Ireland's railway expansion and new Stock!

 Re-opining old lines with re-fits and the new 9000 Stock? 

Ireland is moving on with many improvements and connections to its system, the re-building of Kent street station in Cork city and the line open to Middleton has brought more business!

Meanwhile the line from Limerick to Galway, via Shannon airport also much ease and options to travel without the need of roads and now moving on to Galway via Taum for Clairemorris another new connection.

But it is the ageing stock on the DART Dublin area rapid transport that needs upgrading with the new trains to replace the German and Japanese stock!

Railways Future, One,

Still in demand?

Trains are still as popular as they ever where, from vintage steam to modern high-speed electrics to the most common diesels. Todays railways are getting a literal track revolution with the introduction of new types of materials and closer concreted sleeper sections, almost like building a model railway,

This whole new process has been developed to cut cost and time and it can be laid, while the older track is being removed. Many urban environments are choosing this option over the traditional methods and this is no longer limited to the modern world.

Railways are big business for the movement of freight, goods, materials and food and every nation that has a railway has the potential for great profit and expansion.

Signalling is perhaps the second difficulty for many to update, especially across the developing world? But with limited points and track crossings this may not be as bad as first would seem, radio cab communication and some of the older methods actually work better with the weather conditions than do the dependency on electricity with most modern one?

Modelling. Part-Two.

Presents Opened.

Now that we got what we thought we were getting, its time to take out the contents and start to study what to do next? The model world is almost unlimited to making adaptions to what we have to start with and that is part of the great fun of it!

Wither we make our models to show as accurate copies or for the war gaming table, model railway, boat lake racing, flying in garden or field, it is all really to show to close and wider afield. Now with You Tube and Vimeo and the many other free film formats one can show the world from box contents to the finished and working items.

Paints, glues, clays and tools are the start, but many extras can be made with matchsticks, paper mache and also with cardboard. It really is up to each individual to disguise the diorama with what is at hand, instead of spending more money on sometimes disappointing extras.

In the Big Country. Part-Two.

Canadian Pacific.

Canada has that awesome feel about it, it is only one of a few countries that can claim that feeling still today. Most of Canada is lonely and remote and its has temperature differences much like Russia, the need of long distant travel is a necessity that cannot be done without.

The railroad from Vancouver in British Colombia to the east remains the focus of this vital link covering the southern areas and the centre. Going north and north-west is a continuing problem, because of the cold and harsh winter conditions. 

That is why we have the 'Iceroad Truckers,' who take vital supplies of equipment to isolated mining sites. Modern Air travel has facilitated the opportunity to get people and general freight from A to B. But it is the railroad and the need to expand it that perhaps will remain the back bone of Canada.

Air Freighters. Part-One.

Cargo and Freight.

Through human history on this planet we have always had to move goods and this was either done by boat, ships or waggon's of one type or another. With the advent of the steam age from the 19th Century, it was the invention of the railways that revolutionised movements across vast areas of our land masses and then seventy years later the aeroplane was invented.

Initially aircraft were for breaking speed records and then World War-I (1914-18) saw the military side of this new machine. It was not really until the 1920's that aircraft were big enough to both carry mail and passengers. Every year a new world record of distant flying was being broken and the need to carry goods started to be demanded.

Airships and rigid Durables were also in competition with the aircraft, despite being slow and vulnerable they were able to carry heavier loads than aircraft could.

Railways.

Trains.

In the recent months we have seen three major train accidents in France, Spain and Switzerland. Speed was one of the key factors, but there was also human failure and bad track maintenance involved. We have asked the question before is speed essential, people today do seem to want to get from A to Z quickly?

Railways since they were created have become an essential life line for all the nations around the world who have them. Locomotives, wither steam, diesel or electric do not matter as long as they work. But it is still human error and negligence over speed issues and will to repair tracks that are and will continue to lead to failure, leading to accidents and deaths sadly.

'Take the Train.'

Railways.

I wonder how many people today still use the train to travel long distances. Back in the 1950's it was really the hey day od travel in the U.S. Rail travel was going from A to B or Z in style. But today modern trains are fast and design of style has been lost.

Around the world train travel continues at very different paces from country to country. Diesels rule more so than steam and electric, because they are cheaper to buy and build. Many nations do not have a commuter service and rely on a regular train probably only one a day.

Railways and trains will continue to be around for a long time yet, because for many developing nations they are a life line in communications.

Metro Systems.

Introduction.

Whatever you call them, underground, subway or metro systems, railways, nearly every major capital city now has one or more. We will look at four of them over the next few months in Moscow, Russia, Paris, France, New York, U.S.A. and London UK. 

These are probably the four most well known, because of 'Hollywood and the film industry.' They are really 'the daddy systems of underworld urban transportation and are unique in their history and construction.' Today they are old, in need of some 'Tender loving care.'

The other feature that mark them out for further study are there use of new and old stock trains, while also a mixture of wiring and signalling. They also have secret tunnels and stations no longer used.

Irelands Railways.

New Railway stock.

Has the modernization of the railway network and rolling stock, north and south in Ireland taken away the charm, that it once had? 

Or has the newness of it all improved everything, speed, cleanness and comfort? 

Ireland has that unique limited gauge of track found on the massive railway networks of Brazil, India and Australia

The Coras Impoar Eireann colour scheme of orange, black and white, latterly yellow on those predominantly American 121/141/181/071/111 and the Canadian 201 stock locomotives had seemed to mark out a difference. 

Perhaps I'm getting old and have to many reminiscences that cover the sleekness and modern look of the new?

Am I right or am I wrong?