thewanderer

The October gallery comes to a close with: Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd October 2023: Some general shots ftom the RPSI Liffey Leesider railtour weekend. See the 2023 Railtour section for all the pictures. Tuesday 24th October 2023: 081 and 084 pass Nenagh with a HOBS train to drop ballast on the branch. Wednesday 25th October 2023: Pictures from Portlaoise of 075 hauling new Inspection Car 725 and later that day images from Limerick Station. Thursday 26th October 2023: Pictures today come from Ballybrophy and Portloaise. Includes 075 and 220 leaving the Perway Yard bound for North Wall and Athy respectively. Saturday 28th October 2023: The Linmag Rail Milling Machine at Nenagh after completing work south of the station at the 36MP. Sunday 29th October 2023: One photo from today of Whitegate while attending the funeral of enthusiast Fred Dean. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2023-photos/October-2023/i-sLG8G3X

Evening all, Photos from the two day RPSI The Liffey Leesider railtour on 21/22nd October have now been uploaded to https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/RailtoursPreservedRailways/2023/RPSI-The-Liffey-Leesider/ This ambitious tour delivered 666.5 miles of top-class action over two days behind four different locomotives. Over 200 passengers were booked on the tour over the weekend. More of the same please RPSI! Read the website page for the full tour description.

Pictures from this so far this week cover: Tuesday 17th October 2023: A single picture from Portlaoise on this day of a 5ICR covering for a 3ICR on a Portlaoise - Heuston service. Thursday 19th October 2023: Pictures today come from: - Nenagh - Ballybrophy - Heuston - LUAS in Dublin City Centre. - Broombridge. - Clonsilla - M3 Parkway - Connolly. Click into the October gallery at: https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2023-photos/October-2023/i-ZmQnk5m

Pictures from around Farranfore and Killarney from the weekend just gone. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2023-photos/October-2023/i-f8Gb2WX to view.

The October gallery has been updated today with photos from the past week featuring: Friday 6th October 2023: Pictures & video's of trains and buses in Nenagh while out for a walk. Saturday 7th October 2023: Some views of the disused Cement Branch Siding in Limerick near the Crescent Shopping Centre. Tuesday 10th October 2023: Photos from various locations between Charleville and Glounthaune in Cork while travelling down to the city to attend an Irish Railway Record Society meeting. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2023-photos/October-2023/i-84G8WS8 to view all the images.

The website has been updated with: Saturday 30th September 2023: Pictures from Portlaoise and Borris-in-Ossory plus contributor pictures from Maynooth. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2023-photos/September-2023/i-BZJkxCb to view. Tuesday 3rd October 2023: Pictures from Lexilip Confey and Maynooth while out to photograph the MPV 790 on railhead treatment run. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2023-photos/October-2023/i-56qZLmH

Afternoon all, A few photos from my travels this week. Monday 25th September 2023: Pictures from Nenagh, Ballybrophy and Thurles. Tuesday 26th September 2023: Pictures today come from Thurles, Connolly, Clontarf Road and Drogheda. Friday 29th September 2023: Due to a shortage of 2800 Class, a pair of 2600 Class units covered the morning Bally service. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2023-photos/September-2023/i-z9QxBrL to view

Photos from the Irish Railway Record Society "The Token Exchange" railtour on Saturday 23rd September are now online at https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/RailtoursPreservedRailways/2023/IRRS-The-Token-Exchange-Saturday-23rd-September-2023/ The railtour operated from Dublin Heuston to Waterford and Limerick formed of an IE 22000 Class 3ICR set 22007. The purpose of the tour was to travel over the last two remaining routes on the Iarnród Éireann (IE) network that retain traditional railway signalling using the Electric Train Staff signalling regulations. As organiser on behalf of the IRRS, I'll like to thank everyone who travelled with us yesterday and made the tour such an outstanding success.

Photos from the Irish Railway Record Society "The Token Exchange" railtour on Saturday 23rd September are now online at https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/RailtoursPreservedRailways/2023/IRRS-The-Token-Exchange-Saturday-23rd-September-2023/ The railtour operated from Dublin Heuston to Waterford and Limerick formed of an IE 22000 Class 3ICR set 22007. The purpose of the tour was to travel over the last two remaining routes on the Iarnród Éireann (IE) network that retain traditional railway signalling using the Electric Train Staff signalling regulations. As organiser on behalf of the IRRS, I'll like to thank everyone who travelled with us yesterday and made the tour such an outstanding success.

Evening all, The September gallery has been updated with: Tuesday 19th September 2023: Picts from Nenagh, Ballybrophy, Portlaoise, Kildare and Dublin Heuston where I observed some of the evening peak departures. Thursday 21st September 2023: Picts from Nenagh of the 1710 Limerick - Ballybrophy leaving the town and an unusual sight at Mallow after MKIV Standard 4114 had been removed from set 4005 earlier in the day due to a brake fault. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2023-photos/September-2023/i-sTdHQTN to view.

Afternoon all, Earlier this week, as part of the Foynes Line rebuilding the bridge over the River Maigue at Adare was to be lifted out and placed to a nearby compound for refurbishment. It didn't go to plan on Wednesday as the bridge turned out to be slightly overweight for the 500t capacity crane so a bigger 700t crane was sourced and the lift successfully took place on Thursday afternoon. Pictures of the lift can be viewed at https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/Officialevents/2023/Foynes-Line-Reconstruction-/i-LGjmRTx

While away on a boating holiday in Ireland, I managed to get some railway photos. End of August 2023: Pictures from Leacarrow, Dromod and Drumsna Viaduct. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2023-photos/August-2023/i-vn8ZnF6 to view. September 2023: 22040 crossing the White Bridge viaduct at Athlone with the 0925 Heuston - Galway. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2023-photos/September-2023

A small update to the website this week of pictures from Nenagh. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2023-photos/August-2023/i-w6wDZ2W to view.

Another book I must add to the collection. Based on the previous editions I'm sure it will be just as good. Unfortunately I won't make the book launch as I already have plans going into the weekend. Hope it goes well.

The Irish Railway Record Society is delighted to announce, “The Token Exchange” Railtour has been arranged for Saturday 23rd September 2023. This will be our first mainline railtour since December 2017. We will be travelling over the South Tipperary & the Nenagh Branches to view the last mechanically signalled passenger railway lines in Ireland using Electric Train Staff signalling regulations. Stops will be made at all stations on each route allowing time for photographs. Also at Carrick-on-Suir, The Irish Traction Group will have their base open during our visit so we can view progress on their C Class Locomotive No. 226. The tour is scheduled to operate via the Lavistown Loop, since December 2022 only three passenger trains a week use it and the rarely used connecting line between the Nenagh Branch and the Dublin – Cork line at Ballybrophy. All timings are indicative until confirmed by Iarnród Éireann. Timetable: Dublin Heuston Dep. 07:05 Kildare (Pick Up) Dep. 07:32 Waterford Dep. 09:00 Photo stops between Carrick-on-Suir – Tipperary. Limerick Arr. 12:20 - Dep. 14:30 Photo stops between Castleconnell - Ballybrophy. Ballybrophy Arr. 17:01 Portlaoise (Set Down) Arr. 17:28 Portarlington (Set Down) Arr. 17:40 Kildare (Set Down) Arr. 17:55 Dublin Heuston Arr. 18:24 Lunch is at Members/Guests own discretion in Limerick. Fares: Members Adult € 55.00 Non-Members Adult € 60.00 Children (under 16) € 30.00 Tickets can be purchased directly at https://irrsrailtour230923.eventbrite.ie

Following on from the first Irish Railway Record Society visit in June, a repeat visit was arranged by the Irish Railway Record Society to the new National Train Control Centre and Heuston Valeting Plant, on Saturday 19th August 2023 to view the new Control Centre for the Iarnród Éireann network and the new ICR “B2 cars” at the Heuston Valeting Plant. Also on display at Heuston V.P. was 3ICR 22001 which is the head of series for the European Train Control System (ETCS) fitment. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/Officialevents/2023/IRRS-NTCC-HeustonVP-Take-2/ to view. See https://irrs.ie/upcoming/ for the upcoming IRRS outings.

The August gallery has been updated with: Monday 14th August 2023: Pictures from a lunchtime visit to Portlaoise. Tuesday 15th August 2023: A ramble from Nenagh to Limerick and Cork before heading to Dublin for the night. Wednesday 16th August 2023: The journey home from Dublin was topped off nicely with a nice surprise from Limerick Depot tonight with 2611 + 2612 on the evening Ballybrophy. With the set now missing its front gangway I thought it was 2811 + 2812 at first glance. Friday 18th August 2023: A ballast HOBS train has been employed on the Nenagh line between Monday and Friday dropping ballast at various locations each day. The train left Ballybrophy at 0855 and returned to Lisduff via Limerick, but on Monday it did it in reverse. 071 & 073 were employed Monday to Thursday but on Friday 085 had replaced 073. Pictures of the train at various locations between Nenagh and Birdhill. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2023-photos/August-2023/i-MJM5x63 to view them all.

Saturday 12th August 2023: A nice sortie over to Goolds Cross this lunchtime to view the 0937 North Wall - Limerick wagon transfer consisting of 7 Container Pocket Wagons for overhaul at the wagon works in Limerick. Also photographed was the 1100 Heuston - Cork & 1125 Cork - Heuston. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2023-photos/August-2023/i-PsrRwMp to view all the images.

The August gallery so far. Tuesday 1st August 2023: Photos from Nenagh and Limerick and showing the latest works on the creation of a new rail and bus interchange. Thursday 3rd August 2023: While on the way to Kerry, a stop off at Adare to see the latest work at this location on the Foynes Line reconstruction. Saturday 5th August 2023: An unusual sight at Rathmore Siding was a HOBS train on Saturday 5th August. The train had been dropping stone between Millstreet and Rathmore on the Friday night but was unable to return to Mallow due to a fault at the Level Crossing Control Centre in Mallow where none of the barriers could be lowered. The decision was taken to stable the train in Rathmore for the weekend. Wednesday 9th August 2023: The first 7 Container Pocket Wagons to be overhauled for the increased requirements for the XPO liner between Waterford and Ballina were released from the wagon works at Limerick and tripped to Inchicore on the weekly wagon transfer movement which left Limerick at 0755 hauled by 072. All the images can be viewed at https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2023-photos/August-2023

Evening folks, Several updates to the website tonight clearing out a backlog of images from the past few weeks. - July 2023: The July gallery concludes with pictures from Thurles and Dublin. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2023-photos/July-2023/i-nh4qKPd to view. - UK Trip: 26th to 30th July 2023: My 2nd UK trip in July, mainly based around the Derby area with a detour to Llangollen for one night and also a visit to the Great Central Railway. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/International/2023/UK-Trip-26th-to-30th-July-2023 to view.

There has been several updates to the website over the past couple of days. - July 2023: Tuesday 11th July 2023: Photos from Rosslare Europort. Monday 24th - Wednesday 26th July: A handful of photos from trips between Thurles and Heuston. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2023-photos/July-2023/i-dgWdb3p to view. A week in the UK, mainly in Devon and Cornwall with a day in London between the 12th and 18th of May. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/International/2023

Good morning all, Two gallery updates this morning at the start of a UK trip to Devon, Cornwall and London. Farewell to the Stena Europe - After 21 years serving the Rosslare - Fishguard route, the Stena Europe is due to be retired from the route on Thursday 13th July 2023. Eager to get one final trip on the old lady, on what is my favourite irish Sea ferry, I timed this trip to the UK to get a last trip on it. The Stena Nordica will replace the Europe on the route. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/FeaturedGallery/Farewell-to-the-Stena-Europe/ to view. UK Trip: Wednesday 12th July 2023 We picked up the 1350 Fishguard Harbour - Cardiff Central for the trek to Cardiff. Our overnight base was Exeter for the night, but Cross Country cancellations saw us continue onto Reading but late running saw us miss the connection. We decided to stay on the Cardiff to London train as far as Paddington, got our Oyster Cards renewed and head to Exeter on the 1904 departure to Plymouth, which happened to be the Pullman Restaurant Car service. With no reservations booked we were lucky to get a table as it was rather busy and we enjoyed a delightful meal to Exeter and the 135 minute journey flew by. A later arrival into Exeter than we had intended but very enjoyable. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/International/2023/UK-Trip-Wednesday-12th-July-2023/ to view.

Friday 7th July 2023: After the excitement of a Cork based 2600 Class on the Nenagh branch last Wednesday, normality had returned to the branch when 2804 + 2803 were provided for the 1710 Limerick - Ballybrophy on Friday. 41 passengers were on the train leaving Limerick which is just under a 50% load factor for a 2 car 2800. The return working from Ballybrophy at 1905 had 45 passengers. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2023-photos/July-2023/i-QrFJXBD to view.

The July gallery kicks off with a selection of photos from Wednesday 5th July 2023: Thanks to a tip off last night, I ventured out this morning to see the unusual sight of a pair of 2600 Class units on the Nenagh Branch covering for unavailable 2800 Class. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2023-photos/July-2023/i-SMtdSCn to view.

Monday 26th June 2023: The unusual sight of a MKIV set in Laois Depot greeted me this morning and also some pictures from around Portlaoise & Limerick during the day. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2023-photos/June-2023/i-bHfptZV to view.