An Irish Fleet

dunnyrail

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Responding to a request and as I have been thinking of doing this for some time I thought a bit of information on this fleet may interest some of you in the Forum. I was busy building Irish Rolling Stock to create this fleet some time before I left Luton in 2000. Some of these have not seen the light of day since that move though the new line planned at Hemel Hempstead was originally to be an Irish one. Then I got seduced by a Sachen Meyer at Redhill Show. The rest is now History.......

But returning on thread, I noticed that the Bachmann Big Hauler had pretty well the same wheel spacing and wheel space to the Tralee and Dingle 2-6-0 thus the adventure commenced. Back then Tennmile Model Railways produced a TnD Cattle Truck in 16mm to the foot. When built I realised how it towered over the 15mm Scale TnD 2-6-0 that I had built, smaller wheels helped with this a little but something had to be done. So a second kit was purchased and was modified to 15mm scale. Thus satisfied I scratch built a batch of 4 more going to the extent of making a punch to make the ‘T‘ and ‘I‘ strapping required. A TnD Coach followed plus an Echo cheepo Van converted with GS lettering and scratch built van. Then a couple of 4wheel Opens were built, these are somewhere but I know not where at the moment with a couple more Cattle Trucks started. Then a scratch built West Clare Walker ”Wizzy Cranks” loco. Plus an Essel Wagonmaster Peat Bog Loco (since sold to Casey). A Bachmann USA Coach is also in the throes of conversion to a Cavan and Leitrim Tramway type Bogie Coach. So quite a fleet and now mostly stored in the loft.

Following pics show most of the stock plus a few pics of my old line in Luton. Subsequent posts will show as much of the fleet as I find them.
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Now a few pics of the scratch built Walker Diesel. This was originally fitted with Essel Motors but these proved too power hungry for the 7.2 NiCad Pack of Sub C’s (remember this has not been out of its box in over 20 years), it had also had a bit of a meltdown with a shorted wire so was being rebuilt with new Portescap Motors.

The hardest task on this beast was Milling the Air Vents, hours of work on the Mill. Narrowed bonnets were also a bit of a challenge. The majority of the chassis was Essel ready built parts so an easy job, just had to modify the Side-frames to match the Walker shape Plus add detail.
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Here you can see the inside with the first of the Portescaps installed.
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One of the Bogies showing its Wizzy credentials, actually these (there were 3 of them) were built in 1955. The 2095s from Austria that we all know and love from LGB as a prototype were built between 195i and 1962 so perhaps the Wizzy concept was a product of the 50’s. Though I have seen earlier varieties.
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Here you can see the underneath showing how the bogies have been pivoted in differing ways to overcome dodgy track.
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Inside one of the bonnets showing the shaped construction of the bonnet, note all the differing bits of available metal has been used to replicate a final job. Plus Aircraft Wing type construction to represent the complex curves.
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Both bogies together, note 1 only has had its motor fitted. The wheels, axles, spacers and side frames are Essel parts.
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My wiring Diagram of the day including the Control Board using a hand twiddled Pot. These days I would be using Fosworks RC setup, a MLS Sound Card and NiMh Batteries. This setup would be a simple job to fit these days. Oh how times have changed for us Battery people.
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john

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Looking forward to more pictures of your Irish line and stock.
John
 

dunnyrail

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Thanks for your kind likes and comments all. Here are some more and I found the Opens in the loft so they will also appear soon. Now where is that part converted Bachmann Coach?

Here are the Tralee and Dingle Cattle trucks, 6 all told. As mentioned the first two show the 16mm and modified kit to 15mm scale. Obviously not everything was altered, the castings are all the same. Just the Timber cut down. But it does graphically illustrate the difference between the 2 scales. Even with the smaller wheels on the 16mm one you may be able to imagine how it towered over the Loco.
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and the other 4 scratch built ones.
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Finally the Scratch Built box that I carry these with the Loco and TnD Coach as an appetiser.

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idlemarvel

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Excellent modelling. You certainly went for the weathering in those days.
 

Riograndad

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Interesting thread Jon,I agree with Casey about that box,like the weathering too;)
 

dunnyrail

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Some more of the fleet. This is about the lot now. Just that Bachmann part completed Coach to find.

EDIT just realised that the Passage Brake Van and a couple of Vans not posted.

More pics taken yesterday of the TnD 2-6-0. The Coal Load and Dome flat all lifts off to access Battery Compartment and the internal Wiring. As does the Cab Roof. Valve Gear scratch built out of some quite bendy flexible plastic.
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inside the Cab, the two switches control Stop/Forward/Reverse. In effect they are both wired together as a DPDT with the added functionality that they have to be both pointing the same way for the loco to move. Throw just one different and the Loco stops. The wiring is a little different on the switches to a normal DPDT but once you get your head round the potential of shorts if wired the wrong way it works well. The regulator works for speed so this is a rather nice loco to drive and is suitable for shunting as well.
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The jumble of wires under the removable top, this is all Bachmann original Big Hauler complete with what is now quite scratchy sounding chuff. No whistle if course. I have a more up to date chassis for this with Metal Wheels and also one day may convert it all the MLS and Fosworks Radio Control. The car racing battery goes in the Middle coupled to the big white plug. An 8.4 works much better but that as an old NiCad is also probably trashed by now. The speed controller is the Vero Board and the Ally Heat Sink.
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Front view of the beast showing the original Bachmann Big Hauler Cow Catcher in use on an Irish Locomotive.
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Underneath showing how the front bogie has been lashed from the original Bachmann one, the lead is essential to keep the lightweight thing with plastic wheels on the rails. It all runs surprisingly well with an interesting gait no doubt due to less than perfect Plastic Driving Wheels.
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The 2 opens with the start of a couple more Cattle Trucks ends inside. As you can see old fruit boxes make perfect lumber for well abused Irish Cattle Trucks. Both the Opens and Cattle Truck parts were constructed in part at a Show Demo that I did for the Acton Model Railway Club back in the middle 80’s.
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As you can see I like my Irish Stock to be very well used and abused.
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Underneath, I never bithered with Compensation on these two Opens.
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All the Rolling Stock rides on Tennmile steel wheels and whitemetal Axle Guards. Many of the Axle Guards come with springing so these have been 3 Point Suspended to give better running. Quite likely these 2 Opens would have been attended to should running qualities have demanded it.
 
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dunnyrail

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They look absolutely brilliant Jon, I’m especially impressed with the storage/stock box.
The Box was built very much to take stock to visiting Railways when I was more involved with the 16mm Society Ridgmont Group. 2 Merlin or Roundhouse Locomotives sat in the Top at the outsides where Cattle Trucks are, next space was for the 2 Radio Control Units and the Middle beneath the Handle and Draw for other steam bits plus odd tools. Whatever Stock I was taking for the day went inside, usually 2 Bogie Coaches and 4 Wagons. Though this could be varied.
 

Paul M

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Great modelling Jon, and the toolbox/stock box looks great.
 

dunnyrail

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Thanks Paul, the Cork Blackrock and Passage Brake Van, Coach and a couple more Wagons.
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Showing how the 3 point suspension is created, these two Axleboxes have flexibility in the bearings. The other 2 at the other end are not flexible. The metalwork at the end represents the work done by the Cavan line when this Van was transferred to that line, not all NG lines in Ireland had standard coupling heights and sundry vehicles were converted to a matching height.
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A scratch built van with simple Axle bearings and scratch Brake gear. Nite the DR lettering for Donegal Railway not Dunny Rail but it works either way. The doors slide on the simple wooden bearings, brutally held in place at the top with a couple of nails, down below it was glued. Typical Irish engineering!
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If memory serves me well this brake gear is working, complete waste of modeling time just one of those projects to see if I could do it.
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The other van converted from an Echo cheepo G Scale Train Set. This one in GS Great Southern lettering with naturally rusted wheels.
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Now the scratch built Tralee and Dingle coach showing sundry door opening parts and internal seats, seats are made from Wood as is most of the coach. It sits on LGB Bogies.DAC91ED3-629E-474E-85BC-C93BB52747C3.jpeg

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a98087

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Cracking modelling, it shows Howe much potential, those bachmann chassis have,

And I also like the stock box, it’s on my todo list one day, as it’s looks so usefull

Dan
 

JimmyB

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Jon, as said great bit of modelling, something to aspire to :) :)
 

Martino

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Very nice. Very inspirational.
 

alcashj94

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I like those, very personal look to the collection which is unique to you and your modelling techniques.

Far better than 'out of the box' models which can be seen on most other layouts ! If your like me there is more satisfaction in the building and working out how to do it than the actual running.
The look from six feet is what's important and these are unmistakably Irish Narrow Gauge.
 

dunnyrail

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than the actual running.
Funny though I do like and enjoy the Model making it was all towards building a fleet that could be Operated in an Irish way. Sadly I never got to what I would call ‘critical mass‘ for that operating Irish fleet though many of my LGB purchases of DR (Donegal Railway) stock were heading me towards that process. I also painted most of my LGB Toy Train Wagons in DR or GS (Great Southern) grey with appropriate lettering. The Toy Train wagons are now all in boxes as I then went onto my love of the DR German theme and that is my dominant interest now, but Operating has been enhanced with the German fleet and is my main interest.

I do have an Irish Timetable based on the Londonderry and Lough Swilly in its last days when part of the line was closed. This uses many loads of recovered Rail and Sleepers from lifted parts of the line but general goods as well. This line was connected to the County Donegal Railway (DR) with 1 or 2 Green coaches and sundry wagons on each Train as was the case in the 50’s. My Harz Locomotives (2-6-2 and 2-10-2) are imagined to be Irish ones and the Timetable works great for just 2 people.

Sometimes I throw in a Pilgrim Excursion from Buncrana to Derry, this is made up of mixed Red n Creme and Green Coaches plus another of my DR Locomotives. As the Timetable is run at 12 times speed and just about possible to get through in 3 real hours, but the Excursion as it means empty coaches to make it from Derry have to be thread through the other Trains. The schedule return to Buncrana is around 10pm just in time to make ‘Last Orders’ in the bar, sadly the last time we ran it the passengers never got back to Buncrana till past Midnight. Such are the joys and enjoyment of Timetable running to the clock!
 
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dunnyrail

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Had to go into the loft today to get some small bits for my DVD Shelves that I had neglected to put in place when they were built. Was determined to find the other Irish Coach. Had forgotten that there were two!

First up is this scratch jobby that I bought at a Show somewhere, was such a good start and I eyed it up for a West Clare Saloon as seen below. As things turned out it would have nicely gone with my Walker Diesel.
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As I hope you can see from the wood parts below it would have been a pretty good match with not too much modification.
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Next up is a Cavan and Leitrim coach, these were a dead ringer for the Bachmann Coach kit.
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Bachmann coach as partially modified. 2 Window short, but I could have lived with that.
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Only thing not seen in this little saga are my LGB Toy Train Wagons repainted and lettered in sundry Irish schemes, not really worth showing them as they were a stop gap till I got enough Irish Stock built in those long off days when I was obsessed with Irish Narrow Gauge Railways. Who knows one day that obsession may return and all of this little lot will have their day, the latest Loco proposal by Accucraft is sooooooo tempting.
 
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dunnyrail

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Funny how the brain works, GERik ’s recent vid of his Clogher Valley Railcar reminded me that I had one of the Tractor Units. Made by my good friend Roger Goodall (sadly not with is any more), it was a rare incursion for him of 45mm Gauge. I think he may have been inspired by seeing some of my Irish Stock that used to get taken to Ridgmont to be looked at as they at that time were only 32mm. The previous layout was just a test track with 32/45mm mixed running but their Ridgmont Layout still on the circuit today was 32mm only. Still this was one of Rogers masterpieces, an exercise in frugality as the chassis being mostly wood shows. I think that the motor and gearbox is an IP Engineering offering which trundles round quite nicely with a 9v PP9 battery. Control is via the DPDTCO shown sticking out of the Tarpaulin. Not sure whos wheels they are but the centres are I think made from cardboard.
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EDIT, just remembered as I was inserting the pics that the Box comes out via a plug to allow easier Battery Replacement.
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