thewanderer

Friday 26th April 2024: 2602 + 2601 returned to their home depot of Limerick on Friday 26th April for further attention before a return to service in the Cork area. The retro-liveried pair were photographed at Kishyquirk outside Killonan Jct. Later in the day we see the new footbridge at Banteer and the 1705 Tralee - Cork passing Rathcoole. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/April-2024/i-v4MjrVr

Friday 26th April 2024: 2602 + 2601 returned to their home depot of Limerick on Friday 26th April for further attention before a return to service in the Cork area. The retro-liveried pair were photographed at Kishyquirk outside Killonan Jct. Later in the day we see the new footbridge at Banteer and the 1705 Tralee - Cork passing Rathcoole. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/April-2024/i-v4MjrVr

It's back to the 1990's for Iarnrod Eireann as they have repainted 2600 Class, No. 2601+2602 back into a modified version of the ARROW livery they originally carried from 1994 to the early 2000's to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the class. The work was completed to an outstanding quality in house at the paint spray facility in Inchicore Works and the team poses in front of the completed set on Wednesday 25th April for official photos to be taken before the set returns to service in Cork working the commuter services to Cobh, Midleton and Mallow. An IR£19.5 million order was placed in 1992 with Mitsui, who subcontracted the order to Tokyu Car Corporation of Yokohama, Japan. This was quite groundbreaking on a number of fronts; not only was it the first Irish order placed with an Asian firm, but they were also the first railway vehicles built in Asia for the European market and the vehicles are still held in high regard by their manufacture 30 years later. The Irish Railway Record Society are arranging a 30th anniversary railtour over the weekend of the 18th & 19th May and it is expected that 2601 + 2602 will work the tour throughout. See https://irrstimesarrow.eventbrite.ie for more information and booking. For photos of the launch click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/Officialevents/2024/ARROW-30-years-1994-2024/

It's back to the 1990's for Iarnrod Eireann as they have repainted 2600 Class, No. 2601+2602 back into a modified version of the ARROW livery they originally carried from 1994 to the early 2000's to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the class. The work was completed to an outstanding quality in house at the paint spray facility in Inchicore Works and the team poses in front of the completed set on Wednesday 25th April for official photos to be taken before the set returns to service in Cork working the commuter services to Cobh, Midleton and Mallow. An IR£19.5 million order was placed in 1992 with Mitsui, who subcontracted the order to Tokyu Car Corporation of Yokohama, Japan. This was quite groundbreaking on a number of fronts; not only was it the first Irish order placed with an Asian firm, but they were also the first railway vehicles built in Asia for the European market and the vehicles are still held in high regard by their manufacture 30 years later. The Irish Railway Record Society are arranging a 30th anniversary railtour over the weekend of the 18th & 19th May and it is expected that 2601 + 2602 will work the tour throughout. See https://irrstimesarrow.eventbrite.ie for more information and booking. For photos of the launch click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/Officialevents/2024/ARROW-30-years-1994-2024/

It's back to the 1990's for Iarnrod Eireann as they have repainted 2600 Class, No. 2601+2602 back into a modified version of the ARROW livery they originally carried from 1994 to the early 2000's to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the class. The work was completed to an outstanding quality in house at the paint spray facility in Inchicore Works and the team poses in front of the completed set on Wednesday 25th April for official photos to be taken before the set returns to service in Cork working the commuter services to Cobh, Midleton and Mallow. An IR£19.5 million order was placed in 1992 with Mitsui, who subcontracted the order to Tokyu Car Corporation of Yokohama, Japan. This was quite groundbreaking on a number of fronts; not only was it the first Irish order placed with an Asian firm, but they were also the first railway vehicles built in Asia for the European market and the vehicles are still held in high regard by their manufacture 30 years later. The Irish Railway Record Society are arranging a 30th anniversary railtour over the weekend of the 18th & 19th May and it is expected that 2601 + 2602 will work the tour throughout. See https://irrstimesarrow.eventbrite.ie for more information and booking. For photos of the launch click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/Officialevents/2024/ARROW-30-years-1994-2024/

Just a reminder that tickets are still available for Time's Arrow railtour on 18th - 19th May from Cork & Dublin to Dundalk, Howth, Maynooth, M3 Parkway and Cobh. Full tour details and booking at https://irrstimesarrow.eventbrite.ie with multiple different ticket options available (single day ticket for Saturday from Cork or Dublin or Sunday day ticket for the non stop run from Dublin to Cobh or a 2 day ticket for best value). And IE are also getting in on the act with the 30th anniversary with a retro repaint of a 2600 into ARROW livery. It is planned that the ARROW liveried unit will feature on the IRRS tour. They released a sneek peek on social media last Friday with a full reveal to come this week. See https://fb.watch/rCI9oIS9mU/

In a further update from the weekend just gone, earlier on the Saturday I paid a visit to the Limerick - Foynes Railway which is currently being rebuilt for freight traffic. In my latest update (no. 7) we see a selection of photos from various locations between Foynes and Adare showing recent progress on the rebuilding of the railway. Work is well advanced at the Foynes end of the railway (excluding the railway station itself) with the trackbed for several miles now ready to have track laid on it, the further you go towards Limerick the work is less advanced. All the photos can be viewed at https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/Officialevents/2024/Foynes-Line-Reconstruction-/i-fh7FVB4 To see all the photos in the collection (starting in November 2022) click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/Officialevents/2024/Foynes-Line-Reconstruction-/i-J27B2SK

Saturday 20th April 2024: The first train since the 18th March rolls though Ballycar with the 1725 Ennis - Limerick at 1737 earlier this evening with 22001 in charge. Great to see this important regional route reopened to our customers once again after the enforced closure. The train later returned as the 1815 Limerick - Galway which I caught near Cratloe. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/April-2024/i-2Bb4zb2 to view all the images.

Saturday 20th April 2024: The first train since the 18th March rolls though Ballycar with the 1725 Ennis - Limerick at 1737 earlier this evening with 22001 in charge. Great to see this important regional route reopened to our customers once again after the enforced closure. The train later returned as the 1815 Limerick - Galway which I caught near Cratloe. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/April-2024/i-2Bb4zb2 to view all the images.

An bit of an update to last Monday's posting with new photos in the April gallery containing. Tuesday 16th April 2024: Photos today come from Thurles, Dublin Heuston & Blackhorse on the LUAS. Wednesday 17th April 2024: The Tara Mines transfer which was terminated at Ballybrophy on Monday was eventually moved to Limerick on Wednesday afternoon after repairs had been carried out at Ballybrophy to a wagon defect. The train was pictured at Killonan Jct. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/April-2024/i-cn4z6P3 to view.

Good morning all, Pictures from last Sunday and Monday have just been uploaded to the April gallery. Sunday 14th April 2024: A Sunday evening "chase" on the Nenagh Branch between Birdhill and Cloughjordan photographing the 1735 Limerick - Ballybrophy. Monday 15th April 2024: Iarnrod Eireann have started to move the Tara Wagons from Dublin's North Wall yard, where they had been stored since Tara Mines halted production in Summer 2023, down to Limerick for further storage. The first movement of 11 wagons occurred on Monday 15th April when 075 brought them towards Limerick as a 0937 North Wall - Limerick transfer. Unfortunately the service ran into difficulty after Portarlington and was eventually terminated in Ballybrophy to await a visit from Limerick Maintenance Depot due to a wagon defect. The train remained in Ballybrophy overnight. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/April-2024/i-Jb4wKMd to view.

Evening all, Latest update from yesterday with an afternoon spent between Thurles and Templemore photographing Dublin - Cork and Limerick trains. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/April-2024/i-326VK8Z

The April gallery starts off with pictures from Ballybrophy, Portlaoise and Heuston. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/April-2024

Afternoon all, Latest update to the March gallery includes photos from Limerick Station and a visit to Ballycar Lough, which has flooded the Limerick - Ennis railway at this location resulting in services being suspended between these two locations for the next several weeks until the flood waters subside. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/March-2024/i-2dSjnPT to view all the images.

Monday 18th March 2024; Pictures of the new station under construction in Waterford and the 1335 Connolly - Rosslare Europort running along the quayside at Wexford. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/March-2024/i-nxPXTvN to view all the images.

Last Saturday I hosted an Irish Railway Record Society trip to the Level Crossing Control Centre at Mallow and also visited the Lartigue Monorail in Listowel. Pictures from the trip are at https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/RailtoursPreservedRailways/2024/IRRS-outing-mallow-lccc-lartigue-listowel/i-HSSXLrM and also includes detailed photos of the first refurbished first class MKIV coach 4203.

The latest updates to the website this week include: Sunday 10th March 2024: Pictures from a busy Nenagh on Sunday evening. Wednesday 13th March 2024: Pictures from Portlaoise mainly with a single picture from Thurles. Highlight being 22519 on its first day in service. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/March-2024/i-954W4dk

The March gallery has been updated with photos from the past week with photos from: - Nenagh - Limerick - Limerick Jct. - Ennis - Ballybrophy. 087 passing Ballybrophy on a materials train to Lisduff. - Newbridge - Kildare. 072 passing with Saturday's IWT Liner from Dublin North Wall to Ballina. - Portarlington. - Heuston - including interior photos of the "old" first class layout on the MKIV carriages which are currently being refurbished. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/March-2024/i-S4Hf7Wk

Afternoon all, A bumper start to the March gallery with over 100 photos uploaded to the gallery today with trips to Cork and Belfast in the space of 24 hours. The main highlight being the diversion of the Dublin to Belfast Lanyon Place "Enterprise" service into Belfast Great Victoria Street this weekend due to engineering works on the route into Lanyon Place, making for the rare sight of a loco hauled train at GVS. GVS is due to close in Summer 2024 with services transferred to the new Grand Central Station alongside it, so this will certainly be the last (planned) use of a Enterprise set into this terminus before closure. Photos come from: * Nenagh * Limerick - with views of the new integrated bus and rail station. * Limerick Jct. Includes seeing new ICR B2 vehicle 22517 on its first day of service. * Cork * Ballybrophy * Dublin Heuston. * LUAS views. * Dublin Connolly * Great Victoria Street - including views of the interior of the Great Northern Mall, Europa bus station and railway station prior to closure in Summer 2024. * Lisburn to view the recent track renewals. * Derriaghy - to see the new down platform being built to replace the current one. * Finaghy * Central Jct. where the routes to Great Victoria Street and Lanyon Place (aka Central) diverge. All the photos can be viewed at https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/March-2024

The February gallery comes to an end with the first refurbished first class MK4 carriage being released back to service today on the 1600 Dublin Heuston - Cork. Initial customer feedback from those who were lucky to travel on the first service with the refreshed interior was positive with many noting it was a vast improvement over the old interior which had been starting to look tired after 18 years of service. The main highlights of the refresh include new leather seats, new tables with USB & wireless phone charging, refreshed disabled toilet, recoated grab handles and a deep clean of the interior. The refurbishment program will continue in 2024 to complete all eight carriages by year end. As there is only one spare first class carriage the refurbishment of the interior will take place alongside other maintenance requirements. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/February-2024/i-NrB87Kk to see images from Thurles and Limerick Jct. today including the new interior. As the 1st class was sold out leaving Heuston today, it was particularly busy so hopefully I'll manage to get some more detailed interior photos during a layover in the coming days. As far as I understand after checking, there are no current plans to refresh the standard class accommodation which will continue to get the same interior during overhauls.

The February gallery comes to an end with the first refurbished first class MK4 carriage being released back to service today on the 1600 Dublin Heuston - Cork. Initial customer feedback from those who were lucky to travel on the first service with the refreshed interior was positive with many noting it was a vast improvement over the old interior which had been starting to look tired after 18 years of service. The main highlights of the refresh include new leather seats, new tables with USB & wireless phone charging, refreshed disabled toilet, recoated grab handles and a deep clean of the interior. The refurbishment program will continue in 2024 to complete all eight carriages by year end. As there is only one spare first class carriage the refurbishment of the interior will take place alongside other maintenance requirements. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/February-2024/i-NrB87Kk to see images from Thurles and Limerick Jct. today including the new interior. As the 1st class was sold out leaving Heuston today, it was particularly busy so hopefully I'll manage to get some more detailed interior photos during a layover in the coming days.

See https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/travel-information/passenger-charter-know-your-rights/irish-domestic-rail-travel#compensation Fill out this form https://www.irishrail.ie/IrishRail/media/Imported/combined_charter_refund_form_2017.pdf and post to Customer Care, Connolly Station, Dublin 1.

The February gallery has been updated with: Monday 19th February 2024: Just one pict from Ballybrophy while enroute to Dublin for an overnight. Sunday 25th February 2024: A varied selection of images today from Killarney showing 22016 working Tralee line services. Of course 22016 is the first set to contain one of the new B2 type vehicles. Later in the day I stopped off at Kilgobbin Level Crossing on the Foynes Line to see the latest work on the rebuild at this location. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/February-2024/i-ppSCsQW to view.

My 3rd trip to the UK this year (and was the 1st planned!) with a long weekend based in Manchester. The reason for the trip was to attend the IRRS Manchester Branch talk with the President of the Society Dick Fearn. Other highlights from the trip include: * Hadfield and Glossop. * Preston / Lancaster and Penrith. * Leeds / Keighley & Worth Valley Railway / Bradford. * Blackpool Trams and Blackpool North and South. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/International/2024/UK-Trip-15th-18th-February-2024 to view all the pictures from the weekend.

After spending a long weekend in the Manchester area, I arrived back into Ireland to find my train home to Thurles would have vehicle 22516, which is the first of the new 22000 Class B2 type cars to enter service last Friday. So click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/February-2024/i-9xMS6T5 to view pictures from Heuston on Sunday evening including interior pictures of the new B2 car layout with its multi-purpose bike storage / standing area.