Ulster progress -N. Ireland Ralways build

[rjhowie]

Well I have just completed the third of 6 lines. Finished the Crumlin cross country branch from Lisburn Junction to Antrim Junction. At present working on the lower part of the Londonderry route between Whiteabeey Junction and Antrim Junction - a mile to go (!). Next week I am nipping over the Irish Sea from Glasgow for a break of 5 days as i need it. Of course I won't be able to stay awy from the NIR whilst there (!). All goingnwell, I will get back to my websbite and put up some pictures of the lines done to date (Border, Bangor, Crumlin). I also have worked half way along the Larne Line. However the Londonderry will be a long drag working over 90 miles and the towns along the way that delay a little - Antrim, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine junction, Londonderry and Portrush. The Portrush Branch will be added when I get to Coleraine

This is proving quite a challenge doing the whole of the N.I.R but I am sticking to it even if at times I mutter under my breath so we can have a modern NI appreciation which is missing on Trainz. Earlier I said I might consider going over the Border all the way down to Dublin when the project is completed although it might be a bit more sparingly done as I am concentrating on the NIR. For now the track snakes over the Border to Dundalk. Perhaps if I was to be so ambitious getting down to Dublin it might allow someone to start something for the South where the Belfast-Dublin terminates at Connolly Station? Meanwhile I will concentrate on the northern effort which is enough for now. It is as I can make it as I don't live over there. Before I have my wee short break I want to get as much scenery down between Antrim and Ballymena Station (already done) in place to help break the back of things.

I would also thank pfx for his rolling stock and some help along the way.

So it slow work but I plod on on this side of the Irish Channel!

 

[rjhowie]

Latest progress as at 1st December.....

Have now progressed along the Londonderry quite a bit. From Ballymena worked up and through Ballymoney to Coleriane Junction. Have Coleriane Station down and laid the branchline to Portrush resort. The town of Portrush is in and the 2 Halts at University and Dhu Varren although some scenery needs sorting. Beyond Coleraine track is laid to Castlerock but no scenery yet. Have another long fiddly bit round the northern coast to Londonderry but not sure how long that will take - maybe into January then I will go back and finsih off the other half of the Larne roue beyond Carrickfegus. I(f I manage to get the whole of Northern Ireland Railways done by the end of January beginning of February, I will have a go at extending the Border line which has scenery as far as just beyond Newry Station. I do have track down as far as where Dundalk I think, would be (!). Then continue another long run down to Dublin (Connolly). And of course add the relatively short DART Branch north of Dublin.

Pfx has contributed NIR stock and DART (much appreciated) so in the long run I may be on the lookout for someone to repaint something to suit the Enterprise Express service between Belfast-Dublin. Christmas will no doubt interrupt things but will continue the news at New Year. If I do manage to do all of this it opens up all sorts of future extensions to produce even more from the island of Ireland and fill a modern gap in Trainz??

From a dreich Glasgow.....