thewanderer

Nothing like a good rumour. No truth in it what so ever.

Evening all, Iarnród Éireann launched their new commuter services connecting stations between Newbridge and Parkwest with Connolly to Grand Canal Dock via the Phoenix Park Tunnel line on Monday 21st November. The introduction of the new services follows an investment of €13.7 million in upgrading the Phoenix Park Tunnel route, funded by the National Transport Authority. Seven new morning peak trains to Grand Canal Dock, and eight new evening peak trains from Grand Canal Dock begin on Monday 21st November, with limited stop services in the opposite direction. Passenger loadings on the two inbound services this morning which I travelled on were very healthy and it is a good indication that it will be a popular service in the coming years. This is the first phase of services to operate via the Phoenix Park Tunnel. Iarnród Éireann and the National Transport Authority plan to expand services in the future to include off-peak and weekend services. Click http://smu.gs/2gvoIZS to view. There will also be a video uploaded to the gallery and pictures of one of the evening peak workings later this evening (all going to plan).

Evening all, Iarnród Éireann launched their new commuter services connecting stations between Newbridge and Parkwest with Connolly to Grand Canal Dock via the Phoenix Park Tunnel line on Monday 21st November. The introduction of the new services follows an investment of €13.7 million in upgrading the Phoenix Park Tunnel route, funded by the National Transport Authority. Seven new morning peak trains to Grand Canal Dock, and eight new evening peak trains from Grand Canal Dock begin on Monday 21st November, with limited stop services in the opposite direction. Passenger loadings on the two inbound services this morning which I travelled on were very healthy and it is a good indication that it will be a popular service in the coming years. This is the first phase of services to operate via the Phoenix Park Tunnel. Iarnród Éireann and the National Transport Authority plan to expand services in the future to include off-peak and weekend services. Click http://smu.gs/2gvoIZS to view. There will also be a video uploaded to the gallery and pictures of one of the evening peak workings later this evening (all going to plan).

Evening all, The latest update to the website is pictures from a weekend in London. The reason for the trip was to visit the London Transport Museum Depot at Acton Town for a guided tour called "Cab it" where you can visit all of the cabs of the Underground cars on display here. Pictures from that visit are online at http://smu.gs/2gtippu - well worth a visit if your in London and there on a weekend that it is open. The other update tonight is the other pictures from London on Saturday and includes: - Acton Town - Hammersmith - Euston - Camden Town - Waterloo - Clapham Jct. - Feltham Click http://smu.gs/2gtbdtJ to view. Pictures from Sunday will be posted online with the next few days. Enjoy!

Evening folks, Some updates from the past few days. Saturday 12th November 2016: An hour spent at Ballykillane. Sunday 13th November 2016: Two pictures from around Portarlington. Monday 14th November 2016: A trip to Dublin today with photos from: - Portarlington (IWT Liner). - Heuston. - Connolly. - Bayside. - Howth Jct. - Pearse. Click http://smu.gs/2gbwZC4

Evening folks, A flying visit to Dublin tonight to capture 5ICR "Premier Class" 22036 working one of the peak hour only Docklands - M3 Parkway services. This was the first visit of a Premier Class set to either Docklands or M3 Parkway. Also some pictures from Kildare, Connolly, Busaras and Heuston. Click http://smu.gs/2epwN1I to view.

Evening all, Some photos from a trip from Portlaoise to Nenagh today. Click http://smu.gs/2eK74Nl to view.

Morning folks, Some images from Saturday have now been uploaded to the website. Pictures from The Curragh (for Ballast Cleaner 781) and The Iron Bridge near Sallins (for the IWT). Click http://smu.gs/2dUIzAV The Model Railway Society of Ireland exhibition at Raheny. Click http://smu.gs/2fw7URX

Pictures of the RPSI "Semaphore Finale" Spl. from Whitehead to Castlerock have now been uploaded to http://smu.gs/2e2cSkp I chased the train from Belfast to Castlerock and got it at several locations en-route. The loop at Castlerock is due to be closed and then removed next Wednesday.

I hope IE appeal the judgement. Madness. Man gets on a train in a hurry and falls over. Negligence on his part I would say.

Evening folks, Some photos from the past few days. Sunday 23rd October 2016: Pictures from Pearse, Portarlington and Killonan Jct. Includes the Ballast Cleaner 781 passing Portarlington. Wednesday 26th October 2016: Belmond Grand Hibernian operated a Staff Special from Heuston to Thurles on Wednesday 26th October as a thank you to the IE Staff involved in the operation. Click http://smu.gs/2ebpVkc to view.

RPSI: "The Western Explorer" Dublin - Athenry - Ennis - Limerick - Dublin Continuing the theme of celebrating 40 years of the magnificent and iconic 071 class diesel locomotives, this Dublin-based one-day excursion featured diesel haulage on a trip along the Western Rail Corridor. There were photostops at Monasterevan, Tullamore, Athlone, Attymon and Athenry, Ennis and Limerick. As usual a big thanks to the IE and RPSI staff who make these tours possible. All proceeds from today's tour will go towards restoring the RPSI Diesel fleet to mainline running. The next tour is scheduled for Saturday 8th April 2017 and the planned routing is: Connolly - Portarlington - Athlone - Galway - Kilkdare - Kilkenny - Kildare - Connolly. A tour very much in the mold of the iconic ITG tours which has high mileage and will probably have three different locomotives during the day. Photos from the tour yesterday are now online at http://smu.gs/2dLLxWt

Afternoon all, Pictures from this week include : - Belfast early on Monday morning prior to travelling to Dublin, and onwards to Sligo. - A stroll around Dublin yesterday evening visiting St. Stephens Green, Pearse, Connolly and Heuston. Click to view.

Monday 17th October was rather a strange day, seeing a BR Southern Region EMU in Co. Sligo in the North West of Ireland. Quirky Nights Glamping have purchased 3CIG 1498 from the Epping & Ongar Railway in Essex and plan to convert it in to sleeping accommodation in their transport themed glamping village. The brainchild of David Mc'Gowan the village currently contains a Boeing 767, Double Decker Bus and Taxis. Other items yet to arrive include a Helicopter and a Yatch. The train made the move from Ongar on Thursday night and travelled across the Irish Sea with Seatruck from Heysham on Sunday afternoon. The move to Co. Sligo took place during the earlier hours of day morning. Click http://smu.gs/2enkhv8 to view all the images from the day in Sligo, plus some of the movement in Dublin City.

Evening folks, Saturday 15th October 2016: Pictures from Heuston, Connolly and Belfast today includes the Belmond Grand Hibernian at Heuston, Connolly and crossing the Dargan Bridge in Belfast. Click http://smu.gs/2drZclx to view.

Evening folks, I popped over to Rosskelton this afternoon to photo the Belmond Grand Hibernian passing by. Click http://smu.gs/2e59A08 to view all the images.

Thanks Noel. Please take a look at the other forgotten railways. Might bring back some memories

Afternoon all, The latest updates to the website contain: Sunday 9th October 2016: A ramble around Co. Kerry visiting various locations either side of Killarney. Monday 10th October 2016: While driving through Portlaoise this morning I was lucky enough to capture 071 shunting a track panel train. Click http://smu.gs/2e7S8N6 to view. Update to the long closed North Kerry line with photos from Devons Road, Barnagh and Rathkeale Stations. Click http://smu.gs/2deRFXf to view.

Evening folks, A few images from the past two days at: - Portlaoise - Mallow - Around Killarney. Click http://smu.gs/2e2hEDF to view.

This evening had an interesting turn of events. I photographed the 1700 Heuston - Cork and 1705 Heuston - Tralee at Carn. Little over an hour later I was in Portarlington Station waiting to travel on the 1700 MKIV set to Kildare. Due to a smashed windscreen on 229 the train terminated at Ballybrophy and 3ICR 22047 worked the service forward 30 minutes late. 229 and its MKIV set worked the 1825 Portlaoise - Heuston calling only at Portarlington, Kildare and Newbridge to return it to Dublin for repairs to be carried out on 229 at Inchicore. Click http://smu.gs/2d3YdYv to view.

Evening folks, 231 was decked out with IWT logos for a PR event in Dublin Port this morning. The loco then operated the 0935 North Wall - Ballina IWT liner. I captured a photo of it passing Portarlington. Click http://smu.gs/2dFPRUn to view the full collection.

Morning folks, The latest updates to the website include: - Emerald Isle Express. Photos from the Cobh to Killarney (Wed) and Killarney to Ennis (Thurs) legs have now been uploaded. This is the end of my Emerald Isle Express this year as I have other commitments for the remainder of the week. Click http://smu.gs/2cP5j2U to view. - September 2016 gallery. Photos from Wednesday and Thursday include: - Cork - Mallow - Killarney Killarney was interesting as the two luxury touring trains, the Belmond "Grand Hibernian" and Railtours Ireland "Emerald Isle Express" both visited the busy tourist town on Wednesday afternoon. Click http://smu.gs/2d9KrTE to view. Both galleries can also be accessed from the home page at http://www.thewandererphotos.com

Thanks gents. EIE due in Killarney at 1305 tomorrow with the Belmond GH due in at 1500. W

Evening folks, Day two of the Emerald Isle Express by Railtours Ireland and using the RPSI Cravens Carriages operated from Waterford to Cork via Limerick Jct. 078 took the train to Limerick Jct. where it was swapped for 083 to Cork. Click http://smu.gs/2dhAjGf to view. Also I photographed the Belmond Grand Hibernian plus a few other odds and sods near Rathduff in Co. Cork. Click http://smu.gs/2cILytQ to view.

Evening folks, Saturday 23rd September 2016: A day around West Clare including a visit to Loop Head Lighthouse. Sunday 25th September 2016: Pictures from Limerick Station showing the Single Line Working in operation between the station and Limerick Check due to the renewal of points No. 70. The final pictures from the day show 071 at Portarlington after working Ballast Trains over on Saturday. To see the pictures from Saturday (non-railway) and Sunday click http://smu.gs/2cXNQFl To see just the pictures from Sunday click http://smu.gs/2cG9u13