thewanderer

Thursday 6th August 2020: There was lots of perway work on the Nenagh Branch this week with a HOBS train and a Tamper plus a Ballast Regulator working on the branch. On Thursday the HOBS train operated to the 51 milepost to drop ballast near the Mulkear River Bridge. Click https://bit.ly/2XFQU09 to view all the images.

Evening folks, A small update from yesterday. Thursday 30th July 2020: We bring the July gallery to a close with some images of Limerick Station including the new EU flag display for European Expo 2020. Click https://bit.ly/3gdojGC to view all the images.

Evening folks, A small update from yesterday. Saturday 25th July 2020: I had to venture back to Oranmore on Saturday morning, so I called up to the station to see the 1030 Galway - Limerick, 0920 Limerick - Galway and 1100 Galway - Heuston calling at the station. Click https://bit.ly/3g267jl to view all the images.

A small update to the July gallery today: Tuesday 14th July 2020: While on an afternoon sortie to Oranmore, I called in at Craughwell to photo the 1345 Galway - Limerick WRC service calling at the station. All customers onboard appeared to be wearing masks which are a legal requirement since Monday 13th July 2020. Click https://bit.ly/2ZqCwdq to view all the images.

The July gallery has been updated with: Thursday 9th July 2020: MPV 790 operated over the Nenagh Branch on weedspray duties. Friday 10th July 2020: A visit to Killonan Jct. on Friday evening to see the last day of the manually operated level crossing before conversion to 4 barrier CCTV crossing. Click https://bit.ly/326RKpO to view.

Evening all, The final batch of images from Kerry have been uploaded to the July gallery. Saturday 4th July 2020: After the previous update, some images from Killarney Golf and Fishing Club. Sunday 5th July 2020: Images from around Kenmare Pier. Monday 6th July 2020: Due to operational issues at Cork, the Tralee line service was in the hands of 2600's instead of the booked 22000 Class. Tuesday 7th July 2020: A HOBS train visited the Tralee line on Tuesday night hauled by 080. Click https://bit.ly/2AE8F7A to view to view all the images.

The July gallery has been updated with images of Tamper 744 in and around Killarney, with 22016 working the Tralee services on the Saturday. The Tamper returned to Portlaoise on Saturday morning. Click https://bit.ly/3giICSK to view all the images.

Evening all, On Wednesday 1st July and Thursday 2nd July, Iarnrod Eireann operated the Weedspray Train over the closed South Wexford Railway between Waterford and Rosslare Strand. Rumours persist that this will be the last rail movement on the route as the 10 year contract with the National Transport Authority expires this year for maintenance of the route, however I heard today from a local person that this contract has been extended by five years. While I treat this as an unverified rumor, time will tell. I chased the train today between the Barrow Bridge and Wexford and the selection of images come from: * Barrow Bridge. * Taylorstown Viaduct. * Wellington Bridge. * Bridgetown. * Killinick. * Rosslare Strand * Wexford. Click https://bit.ly/2VE3hc7 to view all the images.

Morning all! With the end of travel restrictions last Monday, I decided to venture to Ballinara near Clonnydonnin on Wednesday to view 081 passing on the 1130 Waterford - Ballina XPO Liner trial. Afterwards, a quick stop off at Shannonbridge and saw my first hireboat of the year. Later in the evening I eye spied Tamper 743 and Ballast Regulator 704 stabled in the yard in Nenagh. Click https://bit.ly/3inwTnC to view all the images.

Evening folks, The latest updates to the June gallery are now online at https://bit.ly/3hUhUS2. Click the link to view all the images. Friday 19th June 2020: Two metres social distancing markings were applied at Nenagh Station during the week ending 21st June. Plus a handful of images from a visit to Garrykennedy Harbour on the Friday evening. Tuesday 23rd June 2020: After the recent track relaying norh of Nenagh, the track is now being ballasted by the HOBS train. On Tuesday, 084 and 085 were employed on the train in top and tail mode and a mini photographic chase of the train from the worksite at Moanfin to Roscrea was carried out, adhering to the travel restrictions as laid down by the Irish Government for county only travel during the COVID19 pandemic. However, it was disappointing to see other enthusiasts from Dublin and outside the jurisdiction flaunting this travel restriction for the sake of another couple of days of lockdown restrictions.

Afternoon all, A small update to the June gallery with images from Thurles Station on Tuesday evening featuring 2 out of the 3 MKIV sets in service and 2817 + 2818 arriving with the 1750 Limerick - Limerick Jct. which is extended to Thurles during the emergency timetable. Also some of the social distancing measures which have been implemented on trains and at stations are shown. Click https://bit.ly/2N5LWnF to view all the images.

Hi Noel, Yes it is a great camera. I accidentally dropped it last year just before I was due to go to the USA and had to send it away for repairs. I had to take my old camera, the D90 to the USA instead. The difference in quality was substantial and back in the day i thought the D90 was a great camera. It's bolted together with rail clamps.

Afternoon folks, A ramble around Co. Tipperary on Saturday 13th June, taking advantage of the first weekend of County travel, allowed under the Government Roadmap for COVID19 reopening. Images include several views of the South Tipperary Railway route including track relaying at Nichlostown Level Crossing. Click https://bit.ly/2CcThj6 to view.

Evening folks, A round up of images from the past week: Wednesday 3rd June 2020: Some more pictures and videos of the ongoing track relaying work on the Nenagh Branch. Thursday 4th June 2020: I ventured out to Lisbunny this morning to photograph 085 arriving into Nenagh with the relay train. Friday 5th June 2020: By the end of the first week, 1 mile of track had been relaid north of Nenagh. Monday 8th June 2020: A number of service changes took place on Monday 8th June with the reopening of Ireland moving to phase 2 of the COVID19 roadmap. While DART services were restored to a full timetable, on Intercity a number of services were reinstated, including the 0520 Athlone - Heuston, 1530 Heuston - Limerick and 1710 Heuston - Athlone. Also a number of Cork services which had been 3ICR for a number of months were changed to 5ICR sets to allow the 3ICR's to be used to strengthen services to/from Heuston. Finally after a break of 61 days, two MKIV sets were returned to traffic working the 1500 & 1705 Heuston - Cork, 1825 & 2025 Cork - Heuston. Click https://bit.ly/3cFk9EN to view all the images.

The June gallery starts off with a week of track relaying on the Nenagh Branch between the 26 and 28 MP's. For the outward working today from Portlaoise, I went to a bridge south of Nenagh but the train never showed hence I thought I missed it, or did it turn back at Nenagh in the sidings?! A drive back into the Station found 081 in the process of running around the train, this involved splitting the train into two halves as the loop is too small for the entire train. Later photos from the day show the train heading past Lisbunny and at Rathnaleen. Click https://bit.ly/2Asjd9v to view all the images.

On Wednesday 20th May, 086 brought two of the stored Container Pocket Wagons from Waterford Sally Park Yard to Belview Port for loading trials for XPO Logistics. Also on Thursday 084 revisited the Nenagh Branch with the CWR Train. Click the image below or https://bit.ly/3gkUS6b to view.

In preparation for relaying between the 26 & 28 mileposts on the Nenagh Branch, a CWR train visited the branch on Tuesday morning. The train departed Portlaoise PWD Yard at 0810, running to Lisduff to run around in the sidings, before retracing its outward journey as far as Ballybrophy. Upon entering the T3 Possession on the Nenagh Branch the CWR train headed to Birdhill for locomotive 084 to run around the train. On the trip back from Birdhill to Ballybrophy it dropped its load of rails, a process which took well over two hours to drop a total of 30 strings of rail. All photos were taken while adhering to Government restrictions on movement during the COVID19 pandemic, limiting you to a maximum of 5 km from home. Click shorturl.at/HJLMU to view all the images and video.

Wednesday 15th April 2020: Nenagh saw a train today for the first time in two weeks when 079 hauled a ballast train through the station while on a circular trip from Lisduff to drop ballast at the 2MP on the Nenagh Branch. The train returned to Lisduff via Limerick and Thurles. Click https://bit.ly/2K9DZw4 to view all the images.

Evening all, Friday 27th March 2020: Updates continue to be irregular due to the COVID19 pandemic. With travel restricted and working from home, the opportunity for wandering is few and far between. After finishing work today and being cooped up in the house for the week, I ventured out to photograph the 1655 Limerick - Ballybrophy service at a couple of locations around Nenagh. Click https://bit.ly/3dxxjW9 to view all the images.

Evening folks, Friday 20th March 2020: As the COVID19 crises deepens, travel has been severely restricted of late, but I had to venture out to Kildare and Laois today and stopped off at the Curragh for 25 minute interlude which saw six trains passing in the space of that time. Social Distancing at its best! Click https://bit.ly/2J6fHmq to view all the images.

The March gallery has been updated today with: Tuesday 10th March 2020: A liner trial operated from Ballina to Waterford's Belview Port on Tuesday 10th March for XPO Logistics. XPO is a top ten global provider of transportation and logistics services. The trial only contained 3 x 40ft refrigerated reefers and the purpose of these was to see how well they kept the contents cooled on the journey from Ballina to Waterford. Click https://bit.ly/3cJu11P to view.

Afternoon all, Two updates to the website today. First up is the March gallery with a visit to Ballycar on the Limerick to Ennis railway. After a prolonged spell of heavy rain the, railway has been closed due to flooding at Ballycar Lough near Newmarket on Fergus. It is reported that the water levels are still rising and the railway is expected to remain closed for several weeks as the Lough fills up a lot quicker than it drains out. Pictures appeared on facebook earlier in the week and it didn't look too bad, a few days later and it's a lot worse. Click https://bit.ly/2Tz4noX to view the images. The second update is from a visit to Spain in the first week of March. The pictures in this gallery are a mixture of travel and transport featuring the local commuter network around Malaga and a day trip on Wednesday to Madrid using the high speed AVE service to explore the capital city on a whistlestop tour, which included visiting the Madrid railway museum. Click https://bit.ly/2TMd5z0 to view all the images. Both galleries can also be accessed from the home page at https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/

Evening folks, Round up of pictures from this week includes: Tuesday 25th February 2020:: Today's batch of images come from Ballybrophy, Thurles and Limerick and include seeing failed 22033 at Thurles in the middle of a snow storm. Thursday 27th February 2020: The Limerick based pilot locomotive, 085, rescued 22033 which had failed at Thurles on Tuesday and hauled the unit back to Laois Traincare Depot. Rescue by a locomotive was deemed the most viable option as the unit was placed at the Dublin end of Thurles loop which prevented easy rescue by another 5 car 22000 unit which would have blocked the down line at Thurles. Pictures from later in the day come from Portlaosie, Hazelhatch, Drumcondra, Coolmine, Connolly and Heuston. Click https://bit.ly/2T6tizR to view.

Afternoon all, The latest updates to the February gallery have been uploaded to the website. Tuesday 18th February 2020: Pictures today come from Portlaoise and Limerick. Thursday 20th February 2020: The stub of the former Coolnamona branch in Portlaoise is being extended for approx 1/4 mile to allow the installation of a test track for the PWD Yard. I visited the overbridge just over the former line to view the progress made so far. Plus I photographed the 1655 Limerick - Ballybrophy outside Nenagh. Friday 21st February 2020: There was a splash of colour on an otherwise very dull day in Co. Tipperary when 073 hauled the Sperry Train from Limerick to Ballybrophy via Nenagh. On arrival at Ballybrophy the train went to Lisduff to run around before heading back to Portlaoise PWD to stable until Sunday. Click https://bit.ly/2SNBu84 to view all the images.

Evening folks. Irish updates have been thin on the ground lately with a trip to the UK at the start of the month and being kept busy outside railway circles for the rest of the month. Here is the the February gallery so far: Monday 10th February 2020: Pictures from Clongriffin (from the air) and Heuston Station. Monday 17th February 2020: Pictures today come from Nenagh of the 1655 Limerick - Ballybrophy calling at the station. Click https://bit.ly/38E91qO to view.