spudfan

Probably a bit rich for here, but someone might be interested. Legislator Calls For State to Sell Alaska Railroad ... The purchaser would have to promise to operate the railroad for at least 50 years, the Alaska Beacon reports. The railroad was built by the federal government in the early 20th century and then transferred to the state in the 1980s. Some in the state have said the railroad could be more efficiently operated by a private operator. The railroad itself, however, has been opposed to efforts to sell it. —Railfan & Railroad Staff

I remember my father telling me about the new "BIG" dieselsCIE had bought. Looking over the bridge at Islandbridge was great fun. Heuston station was a lot more interesting then than now!

Don't know how Irish Rail can vet passengers. Be even more difficult if they book online. “Almost all illegal movement from the Republic into Northern Ireland is by scheduled coach or train, arriving at a handful of terminals.” They would target terminals including Belfast, Newry, Banbridge and Sprucefield. Kruger is set to say: “We will impose a civil penalty of £10,000 per passenger on any bus or rail operator for each illegal immigrant transported into Northern Ireland. Reform UK pledges immigration spot checks at Irish border and potential fines of up to £10,000

What? Did you say something?

The wife....

There has been a thunder and lightning show of biblical proportions going on here for over an hour with no sign of it abating. Constant lightning and constant banging, no gaps whatsoever. Might make the news tomorrow! Never had anything like it last as long.

Went from Antrim to Belfast on the train today. At one of the next stops four women got on towing their luggage. They settled down and started talking among themselves. Suddenly one of the women remarked that they were on the wrong train and were heading in the wrong direction! Anyway they decamped at the next station to catch the next train in the RIGHT direction! Some derelict wagons outside Antrim. They are that covered by nature I thought it they were an old platform covered by undergrowth. If you are passing that way keep an eye out as you are leaving the station. They are on the right hand side heading for Belfast. An Enterprise liveried 201 and two rather forelorn matching coaches stabled at the works outside York Street station.

Tailbacks in Derry after a lorry became stuck on the Craigavon bridge show the need for a new bridge over the Foyle, an MLA has suggested. There were long delays in the city after a heavy goods vehicle became wedged on the lower deck of the bridge on Wednesday morning. While there do not appear to be official statistics recording exactly how often this has happened, local politicians say it has now become something of a regular occurrence - with the drivers of large vehicles following GPS directions thought to be responsible for many of the instances. More here New bridge over the Foyle needed says MLA as another lorry gets stuck I do not have a GPS or a SatNav, I have a "SatNag. "It does not come with an off switch....sometimes I feel it would be nice to have that option.

Dublin automated metro procurement launched Dublin automated metro procurement launched - Railway Gazette International

Have sent the scans. Enjoy...

The headline had me confused especially the piece about a decline in freight traffic. Then I saw that it was May 4 in 1926! Sharp fall in rail passenger numbers and freight hits Northern Ireland economy - On this day in 1926

Here is a few extracts from book which has a chapter on the creation of the Mont Cenis tunnel in the alps. The extracts here deal with the track and motive power. The book was written at the time of construction of the tunnel by someone who was doing some climbing in the area. Anyway I found it really interesting. If any one out there wants the whole relevant chapter I can email it to them.

I was talking to someone today who does business with various companies in China. The cost of getting a container load of goods from China to here has fallen from a high of around €20,000 to €3,500. That is a big saving to any company. He did think that the costs will start climbing again and was wondering when delivery/courier companies here will start asking for a fuel surcharge on delivery of packages to counter the cost of fuel. I am thinking the the "free" delivery of model train items could be thing of the past as delivery companies will need to cover the cost of fuel increases.