Locomotives

The Prototypes and Models Explained

Up until very recently, there have been no ready to run Irish prototypes available to the Irish modeller. A number of years ago Tri-ang Hornby repainted their Hymek to a vague Irish livery and Lima did the same with their Class 33. Some carriages were also repainted. These were hardly suitable and the gap was filled by the kit producers. Various kits have been, or still are, available from MTK, Q Kits, Studio Scale Models (SSM) and Model Irish Railways (MIR). By far the best are the MIR white metal and the SSM etched brass kits. The majority of my locomotive stock has been constructed using MIR white metal kits. Only one reasonable RTR item has been produced, this being a Woolwich Mogul of Class K2 and was available as a limited edition from Bachmann. As my period is the late 1970's, the locomotives are mostly diesel and nearly all of the classes are represented. All Bord na Móna vehicles are scratch built.

For details on particular CIÉ models, just click on the following links.

STEAM

DIESEL

For details on particular NIR models, just click on the following links.

For details on particular Bord na Móna models, just click on the following links.