thewanderer

Evening all, After yesterday's fun and games (plus the bonus of sunshine!) it was back to the more mundane stuff today (with lots of heavy rain) with a visit to Portarlington station to see the recently completed track alterations to the yard on the Down side. The existing down siding was slewed closer to the station and extended. A new siding and locomotive release road was also created. This will allow PWD train locos to run around without going to the Down Main and Down Loop and blocking the mainline. To see the alterations click http://smu.gs/20BYLn0

Evening folks, The main event today was a 1296 tonnes trial train from Heuston to Sallins and back again, utilising 16 Autoballaster Wagons + a dead 201 Class on the rear. The test is part of a study into increasing the maximum length and weight of freight trains from 18 bogies (36 TEU's) to 27 bogies (54 TEU's). Due to very late running of the trial (2 hours late) I only managed to photograph the outward working as I had other commitments for the afternoon. Other bits and bobs from this morning include: - 078 running L.E. from Heuston to Portarlington. - Tamper 744 1050 Kildare - Wexford. - Usual diet of 22000's and 201 + MKIV sets. Click http://smu.gs/1VhkpM3 to view all the images from the day.

Evening all, Last weekend I was in London and the pictures from that trip are now uploaded to http://smu.gs/20uficD Also a few pictures from M3 Parkway last night and Cherryville Jct this morning showing the first 7ICR service from Waterford. Click http://smu.gs/1O81fCq to view

Evening all, Yesterday I was in Westport for the 150th anniversary of the Station. Photos from the event are at http://smu.gs/1QQW803 Also the general photos from the trip to/from Mayo are at http://smu.gs/1m7hbP3 - Includes 071 at Claremorris with the Sperry Train and 079 stabled at Westport.

Evening all, Yesterday I was in Westport for the 150th anniversary of the Station. Photos from the event are at http://smu.gs/1QQW803 Also the general photos from the trip to/from Mayo are at http://smu.gs/1m7hbP3 - Includes 071 at Claremorris with the Sperry Train and 079 stabled at Westport.

Evening all, As alluded to in yesterday's update, the second part of the pictures are now online and feature the latest progress of the LUAS Cross City construction from Broombridge to St. Stephen's Green. Great progress has been made in the City Centre over the last few months with track laying now underway in most areas. The work in O'Connell Street won't commence until later in the year after the 1916 Easter Rising commemorations have taken place. Click http://smu.gs/1S8VQDb to view.

Evening all, The first of a two part update tonight from Dublin and Portarlington. Pictures from: - Portarlington (IWT Liner in the evening) - Heuston - Cabra (IWT Liner) - Broombridge. - LUAS Green Line - Dun Laoghaire. - Greystones (078 and HOBS train) - Blackrock (078 and HOBS train) Click http://smu.gs/1NwgUvg to view. The update later in the week will feature part 2 which is an extensive update to the LUAS Cross City Gallery.

Evening folks, Pictures from this weekend have now just been uploaded to the January gallery. Highlights include: - A trip to Galway. - Flooding on the Limerick to Ennis railway at Ballycar and Mooghaun. It will be at least another 10 to 12 weeks before trains run along here again. The line has flooded several times over the last 20 years in 1995, 2008, 2009 and 2014. Click http://smu.gs/1nhCSNb to view all the images.

Evening all, Photos from Thursday and Friday have now been uploaded. Thursday 21st January 2016: - A few lunchtime rambles around Portlaoise. - Bonus photo of 078 passing Greystones on a Autoballaster train to Wexford. Friday 22nd January 2016: - Perway wagons at Portlaoise. - 20 minutes at Monasterevin in the evening with some videos taken. Click http://smu.gs/23k6iuW or the image below to view.

Evening all, Just one from today with 22025 + 22026 passing Portarlington. Click http://smu.gs/1nn9G87 or the image for full size picture.

Evening all, Two updates this evening: - The first update is to the January Gallery with photos from Heuston and Portarlington. The Portarlington photos show the track alterations underway to install two new sidings on the down side. Also includes 074 on the 1526 Waterford - Ballina Timber. Click http://smu.gs/1QjpvaS to view. The second update is of a training exercise at Islandbridge. Click http://smu.gs/20aig7O

Evening folks, Some images from around the Killarney area today. Click http://smu.gs/1U2EJ3h to view.

Evening all, Some images from Portlaoise, Limerick Jct. & Rathmore today. Click http://smu.gs/1RL8Gav to view.

Saturday 9th January 2016: The only thing of interest today was 075 going to Portlaoise to collect failed 073 and bring it back to Inchicore. Pictures are from The Curragh and Newbridge and also include the usual diet of 22000's and 201 + MKIV sets. Click http://smu.gs/1mLaJhT to view.

Evening all, Picture from Friday 8th January include: - 088 hauling failed 073 and its Materials train back to Portlaoise after 073 failed on Ballybrophy Bank while working from Portlaoise to Limerick. - 2816 + 2815 at Roscrea with the 1900 Ballybrophy - Limerick. Click http://smu.gs/1OVDTRl to view.

Wednesday 6th & Thursday 7th January 2016: Pictures from these two days are mostly of 2800 Class transfers to/from Limerick - West of Ireland. These are currently operating via Portarlington while the Limerick - Athenry railway is closed due to flooding. Also features 215 and 221 on MKIV turns to Cork. Click http://smu.gs/1OPYyfM to view.

Evening folks, 224 failed in Cork on Wednesday 30th December. It was eventually recovered to Inchicore on Tuesday 5th January when 088 was sent to collect it. Click http://smu.gs/1Z3FKsU to see the pair passing Clonkeen on the way to Inchicore.

Good evening all and Happy New Year! We kick off the 10th year of the Wanderer's Photos with a selection of images from Mallow and Killarney over the past few days. Includes images of some of the flooding around the Killarney area. Click http://smu.gs/1R5nd00 to view.

A few images from around Portlaoise and Limerick Jct. today. ‪#‎happynewyear‬ everybody. Click http://smu.gs/1Ui3fNF to view the full collection.

With it being New Years Eve its time its now time to launch the 2015 Year in Review Gallery. Like 2014 the gallery contains over 400 images covering some of the events of the past 12 months. One of the pictures in the review is this image from December 2015 which showcases the annual RPSI Santa Specials. Unlike previous years the 2015 specials operated to Greystones instead of Maynooth due to engineering works at Grand Canal Dock. In dire weather here we see No. 4 passing the Railway Cottages with the 1010 Pearse - Greystones on the final weekend of the Santa Specials. Sat 12.12.15 Click http://smu.gs/1OtnYcT to view to view. Enjoy!

Evening all, I hope you all survived the Christmas festivities and didn't indulge too much! I found myself in Limerick today and having a bit of spare time to myself I did a photographic survey of the Castlemungret Cement Branch. The Castlemungret branch also known as the Cement Branch, which was in essence a 4 mile long siding, was built in 1957. Prior to this Cement Ltd used to truck cement to Carey’s Road Yard for loading. The construction of the railway link was first mooted in 1953 and CIÉ made an application under the 1950 Transport Act. The Branch closed in 2009 when cement by rail ceased and the connection to the branch was removed from Limerick Check in 2013. The first part of this gallery uses photos from the Foynes Branch gallery as the lines run parallel from Limerick for the first mile or so. Click http://smu.gs/1MC6mu2 The December gallery also had a small update today as well. http://smu.gs/1ZvOdY3

Evening all, Just one image from me today of 215 passing Clonkeen with the 1500 Heuston - Cork. Merry Christmas to members of the group. Click http://smu.gs/1J6Ouwl to view.

Evening all, Some pictures from a trip to Kerry & Cork this weekend. Click http://smu.gs/1m03Zwe to view.

Evening all, In dire weather conditions I ventured out yesterday for the three RPSI Santa Specials to Greystones which were worked by the RPSI's No. 4 and Iarnrod Eireann's 072 worked the final trip of the day. Click http://smu.gs/1Oqhn38 to view.

Evening all, Popped over to Portarlington station this afternoon to see "Enterprise" 228 passing through with the 1500 Heuston - Cork plus a few ICR sets along with 073 on a Spoil Train. Click http://smu.gs/1NSHvTK or the picture below to view.