NEW CIÉ/IÉ MK.2B AND MK.2C COACHES

Taking a step back to locomotivehauled days, IRM is offering packs of early Mk.2 coaches in two

Iarnród Éireann Intercity liveries, representing second-hand BR coaches acquired to strengthen services on secondary routes.

The coaches were a mix of open and corridor stock and a handful were adapted for service as quickly as possible including a repaint in orange and black livery. The remainder required a degree of rebuilding at Inchicore works to create open coaches and buffet cars. Having incompatible electrical systems compared to the rest of the fleet, the trains were powered with generator vans.

The new models build on the Mk.2b models announced by Accurascale and effectively model the repurposing of redundant BR stock for use in Ireland. Anyone researching this mixed bag of coaches will soon realise that it comprised not only of Mk.2bs which are included in the Accurascale and IRM collections already, but Mk.2c too, which is a hint of things to come for BR modellers.

Tooling is complete with delivery of the four-coach ‘train builder’ packs expected in late 2023. Each pack is priced at £224.94 (€269.99) and if the popularity of the NIR Mk.2b coach packs are anything to go by, the IÉ Mk.2b/c coaches are likely to sell out rather quickly.

www.accurascale.com/collections/ irm-coaches

The livery used after late 1990 is applied to two of the four new coach packs which are configured to allow complete trains to be built up. It is hoped that the associated generator cars are high on IRM’s ‘to-do’ list.

CIÉ /IÉ Mk.2b/c coach pack with Intercity markings and orange roof. Four coaches are included in each pack.