thewanderer

Afternoon all, Pictures from the RPSI / Steam Dreams "Emerald Isle Explorer" have now been uploaded to http://smu.gs/2sAIyIn The gallery features: - Thursday's trip to Rosslare prior to departure from Connolly. - Friday's trip from Connolly to Killarney with images from Monasterevin, Ballybrophy, Goolds Cross, Limerick Jct, Banteer and Killarney.

Evening folks, Thursday 15th June 2017: The failure of 234 on the 1220 Cork - Heuston was the main news from today. Plus a few pictures from Nenagh early this morning. 2820 + 2819 are working the branch during the three week closure of Limerick Station. Click http://smu.gs/2s5FUtv to view.

Wednesday 14th June 2017: Further trials for the lengthening of freight trains are being carried out this week. The first trial was a 14 wagon laden timber train from Waterford to Carlow & return which operated with 232. I popped over to Co. Carlow to see it along with the DFDS liner from Waterford to Ballina which was worked by 079. A trial of the IWT liner with 24 wagons is scheduled for Sunday morning. Click http://smu.gs/2rsn2WO to view.

Evening all, A few pictures from around Portlaoise today, including the Belmond Grand Hibernian heading from Heuston to Cork. Click http://smu.gs/2rsVdbZ to view them all.

Just dust picked up from the level crossing.

Saturday 10th June 2017: The Belmond Grand Hibernian had maintenance downtime from Monday 5th June to Thursday 8th June. From Friday 9th to Sunday 10th June it was hired out by a group which visited Galway and Cork. On day two of the three day trip I chased the train from Ballybrophy to Shinanagh Level Crossing south of Charleville. I also called into Limerick Station to see how work is progressing during the three week closure. Click http://smu.gs/2rgULNX to view.

Evening all, Images from the past few days have now been uploaded to the June gallery. Saturday 3rd - Monday 5th June 2017: Celebrity "retrotrain" locomotive 071 was used on several legs of the Belmond Grand Hibernian operation over the June Bank Holiday weekend. * On Saturday it worked the train between Islandbridge Jct. & Connolly (with 216 following L.E. behind to couple to the other end of the set for the trip to Belfast). * On Sunday it worked the Connolly - Waterford - Muine Bheag legs of the tour train * On Monday it worked the final leg of the tour from Muine Bheag to Heuston. Due to other long standing commitments I wasn't able to go and photograph it but "TTC0169" had kindly supplied me with several images of his own from the train. Monday 5th June 2017: A visit to Limerick Station to see the re-signalling works taking place at the station. Tuesday 6th June 2017: A quick visit to Ballycleary Bridge south of the former Mountrath station to photograph the 1600 Heuston - Cork & 1520 Cork - Heuston. Click http://smu.gs/2sTneef to view.

Just a few more images from Nenagh station on Friday evening. Click http://smu.gs/2rCuwFJ to view. On a side note I'm looking to update the links page on the website (see ) . If you would like to be listed on the page please drop me a PM.

Evening all, A few images of the two Nenagh Branch morning services, which split in Nenagh with one going onwards to Ballybrophy and the second heading back to Limerick. Click http://smu.gs/2qOVXrO to view.

Morning folks, A few pictures from Tuesday have just been uploaded at http://smu.gs/2rmKrro - Belmond Grand Hibernian passing Portlaoise on its way from Heuston to Cork. - Limerick remodelling has begun with the closure of platforms 3 and 4 at the station. This is to allow the "kink" in platform 3 to be removed.

While in Bangor last Friday evening I stumbled upon the Bangor Model Railway show so I popped in for a look. Click http://smu.gs/2rgzesk to see all the images.

Evening all, A 100+ picture update this evening of my visit to Belfast and surrounding areas since last Thursday. Thursday 25th May 2017: After I arrived at Belfast, I went on an open top bus tour of the city. Friday 26th May 2017: Friday lunchtime was spent walking around Belfast City, also includes some photos from the Dargan Bridge. In the afternoon I went to Bangor and stumbled upon a model railway show (to be featured in a separate gallery which will be uploaded on Monday) and a miniature railway called the Pickie Puffer. Saturday 27th May 2017: A trip from Belfast to Portrush and out to Bushmills by bus. Later in the afternoon I photographed the Belmod Grand Hibernian passing Botanic. Sunday 28th May 2017: A morning jaunt to the Dargan Bridge to see the RPSI Gatwick carriage transfer which turned out to be cancelled. After getting the 1305 Belfast Central - Dublin Connolly, I travelled out to Howth on the 3rd and final RPSI "Howth 170th Special" of the day. These were operated to celebrate the 170th anniversary of the railway arriving at the current station on the 30th May 1847. Click http://smu.gs/2sbqFwq to view all the images.

I've just finished uploading all the images from my trip from Nenagh to Belfast today. Photos from: - Nenagh - Ballybrophy - Heuston - Connolly - Belfast Central. Click https:/smu.gs/2qTHNsI to view all the images.

Morning all, Limerick Station will be closing for three weeks from Monday 5th June for the resignalling of the station to take place. The Station and Check Cabins will both be closed with control transferred to the new "Limerick Electronic Control Point". The Station Cabin will be demolished and the kink in Platform 3 will be removed during the closure. On Tuesday I made a few detailed photos of the station layout prior to closure and alteration. Click http://smu.gs/2qailAj to view.

Evening all, Lunchtime at Shanderry outside Portarlington today was very productive with 077 on the Weedspray from Athenry to Heuston and 072 on the Ballina - North Wall IWT Liner. Also a small update to the end of Friday's journey with 22011 at Kildare close to midnight and Ballast Cleaner 781 at Cherryville Jct. Click http://smu.gs/2qIiXMa to view.

Been doing a bit of a ramble today. Some of it with the Branch Line Society who are over from the UK and some of it by myself to get some more "juicy" items. Photos from: -Thurles. - Mallow. - Killarney (to see a MKIV set). - Stagmount (to see a MKIV set). - Rathmore. - Limerick Jct (to see the Waterford to Limerick Weedspray train) - Heuston. - Busaras. - Connolly. - Portadown. Ciick http://smu.gs/2qGk2mj to view.

Evening folks, Photographs from this week include: Tuesday 16th May 2017: Pictures from Portlaoise, Ballybrophy and Limerick. Wednesday 17th May 2017: The 0630 Limerick - Ballybrophy service was delayed for 60 minutes between Quakers Road Level Crossing and Borris-in-Ossory due to a number of catttle on the line. The train encountered them at about the 4 1/4 milepost and eventually got going again at the 3 milepost. Thursday 18th May 2017: Images from Ballybrophy, Portlaoise area and Kildare. Includes the Belmond Grand Hibernian and 220 hauling a failed MKIV set from Cork to Inchicore. Click http://smu.gs/2q1jeXc to view.

Afternoon all, I ventured over to Cush in Co. Kildare this morning to photograph 078 hauling the Belmond Grand Hibernian from Connolly to Waterford. The Sunday and Monday trips to/from Waterford are now scheduled to be hauled by an 071 Class locomotive rather than the dedicated Belmond liveried 216 due to operational issues at Dundalk where the train is stabled at on Saturday night. This mornings outing also has images from the Barrow Bridge at Monastervin and Rosskelton in Co. Laois. Click http://smu.gs/2pLxOla to view.

Evening folks, All the images from the past week have now been uploaded to the May gallery at http://smu.gs/2pJA6S3 Featuring images from: - Portlaoise - Limerick - Limerick Jct. - Mallow - Killarney. - Thurles.

Evening folks, The final batch of images from my recent trip to London have finally been uploaded to http://smu.gs/2qdTEjr The majority of images from Sunday are of the District Line D78 stock farewell tour which covered all the branches of the District Line that the D78's visited, plus Northfields on the Piccadilly Line.

Evening all, The latest photos from my recent UK trip have now been uploaded to http://smu.gs/2qTKEma Highlights include visits to: - The Gospel Oak - Barking railway which is currently being electrified. - The former Northern City Line which is used by ECML London suburban trains in London to Moorgate. This line still retains Network South East signage. - Various London Underground photos.

Evening all, The first pictures from a weekend trip to London have now been uploaded covering Friday 5th May. Highlights include: - Pictures from the flight from DUB to LHR including seeing 071 on the Tara Mines train. - Retro liveried IC125 43002 at London Paddington. - Class 68's on the Chiltern mainline from London Marylebone. - Chiltern Bubble Car 121034 on the Princess Risborough - Aylesbury shuttle. Click http://smu.gs/2pVhJNn to view.

Evening folks, Wednesday 3rd May 2017: Another ramble today, this time heading to Tralee, Killarney and Cork. Locations include: - Portlaoise - Mallow - Tralee - Killarney (includes Railtours Ireland charter from Cobh to Killarney). - Cork. - Rathmore (to see the Belmond Grand Hibernian pass through). Plans to go down the Cobh line had to be abandoned due to a signal failure at Myrtlehill Level Crossing outside Cork at 1600. Then the Tralee line service was badly delayed due to another signal failure at Rathmore just as I arrived there on the 1725 Mallow - Tralee! Click http://smu.gs/2qtzRit to view.

Evening all, We start off the May gallery with: Bank Holiday Monday 1st May 2017: I tried a new location, when I visited the Canal Bridge in Limerick. This carries the Limerick to Athenry railway over the disused Park Canal. The final photo from the evening is a shot from Knockenpierce, outside Nenagh of the evening passenger to Ballybrophy. Tuesday 2nd May 2017: A ramble around the network today with a guest from the UK. Photos come from: - Thurles. - Ossory Road. - Busaras - The Point - East Wall Road (Retrotrain 071 on the Tara Mines). - Heuston - Hazelhatch - Sallins - Mallow Click http://smu.gs/2oUGs5q to view.

The final batch of images on Sunday 30th April have been uploaded and feature: - The Belmond Grand Hibernian leaving Gorey and arriving into Waterford some five hours later. - Images of the new Waterford to Dungarvan "Greenway" at Bilberry. - 1240 Waterford - Heuston passing Newrath Jct. - 1655 Limerick - Heuston Empty (off earlier private charter) crossing over UBL28 at Cross. Click http://smu.gs/2qqtYzG to view.