colmflanagan

Hi, Which Parkside kit did you use? I think I may have a go at a couple. Colm

The old station is now a social club next door to the Pier 36 restaurant & rooms.

I haven't been able to trace them, my understanding is that the production ceased due to mashima motors folding about 4-5 years ago. Anyway, I have followed UTA practice and pinched one from one of my MPDs, so 6&7 now run well. I had a "spare" BB which is half power as only one axle is driven, so MPD 45 got that, and is not very powerful, can just about haul one trailer on the level.....with a bit of slipping. I'm not planning any more railcars at present. Colm

Greetings, It's a while since I posted anything on this forum, here are a few pics of my most recent and almost finished project. UTA No6 & 7 AEC railcar. These two cars were really a pre production MED, though they had AEC engines and different transmission systems from the later cars. The doors was also unchanged. However the main thing which separated them from the earlier railcars was that the engines were mounted horizontally ; This made full use of the alignment, obviously keeping a flat floor, but also being easier to maintain, and this engine position later became universal. They proved successful in service though the seating seemed pretty short of legroom! The two cars were in service until 1966, (for many years with an intermediate) and were destroyed in a fire in 1968. My models use Allen Doherty etched sides, Br class 105 front cabs (with headboard removed) and chassis from a Dapol/Airfix LMS 60 composite. The originals were converted from two xLMSNCC coaches. Power on the model is a Tenshodo "spud"; this (and the similar Black beetle). These are now unobtainable but I got one a few years ago - however, it's not great, and doesn't like some of my trackwork, as well as occasionally jamming and needing a shove. Not very satisfactory, but I was committed to the type when cutting holes in the carriage floor, so for now it remains. Which is why the roofs have not been glued to the sides - I think I will need access unless the power bogie improves with use...! Anyway, here it is; I now have models of UTA (exNNC) No 1 & 4, No 5 " Ganz" and 6&7 + An MED set and a number of MPDs. This all started in 2001 when I built an MPD ... Colm Flanagan

When I passed one of these invacars I used to think they must have been a death trap in an accident with a car/van/truck! Colm

The latest loco on the Ardglass, Northbrook & Stranraer narrow gauge - Ffestiniog Double Fairlie "Earl of Merioneth". A trifle "buzzy" sounding but that may smooth out in time, it's not so noticeable in "real life" as it is on the video. It really needs a crew in the cab though. Very tall and /or corpulent 4mm figures need not apply!

Definitely worth getting, especially if you model that era:lots of useful backgrounds! Colm

Hi, yes, indeed they did, I have a rake of three late versions (metal wheels etc) to go with my Caledonian Single 123. They are 64' long and are a vaguely generic model as som many r-t-r coaches were in those days - the roof and underframe are pure BR Mk1.....and no interiors yet either. I have seen some excellent conversions to more realistic Caledonian ones using the sides (or part of them) in conjunction with old mainline LMS 57' panelled coaches - but other projects have had a higher priority.-

Just a short video of the latest acquisition, Rails of Sheffield put this out for order in March 2018 and I got mine yesterday. Aye, 'tis a bonny wee engine. The coaches are GN&SR (Railway Children file livery) by Bachmann but they look not unlike Caledonian livery. They are recognisable as the LMS coaches Mainline introduced about 30 or more years ago...still produced by Bachmann with few visible changes. Apologies for the editing, or lack of it. I have now not got my well loved "move maker" software, so have had to start learning a new programme which will I am sure, work well once I get the hang of it. Colm

Very cunning...!

An unusual looking beast, I can't figure out how the two snatcher jaws on the post work out. The NCC ones only have a single set of jaws. But there were different patterns. By

Northbrook station has been "officially" opened and the fist trains have run through it; signalling is still rudimentary -manual staff is exchanged at the station for the sections to Ardglass and Stranraer. The buildings were peco, the signal box scratch built (and a bit rough close up - well they bought it secondhand from another railway which didn't want it!) 3 people waiting and one official - quite a crowd for a narrow gauge railway. However, the small signal box is ready for the point rodding and signal wires, and this work will be done as soon as possible.... No 4 loco is a Liliput model with most of it's European additions removed and the cab remade to look a bit more "british/irish""; No 5 is a Lynton& Barnstaple kit on a Minitrix "n" gauge chassis -much cruder than the recent exquisite Heljan models -however, tests with one of those showed it would not cope with the gradients/curves on this line- thankfully i had't bought it! That's it for a wee while now, got other things to do...

I put a Kato twin axle power bogie under the railcar after the original unreliable power unit fell out onto the track one day after me spending hours tweaking it to run properly... That was the last straw. Colm

I do know the answer to the TARDIS, but am not letting ON!

Some modest progress at Northbrook. Ballasting complete, with some weeds....The new platforms are built and edging etc done, still more work to do . No expensive footbridge here, a barrow wooden crossing will suffice. warning notices will be fitted in due course, before the Board of Trade arrive to inspect the line! The new buildings will be on the right hand side. A new shelter has appeared on the Up platform. It's a Peco product, a shed which is part of the "manyways" kits, for a small station shelter. here it' is a even smaller shelter, the door is the station toilet. Signage needed here too, the wee place looks quite nice , I think. And just down the line towards Ardglass, i have done some little details at Nendrum halt. more to come at both locations. No 2 with a short midday train; the shelter has been provided -an ancient Tri-ang well covering I had lurking in a box for about forty years....repainted, and a little peco seat, a tree provides extra interest to the quiet country scene. And below, the same scene looking towards Nendrum on the hill. the bus will wait until the steam railcar (Eggerbhan repaint) departs but I doubt if there'll be much traffic! And, in this picture there's one item which shouldn't be there....or did someone call for a doctor? Nendrum will need a bit of fencing - the cottage isn't railway property - a station nameboard, and maybe a person waiting for a train. And that's about it.