Freeware models of Irish narrow-gauge railways - and much more - for Trainz Railway Simulator

Models by Ricky Sykes and Steve Flanders, railway histories by Joe Begley.
(kuids: 254127 and 169585)

All pages and models are directly accessible from the pop-out menu at the top-left of every page.

New this update:

PHOTOS: I have added a gallery of non-Trainz pictures to the galleries page which I took on 1st June, 2009. They show CDR Class 5 Drumboe undergoing restoration at the RPSI's workshops, Whitehead, Co. Antrim. Although Drumboe is now completely 'knocked down' into her component parts it's easy to see that she is being successfully restored to working order. The aim is to get her back into steam eventually and operate her on a restored part of the CDR route, centred on the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre in Donegal Town. For more information - and to make donations - check out the link below.

MODELS: This month's releases continue the CDR theme with another batch of freight vehicles, all built by Oldbury. First: horsebox no.3 is now available. This takes two horses and three passengers/grooms. It was later rebuilt as a conventional van. Next we have 16 vans plus 3 very similar tranship vans. These latter were designed to have their bodies removed, like the CDR containers, but this would mean they couldn't be loaded with freight in Trainz so they are modelled as more or less standard vans. 10 wagons have been modelled. Like the vans these take a range of the small ING4Trainz product loads. Two new bogey vehicles are also released this month. Wagon 159 was the only purpose-built bogey goods vehicle supplied to the CDR. It can take 4 product loads. Wagon 336 was adapted from an ex-Ballymena, Cushendall and Red Bay Railway carriage frame and was usually used to carry loads of timber. Both of these wagons have their own bogey which you will need to download. The timber product load for wagon 336 is available, together with a scenery version for the trackside.

Please note that these models use a new bogey so make sure you download it as well. Also, the CDR designated open wagons as 'flats', and vans as 'covered wagons', but the more usual railway nomenclature is used here.

Next month's models will probably drift away from the CDR freight stock just for a change. I have obtained some plans of the locos and ore wagons which ran on the 2ft-gauge railways of the Hook Norton ironstone quarries (Oxfordshire) - very tempting!

Two appeals:

1. I am making plans with another Trainzer to model the narrow-gauge railways of Calvados, Normandy, France. We are aiming to tranck down and obtain printed material. If you have anything that you are willing to scan for us please let me know. We have already got everything available online.

2. Belfast Model Railway Exhibition in the railway hall, Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, November 2010. I shall be presenting Trainz - especially the Irish narrow gauge - at this event. It's over sixteen months away so I'm inviting Trainzers to make and share Irish NG layouts using ING4Trainz models and others for me to run on the day. It will be displayed using a large flat screen TV or projector and screen and the venue will be inside an original narrow-gauge carriage, either the Castlederg or the Cavan & Leitrim carriages which are part of the permanent exhibition. Please email me if you are interested.

All new ING4Trainz models and revised versions will now be issued under kuid 169585 only.

Steve, June 25th, 2009


This site is dedicated to the memory of

Ricky Sykes
1942 - 2008

A great modeller, railway enthusiast, blues singer and composer, and friend.

Two videos of Ricky's model of Ballyshannon CDR in mpeg format can be downloaded here and here. These are the videos Ricky posted on YouTube. They are large downloads: 27MB and 31MB..

Here is the YouTube link for one of them.


These models are for Trainz 2004 but they will probably work OK in Trainz 2006. There may be a problem if you are running Trainz Classics as they utilise some of the Trainz 2004 built-in content, such as enginesound files, which may not have shipped with Trainz Classics. Where possible, if the relevant files are 3rd-party creations, I will try to provide access to them either by hosting the files as cdps on this site on the guest page, or by providing a direct link to the author's own site. This service cannot be offered if the files are part of the built-in content authored by Auran and the best solution would be for you to consider purchasing a copy of Trainz 2004, readily available at very reasonable prices on Ebay.

ING4Trainz is continuing and developing, although the rate at which new models are made and released will necessarily be less. I have no plans to change from 3D Max/Gmax to Blender and so I cannot say whether ING4Trainz models will function in the Trainz2009. If you have any queries or comments, please email me.

Email list: get notification whenever new models are released. Just send an email to be added to the list.

Do you have a special request, a prototype that you'd like to see modelled? I'm happy to add it to the wish list. If you have plans and/or photographs that would be great. I can't guarantee if/when it will be modelled but at least it will be 'on the list'! Just send an email.

All of these models are released as freeware for everyone to enjoy. They remain the property of their creators. The Gmax files are not available and ING4Trainz does not permit reskinning of models. For further details see the policy page. I do not undertake commissions but if you would like to suggest a model to add to the wish list then please email - drawings and plans are especially useful as well as photos. Steve


If you enjoy these models and wish to make a donation please send it to:

County Donegal Railway Restoration Ltd
The Old Station House, Donegal Town, Co. Donegal, Ireland

The home of Drumboe, coach 28, trailer 5, railcar 14 etc., etc.