thewanderer

The April gallery has been updated with images from Galway Station which last Saturday saw new platforms 3 and 4 commissioned to join platform 5, which had opened a number of weeks ago. Platforms 1 and 2 (the old 1 and 2 respectively) remain closed for rebuilding. Passengers also got to experience the new roof constructed over the train shed and the new southern concourse was also opened on the same day. Galway is undergoing a 1980's "Liverpool Street" rebuild to make it fit for the expansion of rail services in the region. Once completed the stations platforms will be able to hold the following train sizes: P1 - 6ICR / 6DMU P2 - 7ICR / 8DMU P3 - 6ICR / 6DMU P4 - 4ICR / 4DMU P5 - 4ICR / 4DMU Also included in the gallery is pictures from a trip to Sligo, with various images from Heuston, Connolly, Edgeworthstown, Dromod, Boyle and Sligo. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/April-2026/i-9n7NJnM to view.

The April gallery has a small update with: Monday 13th April 2026: Enterprise liveried 207 is pictured well off the beaten track at Thurles heading from Dublin to Cork. Wednesday 15th April 2026: 22009 is captured at Portlaoise after arriving from Heuston. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/April-2026/i-XhcShpJ to view.

The April gallery starts off with images from the Rathmore area, Thurles, RPSI owned diesel locomotives at Inchicore. During a Sunday drive to a place called Shannonbridge in the Irish Midlands, I came across a bench that would be very familiar to fans of the BR sectorisation era, especially if it was painted red! Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/April-2026 to view.

Towards the end of March, I spent a couple of days in the UK. images come from: Birmingham, Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, London, Grantham, Leeds, Harrogate, York, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Preston. Traction highlights include : Class 91, 93's & Class 230, 230001 on the Greenford Branch. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/International/2026/UK-Trip-Wednesday-25th-to-Saturday-28th-March-2026 to view.

The March gallery gets a quick update with some images from Thurles, Tara Street and Connolly. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/March-2026/i-HgTn9hx to view.

The March gallery is updated with: Monday 16th March 2026: Evening time at Thurles with the 1925 Cork - Heuston calling at the station. Tuesday 17th March 2026: St. Patrick's Day sees pictures from Limerick jct. and also Ballinroad Level Crossing on the former Mallow to Waterford Railway Line. The Crossing Keepers Cottage has been converted into a cafe on the popular Waterford Greenway near Dungarvan. Wednesday 18th March 2026: LUAS & Bus images from Heuston Station and Parkgate Street. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/March-2026/i-8XFTSq6 to view.

As of Wednesday night there are only 14 tickets left for sale on the tram tour. Tickets available to purchase at https://irrs.ie/events/outing-the-best-of-both-worlds-luas-tram-tour/

The website has been updated with new images from: Wednesday 4th March 2026: Pictures from Dublin Connolly, Drogheda and Heuston LUAS Stop. The Drogheda images show the new OHLE installed at the station for fast charging the BEMU fleet. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/March-2026/i-xHfnrkH Castlerea Railway Museum. A vast collection of rail memorabilia celebrating the history of railway in Ireland. The museum holds the largest private collection of rail memorabilia in Ireland, and work to preserve and promote the importance of this history. The highlight has to be locomotive A55 as the centerpiece of the museum and the adjoining pub and restaurant! Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/RailtoursHeritageRailways/2026/Castlerea-Railway-Museum

Ticket sales have reached the 60% mark as of 1700 this evening. If you're planning on joining us, don't delay and book soon to avoid disappointment.

The first RPSI railtour of 2026 saw them operate a day trip from Dublin Connolly to Thurles and Limerick on Saturday 28th February 2026. The train was hauled by No. 171 from Dublin Connolly to Thurles, and then on to Limerick by 071 Class diesel locomotive No. 088. Overall a very enjoyable day with some fantastic running from loco 171. There was last minute issues with the allocated 071 Class loco when it was discovered that the Limerick based loco would not start on Saturday morning. Quick thinking by the depot supervisor saw him borrow an PWD allocated locomotive from Portlaoise with a Limerick Driver dispatched poste-haste to Portlaoise on the 0855 Limerick - Heuston to collect it and bring it to Thurles. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/RailtoursHeritageRailways/2026/RPSI-An-Sáirséal/i-5Xj3dk7 to view all the images.

With thanks to Transdev Ireland, operators of LUAS, a tram tour has been arranged to transverse the Red Line on Sunday 10th May 2026, covering a variety of non-passenger sections of track & non preferred platforms. The requested itinerary is: Red Cow Depot – Red Cow – Smithfield Crossover (reverse) – Heuston Middle Platform (reverse) – Connolly (reverse) – The Point (reverse) Use of centre platform requested – Belgard – Saggart – Saggart Reversing Siding (reverse) – Belgard (reverse) – Tallaght – Tallaght Reversing Siding (reverse) – Belgard (route through middle platform requested) – Red Cow Depot. Tour Highlights Depart and Arrive from Red Cow LUAS Depot. Smithfield Emergency Crossover. Heuston Middle Platform. Connolly to George’s Dock direct using the 3rd non-passenger side of the delta junction at Connolly/Busaras. Use of the non-passenger turnback siding at Saggart and Tallaght. Middle Platform at Belgard on the Tallaght to Red Cow leg of the tram tour. Photo stops have been requested at the following locations Heuston Middle Platform Connolly The Point – time will be allowed in schedule for a toilet break. Saggart Reversing Siding Tallaght Reversing Siding Tour patrons are to meet at Red Cow Depot at 10.00 hrs for a 10.30 start time. A safety briefing will be conducted at the start of the tour. Any late comers will not be allowed to join the tour. Fares Member Non-Member Adult €20.00 €25.00 Children (under 16) – €10.00 Bookings for this outing open on Friday 6th March 2026 at 09.00 and can be made directly at https://irrs.ie/events/outing-the-best-of-both-worlds-luas-tram-tour/ All enquiries should be directed to the IRRS Programme Officer at programme@irrs.ie

A number of images from Valentines weekend from a trip from Killarney to Dublin Heuston and back again. A highlight was seeing the Retro-Arrow set 26001 allocated to work the 1450 Cork - Tralee on Sunday. Pictures can be found at: https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/February-2026/i-7MrzCm2

The February gallery has been updated with pictures from a ramble around the LUAS Red Line between Heuston and Saggart last Saturday. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/February-2026/i-Gd2mhGc to view the new images starting at Heuston.

Ulster Folk and Transport Museum The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum is situated in Cultra, Northern Ireland. It comprises two separate museums, the Folk Museum and the Transport Museum. The Folk Museum endeavors to illustrate the way of life and traditions of the people in Northern Ireland, past and present, while the Transport Museum explores and exhibits methods of transport by land, sea and air, past and present on the island of Ireland. During my visit to Belfast I managed to pay a visit to the museum. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/RailtoursHeritageRailways/2026/Ulster-Folk-and-Transport-Museum-Cultra-Co-Down to view.

The website has been updated with the final images from January and the first of the February gallery images. Pictures come from: * Thurles * Dublin Heuston * Dublin Connolly * Drogheda * Newry * Belfast Grand Central * Belfast Lanyon Place * Ballymoney * Derry * Cultra For the latest January pictures click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/Janaury-2026/i-ggdfHCj For the start of the February pictures click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/February-2026