thewanderer

Afternoon all, Photos from the past two days include: Friday - Belmond Grand Hibernian at Mallow and Heuston. - LUAS 3001 at Jervis. Saturday - A trip on the Nenagh Branch to Nenagh. - A very unplanned last minute dash to Athlone to photograph #retrotrain 071 on the 0935 North Wall - Ballina IWT Liner. Click http://smu.gs/2aQMAjb to view.

I agree it could do with a little relief. I wonder hows the paint shop still have any White Stripes in stock?

Afternoon folks, The latest update features photos of the Belmond Grand Hibernian on trial from Inchicore to Mallow and back to Heuston this morning with 216 and 7 MKIII carriages. Click http://smu.gs/2b7OPQF to view all the photos.

The Belmond Grand Hibernian train took to the rails during the early hours of Wednesday 10th August when it worked a 0025 Heuston - Mallow & 0330 Mallow - Inchicore Trial Train with 216 providing the power. The outward trial passed Portarlington at 0246, 86 minutes late. The train was delayed due to a late departure from Inchicore to Heuston. Click http://smu.gs/2b1BwBf to watch the video.

Evening folks, I've just updated several galleries of the website featuring photos from the past few days. August Gallery: - DART EMU at Dun-Laoghaire on Sunday. - 075 passing Shanderry with the 1526 Waterford - Ballina Ety. Timber on Monday, Click http://smu.gs/2aHtijw to view. On Sunday 7th August 2016 the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland operated another of their popular Dublin Riveria Specials from Dublin to Greystones. Click http://smu.gs/2aWBBGi to view. Before the morning "Dublin Riveria" Steam Spl. from Connolly to Greystones, the RPSI had arranged with IE to line up their three Diesel Locomotives outside the Shed at Connolly for a photo shoot. Click http://smu.gs/2aHvl7h to view. All of the above galleries can also be accessed from the home page at http://www.thewandererphotos.com

Afternoon folks, On Saturday Belmond Grand Hibernian liveried 216 was used on the 0935 North Wall - Ballina IWT Liner. This was the first run of the loco on the mainline since repainting into Belmond livery. It still requires branding to be applied. Also pictured were the two Mayo Specials to Heuston for the Mayo - Tyrone Match in Croke Park, Dublin. Click http://smu.gs/2aC9r5a to view. Also the latest batch of photos from my recent UK trip have now been uploaded. These are from Tuesday 2nd August. After arriving in Edinburgh off the Sleeper from London I took an out and back spin to Tweedbank on the recently reopened Borders Railway. Once back in Edinburgh it was time for some sightseeing of the City before taking a trip out to North Queensferry to view the Forth Bridge. Taking 68002 out and back of course on the Scotrail loco hauled turn. Click http://smu.gs/2aCa9zE to view.

Evening all, Last Monday I took a trip to the Spa town of Bath for an afternoon of sightseeing. To get to Bath I took a slight detour catching the 1045 Paddington to Swansea as far as Bristol Parkway to enable me to sample the Pullman Restaurant Car on board the service. At Bristol Parkway after a short wait I caught a Class 158 on a Great Malvern to Brighton service to Bath Spa. Once the sighseeing was completed I got a London bound HST as far as Reading where I alighted to see the Retroliveried HST Power Car 43002 in its original HST livery from 1976. I then took the slow route back to London via Staines before heading to Scotland on board the Caledonian Sleeper to Edinburgh. Click http://smu.gs/2aAxTDY to view the images.

The latest pictures from my UK trip have now been uploaded to http://smu.gs/2ao53DO Friday: First day of a UK trip which features images from around the Birmingham area. Saturday: A day trip from Birmingham to Cheltenham Spa to see this delightful town. Returned to Birmingham via Swindon and Bristol Parkway and lucky enough to briefly see retrotrain 43002 in its BR Blue and Grey livery at Bristol Parkway. Sunday: - The Shakespeare Express at Birmingham Moor Street. - London Euston after travelling down from Birmingham on a Virgin Trains service.

First batch of photos from a UK trip have now been uploaded. Click http://smu.gs/2akqB3V to view.

071 was released into general freight traffic on Friday when it took over the Ballina to Waterford Timber at Kildare. After spending the weekend in Waterford it was allocated to the 1130 Waterford - Ballina DFDS Liner on Monday. I caught a few pictures of it at Kyle Bridge (Kildare) and at the station itself. Also in this update are a few 22000 Class units and Ballast Regulator 703 heading down road from Kildare. Click http://smu.gs/2a9sK5y to view.

Evening folks, Latest update includes: Friday 22nd July 2016: While heading for Kerry I got a few photos of 22017 at Limerick Jct. during its turnaround on the 1350 Heuston - Limerick Jct. Spl. Sunday 24th July 2016: Photos from Killarney, Farranfore, Limerick. Plus Skerries for the RPSI Trains out today. Click http://smu.gs/2a5WxsF to view.

Evening all, Photos from the past two days have now been uploaded to the website. Wednesday 20th June 2016: A visit to Carn Bridge to see "raccoon" liveried 233 on the 1700 Heuston - Cork. Thursday 21st July 2016: A spin to Cabra in Dublin to view the Belmond MKIII transfer from North Wall to Inchicore. As an added bonus the weedspray train also transferred from North Wall to Heuston and locos 206 and 215 transferred from Inchicore to Connolly. Finally 22045 and 22018 were swapped between Connolly and Heuston. Click http://smu.gs/2a39gRq to view.

Evening folks, Some of the more mundane pictures from Tuesday while waiting for the heavily delayed RPSI diesel transfer from Inchicore to Connolly. Click http://smu.gs/29UAdDa to view.

On Tuesday 19th July, IE 071 in its retrotrain CIE livery was used to haul the RPSI diesels B141, 175 and 134 from Inchicore to the RPSI Shed at Connolly. Click the picture below to view all the images from the day.

Morning folks, Been a while since the last update due to having a rather busy weekend. The latest updates to the website are: - July Gallery features: Thursday 7th July 2016: A visit to Carn to see 077 on the Weedspray train from Claremorris to Portlaoise. Saturday 9th July 2016: A trip to Athlone and Woodlawn mainly to see the Green liveried 216 on its last run before repainting. Sunday 10th July 2016: Some pictures from Athlone, Ballinasloe and Portarlington while travelling to Dublin on board the RPSI Western Gateway railtour. Monday 11th July 2016: Pictures from Heuston and Athlone including a rather interesting incident at Derries Level Crossing. Wednesday 13th July 2016: Pictures from Cush, Kildare and the Curragh for the Timber and IWT trains. All of the July photos can be accessed at http://smu.gs/29FtgbB - The Old Rail Trail Mullingar to Athlone. I cycled the route on Saturday 9th July from Athlone to Mullingar, returning the following day back to Athlone. The entire route is well used by locals and visitors out walking and cycling. For more information on the "Old Rail Trail" as it is now know as, visit the Westmeath County Council website for further information http://www.westmeathcoco.ie/en/ourservices/tourismlibraryartsrecreation/greenway/oldrailtrail-routemap/ All of the photos from the Cycle can be viewed at http://smu.gs/2aaBabg - RPSI Western Gateway. The RPSI ran another of their Sunday excursions from Dublin to a destination down the country, this time to Athlone and Ballinasloe. I joined the train at Ballinasloe for the return to Dublin. Click http://smu.gs/29Iu00y to view. All of the above can also be accessed from the home page: http://thewandererphotos.com

Good evening all, Some photos from the past few days this week. Tuesday 5th July 2016: A few images around Portarlington featuring 234 on the 1900 Heuston - Cork and 22010 showing off its "Basking Shark" new skirting on 22310. Wednesday 6th July 2016: A trip to Dublin today turned up the nice bonus of 216 working the 1020 North Wall - Ballina IWT Liner. Click http://smu.gs/29PifTn to view.

On the move +55 after a visit from the Laois Depot rapid response team . 22014 was the naughty girl.

Evening all, The July gallery opens with: Friday: Green liveried 216 works the 1105 Ballina - Waterford Timber to Kildare. Pictured at Portarlington. Saturday: A trip down the Nenagh Branch from Portlaoise. Monday: Tamper 751 passing Portlaoise while enroute from Mallow to North Wall. Click http://smu.gs/29J8KVB to view the images.

Just to correct the above info. After the tour 071 was due a B Exam. On this exam wheel flats were found and the loco was sent to the wheel lathe. The wheels wouldn't take a turn. i.e. went below scrapping size so the loco was stopped until new wheelsets were available. The loco got a new set of bogies about two weeks ago. The new bogies were grey which looked very odd (I was sent a picture) against the black underframe. Thankfully Inchicore have since painted the bogies black. Some electrical gremlins seem to be in the new bogie(s) as the loco kept getting a wheelslip indicator when trying to move in the shed. This was repaired and the loco was available for service over the weekend and was nominated for service today to take over the Waterford - Ballina DFDS at Kildare. But, while going LE from Inchicore to Heuston the loco got ground relays so was failed and sent back to Inchicore. Fault finding planned for tomorrow. She seems to be a lit shy these last few weeks The Wanderer.

Good morning folks! Updates from the past few days have now been uploaded to the website. The June Gallery comes to a close with: Wednesday 29th June 2016: A visit to Straboe to see 231 working the 1700 Heuston - Cork and 22033 on the 1705 Heuston - Tralee. Thursday 30th June 2016: Pictures from: - Portlaoise. - Portarlington. - Inchicore. - Heuston. - Tara Street. - Grand Canal Dock. Click http://smu.gs/29znZk6 to view. Also on Thursday evening tram 4003 was used for testing on the Red Line between the temporary turnback at Abbey Street and The Point / Connolly. This section has been closed since the 21st May while LUAS Cross City construction works took place on O'Connell Street and Marlborough Street. The tram was used to make sure the new crossovers and turnouts were all within gauge and also to prove the route along the rest of the line. Some interesting obstructions were found upon along the way! Click the link to find out more! http://smu.gs/29c1nsG Most of the images in this update to the LUAS Red Line Gallery have also been copied over to the LUAS Cross City Gallery for the sake of completeness of those construction works.

Evening all, Photos from the past few days have now been uploaded to the June gallery. Includes: - General liveried 231 and 233 both working Heuston - Charleville services last Saturday. - Photos of Limerick - Ennis services around Cratloe. - Scart Level Crossing on the Nenagh Branch. - Limerick Station with a 4ICR using the train wash at the depot. - Some more views of passing passenger trains at Stacumny Bridge on Monday night. - Green liveried 216 at Kildare on Tuesday with the Waterford to Ballina Timber. Click http://smu.gs/29lIznI to view.

The project to extend freight train lengths continued on Monday 27th June when a 27 bogie (54 TEU's) liner wagon trial operated from North Wall to Ballina. NI Railways Locomotive (8)209 was allocated to the Liner and it departed from North Wall ontime at 2045. I photographed the train at Stacumny Bridge on the Dublin / Kildare border and also at Monasterevin Station. Click to see the pictures and videos of the freight train trial. I must say it was a very impressive sight and hopefully will become a common feature on the Irish Railway Network.

A visit to Cherryville Jct. in the evening time while en route to Newbridge. Click http://smu.gs/28SYrQc to view.

Wait to the finished product! In 5 years time people will say do you have any pictures of 216 in green?

Photos from yesterday and today have now been uploaded to the June gallery. Wednesday 22nd June 2016: A trip to Killenard in the late afternoon to photo 215 working the 1140 Ballina - North Wall IWT Liner plus various passenger train services. Thursday 23rd June 2016: Just before lunch time I got a tip off that 216 was being scrambled from Inchicore to Kildare to replace 088 which was having trouble on the 1130 Waterford - Westport Timber. A last minute trip to Kildare ensured to see 216 arrive and be shunted onto the timber train. It left 30 minutes late at 1445 for Portarlington and onwards to Westport. Click http://smu.gs/290hWF1 to view.