thewanderer

The IRRS website is off line currently due to the PHP issues currently in the news. If you want to book tickets for the upcoming events you can do so directly at eventbrite with the links below. https://irrs80-railtour.eventbrite.ie https://irrs80-evening-reception.eventbrite.ie

Tickets are still available for the IRRS 80th Railtour to Thurles this coming Saturday featuring double headed 071 Class locos. We will extend the ticket sales to Friday at 1200pm for any late comers. Full details and ticket booking at https://irrs.ie/events/80th-anniversary-steam-train-outing-dublin-connolly-to-thurles-return/

The Irish Railway Record Society 80th railtour outing will now be diesel hauled due to the unavailability of RPSI's No. 171, which the RPSI informed us about on Monday 5th October. This is due to a defect 171 suffered after it's trip to Dundalk on Sunday 4th October. The timeline for repair means that the loco will not be available for the planned trip to Thurles. In discussions between ourselves, the RPSI and Iarnród Éireann, we have proposed that the tour operates using Iarnrod Eireann 071 Class diesel locomotives dating from 1976 and which are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. We plan to use two of their heritage liveried locomotives No. 071 (in CIE livery from 1976) and No. 073 (in Irish Rail livery from 1987), subject to availability, throughout the day working in multiple together. This is a rare chance to experience 071's working in multiple! Further details can be found on the IRRS website at www.irrs.ie

A few snaps from around Lisduff on the Dublin - Cork line on Sunday afternoon. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/October-2026 to view.

071's at Fifty Iarnrod Eireann Locomotive No. 082 has been repainted into a retro livery to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 071 class which were delivered in 1976 and entered service in 1977. Joining sister locomotives 071 and 073 which also carry heritage retro liveries since 2016 and 2017 respectively, 082 has been painted into the 1995 IE Largo Logo logo livery. The loco was revealed in a small ceremony at Inchicore Paint Shop on Monday 28th September. All the photos can be viewed at https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/Officialevents/2026/071s-at-Fifty Iarnrod Eireann will also be featuring it on their instagram and tiktok profiles.

071's at Fifty Iarnrod Eireann Locomotive No. 082 has been repainted into a retro livery to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 071 class which were delivered in 1976 and entered service in 1977. Joining sister locomotives 071 and 073 which also carry heritage retro liveries since 2016 and 2017 respectively, 082 has been painted into the 1995 IE Largo Logo logo livery. The loco was revealed in a small ceremony at Inchicore Paint Shop on Monday 28th September. All the photos can be viewed at https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/Officialevents/2026/071s-at-Fifty Iarnrod Eireann will also be featuring it on their instagram and tiktok profiles.

The September gallery has been updated with images from across the month. Images come from: * Athlone * LUAS scenes * Thurles * Loop Line Bridge * Dromod * Longford * 073 + RPSI Cravens breaking new ground to somewhere the Cravens have never been to before. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/September-2026 to view.

80th Anniversary Steam Train Outing Dublin Connolly to Thurles Return The IRRS are delighted to announce that a Steam Hauled Railtour outing has been arranged for Saturday 24th October 2026 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Irish Railway Record Society. With thanks to the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI) and Iarnród Éireann, we will undertake an outing from Dublin to Thurles, hauled by Steam Locomotive No. 171 “Slieve Gullion” and featuring the renowned RPSI Cravens carriages, complete with their legendary Bar Car and Dining Car offering hot and cold drinks, alcoholic beverages, sandwiches, snacks, and light refreshments. We have requested that the tour is routed to operate via Portarlington Down Loop (outward) & Portarlington Up Loop (return). Timetable Arrive Depart Dublin Connolly 09:30 Portarlington 10:50 Thurles 12:00 15:50 Portarlington 17:00 Dublin Connolly 18:30 All timings are indicative until confirmed by Iarnród Éireann. Fares Member Non-Member Adult – From Dublin Connolly €70.00 €80.00 Adult – From Portarlington €60.00 €70.00 Children (under 16) – €40.00 Family Ticket (2 adults & up to 2 children under 16) – €180.00 Bookings can be made directly at https://irrs.ie/events/80th-anniversary-steam-train-outing-dublin-connolly-to-thurles-return/

Closing out the August gallery sees a lunchtime trip from Portlaoise to Limerick before catching the evening Nenagh branch service back to Nenagh on the last day of August. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/August-2026/i-6q55DXV to view.

The August gallery has been updated with: Tuesday 18th August 2026: Images from Thurles, Portarlington, Clara, Athlone, Manulla Jct. and Castlebar. Sunday 30th August 2026: Images from Mallow featuring the Retro-ARROW 26001 on one of the Sunday 2600 working to Tralee.

Been clearing out the backlog of images taken over the past couple of weeks and finally got them uploaded to the website. July 2026 - All Ireland Football Final Day at Dublin Heuston, plus a trip into the Phoenix Park on Dublin Bus route 99 which did not go as planned. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/July-2026/i-f48q235 August 2026 - The latest photos have images from Thurles, Limerick, Galway. Athenry, Gort. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/August-2026 Headhunters - The World’s Only Barber Shop & Railway Museum! A visit to this fantastic railway museum in Enniskillen. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/RailtoursHeritageRailways/2026/Headhunters RPSI: Cú na Mara The RPSI operated another one of their fantastic diesel railtours on Saturday 8th August from Dublin to Galway and Ennis featuring CIE liveried loco 071. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/RailtoursHeritageRailways/2026/RPSI-Cú-na-Mara

Good morning folks, Saturday 25th July 2026 - a ramble by train and bus exploring some of the rural bus routes in Ireland which have been introduced in the last few years under the Connecting Ireland program. Today's adventure saw me travel from Thurles to Ennis via train and then local bus services in east Clare to bring me to Killaloe and then a short hop up the east side of Lough Derg to the small village of Portroe in Co. Tipperary, all using new bus services introduced in recent years. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/July-2026/i-wLTL4kv to view from the start.

Afternoon folks, The latest images to the July gallery have been uploaded with pictures from: * Thurles * Limerick Jct. * Limerick Highlight being 072 working the Limerick to Inchicore wagon transfer. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/July-2026/i-MpbPvrp to view.

The July gallery starts off with: Friday 3rd July 2026: Pictures from Killarney and Mallow. Monday 6th July 2026: Pictures from Thurles, Mallow, Killarney, Stagmount and Mallow Viaduct. Saturday 11th July 2026: A ramble around Dubin's Northside featuring photos from the railways and canals of the area. Featuring Heuston Station, Blessington Street Basin, Glasnevin and Cross Guns Lock with the Tyrone Star boat passing through. Sunday 12th July 2026: Pictures from Thurles and Heuston. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/July-2026 to view.

The Foynes Line: A full review of the latest progress on the Foynes line rebuild with 100+ photos, considering it is about 15 months since my last update on the project. All track work is completed, much of the level crossing and signaling infrastructure work is well on the way to be completed. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/Officialevents/2026/Foynes-Line-Reconstruction/i-QgbSZCK to view.

The latest update for June sees two new additions. June gallery: Images from around Limerick and Limerick Jct. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/June-2026/i-89CjVfd to view. The Foynes Line: A full review of the latest progress on the Foynes line rebuild with 100+ photos, considering it is about 15 months since my last update on the project. All track work is completed, much of the level crossing and signaling infrastructure work is well on the way to be completed. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/Officialevents/2026/Foynes-Line-Reconstruction/i-QgbSZCK to view.

The June gallery has been updated with some more Railway Preservation Society of Ireland outings and general everyday odds and sods. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/June-2026/i-RzpVHWR to view.

The June gallery has been updated with some more Railway Preservation Society of Ireland outings and general everyday odds and sods. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/June-2026/i-RzpVHWR to view.

Evening all, Two updates to the website today. - The June gallery has new pictures from Thurles, Limerick Jct., Limerick, Athlone and Portarlington featuring Enterprise locos on the Dublin - Cork service and various 071's on the XPO liner and a Ballast Train. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/June-2026/i-m7Qf9MM to view. - Also on Wednesday, I travelled on the Railtours Ireland "Emerald Pullman" from Limerick Jct. to Athlone which was operated by the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland with Irish Rail locos 082 and 071 in its retro CIE livery featuring. Between Sunday 7th June and Friday 12th June, the Charter operated from Dublin Connolly to Waterford, Killarney, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Athlone and Westport. Of note on Wednesday, the charter train became the first locomotive hauled train to visit the rebuilt Galway Station arriving at the new platform 3. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/RailtoursHeritageRailways/2026/Railtours-Ireland-Emerald-Pullman to view.

The June gallery kicks off with images from Limerick Jct., Limerick and returning home via the Nenagh branch to Ballybrophy. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/June-2026 to view.

The last train until Tuesday. I was in the Tipperary town area on Saturday evening so popped by the station to see the 1840 Limerick Jct. - Waterford calling at the station. With no Sunday or Bank Holiday service on the route, this would be the last train service until Tuesday morning. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/May-2026/i-447Nj3B to view the images.

The May gallery starts off with over 100 images added to it featuring pictures from: * Dublin Heuston * Adamstown * Laois Depot * Ballybrophy * Cork * Littleisland * Fota * Carriagloe * Rushbrook * Cobh * Carrightwohill * Midleton * Drogheda * Dundalk * Thurles * Nenagh * Cahir Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/May-2026/i-tkdw9wM to view.

The weekend of 9th and 10th May was a busy weekend for Irish Rail tours with the RPSI heading to Cork and Midleton on the Saturday, with the IRRS and BLS having an outing on the LUAS Red Line on the Sunday. Photos from both tour can be viewed at https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/RailtoursHeritageRailways/2026

The April gallery comes to a close with images from Thurles, Heuston and Blackhorse on the LUAS Red Line, Connolly, Clontarf Road and Dun-Laoghaire plus Dublin Bus GT91 in a prang with a taxi in Dublin City Centre. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2026-Photos/April-2026/i-ZrhG7ms to view the images.

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.