thewanderer

The South Wexford Railway This gallery was originally published in April 2012 and has been expanded in November 2019 with the addition of 75 photos to the gallery. The gallery now covers the route from Waterford eastwards to Rosslare Strand with photos of the route since services were suspended in September 2010 including some of the rolling stock and PWD movements over the route. Click https://bit.ly/2NIMOOP to view.

Evening folks, The weather was pretty dire over the weekend so not much chance for photography. So this weekend has a small update with some images from Limerick Jct, Killarney, Rathmore and Mallow to add to the first batch of photos from last Friday. Click https://bit.ly/2NbrMtj to view.

We kick off the month of November with images from Thurles, Portlaoise and Killarney today. Click https://bit.ly/2NtmacK to view.

Evening folks, It's been a busy week so only a handful of images so far. Monday 21st October 2019: A selection of images from Inchicore. Friday 25th October 2019: Two pictures from Portlaoise featuring 078 hauling failed 229 from Cork to Inchicore and 22046 + 22056 arriving at Portlaoise to form the 1525 Portlaoise - Heuston. Click https://bit.ly/34d3CEz to view.

The latest batch of pictures from this week have now been uploaded to https://bit.ly/33CcD9C Featuring: - Heuston. - Portarlington. - Thurles. - Limerick Jct. - Limerick - Sixmilebridge. - Plus for the Belmond Grand Hibernian trial to Sligo photos from Lough Owel and Hill of Down of the Sligo to North Wall working.

Evening folks, Two updates to the website tonight with updates to the October gallery and the Bord na Mona gallery. October gallery: I had to go to Galway today, so I decided to drive to Athlone and let the train take the strain for the rest of the way. Pictures come from Athlone and Galway and also shows the track layout changes which are happening in the yard. While on the way back to Athlone I copped 073 at Ballinasloe on a HOBS train so decided to head home via the scenic route to get a picture of it. Click https://bit.ly/318xC2i to view. While on the way home from Ballinasloe to Nenagh, a friend and a Bord na Mona expert rang me by chance for a quick chat. I mentioned that I would be passing Shannonbridge shortly. He informed me that it was a good time to be passing as the evening shift would start at 1700 and would see several trains heading out to the bogs on either side of the Power Station. So it would have been rude not to stop. After staking out the underbridge on the R357 road for 15 minutes the action begin with two trains heading out to the bogs. I decided to relocate to Blackwater Works a few miles away and caught up with the first two trains passing me once again. But that wasn't the end of it, a total of four trains were following the first pair in close succession. A great 40 minutes of railfreight action in the heart of Ireland. Click https://bit.ly/329C8Pt to view all the images.

Evening folks,. A varied selection of images from today including: - 2611 + 2612 making an rare appearance at Laois Traincare Depot on a driver training special. - Common user liveried 233 on the 1225 Cork - Heuston. - 3ICR 22007 has been fitted with a ZF transmission as a trial and made its first run today from Laois Depot to Mallow under test. Click https://bit.ly/35nvF5f to view them.

Evening folks, Saturday 5th October 2019: After spending three weeks in the USA and Canada its back to Ireland. Here we see 4003 arriving into Heuston with the deferred 1145 from Cork. Thursday 9th October 2019: 225 + 078 worked a trial in multiple from Inchicore to Mallow, following on from the trial last week as 225 edges closer to a return to service after 9 years out of service. Later in the afternoon Track Recording Car 700 passed Portlaoise with a 1115 Limerick - Kildare recording run. Click https://bit.ly/2AVgguX to view. If you wish to view the USA images, a mixture of railway and travel photography click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/International/2019-International-Trips for the individual galleries.

Evening folks, A small update this evening featuring the start of our trip to head out west. The first part of the trip being heading from Nenagh to Heuston on the evening Branch train. Click https://bit.ly/2kjNrE3 to view.

Evening folks, Two updates to the website this evening. The first update features the RPSI / Steam Dreams "Emerald Isle Explorer" special passing the Commons Bridge in Portarlington. Click https://bit.ly/2mbGFRh to view. The 2nd updates is to the September gallery featuring images from Dublin City Centre of the CrossCity LUAS line, Heuston and Thurles stations. Click https://bit.ly/2mcNwde to view. Both galleries can also be accessed from the main page at http://www.thewandererphotos.com

Evening folks, The September gallery has been updated with photos from the past several days. Wednesday 4th September 2019: A couple of images from Portlaoise while catching the 1530 Heuston - Limerick. Thursday 5th September 2019: Pictures today come around Heuston Station. Friday 6th - Sunday 8th September 2019: General images from Limerick Jct., Cork and Kerry while out and about photographing the RPSI / Steam Dreams Spl. Monday 9th September 2019: A day trip to Dublin today, highlights being the IWT liner hauled by 232 and 216 shunting the Belmond set through the wash at Heuston and its transfer to Inchicore. Click https://bit.ly/2kAxJnW to view.

Evening folks, The Emerald Isle Explorer railtour by the RPSI / Steam Dreams is currently touring Ireland using the RPSI's Cravens set and their locos No. 85 and No. 4. This photographic gallery concentrates on the first part of the tour covering the tour from Limerick Jct. on the Friday, the day trip to Cork on Saturday and from Killarney to Millstreet on the Sunday. Click https://bit.ly/2lFl1Vc to view all the images from the weekend.

Evening folks, The Emerald Isle Explorer railtour by the RPSI / Steam Dreams is currently touring Ireland using the RPSI's Cravens set and their locos No. 85 and No. 4. This photographic gallery concentrates on the first part of the tour covering the tour from Limerick Jct. on the Friday, the day trip to Cork on Saturday and from Killarney to Millstreet on the Sunday. Click https://bit.ly/2lFl1Vc to view all the images from the weekend.

Evening folks, We kick off the September gallery with: Sunday 1st September 2019: A mini chase on the Nenagh Branch with photos of the 1720 Limerick - Ballybrophy at various locations between Birdhill and Nenagh. Monday 2nd September 2019: Today's photos from Clonkeen outside Portlaoise of the 1225 Cork - Heuston MKIV service and refreshed 5ICR 22039 working the 1330 Heuston - Tralee Kerry GAA Private Charter which conveyed the team home to Kerry after the draw against Dublin in the All Ireland Football final on Sunday. Click https://bit.ly/2jTi1nC to view.

Evening folks, Photos from the past week come from: Portlaoise, Ballybrophy, Thurles, Heuston, Clontarf Road, Raheny and Sutton. Click https://bit.ly/2NFKeuN to view.

Afternoon folks, The latest batch of pictures from this weekend have now been uploaded to the August gallery which features one of the biggest changes to the operation of Limerick Jct. since 1967 and probably since the opening of the station in 1848, the new Down Platform at the station opened to traffic on Sunday 25th August 2019. Saturday 24th August 2019: Today I was out between Templemore and Thurles to photograph the Belmond Grand Hibernian heading to Cork. Sunday 25th August 2019: Arguably the biggest change to Limerick Jct. since the 1967 alterations which allowed trains from Dublin direct access to platform 1, plus the direct curve to Limerick City occurred today with the opening of the new Platform 4 on the Down Line. The opening of this platform for Cork and Tralee bound trains allows a faster approach to the station instead of negotiating crossovers ranging from 15mph to 40mph to access the Up Platform as before. A minor timetable change was introduced from today to take into account the opening of the new platform with trains operating up to 3 minutes faster south of Limerick Jct. than before. A future timetable should allow Up and Down trains to call at Limerick Jct. at the same time. All Down Road services to Cork and Tralee will serve the new platform every day EXCEPT the following weekday services which will continue to serve Platform 1 (Up Platform) 07.00 Heuston - Cork, 21.00 Heuston - Cork. Additionally and in a welcome move the 1500 Heuston - Cork (weekdays) will now call at Limerick Jct. with a connection to Limerick available. This plugs a 90 minute gap in the schedule from Dublin to Limerick. Other photos from today come from Grange Level Crossing on the Thurles side of Limerick Jct. Click https://bit.ly/31Z5vDB to view all the images from the weekend.

Evening folks, Updates to the gallery have been few and far between lately but the latest batch of images have just been uploaded to the August gallery. Featuring Tuesday 13th August 2019: Other life events have recently dragged me away from the railways and photography, but here is one from today at Ballybrophy of the 1625 Heuston - Limerick arriving into the station. Monday 19th August 2019: Photos today come from Portlaoise and Limerick. Tuesday 20th August 2019: A nice surprise this morning was catching 073 shunting the relay train at the perway yard in Portlaoise. Also Badger 231 was out on Cork services being photographed at Portlaoise on the 1425 Cork - Heuston service. Wednesday 21st August 2019 A flying visit to the Cabra area of Dublin today. Images come from Heuston, Phibsborough, Cabra and Ballybrophy. Thursday 22nd August 2019: The highlight from today was 2803 + 2804 in ex works condition heading from Inchicore to Limerick after a visit to the works in Inchicore. Click https://bit.ly/2Hkscdu to view all the images.

Evening folks, I spent the past couple of days in the London and South East area. All the images and a blog style commentary have now been uploaded to https://bit.ly/302ewLF Featuring images from around London, Swindon, Didcot Parkway, Oxford, Reading, Guildford and Birmingham International.

The good old days! I lived in London up to 1989 and used to use Waterloo East occasionally as a friend of my Mother's lived in Elmstead Woods. My home patch was the South Western Division out of Waterloo. Earlier this morning I was down at the site of the Clapham Jct. crash, but while watching 455's pass under me, I was reminded of watching 455's pass under me at Whitton while my Dad and I waited to collect my Mother off the train.

Evening folks, I'm over in London for a few days and the 1st batch of images have now been uploaded to the website at https://bit.ly/302ewLF Click the link for the full description. The weather was utterly terrible so I didn't get much traveling done today.

Morning folks, A selection of photos from the past week have just been uploaded to the August gallery at https://bit.ly/31sJZqi Friday 2nd August 2019: Images come from Ballybrophy and Portlaoise. Monday 5th August 2019: While dropping family back to Thurles station, I grabbed a few shots of the 1300 Heuston - Cork arriving plus a couple of other shots around the station. Wednesday 7th August 2019: Today I popped down to Garrykennedy Marina to witness a fabulous sunset over Lough Derg. Also I've uploaded a selection of images of the Stradbally Steam Rally which was held last week in Co. Laois Click https://bit.ly/2YxYU5D to view.

Evening all, We bring the July gallery to a close a selection of images from the past week. Friday 26th July 2019: Ballybrophy, Portlaoise, Limerick Jct., Limerick and Millstreet feature in today's round up of pictures. Saturday 27th July 2019: While in Killarney for the weekend I took a drive over to Kenmare stopping at some of the scenic sights along the way. Later on the way home a quick detour was made to Quagmire Viaduct and Yellow Quarry to photograph 22023 and 22041 on the Mallow - Tralee services. Monday 29th July 2019: Tamper 744 stabled at Limerick was the highlight of the day while I was passing through the station on the way home. Wednesday 31st July 2019: We finish off the July gallery with images from Nenagh and Ballybrophy. Click https://bit.ly/2Y6QkuB to view.

Afternoon folks, A selection of images from the past week has just been uploaded to the July gallery at https://bit.ly/30VQt0P Photos from around the Nenagh Branch and a trip to Dublin last Tuesday.

The July gallery has been updated with a selection of images from the IE and LUAS networks over the past few days: Wednesday 10th July 2019: The highlight from today was seeing a 2600 work the Birdhill - Limerick Commuter service in place of the usual 2800. Thursday 11th July 2019: While changing trains at Limerick Jct. I snapped a few quick photos of the latest progress on the new platform construction work. Friday 12th July 2019: Just one image from today of Charlemont on the LUAS Green Line. Saturday 13th July 2019: Images from today come from Dublin City Centre of LUAS trams and Heuston Station. Click https://bit.ly/2Z0sXiR to view.

Evening folks, The latest batch of photos have just been uploaded to the July gallery at https://bit.ly/32iCt2P Saturday 6th July 2019: On Saturday evening, I decided to head out for a drive. After ending up in Cloughjordan I headed out to Islandwood to capture the evening branch train from Ballybrophy to Limerick passing in the hands of 2814 + 2813. Sunday 8th July 2019: I popped into Askeaton while on the way back from Foynes to see the railway station. For the full collection of images from that visit see the Foynes Branch collection in the "Forgotten Railways" section of the website. Direct link in the July gallery. Monday 8th July 2019: Pictures today come from Ballybrophy and Portlaoise. Tuesday 9th July 2019: Just three from today, breakfast on the 0740 Limerck - Heuston , 219 at Brittas outside Thurles with the 1600 Heuston - Cork and 4005 arriving into Thurles on the 1625 Cork - Heuston.