/OO though - just stays at 16.5mm gauge.)

Good to see you back posting, and a lovely loco. I recently went back to the early pages of your thread to get a fix of your modelling, and the transformation from Canal road is stunning. Alan

I can confirm that the GSR extended smokeboxes to make room for superheaters, so it’s likely the Western did the same. Do you need to move the chimney to the middle of the extended smokebox? If you don’t, I suspect the ejector would eject straight into the superheater pipework. A nice model. Looks good in black. Alan

You'll hate it when you try to build the ramp down to the fiddle yard, and we all know where you'll be off to then.... You could try one of those vertical fiddle yards, or perhaps a vertical lift to bring trains down to a lower level where you could build a normal fiddle. (I think Fen End Pit's blog has this.) Or you could use cassettes like Gilbert on Peterborough North: 2 cassettes should be able to hold a 7 or 8 coach train, and you could just keep them below the layout, ready for when they're needed. 'Keep it simple,' you've said before. (And don't listen to anybody on here - we'll only drive you to madness.) Alan

Well that looks more real than the photos. Does the ground fall away on the far side of the platform to need such a high plinth?

As above, and fantastic tips on buffers and boxes too!

I really don't know. I'd have guessed that the preference would be to put it at the station throat and have the station porter run down to open a manually operated set of gates that would be released from the cabin and that would in turn release the signals that protect them, labour being cheap in those days; but that really is just a guess. I know Claremorris had a crossing about 500m or so east of the station which had slotted signals protecting it: the signalman released the signal but it didn't move until the crossing keeper opened the gates and then pulled his lever for the same signal; but that was different because the gates and points couldn't be controlled from the same place. I'll look forward to seeing what you decide on. Alan Edit Updated to add that Tuam station, on the line from Athenry to Claremorris, had its signal box at the south end of the station and a hand operated set of gates at the north end. Kiltimagh had a crossing at each end and the box was at the south where the station throat was located. Charlestown had its box near the throat and manual gates at the far end. These were all on a line built to light railway standards. On the GSWR mainline, Buttevant had its box at the crossing, at the far end from the station throat, as did Rathmore. Headford Junction, just down the line from Rathmore, had the box at the junction, away from the crossing which had its own crossing keeper's cottage. So I think I've just demolished my own argument: you can put it at whichever end you like, and it may depend on what your railway company did. Alan

May I offer some thoughts on signal box location? The ones I've seen have been located at the station throat, where the largest complex of pointwork is located. Presumably this is to make it easier for the signalman, as he doesn't have to throw too many distant points. The only exception I've seen has been in small suburban stations where the cabin is located beside the level crossing, presumably so the signalman can monitor the road traffic before closing the gates (or is it opening them?) Where there is both a crossing and a goods yard and complex pointwork, as on your layout, I'm not sure which would take precedence, and there are no doubt many exceptions as well. Alan

Thanks. I suspected a Barry scrapyard connection, but didn't think it would be sufficiently notorious to have a wikipedia posting. It's an interesting connection. Thank you for taking the time to explain. Alan

Hm, I may be confusing you with an actual Barry. May I ask, who are the Barry 10? Should I be campaigning for their release? Or have they been scrapped? Alan

I like that. I’m working my way through your blog, and I thought the grass around the barn was too orange before, and looked like late August to me. This is much fresher: late May or early June. I’m enjoying the blog. I usually only read threads, but I looked this up because I liked your American thread and your involvement with Grantham. Alan

My first visit here for a few months, and the standard is, as always, exquisite. And everything from steel works, to cathedrals, to chippers. Does Mr Dolphin apply an ethical fishing policy? I hope he never got caught in his own net. I particularly liked the way you took Dougall, gave him a haircut, and turned him into a thatched cottage. Alan

Oh! I just caught up on 6 months of KL2 to find it gone. It's a bit like running for the train only for the doors to close as you get there, and have to watch it pulling out of the station. I feel a bit flat. Best of luck with your plans. Alan

Cracking work, Gerry, and at a rate of knots. The Byrnes of Llanuwchllyn are descended from Gerard Byrne senior, a noted Sinn Feiner, interned in nearby Frongoch prison camp after the rising in 1916. He befriended a local girl, Blodwyn Evans, who helped him escape from the camp after he trod on prisoner deValera's begonias one morning. Byrne asserted that it was prisoner Collins that pushed him but, whatever the truth of it, deV said he would make Ireland too hot for Byrne. Byrne decided he would rather make Llanuwchllyn too hot for everyone, and set up a coal merchant's business there rather than return home. He later married Ms Evans and they had 12 children, 11 girls and 1 boy. The youngest, Gerry, took over the business in 1939 when his father, ironically, tripped over a begonia shortly after hearing that the economic war between Ireland and the UK had ended, and spent the rest of his days in a wheelchair. (I found this out when researching how someone with a name like Byrne ended up selling coal to Welsh people in Wales. Talk about coals to Newcastle!) Hope you're keeping well, Alan

That's a nice idea Andy, and I've taken the suggestion. (I say this not to boast - I should have done it long ago - but to perhaps encourage others, and also so that Tony can add it to his tally of money raised and know that this thread has had a positive impact outside the railway modelling world, to add to the inspiration it provides within it.) Alan (Edited to say thanks, Tony, for all the fish encouragement, inspiration and entertainment.)

Carlisle citadel looks like a truly fantastic piece of work. I barely dare to ask (and will do so in a whisper): is this cheque book modelling? If so, I'm all in favour of it. It sometimes occurs to me that you might ask people who view your dvds on youtube, for which, if I recall, you do not receive royalties, if they would consider making a donation to Cancer Research in lieu of the payment they would have made to buy the dvd. I'd certainly be very happy to, if you ask someone to set up a paypal account over which payments can be made (or else I can just donate to the Irish Cancer Society over here.) Best wishes, Alan (Who spends too many nights working until after midnight and who, as a result, has no modelling to show. )

I'm hoping that means we actually have a chance of seeing your build of the junction between Kirkby Malham and the S & C mainline. In the meantime, I'd love to see another series of pictures of the daily routine at Kirkby. Alan

I admire your progress, but I'm wondering how you're going to reach across the fiddle yard to get at the tracks on the right hand side. Access in the corner, perhaps? Is the space between the left fiddle and the main tracks intended for access, and will you be able to straighten up in an area that doesn't seem much more than 50cm across? No doubt you have a cunning plan. Alan

I don't usually go for the 'photo of the real thing' comment, but in the case of post 356 I had to see the background of the 3rd picture to be sure. As for tree clearance, Irish Rail seem to have come to the same realisation, so I suspect someone has either (a) employed somebody with some cop-on and shared it or (b) paid Deloitte's a huge consultancy fee or two. Alan

Thanks Mike. It was just a passing thought. The improvements at the north end look great. Keep up the good work. Alan

May I make a suggestion about the south end while you’re changing things, please? I’m less than convinced by the line going over a bridge and straight into a tunnel, and I’m sceptical about the ‘worked out quarry’ explanation. I can’t see someone digging such a shallow quarry beside a stream. While you had the helix, there really wasn’t a choice, so I said nothing, but now you have the curve, you could opt for bridge - cutting - tunnel which might be more prototypical. Just an armchair suggestion for the only part of your layout I have any reservations about. I’m thoroughly enthusiastic about the rest, and look forward to seeing it in its new guise. (And I’d be delighted for someone to post a picture of a prototype to prove me wrong. ) Alan

I haven’t gone away, just working. Carry on posting. Please

Well, my grandfather had a double bypass at 80 and went on until he was 98, so I'll be expecting you to complete the line at least as far as the junction with the S&C mainline over the next 15 years. (No pressure there, then.) Best wishes, Alan

That's a very impressive gantry. Would you mind telling me which peg reads to which road? I have two theories in my head. Thanks in advance. Alan

I'm sure that was Dent.