thewanderer

Afternoon all, 073 was sent to Cork on Thursday 2nd February to collect failed 221 at Cork. It returned the following day as a 0930 Cork - Inchicore L.E. transfer. The pair are pictured passing Portlaoise a few minutes ahead of schedule. Click the picture to view the gallery.

On the 2nd February 1987 CIÉ was reorganised into a holding company and three operating companies called Iarnrod Eireann, Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann. To mark the occasion, the IE Twitter team did a behind the scenes of Iarnród Éireann for 24 hours (0500 - 0500), to get a glimpse of how the team of 3,800 people deliver your train service. From line inspection to stations, from train maintenance to signalling, through day and night, #24HRSinIE will give you a unique insight into the service and the people who provide it. The photos in this gallery feature my contributions from throughout the day. Use the hashtag #24HRSinIE on twitter to see all the posts from Iarnrod Eireann and many of their staff from throughout the day. Click http://smu.gs/2jCwJhy to view.

Evening all, We finish off January with two photos from Ratheven last Monday the 30th January. Click http://smu.gs/2k0Nq2k to view.

Evening folks, Saturday 28th January 2017: A ramble from Limerick Jct. to Killmallock and Newtown (south of Charleville). Click http://smu.gs/2kytTHj to view.

Morning all, Photos from the middle of the week have now been uploaded to http://smu.gs/2k9bpzJ Highlights include: - Belmond GH 216 working Cork - Dublin passenger trains. - Linmag Rail Milling Machine at Portarlington. - President Michael D. Higgins lets the train take the strain on a day trip to Cork.

A few photos from around Dublin on Tuesday evening, including 22000 Class sets passing Cabra on the new Grand Canal Dock - Hazelhatch / Newbridge "Phoenix Park Tunnel" services. Click http://smu.gs/2jnCApc to view.

Evening folks, The main events of the past two days have been the use of Belmond liveried 216 on several Dublin - Cork trains folllwoing the failure of 221 at Mallow on Saturday night. 216 was the standby loco at Cork and was pressed into service on the Sunday working: 1220 Cork - Heuston with 4006. 1900 Heuston- Cork with 4001. On Monday 23rd January the loco worked the following services: 0715 Cork - Mallow empty. 0800 Mallow - Cork 0920 Cork - Heuston 1300 Heuston - Cork 1620 Cork - Heuston. Click http://smu.gs/2iXlu2P to view the pictures and videos.

Friday 20th January 2017: A varied day today with pictures of an early morning Heineken Ireland Private Charter from Cork to Dublin Heuston and other pictures from Portarlington, Portlaoise, Cork, Mallow and Killarney. Click http://smu.gs/2iKvxID to view.

Thursday 19th January 2017: A few lunchtime photos from Clonkeen, mainly to see a Mallow - Inchicore trial train. Click the picture below to see all the images.

Good evening folks, Tuesday 17th January 2017: There was considerable disruption to the Westport line after the 1140 Ballina - North Wall IWT Liner failed near Balla Station. It was rescued by 088 and hauled 073 and its train to North Wall. I photographed and videoed it passing Portarlington about 140 minutes late, along with a couple of ICR sets and 229 on the 1800 Heuston - Cork. Click http://smu.gs/2j6m9Ly to view all the images and video.

Evening all, The final batch of images from the London trip have now been uploaded. Featuring pictures from the scene of the awful Croydon Tramlink accident on 9th November 2016, before heading to Hayes and back into London Bridge & Blackfriars for a train to Gatwick. Click http://smu.gs/2jt8CAO to view.

No he was learning the road (yesterday!)

Evening all, The next batch of photos from my weekend in London have now been uploaded to the website. The main event of the day was the Branch Line Society's "The Vossloh Voyager" which traversed three much sought after depot / yard lines and other interesting track including East Putney in both directions. The 8-coach train was formed of the two Class 455 EMUs that have been recently used as the test bed for the new Vossloh Kiepe three phase AC traction motor project – 5732 and 5870. In recognition of the special train, all profits will be donated to SWT's nominated charity, Railway Benefit Fund (RBF). A grand total of £14,500 was raised. All the photos from the railtour can be viewed at http://smu.gs/2iXMmvt The other non-railtour images from Saturday include visits to: - Clapham Jct. - Waterloo. - Stockwell. - Brixton - Kingly Court Underground Station. It's not what you think it is These can be viewed at http://smu.gs/2jetJEH

Morning all, I'm in London this weekend for a railtour on the Saturday. The first batch of images from Friday have now been uploaded to http://smu.gs/2jhyDTj The photos start at Dublin Airport and feature such exotic locations as Greenford and Stratford plus many more.

Evening all, A trip to Dublin this morning. Very handy when needing to go to Connolly area of the city to use the Phoenix Park Tunnel services. Pictures are from: Sallins Connolly Malahide - highlight being 085 on the afternoon Tara. Portarlington. Click http://smu.gs/2jF9xi8 to view all the photos.

Evening folks, Monday 9th January 2017: The day starts off in Limerick before heading to Dublin to see retro CIE liveried 071 on the 0920 Tara Mines to North Wall laden working. Click http://smu.gs/2i79zz9 to view all the images.

Evening folks, Several photos from the weekend at Portarlington, Portlaoise, Ballybrophy, Birdhil, Killonan and Ennis. Click http://smu.gs/2i5BB9m to view.

Evening all, I didn't think my first train trip of 2017 would be on a 22000 set on the Nenagh branch! But that is what happened today. Due to a large number of passengers travelling to Limerick this morning on the 1005 Ballybrophy - Limerick service, mostly from Cloughjordan, which was organised by the Nenagh Rail Partnership for their annual outing to "Limerick on Ice" (Ice skating). Iarnrod Eireann decided to allocate the Limerick - Limerick Jct ICR set to the evening Ballybrophy service. I travelled north from Nenagh to Ballybrophy on it. Click http://smu.gs/2iBLyPQ

Thanks Noel. Tuesday 3rd January 2017: We start off the 2017 pictures with a visit to Ratheven outside Portlaoise to photograph 076 hauling failed 234 from Cork to Inchicore plus the usual MKIV and 22000 sets on passenger traffic. Click http://smu.gs/2iLRIdG to view all the images.

With 2017 upon us its time to reveal the 2016 Year in Review. This gallery contains over 400 photos and videos from the past 12 months from the railways of Ireland. Enjoy the gallery and let's hope 2017 will be just as interesting. From a personal viewpoint the painting of 071 into its original CIE Supertrain livery was certainly the highlight of the year for me. Let's see what 2017 will bring us.... Click http://smu.gs/2hX3lNX to view.

Evening folks, The final photos of 2016 are from Nenagh to see the final train of 2016 to pass through the station. 2817 + 2818 1905 Ballybrophy - Limerick. May I take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy & Prosperous New Year! Click http://smu.gs/2hAsCwv to see the full size image.

That's never happened here and I can't see it happening. Assistance usually comes from the front.

Evening all, Friday 30th December was another poor day for the loco fleet with 234 working the 0900 Heuston - Cork failing between Mallow and Cork in the Burnfort area. Cork Thunderbird 229 was sent to assist it and hauled it into Cork where it arrived 90 minutes late. Photos from the day include Clonkeen, Lisduff & Templemore showing 201 Class and MKIV sets. Click http://smu.gs/2hCDDSQ to view.

Evening folks, Thursday 29th December 2016: As dusk was falling I visited Portarlington station to photograph 231 hauling failed MKIV set 4006 and loco 218 from Ballybrophy to Heuston. The loco had failed while working the 1220 Cork - Heuston and was terminated at Ballybrophy with passengers transferred to the following 1320 Cork - Heuston. Plus photos of a few other odds and sods. Click http://smu.gs/2iJqAiT to view all the images.

Evening folks, Saturday 24th December 2016: Just one from Killarney showing 22030 departing from the station with the 1305 Tralee - Mallow. Click http://smu.gs/2hC0nyc to view the full size image. May I also take this opportunity to wish all visitors to the website a very Merry and Peaceful Christmas.