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Some action under the lights on Tara junction….

Mallow,Ballyhaunis Ballina and Thomastown come to mind regarding Irish low platforms during the 80s and 90s.

The ARROW railcar 2601+2602 forms the 22:45 Dublin Heuston-Kildare service seen here calling at Tara junctions platform 4.

Two AEC road freight flatbed trucks leave the Lakeview freight yard passing the superb IRM grain wagons.

A miniature modelling masterpiece -well done.

The Bombardier family of buses….

Having worked in Ballina freight yard over twenty years ago and now only recently returned to take up a position there - there are a number of major industries based in the town-the main one being Ballina beverages (aka Coca cola) -they moved into the town in 1999 and have provided the railhead with lots of traffic-and a lot more if IE could provide wagons and paths, Baxter’s healthcare is Castlebar is another major customer as was Asahi, IE continues to offer competitive rates for the carriage of containers to the above named customers and have had an excellent record with drivers and depot staff with no trains cancelled over the last twenty years. a few photos from last week….

Flying Scotsman is seen being held at a red signal while working a charter train from York to King’s Cross as a HST and Class 47 pass on the down line.

New station LED lights have been fitted to the canopy on platform one.

Cheers and thanks Dave…it’s a silver fox control car

Friday night fun on Tara junction 6101+134 work a Longford-Dublin Connolly push pull service 080 arrives from Galway hauling the Mk2 a/b service 112 passes through Tara junction and promptly fails in the tunnel -fortunately the experienced driver found the fault and restarted the locomotive and continued on to Dublin Connolly. 018 works the empty Sligo-Northwall oil train passing 048 which is working the Northwall-Claremorris laden oil. 017 works the Fridays only 17:00 Heuston -Ballina Mk2D set.

220 returned to Northwall on St Patrick’s day hauling the 10:05 IWT liner seen here north of Foxford station.

31130 hauling the impressive revolution trains cartic 4 Motorail wagons through Ashburton grove while enroute to Leeds.

It’s still possible…….

It really brightens up the current scene along with 071,073 and 2601+2602

Retro locomotive 220 was let loose on the IE network today having undergone an overhaul and repaint in the 1994 as delivered livery, Having celebrated its 30th year in service two weeks ago we see the locomotive on the 09:40 IWT liner-a few photos in the Mayo sunshine.

As seen here on Tara junction…….

Three grain wagons have now been added to the goods train along with increased motive power-B131+B188 now power the train.

Congratulations to IRM on their 10th birthday, Well done on your choice of locomotive -sound fitted 800 has been ordered

The Westland sea king helicopter in action over Tara junction.

The superb IRM/Heljan oil tanks get their first run behind 192+160 on Tara junction,as @BEANO3005said a little drop of oil on the axle boxes really improves the running of the wagons. B188 works the return goods train from Sligo via the Burma road to Northwall.

Advice taken-and a pack of grain wagons ordered…..

Having being inspired by a recent slideshow presentation by Colm O’Callaghan at the Irish railway record society last week-I recreated a photo of two brand new 201 class locomotives being hauled by a 141 class from Northwall to Inchicore on Tara junction. 143 is seen here hauling 220 and 221 through Tara junction complete with a guards van, The real 220 was introduced to traffic on the 04/03/1995 with 221 on 16/03/1995.

More like Gort Mol…

The Northwall-Sligo H van liner has been diverted to operate via Mullingar-Athlone-Claremorris,- Swinford,-Tubbercurry -Colooney (aka the Burma road) as there is a bridge being replaced outside Longford-it is seen here being hauled through Tara junction by locomotive 188. Well done IRM..