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January and February 2025 were extremely quite due to other commitments, but the year started off with a quick week-long family visit to the UK and a couple of regular movements in and around Dublin Regards, Kieran

Not the last sets

From the far north to the far south of Finland in under a day is possible (Kolari - Hanko via Helsinki). A long end ending up in Pasila just outside Helsinki. Click on the photo below to view them all Regards, Kieran

The very northern tip of the Finnish passenger network doesn't see many trains, in fact in December it was two each way - the sleeper and a timber. Click on the photo below to look at the loco change in Oulu and services in Kolari Regards, Kieran

Nearing the end of the Finnish adventure, with a trip from Tampere to Kolari (overnight) via Toijara, Riihimäki and Hiekkaharju Regards, Kieran

At the moment they have 6x Dr18s (CZ 774s) and currently the one Vectron but two more due for delivery this year. Their website is an interesting read https://www.fenniarail.fi/en/kalusto, and appears to be doing a lot of timber work. One of the Dr18s derailed in Tampere somewhat recently (track spread) so they seem to be expanding operations around. Makes a change to a constant stream of VR traffic!

The Finnish trip continues, with a trip from Tampere to Turku, onwards to Helsinki and back to Tampere with a pair of Sr1s, then falling upon the below Sr1 hauled Intercity service (with a failed Vectron on the rear). Click on the photo below to view them all Regards, Kieran

Only more winterised to cope with the temperatures and snowfall

A day in Tampere killing time before the Raskasta Joulua concert that evening in the Nokia arena, with a good mix of Sr1, Sr2 and Sr3 action along with a former German Powerhaul loc. Click on the photo below to view them all Regards, Kieran

Day 2 in Finland saw me predominately in Kouvola and Tampere, with a trip to Savonlinna to get between the two. Plenty of freight through Kouvola, and Sr1 action on one of the sleepers. Click on the photo below to view them all Regards, Kieran

It's a no-no here too except in very specific circumstances In Finland however they propel 13 coach trains 2 miles from the depot into Helsinki station and vice versa for the Kemijärvi sleepers. Shunter travels in the front/rear coach with a radio.

Long gone anyway!

December 2024 primarily featured a trip to Finland, with an interlude in the middle to go to the annual Raskasta Jouloa tour in Tampere (to experience Christmas songs in their proper metal context!). The first day was a simple enough spin from Helsinki Airport to Kouvola. Click on the photo below to view them all Regards, Kieran

Very different hydrogen style of operation though it has to be said (although the issues with supply still apply). The German ones are fuel cell technology while the 071 conversion is internal combustion of hydrogen

My final Dutch trip of 2024 was based in Utrecht and Rotterdam, with the aim of getting various ICM and ICR sets (the latter particularly before withdrawal), along with a trip to Trainworld in Brussels. Click on the photo below to view them all Regards, Kieran

I'd take that list with a pinch of salt. For example that M3 Parkway branch one didn't happen. It's a guide but things move around

October 2024 started with a slightly long weekend to Utrecht (to see Charlotte Wessels on the Friday night) and Birmingham (to see Arch Enemy on the Saturday night), before heading home to remember where home was. Click on the photo below to view them all I did remember to take a few railway photos in Ireland in between various other trips! They are here, and mainly cover the RPSI "Croagh Patrick" trip to Westport and Ballina Regards, Kieran

About the fifth loco I've heard to be converted! Ultimately new locos should be bought rather than messing around like this

September 2024 saw the first of three trips in short succession to the Netherlands for two concerts and a work conference. The first day was a simple enough trip from Amsterdam to Apeldoorn via Amersfoort. The following day was a more involved day, with a good amount spent on the VSM railway in Apeldoorn, before a circuitous route from Apeldoorn to Amsterdam and return to catch the Berlin train on divert via Lelystad The third day was a trip to Paschendale, where I had ancestors fighting in the First World War. Having started at Apeldoorn, I finished in Utrecht Day 4 of this particular trip was a day trip to the railway museum in Utrecht, along with a quick spin to Amersfoort before the Marko Hietala concert The final day was just killing time before the flight back to Dublin, with a trip back from Utrecht to Amsterdam via Ede-Wageningen, Amersfoort, Amsterdam Science Park and Hilversum Click on any of the photos to view them all from that day Regards, Kieran Cl

August was another quiet month, which saw the launch of the latest (then) preserved Wagonmaster in Stradbally, and the opening of the latest Iarnród Éireann station in Kishoge. Click on the photo below to view them all

July 2024 was another quiet month, with the main event being the DART40 launch in Grand Canal Dock Regards, Kieran

June 2024 was a quiet enough, catching up from various trips away and being busy in work. The main event of the month was the RPSI trip to Rosslare with a 201, and due to other commitments was unable to travel fully on that. Click on the photo below to view them all

Supposed to have been one on 13 November 2022. Fuel range is an issue for the sets to work through so has to be carefully planned. It certainly ran south of the border

Interesting stuff, it does confirm a suspicion I've had for a long time (and unable to prove) that the Internationals did have a slightly different body profile to a normal Mk3. In some photos it looked pronounced compared to a EGV, in others pretty much identical, not helped by the differently sized and placed windows

May 2024 saw the Northern Lights (along with an attempt to get a train in photo!), the Irish Railway Record Society "Time's Arrow" railtour with retro painted 2601+2602, the movement of 2751 from Cork to Limerick, along with another UK trip primarily to see Bruce Dickinson at home in Nottingham. Click on the photos below to view them all Regards, Kieran