thewanderer

22007 at Heuston this evening after working the 1315 Westport - Heuston with 22054. http://smu.gs/QbrwIU

Well I would rather have a high frequency, cheap to operate (in terms of staffing) than the low frequency, high cost loco hauled trains of yesterday. DMU operation has allowed IE to increase the frequency of several routes across the country. How can this be bad? Take the Kerry line. Loco hauled days : 4 up trains. 5 down trains. Current Dmu etable: 8 trains a day in each direction at regular intervals. Some of you may consider it a bland railway today but at the end of the day the passenger experience has improved considerably since the days of avelling in cold and and dark Cravens. Do you want to go back to that? The Wanderer.

Care to expand on this?

The one that got away finally succumbed to standardisation today at Laois Depot. Unit 22007 finally got the five digit number system after somehow escaping for a four year period with the obsolete cue-ball numbering system. Here it is outside Killarney in happier times http://smu.gs/wvnjvQ The Wanderer.

Your welcome. And we can thank Mr. Doyle for allowing me to use them. 1998, it seems like yesterday Where does the time go? But to steal a good quote "Someone once told me that time was a predator that stalked us all our lives, but I rather believe that time is a companion who goes with us on the journey and reminds us to cherish every moment because they'll never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we've lived."

Evening folks, Pictures from the Drumcondra area showing some of the altered arrangements in place for the North Strand Engineering Work. Also pictures from Connolly and Heuston. http://smu.gs/ScDVIH LUAS Red Line Pictures at Busaras: http://smu.gs/Q59tEc The Wanderer.

Good evening all, A update to my 2700 Class gallery farewell which was orginlly published in August 2012. Oliver Doyle, retired Operations Schemes Development Manager has kindly supplied me with several photographs from a photographic run in 1998 between Dundalk and Dublin, plus one photo from the GEC Alsthom factory in Santa Perpetua de Mogoda, Barcelona. The first of the photos are at: http://smu.gs/Q2uTlw Two photos from last Saturday: 22004 + 22050 at Portarlington with the 1505 Galway - Heuston. http://smu.gs/Q2v404 3022 crosses Sean Heuston Bridge. http://smu.gs/Q2prir Enjoy, The Wanderer.

Good evening all, The final part of my UK Trip covering Sunday to Tuesday which covers London to Aberdeen and several points in between. Sunday Day 5 of the UK Trip: Being based in London for the weekend and having a spare day today I travelled to various places on the London Underground & National Rail networks giving "Finnyus" a history lesson in the process. The route we took: Charing Cross - Kennington Loop - Clapham Common - Clapham North - Elephant & Castle - London Road Depot - Lambeth North - Piccadilly Circus - Queens Park - Willesden Jct - West Hampstead (NLL & Jubilee) - East Finchley - Wembley Park - Stanmore - Bus 142 - Edgware - Golders Green - Bus 240 - Mill Hill East - Finchley Central - East Finchley - Highgate - London Bridge - South London Line (soon to be withdrawn and replaced by the new ELL extension) - Victoria. Photos: http://smu.gs/PR5xHf Monday Day 6 of the UK Trip: This day hadn't been fully fleshed out in the planning process of this trip, but I had an aspiration to travel on the Open Access Operators from Kings Cross and do the Sleeper train from Aberdeen. Therefore it was an early alarm clock call from my hotel in SW London to get to Kings Cross for the 0720 Kings Cross - Hull, Hull Trains service formed of 180109. The 180 lived up the dire performance of the class and was failed in Hull upon arrival. Grand Central 180101 was on hand to replace it for the 1030 back to London. Decision time on what to do for the rest of the day and where to spend the night. Aberdeen looked a good option and I went to the Travel Centre to book a berth for the Sleeper to London. The people of Hull mustn’t book many sleeping car berths as it took about 10 minutes to find and complete the booking, unlike in Birmingham NS on Wednesday where the booking was completed in a matter of minutes. Sleeping Car booked and RAIL and Rail Express purchased from WH Smith I boarded a busy 170302 for the sprint to Selby. From Selby to York I got a rather shabby (interior) Northern 158 to York to await the arrival of Grand Central's 1123 London - Sunderland. A surprise sight was 60009 Union of South Africa making an appearance not long after I arrived. Waiting on platform 9 at York I was delighted to see the GC was an HST. Never being to Sunderland before I had heard many stories about the station. They weren't wrong. It is a bad as Birmingham New Street. I got the next Metro to Newcastle for a 91 to Edinburgh and a busy peak hour 3 car 170 to Aberdeen. The sleeper was already in the platform when I arrived with 67007 at the helm. After a walk around the town I boarded the sleeper and settled down for the evening with the alarm set for 0710 to get ready for the London arrival at 0743. Little did I know at the time at 0710 I would only be at Shap Summit. More of that in Tuesday's gallery. Photos: http://smu.gs/PR4S8N Tuesday Day 7 of the UK Trip: The day begins with a knock on my cabin door at 0640 from the sleeping car attendant to be informed of a fatal incident on the line overnight at Oxenholme involving a freight train (4M48) and that we are currently at Shap. So with that good news there was nothing to do but to go back to sleep. I awoke at 0900 to find us arriving at Preston, 267 minutes late. A 58 mile section of the journey, schedule for 58 minutes had taken about 2hours and 10 minutes to get through due to the congestion and Single Line Working. So with nothing much else to do I retired to the lounge car, which gradually got busier as the morning wore on and enjoyed a late breakfast and free refreshments from Scotrail. We lost a couple of more minutes between Preston & Crewe but managed to regain them by the Crewe stop. After Crewe and just when you can think nothing more can go wrong the brakes come on hard and we come to a stop at Whitehouse Jct. Initially thinking it was to allow some faster Pendolinos past it soon became clear that something was amiss when 66301 trundled past with the W.H. Malcolm Liner. Another 60 minute delay while the points were fixed. Arrival in Euston was at 1311, 324 minutes late. With the plans for the day thrown out the window there was nothing else to do but make my way out to Gatwick for the plane home. It was unfortunate that the 7 day trip had ended with such a massive delay, as all trains I had travelled on during the week had been on time or within +5 minutes of time. A full run down of the sleeper train for that night can be found at: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/schedule/G60507/2012-10-22/ Photos: http://smu.gs/RWhE1P For the first part of the trip and you’re looking for the link it may be found at Enjoy, The Wanderer.

Good evening all, I have spent the last couple of days in the UK, Photos from Connolly and Rosslare en route to the Ferry. http://smu.gs/RNYtHt Wednesday Day 1 of the UK Trip. After travelling overnight from Fishguard I arrived in London Paddington on time at 0732. From here I took the short journey on the Bakerloo Line to Marylebone to travel to Birmingham on Chiltern's Mainline Loco hauled service. After that I made my way north to Glasgow via the East Coast and the new Airdale line for the sleeper train to London. http://smu.gs/RNXBT8 Thursday Day 2 of the UK Trip: After travelling overnight on the Sleeper Train from Glasgow to London I headed across to Liverpool Street to travel to Norwich on Greater Angila's loco hauled mainline service with a brief stop at Ipswich to view the Freightliner's locomotive stabling yard. From Norwich, I headed North to Sheringham along the Bittern Line to visit the North Norfolk Railway. Later in the day I retraced my steps to Norwich and boarded what would be considered the longest non-intercity cross-country service in the UK, East Midlands Trains Norwich - Liverpool Lime Street service. Changing trains at Peterborough for an East Coast service to Leeds. My intended route from Leeds to Manchester had been to go via Halifax but the sight of a Class 142 Pacer for the 95 minute journey didn't appeal to me so I opted for a TPE Class 185 to cross the Pennines (in comfort). http://smu.gs/RNXRBp Day 3: Friday 19th October 2012: A day which didn't go exactly to plan. A couple of lunchtime photos of Trams in Manchester City Center before getting the Virgin Trains service to London. Day 4: Saturday 20th October 2012: Just two pictures from this day. Charing Cross and the disused Connaught Tunnel. Friday and Saturday Pictures: http://smu.gs/PKXT0R Enjoy, The Wanderer.

Thanks heirflick. IE have three sandite capable vehicles. Sandite 728 Sandite 734 MPV 790 Despite being in Ireland for 3 years I've yet to get a decent picture of the bloody thing! I *believe* (and tbc) 790 is being used as the Dublin Sandite machine for this season. I'm not sure which of the other machines is based in Limerick Jct. for this season. The Wanderer.

Evening folks, Latest pictures from the week are now at http://smu.gs/RrXyfn'>http://smu.gs/RrXyfn Mostly from Dublin Heuston during the week and on Saturday from Heuston, Dun-Laoghaire and Blackrock. Also on Saturday Dublin Bus Staff operated a RV Volvo Olympian farewell tour taking in various parts of the city. Pictures from this tour are at http://smu.gs/RrXyfn The Wanderer.

That wasn't the Executive. That was the Citygold Class, most likely on the 1320 Heuston - Cork if I remember correctly. But dated...yes!

Morning all, Sunday was a busy day a trip from Kerry to the Midlands. We start off in Tralee and make our way to Farranfore to photograph the once a week crossing of trains on Sunday afternoon. Onwards from Farranfore we stop at Castleisland to view the former station, now a car park. After Abbeyfeale the N21 Road is close to the former North Kerry Line and there are photos of the Great Southern Cycle trail around the Templeglantine and Barnagh areas. I then paid a visit to Adare to see the mothballed Foynes Branch, no chance of a train running down the line in its current condition. On the far side of Limerick I photographed the 1740 Limerick - Ballybrophy service at several locations on the branch line. The pictures begin at: http://smu.gs/Pj1l2D The Wanderer.

Evening all, Friday night sunset at Newcastlewest and Saturday afternoon on the Kerry line with photos from Brewsterfield, Quagmire Viaduct, Mallow, Rathcoole, Millstreet, Farrenfore and Killarney. http://smu.gs/PgPVMM The Wanderer.

Evening all, This morning I had to be in Dublin so here are a few pictures from Heuston & Connolly. Highlights include a 9 car ICR transfer to Laois Depot and Inspection Car 721 departing Connolly bound for Sligo. http://smu.gs/QVyD3H LUAS Red Line pictures from Heuston and Abbey Street can be viewed at http://smu.gs/QVvG2Y. The Wanderer.

Good evening all, The final batch of London Photographs have been uploaded this evening. - Kennington - Oval. - Buckingham Palace - Euston Square - Edgware Road (sub surface station). - Earls Court - Turham Green - Acton Town. The two highlights of the day had to be travelling through the "Kennington Loop" on the Northern Line and later on in the day photographing three engineers trains at Turham Green and Acton Town returning to Ruislip Depot after weekend engineering works. The weekend photos begin at: http://smu.gs/QRMIiw while the A Stock Farewell Photos are at: http://smu.gs/P4OPni The Wanderer.

Afternoon all, I spent last weekend in London for the London Underground A Stock Farewell Railtour. After a career spanning 52 years the A60/A62 stock was given a sendoff by London Underground with a farewell railtour to all destinations on the Metropolitan Line on Saturday 29th September 2012. The railtour left Moorgate at 0955 and travelled to Watford, after a reversal at Watford the tour proceeded around the Watford North Curve to Rickmansworth and onwards to Chesham where a quick photostop was permitted. After Chesham the tour headed to Harrow-on-the-Hill to reverse and return to Amersham where a 45 minute break was taken. From Amersham we headed back to Harrow-on-the-Hill yet again to reverse and travel down the Uxbridge Branch of the Met. Another quick turnaround and the tour headed to Aldgate for one last visit with another quick reversal before a storming run to Wembley Park where the tour terminated. At Wembley Park the train reversed and went empty to Neasden Depot. Opportunities for photographs during the day were limited with photographs only permitted at Moorgate, Chesham, Harrow-on-the-Hill (once), Amersham and Wembley Park due to the very tight timetable for the tour. Photos from the tour are now online at: http://smu.gs/P4OPni The rest of the weekend pictures from Friday and Saturday are now online at http://smu.gs/QRMIiw featuring: - Heathrow 1,2 & 3. - Finchley Road. - Wembley Park - Class 20's at Neasden Depot. - Liverpool Street and Stratford - Moorgate - Docklands Light Railway. Plus on Saturday afternoon I took a "flight" on the Emirates airline cable car across the River Thames. The route only opened in the Summer of 2012 and offers spectacular views of East London. There will be a 2nd batch of photos from Sunday uploaded tomorrow (Tuesday) which will feature a procession of Ballast Trains returning to Ruislip Depot after weekend engineering works. Enjoy, The Wanderer.

Evening all, It was an early start this morning to head to Drumcondra to photograph 082 on the 0930 North Wall - Ballina IWT Liner. Later that morning 084 worked L.E. between Connolly and Howth to pass out a Portlaoise PWD Driver so the Sperry Train can visit the branch. Along with Drumcondra and Howth there are photos from Kildare, Heuston and Connolly. http://smu.gs/OFh5N4 The Wanderer.

29007 hauled stored 8200 Class vehicles 8401 + 8201 + 8405 + 8203 from Fairview to Inchicore today. For export or further storage? Time will tell... http://smu.gs/QjFNhQ

An early evening visit to Carn Bridge, between Portarlington and Portlaoise. 22034 1625 Heuston - Limerick 22037 1530 Cork - Heuston vice MKIV set. 22031 1705 Heuston - Tralee. 220 1700 Heuston - Cork. Pictures available at http://smu.gs/Oqy05V The Wanderer.

Tram 4010 working an outbound service on the Red Line ploughed into a Skip Truck which had crossed its path at the Junction of Benburb Street and Temple Street West. The tram sustained severe front end damage and it was reported that six people were taken to Hospital. Pictures of the incident scene are now available to view at: http://smu.gs/OlNOHc The Wanderer.

Jesus Gentleman! Shall I employ you to do the rest of my plugging on the website! I'm a bit tired after the 0430 alarm clock call this morning! All of this mornings pictures are at: http://smu.gs/PX19Bx Mr. RSI was spotted on platform 4 in Connolly this morning so I'm sure he will be along with his pictures in due course. The Wanderer.

Good evening all, MKIII EGV 89604 (old number 7604) entered service, as planned, on the 0650 Belfast Central - Dublin Connolly service on Monday 10th September 2012 with DD set 9003 and loco 209. The set was scheduled to work the full diagram for the day consisting of: 06:50 Belfast Connolly 09:35 Connolly Belfast 12:35 Belfast Connolly 15:20 Connolly Belfast 18:10 Belfast Connolly 20:50 Connolly Belfast I went to Drogheda early this morning to travel on the 0650 service into Connolly. Pictures of the van at Drogheda and Connolly, along with early morning Connolly odds and sods can be found at; http://smu.gs/PX19Bx It was a busy morning in Dublin as on the way back from Drogheda I received word that there had been a serious incident involving a tram and a truck on Benburb Street, near the Ashling Hotel. Tram 4010 working an outbound service on the Red Line ploughed into a Skip Truck which had crossed its path at the Junction of Benburb Street and Temple Street West. The tram sustained severe front end damage and it was reported that six people were taken to Hospital. Pictures of the incident scene are now available to view at: http://smu.gs/OlNOHc The Wanderer.

Good evening all, The final batch of pictures from Kerry earlier today. - 22029 passing XT102 Minish at speed. - Killarney Station. - 22033 1345 Tralee - Heuston at Killarney. Later on that evening I camped out at Kildare to photograph the G.A.A. All Ireland Hurling Final Specials returning to Waterford (Kilkenny) and Galway. All the photos from the day may be found at: http://smu.gs/Ok6ya3 The Wanderer.