hurricanemk1c

075 rescued, although pax were detrained at Grand Canal Dock and had a 29000 to Pearse

Low steam pressure is reported. As a random point, this is the 3rd steam failure / difficulty this year (4 setting the world on fire in May, hot bearings in Sallins and this, plus last year's efforts on the Santa) The issue is that under the terms of carriage the 'normal' passengers are entitled to refunds. I've waived that a few times (like when I delayed myself to get a Mark 4 set to college one day due to a failure). This issue for IÉ is that they now have to pay refunds for passengers through no fault of their own, but another Railway Undertaking's failure. Now from an enthusiast perspective I wouldn't want this to happen, but at some point from an economic point it must, even if it covers a little bit of the cost. The RPSI (and Belmond [or anyone else], when they become a RU) should pay for delay minutes, up to a sensible point. In the UK the cap is £5,000 for heritage operators. When a delay minute costs between £160 and £300, the cap is reached quickly. A recent failure in the UK that I can place my hand to caused 7140 delay minutes. That's over a million pounds (£1,142,400 to be exact @ £160/min). Whilst the financial gain for IÉ may be small, it probably would give the RPSI something to think about planning wise.

Good morning all, December kicks off with potentially the moves of the year - the transfer of the RPSI Wooden Body stock. Whilst the steel Cravens were out earning their keep on the Pearse - Greystones Santa Specials, I went to the Gullet for a shot of Tranfer 1, with coaches 1463, 1419, 2421 and 1383 moving first. As always, click on any of the photos to view them full size A quick dash to the Box at Islandbridge Jn: -- For the second move, the train was to go into Platform 5 and then propel into the VP, rather than go straight in as on the first move. Luckily I was in a position to get photos of this December album link - Regards, Kieran

I remember one year going to Warley from Belper (where I lived at the time). At this time the Clothes Show Live was on (and something else from memory). Late service from Belper (unstaffed and no ticket machines, to purchase at Derby) to Derby, about a two minute connection (so no time to actually buy the tickets), tried to purchase of the Virgin guard, he said he would get back to us. Didn't see him again. No passenger stop at New Street either. Luggage rack was comfy though! Return trip was via free upgrade to First Class due to crowding Some great layouts there, and bargins. Picked upo a Farish 20 there that time and a starter pack with 25322 Tamworth Castle in it. Good times!

JB - this one (A28) was completely black - no white flash (at least at one end). There was a superb photo at Fermoy in the late 60s / early 70s (pre 1976 for sure)

I must be able to get a few years out of that then - 33265.33 miles on them Interesting thread. I would add that there is one oddity shown at last night's IRRS Slideshow - an all black A Class anyone?

Evening all, As above, I was on the first of the new Grand Canal Dock services, as well as a few additional runs around the place in the morning and also doing a couple of runs in the evening, although avoiding the tunnel itself. As always, click on the photos below to view them all Album link - Regards, Kieran

Where did you hear that from? Nothing like that is happening at the moment and not immediately planned, as the ICRs are provided from the Heuston side by re-organising the diagrams (such as bringing back a Mark 4 set, releasing a few units)

Evening all, Another week-long update from me, this time from Heuston and Portlaoise, with a couple of Moon shots as well (between the clouds!). Photos include the first 0800 Heuston - Cork booked as a Mark 4 diagram for a long time, the start of an external deep clean of the ICRs and a couple of track machines in Heuston. As always, click on the photo below to view them all Album link - Regards, Kieran

Full report (316 pages, but the first 40-odd give you the overall idea) https://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2016_Rail_Review_Report_Complete_Online.pdf

Evening all, A selection of photos from the beginning of November from me, with locations including: Portlaoise Heuston Inchicore Loop Line Bridge St. Stephen's Green and Luas Cross City Works As always, click on any of the photos to view them full size and with descriptions Album link - https://www.flickr.com/photos/hurricanemk1c/albums/72157672717110514 Regards, Kieran

Take out the NEM coupling and you have a good CAD for Train Simulators! Great work - any chance of srinking it by half?

Actually worse than that - he had already negotiated the gap having got off intially! And he judge found him 50% liable as well

ICR's have always warned of the gap. At least the person involved was found partially liable

Absolutely you can use IC locos on Mark 3 push/pulls. Not the best shot but:

Morning all, A selection of photos from Saturday's RPSI "Western Explorer" trip. Having boarded at Athlone, a great trip was had and thanks to all of the RPSI volunteers and Iarnród Éireann staff who made the day happen. As always, click on the photos to view them full size Album link - Regards, Kieran

Reminds me of the Serpell report in the UK in the 1980s. That really worked out! "The review was compiled by the National Transport Authority and Iarnród Éireann to examine possible solutions for the financial sustainability of the State-owned rail operator.". Begging bowl out - if you don't fund us we will close

Evening all, A few photos from Booterstown Nature Reserve on Thursday. Having finished lectures at 1100 and did a bit extra, I left college at 1215 with the intention of going out for the IWT liner and DFDS/Timber services. However whilst walking down, I randomly decided to head south, in the hope of getting the driver training runs with the Cravens that have been operating this week. It was only when I got home that I realised it had been cancelled! Still, useful information for next time. As always, click on any of the photos below to view them all Album link - Regards, Kieran

Evening all, The last full Belmond tour ran last week, concluding on Monday morning with the 0800 Muine Bheag - Heuston. As I wasn't in college a lot that day due to the way an assignment was arranged, I was able to have a look at the shunt operation at Heuston. As always, click on any of the photos below to view them full size with details Having got home, had lunch and gone back out again to play badminton, I decided to kill an hour at Portarlington, with fruitful results. Due to a failure on the Sunday, 22043 was stabled in the Down Yard at Portarlington awaiting a driver to return to Laois Traincare Depot. This is the first time any passenger stock has gone into the yard since it was relaid into the current format Full album link - Regards, Kieran

I see one big issue there - sat nav companies will have to pay to access the data

Evening all, An update from Stradbally to start off the evening's updates. On Saturday 15 October, the new shed was officially opened by Ann Goodwin (CEO of Laois Partnership), Cllr Tom Mulhall (Chairman of Laois County Council) and Ken Grahm (President of the Irish Steam Preservation Society), with several volunteers and around 60 guests present. For a full review on the day's activities, see https://irishnarrowgaugerailwayspot.wordpress.com/2016/10/16/stradbally-shed-official-opening-15102016/. As always, click on any of the photos to view them full size and in the best quality Album link - Regards, Kieran

Morning all, An update from the past week Photos from the Stradbally Steam Museum, with Guinness engine 15 and a coach Album link - ---- A few photos from Heuston on Monday morning... Album link - ---- ...and Wednesday afternoon, with a couple of CIE containers thrown in from when they did door-to-door transport Album link - --- And finally shots from Heuston and Portarlington area on Thursday Album link - Regards, Kieran

Morning all, A few photos from the begininning of the week, with shots from Heuston, Portarlington, Portlaoise and Inchicore to start with: --- Photos from Wednesday with the 1825 Portlaoise - Heuston formed of Mark 4 set 4001: --- And finally photos from Thursday, where the main event was 071 hauling Belmond Mark 3 7122 from North Wall to Inchicore. Photos also include a wander around Portarlington and freight at Monasterevin and Kildare Regards, Kieran

Morning all, A few updates from me. As always, click on any of the photos to view them full size Firstly photos from a training day at Stradbally, where we were using the diesel loco 'Rusty' rather than the normal LM44. This gave me the oppourtunity to take a few different photos of the place Album link - ----- Photos from Monday showing the Belmond Grand Hibernian arriving into Heuston Album link - ----- And finally shots from Thursday, with a morning stop-off at Monasterevin, followed by a crawl home with stops at Kildare (for the DFDS Liner) and the Ploughing Specials Album link - Regards, Kieran

Evening all, A triple update from me tonight, featuring this week's movements. As always, click on any of the shots of links to see them full size Photos from Monday, when the Belmond service arrived back into Heuston after a successful second week of operation Album link - --- On Wednesday, I had a brief stop over in Kildare --- And finally, the big event 22027 failed in Rosslare Europort on Saturday 10th September before departure of the 1755 to Connolly. Despite best efforts, it was decided to drag the set to Laois Traincare Depot for rectification work. A move done in two parts, 084 is seen arriving into Hazelhatch with the failed set as the 0850 Inchicore - Laois Traincare Depot. This is the first time since 11 March 2014 (082+22014 from Inchicore to Laois Traincare Depot). Shots feature Inchicore, Hazelhatch, Sallins and Kildare, with normal traffic as well Album link - Regards, Kieran