thewanderer

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.

Evening all, During Monday the RPSI "Cork & Kerry" railtour made its way back from Tralee to Connolly with 85 Merlin in charge. I popped over to Portarlington to see the booked stop at the station. Photos from this can be viewed at https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/RailtoursPreservedRailways/2018/RPSI-Cork-Kerry-Railtour/i-CZPJJSN No. 4 was booked to work the RPSI MK2 set was Connolly to Whitehead at 1500 today but this was failed in Connolly this morning. The revised plan sees 85 to work the train onwards after servicing at Connolly with a departure time of 1640, 1 hour and 40 minutes late. While in Portarlington, I took pictures of the passing traffic which included 074 on the Ballina - North Wall IWT Liner and 2819 + 2820 heading empty from Limerick to Inchicore. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2018-Photos/May-2018/i-vGkM49s to view.

Noel, Either 40 or 60 mph for 85 depending if tender or boiler first, subject to Permanent Speed Restrictions etc. Also thanks for the thumbs up on my other images from the weekend.

Evening all, The batch of photos from the RPSI Special from Tralee to Mallow return have now been uploaded to the railtour gallery at https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/RailtoursPreservedRailways/2018/RPSI-Cork-Kerry-Railtour/ Also the May 2018 has a small update with images from Killarney this evening. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2018-Photos/May-2018/i-BS4Q3V3 to view. Enjoy!

Evening folks, The first batch of photos from the RPSI Cork and Kerry railtour have been uploaded to https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/RailtoursPreservedRailways/2018/RPSI-Cork-Kerry-Railtour/

The latest update to the May gallery features images from: - Portlaoise - Limerick Jct. - Cork - Cobh - Mallow - Killarney. Includes some pictures of the RPSI's No. 4 positioning run to Mallow. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2018-Photos/May-2018/i-nWpgLSL to view.

Evening folks, Some pictures from the past week. Tuesday 8th May 2018: Following a MKIV set failure at Cork over the Bank Holiday weekend. 073 was sent from Inchicore to haul it back from Cork. The 1535 Cork - Inchicore Empty with set 4001 and 219 dead on the rear passes Pole Bridge south of Portlaoise. Thursday 10th May 2018: I took a detour to Quakers Road Level Crossing between Roscrea and Ballybrophy to photo 2802 + 2801 on the 1655 Limerick - Ballybrophy. Click http://goo.gl/sgBwnB to view.

Branch Line Society: The Fairview Failte - Sunday 6th May 2018 On Sunday 6th May 2018, the Branch Line Society in conjunction with Iarnrod Eireann operated a charity railtour, raising money for the Railway Children charity. The railtour traversed unusual lines in the Greater Dublin and surrounding area with a leg stretch break in the bay at Bray and a photo stop at Ballybrophy! Highlights of this tour include the Fairview Up Carriage Sidings, Connolly Carriage Wash Line, Heuston Yard, M3 Parkway headshunt (21 chain extension beyond the station), Newcomen curve and a wide range of loops, crossovers and wrong road routing. For a full rundown of the tour and where it went to, click on the picture below to see all the images.

Morning folks, Pictures from the past week comprise: Tuesday 1st May 2018: A day trip to the Dublin area with pictures from: - Thurles. - Inchicore (CME Golden Spanner awards). - Heuston - Connolly - Dundalk - 079 stabled with the weedspray train. - Clontarf Road. Wednesday 2nd May 2018: I got a tip off that 2607 + 2608 were to work the morning Ballybrophy service due to a shortage of 2800's. Saturday 5th May 2018: I took a spin from Nenagh into Limerick on Saturday morning. Loadings were good with 38 people on the train into Limerick.

The latest update to the April gallery includes trouble in Bally with the 0700 Cork - Heuston and a lucky catch up with Retro liveried 073 at Portlaoise during lunchtime. Click http://goo.gl/EiByAQ to view the images from yesterday.

Evening folks, A unusual visitor to the Nenagh Branch this morning in the form of 2601 + 2602 working the 0630 Limerick - Ballybrophy and 1005 Ballybrophy - Limerick. 2811 + 2812 were coupled to the set as far as Nenagh on the outward run to form the 0745 Nenagh - Limerick. Click http://goo.gl/E5SsXK to view all the pictures from today's update.

Pictures from Portlaoise, Clonkeen and Ballybrophy today featuring: - The Belmond Grand Hibernian. - 087 hauling failed 218 from Cork to Inchicore. - 22033 on the 1625 Heuston - Limerick. Click http://goo.gl/dYBzPi to view all the images.

Evening folks, The latest images uploaded to the April gallery include: Sunday 8th April 2018: Images from Dublin while heading home after the previous day's RPSI railtour. Tuesday 10th April 2018: The 2018 Belmond Grand Hibernian season kicked off today with 231 captured passing Rosskelton in Co. Laois bound for Cork. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2018-Photos/April-2018/i-56vtdBn to view.

Evening folks, Photos from yesterdays RPSI Diesel Railtour "The Branchline Wanderer" from Connolly to Waterford and Limerick have now been uploaded to the website at http://goo.gl/2VugC9 . Locos 071, 074 and 086 were used on the tour with changes taking place at Waterford and Limerick. Despite some late running in the afternoon, the tour was another great success with 304 passengers travelling on the tour during the day. Money raised from these railtours goes towards funding the restoration of the RPSI's 121 Class loco No. 134 which is currently at Inchicore undergoing overhaul.

Pictures from this week around the network have now been uploaded to https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2018-Photos/April-2018/i-8CfGfHV Tuesday 3rd April 2018: Images from Portlaoise, Thurles and Garrykennedy Marina. Wednesday 4th April 2018: Tamper 741 stabled at Nenagh and MKIV GC 4005 passing Portlaoise. Thursday 5th April 2018: Limerick Station on Thursday evening. Friday 6th April 2018: Pictures from Portlaoise, Limerick Jct, Mallow and Heuston. The final batch of photos from my recent visit to Venice have now been uploaded to https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/…/Italy-Tri…/i-CFxx4q9 If you have never been to Venice it is one place I would highly recommend you visit.

Wexford Easter Model Rail & Transport Show 2018 The 10th Annual Wexford Model Rail & Transport Show took place over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. Here is a selection of pictures from layouts which were on display at the show. Click the image below to view the gallery.

Evening folks, Sunday 1st and Monday 2nd April 2018: Pictures from the Dublin & South Eastern Railway at various locations between Kilcoole and Wexford over the two days, including the RPSI Steam Train specials from Dublin to Wicklow and Arklow. Click http://goo.gl/UMssTE to view the gallery.