thewanderer

The weedspray is in Limerick tonight and going to Portlaoise, via Thurles tomorrow morning. Latest pictures from Sunday and Monday (no weedspray Rich!): - Sunday 19th May 2013: Pictures from Portarlington, Heuston and Busaras while on a trip to Dublin. Monday 20th May 2013: - A lunchtime visit to Portlaoise to see 22033 on a SPAR charter to Killarney along with 22019, 22037 and 22054 on other passing trains. Photos start at http://smu.gs/18d2dvb The Wanderer.

Pictures from today are a tale of two coaches. In July 2009 International Carriages 6203 and 6205 were transported from North Wall to the Killashee House Hotel in Naas, Co. Kildare for conversion into a restaurant. See http://smu.gs/YQPs6w for pictures of the movement in the Dublin area. In March of the following year I visited Killashee House Hotel and managed to obtain photograph of the coaches stored in a yard behind the hotel. Click on http://smu.gs/168MGOq for the start of the March 2010 pictures. The yard was also home to Cravens Carriage 1558. It was always in the back of my mind to get back to the Killashee House Hotel to see what happened to the coaches but for one reason or another I never got around to it. Then, only days apart in late April 2013 my interest in these now unique carriages was rasied once again when I saw two seperate pictures on facebook of the carriages. Their individual condition now poles apart. In the three years since I last visited the Killashee House Hotel time has not been kind to 6205. The future plans for it never materialised and the coach has been left to rot away in open storage. All external windows on the coach have been smashed and the body work is in poor condition. Meanwhile its sister 6203 has been moved to Caragh Nurseries, about 10km away and converted into a Coffee Shop. Compared to 6205, 6203 bodywork appears to be in good condition and the interior of the vehicle is well presented. Pictures of 6203 and 6205, plus Cravens 1558 from earlier today are now online in the May Gallery at http://smu.gs/YQR4NN The Wanderer.

60 minutes spent around the Portarlington area this evening. - 22054 1825 Heuston - Portlaoise. - 22061 1930 Portlaoise - Heuston. - 218 1900 Heuston - Cork. - 22056 1855 Heuston - Portlaoise. - 22001 1935 Heuston - Galway. - 22037 1820 Cork - Heuston. The pictures start at http://smu.gs/112fpwC The Wanderer.

Morning all, Pictures from Thursday include 073 working the Weedspray Train to Portlaoise, 22023 at Portarlington and Heuston, along with 22001. Finally, a long overdue trip to former haunts on the LUAS Green Line. http://smu.gs/110Cm35 The Wanderer.

Evening all, Just a couple of photos from last weekend and today. - Saturday sees 22038 at Waterford and 22062 + 22023 at Pallasgreen. - Sunday sees 221 passing Cuddagh with the 1200 Heuston - Cork. - Today (Wednesday) saw 073 bring the Weedspray train from North Wall to M3 Parkway, bringing some welcome relief to the staple diet of 22000 and 29000 Classes. Also included is a photo of repainted 077 crossing Gormanston Viaduct with the 1225 Tara Mines - Alexandra Road. Thanks to GM233 for the use of Wednesday's photos. http://smu.gs/17w6mfL The Wanderer.

Why that guy thought the need to wear a IE hi viz, all the time while I spotted him in Waterford and not even on IE property is beyond me.

Glad you liked them folks. Sadly none from me today due to other engagements. However, I hope KZG68 has a few from his travels over the weekend.

Evening folks, Pictures from the Saturday leg of the RPSI's Golden Vale Railtour from Dublin Connolly to Limerick via Carlow, Waterford and Clonmel. Diesel Loco 072 worked the first leg of the tour to Waterford, where Steam Loco 461 was waiting to take over for the run to Limerick over the South Tipperary line. The train was photographed at: - Cush (Cherryville Jct - Athy). - Fenniscourt (Mhuine Bheag - Lavistown Jct). - Waterford - Dunkitt Viaduct (Waterford - Carrick-on-Suir). - Carrick-on-Suir. - Ballinderry (Carrick-on-Suir - Clonmel). - Ballynaraha (Carrick-on-Suir - Clonmel). - Clonmel. - Barn Demense (Clonmel - Cahir). - Cahir. - Tipperary. - Pallasgreen (Limerick Jct. - Dromkeen). Photos now up at http://smu.gs/17fflSy Enjoy, The Wanderer.

Evening all, A selction of photos, courtesy of KZG 68 of 461 arriving at Connolly this afternoon with the Special from Whitehead RPSI. While 461 retired to the yard for the night, 072 brought the MKII set to Inchicore for stabling. Pictures start at http://smu.gs/10JklGo The Wanderer.

Good evening folks, I took a spin to Mallow and Limerick today, primarily to see operations at Mallow while the line to Cork is closed. Photos begin at http://smu.gs/16OL24O I've also uploaded three videos from the recent Mid Hants Railway Diesel Gala. 66738 shunting to Ropley Headshunt. http://smu.gs/10CMtel Class 205, 1125 shunting to Ropley Headshunt. http://smu.gs/16OLuA2 50027 arrives at Medsted and Four Marks on the Saturday night. http://smu.gs/16OLCQc Enjoy, The Wanderer.

Don't believe everything you hear on facebook.

That is Metrovicks Video. The inside 071 had failed between Portlaosie and Ballybrophy (I heard it pass the building where I work that day). It failed mid section and a 2nd 071 was sent from Portlaoise to push the failure to Ballybrophy loop. The assisting loco then ran around to the front of the train and once the backlog of delayed passenger trains was clear it hauled the autoballasters, plus failed loco to Lisduff which was the trains intended destination. The Wanderer.

Evening folks, A day around the Portarlington area. Highlights include 22055 working the annual Knock Special, 209 on the 1600 Heuston - Mallow and 22027 covering for a unavailable 6ICR set on the 1340 Tralee - Heuston. http://smu.gs/16IRkmx The Wanderer.

Actually 3rd May to 12th May. Closure starts tonight with the 2100 Heuston - Cork terminated at Mallow.

Evening all, The final updates to my UK trip. Monday evening sees pictures from Glasgow Queen Street and Glasgow Central stations from where I caught the Lowland Sleeper to London Euston. http://smu.gs/10qlmms Today saw me make my way from London to Manchester Airport via Marylebone (for the Chiltern 67 loco haued), Birmingham Moor Street, Smethwick Galton Bridge, Wolverhampton and Manchester Piccadilly. http://smu.gs/10qldzu Finally while on the way from Dublin Airport to Heuston some pictures from The Point Tramstop and Heuston itself. http://smu.gs/10qlFxS The Wanderer.

Good evening all, Latest update from the UK trip. Sunday saw me going from London to Inverness. http://smu.gs/16exj7g Monday saw me take a trip around the Highlands and Isle of Skye. The route was: 0900 Inverness - Kyle of Lochalsh. 1215 Kyle of Lochalsh - Broadford Citylink Bus. 1312 Broadford - Armadale Pier Bus. 1440 Armadale Pier - Mallaig Ferry. 1610 Mallaig - Glasgow Queen Street. If I do say so myself what an amazing trip for the scenery. Pictures now online at: http://smu.gs/16exEGX Enjoy, The Wanderer.

Afternoon all, The latest updates for my UK are now online. Friday Morning at Paddington and Waterloo and Saturday photos from Woking, Winchester and Alton: http://smu.gs/15Z38kh The Watercress Line (Mid Hants Railway) are holding a diesel gala over the last weekend in April. Besides its home fleet of locos which include 50027, 37905, Thumper 1125 the railway is also playing host to locos from the East Lancs Railway D1501, D9009, 20087, 33109, GBRF 66738 and 37901. All the photos from the Friday and Saturday of the Gala are now available at: http://smu.gs/15Z4dZe Enjoy! The Wanderer.

Morning all, The latest updates from my UK trip: Penzance Station on Friday night with the First Great Western Sleeper: http://smu.gs/10izNck Friday Morning at Paddington and Waterloo: http://smu.gs/15Z38kh The Watercress Line (Mid Hants Railway) are holding a diesel gala over the last weekend in April. Besides its home fleet of locos which include 50027, 37901, Thumper 1125 the railway is also playing host to locos from the East Lancs Railway D1501, D9008, 20087, 33109, GBRF 66738 and 37905 which has been repainted into BR Green Livery. Day One of the event was top notch. Lets hope Saturday is just as good. Photos from Friday are now online at: http://smu.gs/15Z4dZe Enjoy! The Wanderer. P.S. Sulzer. I don't. Google is your friend??

Good evening from far flung Penzance, I'm currently in the UK for the Mid-Hants diesel gala this coming weekend and a bit of gricing either side of the Gala. Today I went from Holyhead to Penzance via Crewe, Tamworth, Exeter, Plymouth, Looe and Liskeard. The photos from today may now be viewed at: http://smu.gs/15RKv1I The Wanderer.

Good evening all, A number of updates from the weekend just gone. - Portarlington, Heuston and Coolmine Stations on Saturday also including rare 233 departing Heuston for Cork on the 1400 service. Photos on Sunday are from Maynooth, Connolly and Grand Canal Dock. http://smu.gs/15BImaj -LUAS Cross City Line: Back in January 2013 I photographed the route of the LUAS Cross City Line between Parnell Street and St. Stephen's Green before construction work begins on the route later in 2013. Due to time constraints on that day I had planned on doing Parnell Street to Broombridge at a later date, I just didn't think it would take four months to do it! So here is part 2 of the section between Parnell Street and Broombridge Station. Broombridge Station itself took two attempts to photograph, living up to its anti social name well and truly! http://smu.gs/15BH3Im - RPSI Royal Canal Shuttles. On Sunday 21st April 2013 the RPSI operated two specials from Dublin Connolly to Maynooth entitled the Royal Canal Shuttle. Motive power and rolling stock was provided by the RPSI's GS&WR J15 186 and the society's rake of Cravens Coaches. On paper at least, this was scheduled to be the last railtour hauled by 186 in the Republic of Ireland before its bolier cert expires later in the year. http://smu.gs/109S77v Enjoy! The Wanderer.

Evening folks, Two small updates tonight from Sunday. - 218 1200 Heuston - Cork sweeping past Portarlington. http://smu.gs/15aUKh3 - Visit to the abandoned Bord na Mona railway line from Portarlington Power Station to Cushina Loco Depot. Part of the railway line now forms the Derryounce Walkway with the infrastructure still intact underneath the gravel path and undergrowth. http://smu.gs/15aUz5w The Wanderer.

On this day 5 years ago.... Monday 14th April 2008 was the final day of service for the BREL International Rake after 12 years of service with Iarnrod Eireann. The coaches were built in 1986 and were designed as a promotional 'International' Train being an opportunity to showcase the talents of BREL with a view to acquiring orders from BR and from other countries. They were similar to Mk3 coaches with BT10 bogies but had a slightly different body profile and, for the first time on main line stock in the UK, automatic sliding doors and a maximum speed of 110 mph. The coaches were put into service on a Euston-Manchester diagram for a short period later that year but were withdrawn from passenger service and were subsequently used extensively for test loads with the class 89 locomotive. After languishing in Derby for a number of years the ten coaches were eventually sold to Iarnod Eireann in 1994 and extensively refurbished - including fitting with new T4 bogies. In service with IE the coaches spent most of their life on the Dublin - Galway route operating the 07xx Heuston - Galway, 11xx Galway - Heuston, 14xx Heuston - Galway, 18xx Galway - Heuston services and were branded "Cul na Mara". For the final couple of years they were withdrawn from the Galway route and they spent their remaining time mostly working the Westport route. Coach 6208 was the odd one out in the fleet. Purchased some time after the main batch it recieved the BT22 bogies from scrapped MKIII vehicle 7111 and operated for the most of its life in MKIII sets. For a brief period it was numbered as a MKIII vehicle 7173 (I have a photograph of it in Heuston yard numbered as such) but was soon renumbered to 6208. The final working of the International set was on Monday 14th April 2008 when 204 worked the 0915 Galway - Heuston and the set was withdrawn after arrival at Heuston. 6208 was true to form and was to be found on the 0715 Tralee - Heuston hauled by 205. This was also removed from the MKIII set upon arrival at Heuston. The following day a 9 car rake of International vehicles was transferred to North Wall for storage, but due to a signalling error the train ended up in Connolly!!! It returned to Heuston and a 2nd attempt was made on the 16th April which did make North Wall on that occasion! A couple of photos of the last days of the Internationals. Sunday 13th April at Tullamore: http://smu.gs/ZTws39 Monday 14th April at Heuston: http://smu.gs/ZTwyYx Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th transfers to North Wall: http://smu.gs/156MRcF For more information on the BREL internationals visit the excellent train testing website which also includes details of 6401's and 6501 (which never entered service with IE) trip to the IVA88 Exhibition at Hamburg. http://www.traintesting.com/International_train.htm The Wanderer.

Evening all, Just added the rest of my pictures from Thursday evening to my website featuring Connolly, the new Southern Entrance at Pearse Station and Clontarf Road. Also pictures from Portlaoise on Friday morning with 074 passing through the station with the Long Welded Rail Train from North Wall. http://smu.gs/ZThbzu The Wanderer.

John, All you need to know about our wonderful new number scheme. http://rsc.ie/download/pdf/rscg021_guidance_note.pdf The document is a few years old and it would seem the number scheme has changed as it is suggested 077 should be 92-60-2710077-? The last digit is the self check number.

Evening all, Just one interesting picture for this evening: 077 in its new Slate Grey livery passing Clontarf Road on the early 1915 Alexandra Road - Tara Mines service. http://smu.gs/ZPZ39A The remaining pictures from today will be uploaded over the course of the weekend. The Wanderer.