thewanderer

Afternoon all, The first update for August 2012 has some aerial photos on Tuesday morning while flying into Dublin from JFK onboard EI-DUZ "St. Aofie" of Co. Mayo plus Balbriggan, Skerries and Portmarnock in Co. Dublin. Photos from Wednesday are from Co. Kildare of the two IWT liners from Ballina to North Wall (226 & 073), plus the usual MKIV's and ICR's. 209 was on the 1500 Cork. All of the August photos can be found at http://smu.gs/ONxx97 All of the USA photos are now up on the website. These may be found at and feature photos from the following Cities: -Chicago -San Francisco -Phoenix -Los Angeles -Las Vegas Plus Amtrak's California Zephyr which operates between Chicago and San Francisco and the Cajon Pass which is about 70 miles outside Los Angeles. Enjoy, The Wanderer.

Morning all, Two batches from the USA Trip have now been uploaded. The Los Angeles collection features photos from Hollywood, Downtown, Santa Monica and Universal Studios. There is only one rail related photo in this collection. L.A. doesn't really do rail transit but it is trying to slowly address this. http://smu.gs/NfWgC1 The 2nd collection is from the famous Cajon Pass area which is about 70 miles from L.A. on the I-15 road to Las Vegas. 35 minutes spent on Hill 582 saw six freights pass. http://smu.gs/NfWnxb The Wanderer.

Morning all, A couple of photos from Phoenix, AZ over the course of the weekend. http://smu.gs/N2ZkRJ The Wanderer.

Cheers Richie. The final batch of photos from my visit to San Francisco are now at http://smu.gs/N1WrAE . These photos are from my trip on the BART out to San Francisco International Airport. The Wanderer.

Morning all, Some more photos from San Francisco showing the various rail based transit systems in the city. http://smu.gs/PLr9SH The Wanderer.

Good morning, Here are a selection of photos from San Francisco featuring some of the various attractions of the City. http://smu.gs/PGzlDM The Wanderer.

I've now uploaded the final batch of photos from Chicago featuring the Central Loop on the L System. http://smu.gs/MTfey9 Plus a video of a fast Metra service overtaking a slow Metra service at Stone Ave. http://smu.gs/PCgzgW Between Friday and Sunday I travelled from Chicago to San Francisco onboard Amtrak's California Zephyr. The 2nd longest rail trip possible in the USA it is scheduled to take a little over 52 hours to cover the 2438 miles between Chicago and Emeryville (Oakland). Pictures from the trip are now available at: http://smu.gs/PChnlX Enjoy! The Wanderer.

It was a internal decision to keep the new sets close to "home" in case of problems with them.

Afternoon all, Here are the first upload of pictures from Chicago. Highlights: - Flight EI125 from DUB to ORD. - Downtown Chicago - The Chicago L System. - A trip out the BNSF Triple Track mainline to La Grange Stone Ave. Pictures start at: http://smu.gs/Pq2PFN There will be more USA updates over the coming weeks. The Wanderer.

The last of the weekend pictures with 22020 at Killarney and Mallow along with 4005 on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday I popped down to Tara Street to see the RPSI's 461 passing through on the Special from Dublin Connolly to Wicklow before heading to Heuston for the final pictures of the weekend. http://smu.gs/NqQn5d The Wanderer.

Good morning all, A couple of pictures from Mallow and various locations in Kerry from Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. http://smu.gs/NoapgH The Wanderer.

Tuesday evening at Portarlington with 22051 + 22058 1725 Heuston - Limerick and E Car Ireland charging points which have been recently installed at the station car park. http://smu.gs/OvvTrI The Wanderer.

Good evening all, Some pictures taken on Thursday of North Wall and Heuston, featuring an Enterprise theme. After 208 worked the IWT ex Ballina on Wednesday, it was the turn of classmate 230 to work the 0930 North Wall - Ballina IWT on Thursday morning. Meanwhile in Heuston 209 was allocated to the 1100 Heuston - Cork. http://smu.gs/NcUdAN Plus a small LUAS Update from Connolly and Heuston: http://smu.gs/NcUinU The Wanderer.

It shows the quality of nothing. The only reason the 2700's are being withdrawn is due to the economic downturn and the delivery of the additional 22000 units. If the country hadn't gone down the pan things would be very different. The Wanderer.

Evening all, For the month of July the railway between Limerick and Limerick Junction is closed due to engineering works. Most Limerick - Dublin Heuston services will start / terminate at Limerick Junction but one service, the 1340 Heuston - Limerick is diverted by the Ballybrophy - Limerick line via Nenagh. This is required as the set is needed back in Limerick to form the following morning 0505 Limerick - Heuston via Nenagh service. Today the 1340 Heuston - Limerick was formed of 22052 and I photographed the train at several locations on the branch between Ballybrophy and Limerick. Also, the evening 1605 & 1705 Limerick - Ballybrophy services were both worked by 2700 Class DMU's. It is rumoured the last remaining sets of 2700's will be withdrawn by the end of this week. The photos start at: http://smu.gs/O1Mtzh Enjoy, The Wanderer.

Good morning all, On Monday 2nd July I paid a visit to the Waterford and Suir Valley Railway. http://smu.gs/N59uDE The Wanderer.

Good evening all, 2800 class DMU 287 + 2818 has been repainted into the ICR Style Green and Grey livery following overhaul at Inchicore works. The unit has also lost its outer end ganways, leaving the 2600 class DMU as the only fleet that will retain the outer end gangways. On Saturday 30th June 2012 the unit was deployed on the Waterford - Limerick Jct services and it was pictured at Fiddown Bridge with the 1640 Waterford - Limerick Jct. http://smu.gs/N0qtag The Wanderer.

With the advent of Social Media and Text Messaging etc it would have to be classed a state secret for you not to know where it was going!!

Good evening all, Due to other commitments I wasn't able to travel on the RPSI Mystery Train to Galway last Saturday, instead I photographed it at Monastervin and Portarlington. But thanks to a contributor I now have a selection of photos of the tour in Connolly, Galway and departing Galway passing Renmore. The railtour pictures may be found at: http://smu.gs/MwAsC3 The 2nd update tonight features old and new at Galway with new ICR sets 22049 + 22054 alongside soon to be ousted 2719 + 2722 on Sunday 24th June. Plus on Monday 25th June 2012, Irish Whiskey Manufacturer; Irish Distillers chartered a MKIV set from Iarnrod Eireann for a 1750 Cork - Heuston Special. The set operated to Cork at 1325 from Heuston and was pictured at Rosskelton. The return special from Cork was pictured at Kilbride. 223 and 7MKIV 4008 did the honours. Click: http://smu.gs/MQEgA5 Enjoy! The Wanderer.

Nice pictures! The Athlone end view has certainly been opened up. The Wanderer.

Cheers Gents, Yeah a lot of flooding...in June!!! Don't worry I was nice and dry on the Portlaoise road.

UPDATE: The return leg of the RPSI's Mystery Train from Galway to Connolly with 086 at the Commons Bridge in Portarlington. http://smu.gs/NlzfwR The Wanderer.

Good afternoon all, There were several more Westlife Specials on Saturday 23rd June from Athlone, Cork, Limerick and Galway to Dublin Heuston to cater for the heavy demand travelling to Croke Park for the last ever Concert from the Boy Band (I hear lots of "Thank God for that!"). 0920 Athlone - Heuston operated as a relief to the 0715 Westport - Heuston: 3ICR 22026. 1000 Cork - Heuston operated as a relief to the 0930 + 1030 Cork - Heuston: 6ICR 22035. 1045 Limerick - Heuston operated as a relief to the 1100 Limerick - Limerick Jct. / 1030 Cork - Heuston: 3ICR 22018. 1040 Galway - Heuston operated as a relief to the 1105 Galway - Heuston: 2800: 2807 + 2808. Also there was some added interest on the main line this morning in the form of the RPSI Mystery Tour to Galway. 086 had the honours of working the rake of Cravens and it was pictured at Monastervin. All the pictures from this morning are now online at: http://smu.gs/Nl1BHD The Wanderer.

The railway is very busy this weekend with many people heading to Dublin to see the farewell Westlife Concerts. A number of additional special services were operated to cater for the additional demand. 1000 Cork - Heuston: 229 + 7 MKIV (4004) 1055 Limerick - Heuston via Limerick Jct: 3ICR 22055 1055 Galway - Heuston: 2 car 2800: 2809 + 2810 0920 Athlone - Heuston: 3 ICR 22024 Photos of all the Special, except the Athlone - Heuston one begin at http://smu.gs/NhoA6f The Wanderer.

Good evening folks, I had to be in Dublin today for a few hours so I took the opportunity to photograph the freight trains that operate through the Capital. 072 1010 North Wall - Ballina IWT Liner. 081 0920 Tara Mines - Alexandra Road Tara Mines. 219 0815 Ballina - North Wall IWT Liner. In addition to the freight scenes, there is also photos of passenger trains at Islandbridge Jct, Claude Road and North Wall (withdrawn MKIII's). Click on link: http://smu.gs/MDDHJQ Also, LUAS Red Line tram photos from Abbey and Spencer Dock: http://smu.gs/Mwndmx The Wanderer.