thewanderer

Saturday 11th March 2023: Pictures from Galway and Oranmore on a dull and dreary Saturday evening. Sunday 12th March 2023: The Tegral Branch in Athy, which has been disused for many years has finally been dismantled and the alignment is in the process of being transformed into the Athy Ring Road. While passing through Athy this afternoon, I visited the site of the Carlow Road Level Crossing. Click https://bit.ly/42ielwe to view.

Evening all, The March gallery has been updated with: Wednesday 8th March 2023: Pictures from Thurles and Portlaoise. Friday 10th March 2023: A rather unusual movement occurred on Friday 10th March when a 1820 Waterford - Limerick Ety. operated. Due to operational issues, Limerick were short a 3ICR for the weekend and with the 1615 Heuston - Waterford being spare in Waterford from tonight due to the temporary timetable in force on Saturday because of the engineering works between Hazelhatch and Sallins, the rolling stock controller requested that the 1615 Heuston - Waterford be sent empty to Limerick to cover the shortage. It also offered the rare opportunity to photograph two passenger trains crossing at Clonmel, which thanks the the sparse service is not a regular feature of the Limerick Jct. - Waterford route. Click https://bit.ly/3FeSEDs to view all the images.

Friday 3rd March 2023: Tamper 742 was working in a possession between Birdhill and Killonan Jct. between 27th February and 3rd March. After finishing work on Friday, the Tamper travelled to Roscrea to stable and I got several pictures of it on the Nenagh Branch. Click https://bit.ly/3ZopJod to view.

Evening folks, After a bout of COVID, I've managed to get out and about this week with photos on the Nenagh Branch and Thurles. Click https://bit.ly/3KxQlyC to view.

The February gallery kicks off with: Sunday 5th & Monday 6th February 2023: Pictures from Ballydehob, Skibbereen and Courtmacsherry showing the old railways in these areas. Wednesday 8th February 2023: Pictures from Thurles and Portarlington. Click https://bit.ly/3HN1hpb to view.

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Tuesday 31st January 2023: 22063 returned to service on the 1525 Portlaoise - Heuston today. The set has been out of service since April 9th 2021 for rebuilding with the new MTU Stage V powerpacks, plus ZF EcoWorld transmission and after extensive testing, re-entered service. I travelled on it from Portlaoise to Kildare and on arrival a nice surprise was seeing 073 in its retro Irish Rail livery on the XPO Liner which had a decent loading on it for once. Click the image below to view all the pictures.

Sunday 29th January 2023: Some pictures from around the Athlone and Ferbane areas today featuring mid-afternoon trains on the Galway route, plus the long disused stations at Ferbane, plus Belmont and Cloghan. Click the image below to view all the images.

A varied selection of images this week from as far south as Limerick Jct. to the far flung outpost of Larne Harbour in Northern Ireland with shots from Ballybrophy, Portarlington, Dublin, Dundalk, Belfast, Carrickfergus and Whitehead in between. Click https://bit.ly/3Hz9XR1 to view the 100+ photos.

Evening folks, The January gallery has been updated with images from the past week. Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th January 2023: Just a picture and a video from Killarney while I was visiting there for the weekend. Tuesday 17th January 2023: Just a single picture from Ballybrophy of the morning Nenagh branch train connecting into the Limerick - Dublin service. Wednesday 18th January 2023: Pictures today come from a very chilly Thurles and Portlaoise. Saturday 21st January 2023: A ramble around south County Galway today with pictures of the Western Rail Corridor services at Ballymaquiff Castle and Gort. Click https://bit.ly/3QTOOnH to view all the pictures.

The January gallery has been updated with the last of my pictures from the trip to Belfast last weekend, plus a day trip to Dublin during the week. Click https://bit.ly/3GzIk8N to view.

On Saturday 7th January the Downpatrick & County Down Railway held a diesel gala in conjunction with the Irish Traction Group. The gala featured locos 146, A3r, G617 and DEMU 458 all running a trip between Downpatrick and Inch Abbey throughout plus Ballast Plough Train rides and photographic run pasts. Thanks the Downpatrick and County Down Railway and the Irish Traction Group for facilitating a great start to 2023. The photos can be viewed at https://bit.ly/3WYh3nm

On Saturday 7th January the Downpatrick & County Down Railway held a diesel gala in conjunction with the Irish Traction Group. The gala featured locos 146, A3r, G617 and DEMU 458 all running a trip between Downpatrick and Inch Abbey throughout plus Ballast Plough Train rides and photographic run pasts. Thanks the Downpatrick and County Down Railway and the Irish Traction Group for facilitating a great start to 2023. The photos can be viewed at https://bit.ly/3WYh3nm

The latest update to the January collection is a ramble from Nenagh to Greenisland with photos from Nenagh, Heuston, Connolly, Dundalk, Belfast, Antrim, Greenisland. Click https://bit.ly/3vI2WGX to view.

Tuesday 3rd January 2023: We kick off the 2023 gallery with pictures from Nenagh, BNallybrophy, Portlaoise, Limerick Jct. and Limerick. The highlight of the day was 3ICR 22060 working the 1710 Limerick - Ballybrophy in place of the normal 2800 class set due to heavy loadings as the North Tipperary Rail Partnership had a day trip to Limerick from Nenagh. Click https://bit.ly/3Q8zCCV to view.

Afternoon all, I've just published my 2022 year in review. Life returned to normal in 2022 with the lifting of COVID19 restrictions which meant the welcome return of railtours and more extensive travel around Ireland and the UK. The highlights from the year in review contain: * Tom Ryan retires. * Continued investment in the Nenagh Branch which resulted in a 15 minute journey time improvement in December 2022. * A selection of images from the outstanding Inchicore 175 Open Day event in May 2022. * IE Infrastructure Manager Showcase event at Portlaoise PW Depot. * Towards the end of 2022 clearance work for the Foynes Line reconstruction was completed. * RPSI East West and Shades of Grey Railtours * Branch Line Society railtour. * Visits to Waterford and Suir Valley and Cavan & Leitrim Railway. Click https://bit.ly/3GuKpE4 to view over 300 images.

Evening folks, The December gallery has been updated with images from: Ballybrophy, Portlaoise, Limerick Jct. Limerick, Nenagh, Heuston, The Point Pearse, Mallow, Rathmore, Click https://bit.ly/3uLSwFx to view all the images.

The December gallery kicks off today with a ramble around the Limerick area with photos from: Limerick Jct. Dromkeen. Oola. Limerick Station. Cratloe. Click https://bit.ly/3XV79nC to view all the images.

Foynes Line Reconstruction Work is due to commence on reconstruction of the Limerick to Foynes for freight traffic in the coming weeks. In advance of phase one of the project, vegetation clearance is already underway and it appears that the route has been fully cleared. The last train operated over the route in 2001 and the line has gradually fallen into disrepair over the last 21 years. The current phase of work that is about to begin and the subsequent phases will facilitate rail freight services, but will not preclude the possibility of passenger services being reintroduced on this line in the future, but this would require further infrastructure upgrades and funding. The Ryder Cup Golf tournament is to be held at Adare, which the railway passes through in 2027 and it is mooted that a passenger service will be reinstated for this between Adare and nearby Limerick City. I undertook a photographic survey of the route on Sunday 27th November from Limerick City to Foynes. With the route being upgraded to modern standards no doubt many of the features of the route at stations and level crossings will vanish over the next three years. Click https://bit.ly/3UhlSGj to view all the images.

Foynes Line Reconstruction Work is due to commence on reconstruction of the Limerick to Foynes for freight traffic in the coming weeks. In advance of phase one of the project, vegetation clearance is already underway and it appears that the route has been fully cleared. The last train operated over the route in 2001 and the line has gradually fallen into disrepair over the last 21 years. The current phase of work that is about to begin and the subsequent phases will facilitate rail freight services, but will not preclude the possibility of passenger services being reintroduced on this line in the future, but this would require further infrastructure upgrades and funding. The Ryder Cup Golf tournament is to be held at Adare, which the railway passes through in 2027 and it is mooted that a passenger service will be reinstated for this between Adare and nearby Limerick City. I undertook a photographic survey of the route on Sunday 27th November from Limerick City to Foynes. With the route being upgraded to modern standards no doubt many of the features of the route at stations and level crossings will vanish over the next three years. Click https://bit.ly/3UhlSGj to view all the images.

The latest update to the November galley at https://bit.ly/3guFlFu features: Tuesday 15th November 2022: Photos from around the Ballybrophy and Portlaoise areas. Wednesday 16th November 2022: Pictures from this day mainly come from a trip out along the LUAS Green Line to Cherrywood and Brides Glen to see recent developments along the route. Thursday 17th November 2022: A visit to Heuston and Inchicore. Friday 18th September 2022: The Sperry Train visited the Nenagh Branch travelling from Limerick to Portlaoise via Nenagh. Monday 21st November 2022: The Nenagh Branch reopened today following further track upgrading. Tuesday 22nd November 2022: Just a single photo from Portlaoise on this day.

Sunday 14th November 2022: While in Co. Kilkenny on Sunday I called into Thomastown Station for a look around, later in the day I stopped off at Dromkeen just as darkness fell to see the 1645 Limerick - Limerick Jct. & 1647 Limerick Jct. - Limerick crossing. Click https://bit.ly/3hIWoUH to view all the images.

Tuesday 8th November 2022: Cork Drivers Depot arranged another one of their unusual routes training trips on Tuesday 8th November for two trainee drivers. A 0945 Cork - Laois Depot operated via Limerick Jct. Pocket Loop, Thurles Loop and Down Platform, Ballybrophy Loop and Portlaoise Station Loop to reverse before visiting Laois Traincare Depot. 226 was provided for todays trip and pictures of it are at Laois Depot and Clonkeen. Click https://bit.ly/3fPsL3q to view.

The November gallery has been updated with a few pictures from near Lisduff in Co. Laois of the 1425 Cork - Heuston and 1500 Heuston - Cork passing. The purpose of the trip today was to view the new quiet coach branding on the MKIV Standard End carriages which is being launched on Monday 7th November 2022. Click https://bit.ly/3zNoFjd to view.

The October gallery has been updated with pictures today from Ballybrophy, Portlaoise, Limerick Jct. Mallow, Rathmore and Killarney. Click https://bit.ly/3T5hsSu to view.