hurricanemk1c

(Britain had DMUs, we had "railcars"!)

To throw a spanner in the works there - we do have DMU's here. Both the timing type and diagrams state DMU for the 2600/2800/29000 fleets, not railcars. The only type to retain that title is the ICR fleet

At present, a non-stop start-to-stop time for Dublin to Cork is about 2 hour 5 minutes from memory. Add in what is actually required to make a timetable work and you get 2 hour 15

The current books, as far as I know, are copies of the original drawings

I will try and remember the audience here when next year's calanders come around

Good morning all,

I've been slack in updating my Flickr, hence a large enough update today.

This update covers from 8 May to 20 May, with:

-2800 transfer to Inchicore

-Top and Tailed Mark 4 (sort of)

-Stradbally movements

-Luas Cross City works

-Balalst Cleaning

Click on any of the photos below to view them full size

Album link - https://www.flickr.com/photos/hurricanemk1c/albums/72157681000324114

Regards,

Kieran

Thanks Hurricane for the heads up that is most useful.

 

I read somewhere that when they moved the Queen to Cultra it would not fit under some of the bridges due to the GNRI smaller loading gauge, so I am hoping that if I use the current version I will beable to run just about anything I want, thanks once again.

I do recall that, and also that she was too heavy for the Boyne viaduct. However that kind of historical data is beyond me! Hopefully the current gauge will help you

The current loading gauge is in the Network Statement: http://www.irishrail.ie/about-us/network-statement (page 63/64)

Good evening all,

A few photos from Thursday and Friday last week, with the RPSI's International tour kicking off with the traditional Thursday stock move and Friday diesel tour. In addition is the hybrid DART set and the first 6-car ICR working of a Grand Canal Dock service. Click on any of the photos below to view them full size

Album link -

Regards,

Kieran

Not really unusual. A lot of derailments are towards the rear of the train, if the cause is track related. Might be the passing of the front of the train that finally breaks the part

Good morning all,

A selection of photos from a very busy Saturday for me. Starting off on the 0700 Heuston - Cork as far as Thurles, back up through the Down Loop at Laois Traincare Depot, then around to Drumcondra and Connolly, before heading up to Skerries and Laytown before the drag home. Click on the photos below to view them full size

Album link -

Regards,

Kieran

Would be interesting to see (a retro ICR), but not sure what it would look like. The use of 22133 last year with the advertising livery showed how well the current livery hides the mass of metal around the front of the cab

Electra have been around years (and have done Irish stuff for years as well).

Jonathan - a quick search (once you know where to find it!) reveals these bodies. Not sure on the chassis, but something like a 31 could do for a A Class

https://www.shapeways.com/product/3FN5T8J96/n-scale-irish-railways-a-class?optionId=544872

https://www.shapeways.com/product/GNXBTYWKN/cie-class-141-181-locomotive-n-scale?optionId=392047

https://www.shapeways.com/product/95EE2GWBC/n-scale-irish-railways-park-royal-suburban-coach?optionId=57770903

https://www.shapeways.com/product/JJ9BRY73C/cie-class-c201-n-scale?optionId=384093

https://www.shapeways.com/product/D4WZNFH5D/cie-class-071-n-scale?optionId=407067

Good evening all,

On Saturday I took a trip up to Northern Ireland in connection with the Irish Transport Heritage Bus Rally at Cultra. This was my first time in Northern Ireland since August 2007 - and things have changed a lot! No more 80-class and 450-class labouring away around Belfast!

Click on any of the photos below to view them full size

Album link -

Regards,

Kieran

Hi Kieran. Nice photos as ever. Are the interiors of the mk4 sets getting an overhaul? Noel

Hi Noel. The interiors are getting a deep clean of the existing moquette etc, with any damaged ones replaced and plug sockets installed in standard class. No plans as yet to do a full refurb on them as far as I know

I'll lob a few more here:

Good evening all,

A selection of photos from the past week are now available to view on my Flickr. Highlight had to be Belmond going down the DSE to Gorey. Photos also include:

-O'Connell Street LUAS progress

-Inchicore - Connolly DART transfer at Connolly

-Connolly, Greystones and Wicklow

-Heuston line alterations

Click on any of the photos to view them full size

Album link -

Regards,

Kieran

Good evening all,

Following on from Saturday's rather good RPSI "Marble Tribesman" tour, photos are now available to view. Click on any of the photos to view them full size. Roll on October!

Album link -

Regards,

Kieran

Good evening all,

Going back to 10 March for a brief period, where I had the chance to go around Drogheda Railcar Depot, home of the 29000 fleet and Connolly-based ICR's. Photos uploaded with permission and my thanks to those who accommodated us. Click on any of the photos below to view them full size

Album link -

Regards,

Kieran

Good evening all,

A few photos from what should be a simple trip. Portlaoise and Heuston are approximately 51 miles apart, but I managed to put in around 200 miles, since I went via Nenagh, Limerick and Athenry! As always, click on the photos below to view them full size:

Album link -

Regards,

Kieran

Good evening all,

The final update from last week is now available, with a trip to a wet Drogheda, with stop offs on the way back at Malahide, Rush and Lusk and Howth.

It always rains when I go to Drogheda for some reason. Place must not like me!

Click on any of the photos below to view them full size

Album link - https://www.flickr.com/photos/hurricanemk1c/albums/72157678385415183/with/32750418124/

Regards,

Kieran

Good morning all,

One of several updates to come over the next few days, when I get around to adding descriptions onto everything!

A few photos from Connolly, Portlaoise and Heuston from the middle of last week to start the ball rolling

Album link -

Regards,

Kieran

Enda Corneille (who is Emirate Country Manager) had confirmed 26th March 1410, although tweets now deleted. Brand new aircraft making a slight detour on delivery, although reports of difficulties in Hamburg where fit-out is done

Hi all,

It's been a whilte since I updated here, so I'll just group the photos together. As always, click on any of the photos to view them full size

The partially refreshed interior of 22038, done as part of a trial:

Album link for the month -

Regards,

Kieran

Brilliant looking museum. Hope to go in the next two weeks.

 

One criticism, if I may, and it's not of the museum: the RPSI website has disappeared and been replaced by that for the museum. On the website now the actual society, and its main line operations both NIR and IE, seem peripheral. The message should be strongly put out that the Museum is a subsidiary of the RPSI, not the other way round.

I completely agree with you. The new website (whilst needed) has lost the main focus, and is very much "Whitehead Mueseum....oh and we also run trains". The list of previously operated trains has disappeared, along with detailed loco histories. Good design, awful content

Just looking back at this post and laughing to myself. Little over a year on and 072 is still going round in an even worse state, in the mean time other 071s have been rebuilt that are not in as bad external condition.

 

In saying that its 4 years next month since the first slate grey 071, 077 was release to traffic. IE are taking their time rebuilding the 18 locos. 081 was the last one done some months back.

 

072,073,074,075,079,082,083 and 086 are still to be done. 082 has spent over a year in Inchicore at this stage waiting on bogies for about 6 months, on jacks most of the time and was last see outside with the RPSI Cravens on refurb grey bogies with temp yellow fixings in place.

 

Recently all active 071s have got new silver buffers and refurb brake hoses fitted, even recently rebuilt locos.

And of the locos that went through the body overhaul, 071 and 077 have been through twice due to issues (I recall 077 had severe corrosion around the lower cab panels approximately 1 1/2 - 2 years after release). Plus the 201 rebuild programme took precedence over the 071 (and still does), and that the original plan was only to do about 10 of them (changed recently).

I have heard 18 months for the rest of the fleet to be done