thewanderer

Evening folks, A round of up of pictures from the past week include: Tuesday 14th August 2018: I had to visit Tullamore this morning and once my business there was concluded, the Up and Down IWT Liners were shortly due to pass through the town. I headed out Clonminch Road Bridge to photograph both workings, both hauled by 201 Class locomotives. Thursday 17th August 2017: Images from around the Portlaoise area including 083 hauling the Sperry train on test to Portarlington. Friday 17th August 2018: Pictures today come from Heuston, Busaras and Connolly. Saturday 18th August 2018: Pictures from St. Stephens Green, Dawson Street, Heuston, Portlaoise and Grange More (near Ballybrophy). Click https://goo.gl/KXCGWY to view.

Evening folks, Two updates have been uploaded to the website this evening: - Monday 13th August 2018: Pictures from Limerick and Portlaoise have been uploaded to the August gallery. Click https://goo.gl/33npqe to view. - The next railway to feature in my forgotten railway series is the Western Rail Corridor between Claremorris to Athenry. Click thehttps://goo.gl/GrCSRY to see the gallery.

Hi all, Two updates to the website this evening. The first is the August gallery which features: Tuesday 7th August 2018: While alighting from the 1530 Heuston - Limerick at Limerick, I noted 2814 on the 1805 to Galway showing the new digital destination displays. Wednesday 8th August 2018: The Nenagh Branch service was bus transfers on this day. It was reported that copper thieves stole 4 miles of ETS cable in the Cloughjordan area. Thursday 9th August 2018: Pictures from Portlaoise, Limerick, Limerick Jct. and Thurles this evening. The main reason for my trip was to travel on the 1750 Limerick - Limerick Jct. service which operates via the Pocket Loop at Limerick Jct. to cross the 1625 Heuston - Limerick via Limerick Jct. service. Click https://goo.gl/PMvZM6 to view. The second update is one from the forgotten railway series featuring pictures of the Connemara railway between Galway and Clifden. If exciting plans come to pass we may yet see a train in this part of the world once again. Click https://goo.gl/nPjRF5 to view.

Evening folks, The July gallery comes to a close with photos from Coolmine on Tuesday evening to capture some of the evening peak traffic passing the station. Click https://goo.gl/bi5cJk to view.

Evening all, The latest update to the July gallery has just been posted featuring: Wednesday 25th July 2018: Just a single picture from this day at Ballybrophy of the morning branch train from Limerick via Nenagh. Friday 27th July 2018: A Friday ramble visiting: - Portlaoise. - Portarlington. - Monasterevin. - Limerick Jct. - Thurles. Work has started at Limerick Jct. on the construction of the new Down Platform. As a result of this the Up and Down Lines are closed and all traffic must use the platform road at the station. Click https://goo.gl/5zhBXh to view all the images.

Tuesday 24th July 2018: A day trip to Dublin with images from: - Nenagh. - Heuston. - Connolly. - Busaras. - Drumcondra. - Ballybrophy. Includes the last silver and black liveried 071 (086) hauling the 1140 Ballina - North Wall Liner at Drumcondra. Click https://goo.gl/jzCtEp to view.

Evening all, A bunch of images from the weekend just gone have been uploaded to the website at https://goo.gl/dESe3n Saturday 21st July 2018: Pictures from a day out around Dublin. Mainly of the LUAS Cross City extension including my first sighting of one of the new 55 meter trams in service. Also included is the Belmond Grand Hibernian at Heuston and Connolly. Sunday 22nd July 2018: While heading to Dublin on Saturday I noticed 071 and 085 stabled at Lisduff. So I decided to take a chance on the Sunday and head over to Lisduff to see if they were still there. Thankfully they were.

A few images from earlier today at Minish outside Killarney and Farranfore. Click the picture below to view them.

RPSI: Sea Breeze. Sunday 8th July 2018 The RPSI Dublin Operations operated another of their Sea Breeze tours from Dublin to Wexford and Rosslare Strand on Sunday 8th July. Originally planned to feature No. 85 "Merlin" the RPSI later decided due to the extraordinarily hot weather, and in particular the lack of rain or any forecast for significant rainfall, they took the decision to operate the Sea Breeze excursion using a diesel locomotive. IE 071 Class No. 072 recently released from a body overhaul was rostered for the tour. Despite about 100 cancellations due to the use of a diesel locomotive, the train was still well loaded and everybody enjoyed their day out to the Sunny South East, which certainly lived up to its name on Sunday. Click https://goo.gl/SHJnXz to view.

Evening folks, Two LUAS updates this evening. The July gallery shows the new interchange between the IE and LUAS platforms at Broombridge. The last remaining element of this is for the footbridge to open which will happen once maintenance staff training (Transdev) has been completed on it. Click https://goo.gl/aYzy1C to view. The second update is a visit to the LUAS Depot at Broombridge as part of a visit by the Irish Railway Records Society Cork Branch. Broombridge is a light maintenance depot and driver sign on / rest point. The maintenance area consists of a two road shed with one road with lifting jacks / bogie wash and the second road has pit access. The depot also contains a sanding house and tramwash. Click https://goo.gl/PjPirG to view these.

Evening folks, The second and final batch of images from my recent London visit have been uploaded to https://goo.gl/rJvoDM Featuring Saturday 30th June 2018: A circular trip around London using the North London & East London lines featuring: * Carshalton Beeches. * Clapham Jct. * Richmond * Kew Gardens. * Gospel Oak. * South Tottenham. * Barking. * Stratford. * Liverpool Street. * Shoreditch High Street. * West Croydon. My initial plan to travel Carshalton Beeches - Sutton - Wimbledon - Clapham Jct. had to be changed as GTR Thameslink decided to cancel the Wimbledon Loop service with little notice. Sunday 1st July: A few hours exploring SW London with pictures from: * Carshalton Beeches. * Epsom. * Motspur Park. * Raynes Park. * Wimbledon. * Dundonald Road. * Mitcham. Monday 2nd July: Another trip into Central London to meet a friend for lunch and after that I visited the London Transport Museum, the Hidden London tour in Highgate also gives 1/2 price admission into the Museum at Covent Garden. Pictures from: * Victoria. * Euston * Covent Garden. * Kings Cross St. Pancras. * London Bridge. Tuesday 3rd July: The last day in London but still managed to get out for a few hours photographing at: * Carshalton Beeches. * Norwood Jct. * Crystal Palace. * Beckenham Jct. * Birkbeck. * Sandilands. * Lloyd Park. * Gatwick Airport. To view the gallery from day 1 (Thursday 28th) click https://goo.gl/piJGBU

Evening folks, I'm in London for a few days and the first batches of images have now been uploaded to the International section of the website at https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/International/2018 The three galleries are: * UK Trip: 28th June to 3rd July containing all the general photos from around London during the visit. Click https://goo.gl/TtNCYh * UK Trip: Highgate - Wilderness Walkabout Hidden London tour. 29th June 2018. If you're a fan of the London Underground then make sure you check this gallery out. Discover a station reclaimed by nature. Redeveloped with Charles Holden architecture in 1940 Highgate was set to be a bustling interchange as part of the Northern Heights project. Find out why it now lies in a secluded vale as an urban wilderness home to protected species. Click https://goo.gl/ZEu3qB * UK Trip: Jenny Wren Canal Cruises. 29th June 2018. The "Jenny Wren" established in 1968, offers regular daily sightseeing tours, unique as they pass through the lock at Camden Market, before passing through London Zoo, Regent's Park, and the short Maida Hill canal tunnel, to emerge at "Little Venice". Click https://goo.gl/gt4G7W

A round up of photos from the week just gone. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2018-Photos/June-2018/i-qnSNN54 to view them. Monday 18th June 2018: A couple of images from Monday evening at Limerick. Tuesday 19th June 2018: Due to a signalling failure which required the use of a "Pilotman", the 0630 Limerick - Ballybrophy was only formed with a single unit this morning as the usual splitting off a unit for the 0745 Nenagh - Limerick could not take place. Thursday 21st June 2018: A few images of 201 Class +MKIV sets at Clonkeen outside Portlaoise during lunch time including Set 4002 on a trial working from Mallow to Inchicore. Friday 22nd June 2018: Just one image from today of 2815 + 2816 passing Glenahilty between Nenagh and Cloughjordan on the 1655 Limerick - Ballybrophy. Saturday 23rd June 2018: A trip over to Templemore Station to view the 1040 Cork - Heuston which was formed of a 9ICR, instead of a MKIV set on this day due to a concert in Dublin.

Evening folks, Two updates to the website this evening featuring: June 2018 gallery. Friday 8th June 2018: A few images from around Portlaoise, while I was meeting Finnyus who was changing trains on Friday evening in Portlaoise. Saturday 9th June 2018: While passing Dromkeen in the car, I stopped off the passing loop to photo the Limerick - Limerick Jct. shuttles passing at the former station. Tuesday 12th June 2018: Pictures from today come from Nenagh and Ballybrophy, showing the new destination displays being fitted to the 2800 Class fleet, Pictures from the June gallery can be seen at https://goo.gl/G9LUbu The second updates features Railtours Ireland's "Emerald Isle Express" which is travelling around Ireland this week visiting Wexford, Waterford, Cork, Killarney, Galway and Westport. I was able to travel on the tour today from Limerick to Athlone via Galway. Pictures from the day can be seen at http://goo.gl/tBnLny

Thursday 7th June 2018: Images from yesterday come from Nenagh, Ballybrophy and the Commons Bridge at Portarlington. The highlight being retro liveried 071 on the Westport to Waterford Timber. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2018-Photos/June-2018/i-fwWrz5s to see all the images.

Evening folks, Photos from Limerick on the Wednesday evening showing 22025 and 2810 + 2809 in the station. Meanwhile earlier that day, occasional contributor "josefstadt" was in Co. Wexford to photograph the Iarnrod Eireann Weedspray train operate from Wexford to Waterford via the mothballed Rosslare Strand to Belview "South Wexford" railway line. Josefstadt has kindly allowed publication of the photographs on my website. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2018-Photos/June-2018/i-9XSGFTF to view all the images from today.

The first update for June has a varied selection from a day around Galway City with pictures of the Leisureland Express in Salthill and a visit to Glenlo Abbey to see "The Pullman Restaurant". Images from today feature the final DFDS Liner to operate from Ballina to Waterford by 079, which was ironically fully loaded and I captured it as it passed Geashill at lunchtime. Click the image below to see the full collection.

Wednesday 30th May 2018: The final update for May features the final Waterford to Ballina DFDS Liner at Kildare with 083 and at Hybla with 079. 079 took over from 083 at Kildare. The freight flow has ceased due to traffic levels on the route being too low for DFDS to sustain. Click http://goo.gl/xAAb1p to see the pictures of the Liner plus the passenger traffic passing Kildare at this time.

Wednesday 30th May 2018: The final update for May features the final Waterford to Ballina DFDS Liner at Kildare with 083 and at Hybla with 079. 079 took over from 083 at Kildare. The freight flow has ceased due to traffic levels on the route being too low for DFDS to sustain. Click http://goo.gl/xAAb1p to see the pictures of the Liner plus the passenger traffic passing Kildare at this time.

It was officially announced by DFDS that their container train between Ballina and Waterford's Belview Port is to cease running from Tuesday 5th June 2018. The press releases stated today (29th May) is the last train, but a Waterford to Ballina is scheduled to operate on the 30th May and the final train from Ballina to Waterford on the 5th June 2018. The penultimate train from Ballina, the 1105 Ballina - Waterford is pictured crossing the Commons Bridge at Portarlington with 081 in charge of a fully loaded train. Click the image bellow to see the full sized image.

It was officially announced by DFDS that their container train between Ballina and Waterford's Belview Port is to cease running from Tuesday 5th June 2018. The press releases stated today (29th May) is the last train, but a Waterford to Ballina is scheduled to operate on the 30th May and the final train from Ballina to Waterford on the 5th June 2018. The penultimate train from Ballina, the 1105 Ballina - Waterford is pictured crossing the Commons Bridge at Portarlington with 081 in charge of a fully loaded train. Click the image bellow to see the full sized image.

Evening all, Pictures from the last few days have now been uploaded to https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2018-Photos/May-2018/i-XPwmdxb Featuring: Friday 25th May 2018: Pictures from Clonkeen of the 1530 Heuston - Limerick and Birdhill Station showing the recent replacement of signals and relaying of the loop road. Sunday 27th May 2018: A Sunday afternoon spin to Cratloe, Spanish Point, Killimer and Tarbert.

Indeed Noel, a fab spot to visit. I knew about Broom finishing boat building, if I was rich enough I wouldn't mind buying a 430, so I wanted to have a walk around the place. Boats everywhere. I think I need to take a look at doing a cruise on the Norfolk Broads in the future. Afternoon folks, The aims of Wednesday's around the Brighton area was to photo the Newhaven Stone train which turned up at Lewis with 59001 and travel and photograph retro blue and grey liveried 313201. As 313001 back in 1976 this was the first of the PEP design inspired units and is now the oldest 2nd generation EMU in service. It was repainted in 2017 to commemorate this fact. Finally for the aviation fans, the Aer Lingus Retro Jet EI-DVM was on stand at DUB, beside my flight back from LGW to DUB with EI-CVB. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/International/2018/UK-Trip-19th-to-23rd-May-2018/i-rCxHJLt to view all the images from the day.

Tuesday 22nd May 2018: A day out on the local lines from Norwich to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft, to travel on and photograph the Class 37 locomotive hauled set plus some out local highlights such as Berney Arms and the Reedham Swing Bridge. Later in the evening and a bit later than planned I travelled to Brighton via London to place me correctly for Wednesday's trip. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/International/2018/UK-Trip-19th-to-23rd-May-2018/i-NbNNjX6 to view the images from the day.

Afternoon folks, The latest batch of photos from my UK trip have now been uploaded to https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/International/2018/UK-Trip-19th-to-23rd-May-2018/i-D9jnGVV Featuring: Saturday 19th May: Photos from the flight from Dublin to Heathrow and my journey to Carshalton Beeches across South London via Underground, Bus and National Rail. Sunday 20th May 2018: A day trip to Brighton to see the sights and I also managed a trip on the Volks Electric Railway while I was there. The railway has been completely refurbished with a new depot at Halfway and a new station and museum at Aquarium Station. Monday 21st May 2018: Today I headed from South London to Norwich, taking in the branch lines off the Great Eastern Main Line to Sudbury, Clacton-on-Sea and Walton on the Naze. Plus I spent 90 minutes at Ipswich to view the goings on.