hurricanemk1c

Yep, great refurb. This is what 077 was like after two years And note that both 077 and 071 went back into the works before other members (such as off the top of my head 075 in the silver/black livery). I'm not saying the end of 071's is immediate, but they won't do trains to this weight (as has already been stated they struggle with the 942 tonne Taras)

Good morning all, Some shots from both Wednesday and Friday at Portarlington, Parkwest and Heuston. Click on any of the photos to see them full size: Albums - and Regards, Kieran

I would say looking forward that 071's will feature less and less. Whilst there is talk of re-gearing down a bit, the future is looking more like re-engineered 201's. Savings are plain to see - common maintenance, common driver rating etc. There would have be to be changes (such as the traverser at Alexandra Dock Road) but I honestly can't see the 071's lasting much longer sadly

Thanks Noel! The rear loco in the formation was not providing traction power - it was there to eliminate a run around at Sallins, as well as to add additional weight. 8209 went down shut down, whilst 226 went up idling

Good evening all, Last but by no means least (I hope!), my shots from yesterday's 16 HOBS trial. Photos also include the regular ICR / Mark 4 movements, a tamper transfer, materials train and spoil train. Click on the photos below to view them full size, or this link to see them all - Regards, Kieran

Good evening all, In a very promising sign, the RPSI's 141 Class loco 175 has been moved from being sandwiched by 162 and a 201 at the other end of the works to being next to the Cravens. I saw this on the 1300 Heuston - Cork but wasn't able to get a shot - so I went back up! Shots from Friday including a misty Portlaoise, a couple at Heuston and a few from Inchicore. Click on any of the shots below or the link to see them all full size Album link - Regards, Kieran

Noel - I believe the track is made in sections, laid and then welded on sight. this is due to space constraints at the factory and going around curves. Re grey 071s - 071, 076, 077, 078, 080 (in works I believe), 084, 085, 087, 088. Just over half the fleet now

Evening all, A double update from me tonight. Click on any of the photos to see them full size First up is shots from last week, specifically Thursday and Friday of Portlaoise, Heuston and Inchicore All shots here - And shots from Monday and Wednesday this week, with a grice along the Green Line of the LUAS on Monday and a stop off at Portarlington on Wednesday All shots here - Regards, Kieran

There's one train of thought (ha ha) that the green is an anti-corrosive primer. Althought the numbers do look like standard numbers as applied to 215

Morning all, A few photos from Monday, from Heuston, Portarlington, Monasterevin and Inchicore. Highlights were the Sperry Train at Portarlington, DFDS and Timber at Monasterevin and a few 071's in Inchicore. Click on any of the photos to view them full-sized All shots here - Regards, Kieran

The poster in the background of this shot definately shows Mark 3's - something stange to put in (in what looks to be a complete formation too, from the photo in Jan 2016 Model Rail) if you're not going to produce the models

Rapido are doing their own to the Prototype HST spec. As for Oxford Rail, I wouldn't rule out anything. Looking at the CAD side drawing (http://www.oxfordrail.com/76/images2/ORMK3%20LINE.jpg) there's a lot of the variations of the basic Mark 3 (mainly buffet). The Control Car is quite different, whilst the plug doors can be relatively easily done

Good afternoon all, Just finished uploading photos from a recent UK trip to Nottingham, taking in the tram extensions and other parts of the national network Shots from Hucknall and Old Market Square on 10/1/16 All shots here - ---- Shots from a day out on the Nottingham Tram extensions from Nottingham Station to Toton Lane and Clifton South All shots here - ---- A set of shots from Nottingham and Beeston to see 60001 on the oil liner to Kingsbury All shots here - ---- And finally, some shots from Cossington to see 68017 on 6U76 0859 Crewe Basford Hall - Mountsorrel Sidings working All shots here - A general album containing all of the photos is available here - Thanks for viewing! Kieran

Good afternoon all, 3 shots from today, featuring the 2800 transfer and 22010 on the 1320 Cork - Heuston. The 2800's were on the second part of their journey from Ballina to Limerick (the replacement set having been sent up yesterday) See all 3 here - Regards, Kieran

Correct - 8209 was visible from 30/10/14 to late June

Good morning all, A couple of shots from Stradbally taken in the first truly sunny day in the Midlands for about two weeks. With major track work going on to connect up the shed (and get these inside), more volunteers are always welcome. All 3 photos here - Happy New Year all! Regards, Kieran

Enterprise.

227 is in the paintshop. Not sure about 231/233

Good evening all, It has been a fascinating year. From wheel skate trials in January, Mark 4's Connolly side in February and March, Ballast Cleaning (and top and tail 071's for the first time) throughout the year, Irish Railway Record Society, Railway Preservation Society of Ireland and Steam Dream's first Irish tour, Santa Specials and the fall and rise of De Deitrichs in service. Personal highlights for the year were the college trip around Inchicore and starting to volunteer at Stradbally. Thanks all for viewing, liking and commenting on the photos this year - hopefully 2016 will be very bright! All shots here - Regards, Kieran

Whilst the agreement is that NIR do coaches, IÉ do locos, IÉ refurbished 6 locos in addition to providing the ICR. In trying to defend NIR, you've said exactly why they should NOT have been given the contract for the coaches - way too little infrastructure and staff, componded by poor management on the project team. Would have been easier to ship them to the UK to somewhere like Wabtec Kilmarnock (who have extensive experience in refurbs) and probably quicker and at this point cheaper. However I suspect the EU funding restrictions prevented that And it should also be said that Inchicore did a van and 2 coaches (9606, 9212, 9214) in 2 months due to the problems at York Road

There are still plans to do Mark 4 clearance to Belfast as far as I am aware, but no dates or anything set in stone. Bear in mind it took nearly 7 years to clear the ICR's into Northern Ireland (and the first 6 sets were pre-fitted with all the necessary kit). Putting ICR's on for an hourly schedule I don't think will work. The sets need to be Premier Class and at the present moment (with the 5ICR covering one DD diagram), 9 out of the 10 sets are used every day (an impressive availability figure that rarely seems to drop - a credit to Drogheda and LTCD)

The 'ton' can be done at the following locations: Dublin-Cork-Dublin Down Direction Signal HK101 - South of Hazelhatch (MP 2 3/4 - 10 1/4) (Fast Line Only) Hazelhatch - Sallins (MP 13 1/4 - 16 1/4) Cherryville Jn - Portarlington (MP 32 1/2 - 41 1/8) Portarlington - Portlaoise (MP 41 3/4 - 50 3/4) Portlaoise - Ballybrophy (MP 66 - 69) Lisduff - Thurles (MP 75 3/4 - 77) Lisduff - Thurles (MP 79 - 80) Thurles - Limerick Jn (MP 104 - 105 3/4) Up Direction Limerick Jn - Thurles (MP 106 1/4 - 104) Lisduff - Ballybrophy (MP 69 - 66) Portlaoise - Portarlington (MP 50 3/4 - 41 3/4) Portarlington - Cherryville Jn (MP 41 1/8 - 32 1/2) Hazelhatch - Cherry Orcard (MP 10 1/2 - 3) (Fast Line Only) Kildare-Kilkenny-Kildare Down Direction Cherryville Jn - Athy (MP 34 - 35 1/4) Cherryville Jn - Athy (MP 36 - 37 3/8) Cherryville Jn - Athy (MP 37 3/4 - 38 5/8) Cherryville Jn - Athy (MP 40 5/8 - 43 1/8) Athy - Carlow (MP 46 7/8 - 49) Athy - Carlow (MP 49 1/4 - 50 1/2) Athy - Carlow (MP50 3/4 - 51 3/8) Up Direction Athy - Carlow (MP 51 1/2 - 50 3/4) Athy - Carlow (MP 50 1/2 - 49 1/4) Athy - Carlow (MP 49 - 46 7/8) Athy - Cherryville Jn (MP 43 1/8 - 40 5/8) Athy - Cherryville Jn (MP 38 3/4 - 38) Athy - Cherryville Jn (MP 37 1/2 - 36) Athy - Cherryville Jn (MP 35 1/2 - 34 1/4) Loco hauled limited to 80 mph, so actually would be slightly faster due to the length of the 100mph sections Some sections of Portarlington-Galway are also 100 mph, although loco hauled stock limited to 80 mph

Merry Christmas all!

Good morning, A few from last week, mainly from Heuston and Portlaoise. Not a lot as that week was my exam week at college View them all here - Regards, Kieran

Not exactly first look - Chris Playfair has been out and about for a while getting shots of them: Ah well, better late than never for the Indo. and I'm not quite sure about the opening picture! Bets this will be in service before the last refurbished DD set?