hurricanemk1c

Good evening all, A few photos from the Portlaoise and Ratheven area, featuring 4 Mark 4 sets, various ICR's and the Weedspray train Full selection here - Regards, Kieran

Apologies - missed the 'cross' bit of Mayner's post. If you want a cross-platform interchange, then all services would have to be routed (that will connect) via the Slow lines from Hatch-Parkwest, as stated above. And since there is no funding for a crossover for Heuston P10, I doubt any crossover on the 4 track will be funded

All the infrastructure to do the interchange at Adamstown is there, with Hazelhatch completely in use (although no trains booked to call on the Fast lines, you can walk along the platforms no bother, as they form the access to the station). I would suggest the Hatch rather than Adamstown, as you are using all of the four track to the full potential and staff are 'reasonably' current on bay platform operation at Hazelhatch, with the ballast cleaning work north of Newbridge (at the time). Whilst in different circumstances, 'The Wanderer' had an interesting experience when a Portlaoise local service was routed up the Fast lines......

One more season of Sandite (from all accounts) and after that, rumours of one being preserved but I haven't seen anything offical yet

Good evening all, A selection of shots from Portlaoise today, featuring 076 on shunt duties in the PW yard and various ICR's / 201+Mk4 sets from the station. All photos can be seen here - Regards, Kieran

Techincally, the 2600 'Arrows' were built in 1994 and thus come under the IÉ rather than CIÉ heading, along with the 2700, 2751 and 2800 fleets

As far as I know yes jhb - the free 'stools' will be replaced with proper seats. Think they will still be standard class (going on the direction of the buffet, with the counter towards First Class) Jawfin - the 5pce ICR has first class and catering on board. De Dietrich diagram is as follows: Monday-Saturday: 0800 Belfast Central - Dublin Connolly 1100 Dublin Connolly - Belfast Central 1405 Belfast Central - Dublin Connolly 1650 Dublin Connolly - Belfast Central Sunday: 0900 Belfast Central - Dublin Connolly 1200 Dublin Connolly - Belfast Central 1605 Belfast Central - Dublin Connolly 1900 Dublin Connolly - Belfast Central 5-car ICR is as follows: Monday-Saturday: 0735 Dublin Connolly - Belfast Central 1035 Belfast Central - Dublin Connolly 1320 Dublin Connolly - Belfast Central 1605 Belfast Central - Dublin Connolly 1900 Dublin Connolly - Belfast Central 2115 Belfast Central - Dublin Connolly Sunday: 1000 Dublin Connolly - Belfast Central 1305 Belfast Central - Dublin Connolly 1600 Dublin Connolly - Belfast Central 1905 Belfast Central - Dublin Connolly NIR 3000-class: Monday-Saturday: 0650 Belfast Central - Dublin Connolly (3pce MTO) 0935 Dublin Connolly - Belfast Central (3pce MTO) 1235 Belfast Central - Dublin Connolly 1520 Dublin Connolly - Belfast Central 1805 Belfast Central - Dublin Connolly 2050 Dublin Connolly - Belfast Central Sunday: 1105 Belfast Central - Dublin Connolly 1400 Dublin Connolly - Belfast Central ---- An additional 0755 Dundalk - Dublin Connolly runs Monday-Friday as relief to the 0650 ex Belfast

The key word there would be *techincally*. Techincal and physical working are two different things. And besides that, they already have. Any tour that goes Ennis-Limerick is in public passenger service, with Iarnród Éireann valid tickets for that section acceptable due to pathing restrictions

Evening all, A few shots from Portlaoise today, featuring: 22036 on the 1520 Portlaoise - Heuston 22056 on the 1415 Heuston - Portlaoise / 1620 Portlaoise - Heuston 221+4003 on the 1500 Heuston - Cork 8209+4002 on the 1420 Cork - Heuston 22011 on the 1525 Heuston - Limerick (with 22811 in the formation) All photos can be viewed here - Regards, Kieran

Thanks folks - wondered what it meant. S= CAWS fitted, SA = CAWS and Train Air Brake fitted. I think.....

Cravens had 'TL' after their numbers - did that mean Twin Lavatory or something else?

The Phoenix Park Tunnel project is quite political. If it fails, it gives the Government a reason not to give the full go-ahead to DART Underground (missing the point of it). If it is moderately successful, they will claim it is enough and no DART Underground needed. If it is massively successful (which I doubt), it will lead to DART Underground or throttling capacity to turn people away. I'm just waiting for the inevitable failure of something, be it train or points in the Connolly area, messing up both Connolly and Heuston. Whilst the above failure could (and will at some point) happen with DART Underground, it is less likely to have an affect across the whole network as Phoenix Park will have, due to the diagramming of the ICR fleet (making maximum use of the fleet)

Good afternoon all, A few photos from the Stradbally Woodlands Railway during the recent Steam Rally Full set here - On Wednesday, 5th August, A209 0920 Cork - Heuston was worked by an appropriate loco - NIR 8209. Photos of it at Portlaoise are below Full set - Regards, Kieran

Good evening all, Due to the earlier failure of the 1300 Heuston - Cork at Cherryville Junction (resulting in widespread delays to all services ex Heuston), the 1620 Cork - Heuston was cancelled, with the 1720 Cork - Heuston formed of 2611+2612+2614+2617, which was all that was available in Cork. Photos of this working at Portlaoise, along with one of the locals and two Down Mark 4 sets, can be seen be clicking the below link Regards, Kieran

Good evening all, Possibly the last shots from July from me. A couple of shots from a very wet Portlaoise on Sunday, 26th July: Full set here - A few more from Portlaoise on Tuesday 28th, featuring the Tuesday-only Mark 4 run on the 1320 Cork - Heuston and a couple of ICR's until a massive cloud burst put me off further shots: Full set here - Regards, Kieran

The Fell machine used six engines - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_10100 Today, the Bombardier Traxx ME (Multi Engine) is just being introduced into service in German, with I think two engines. Not a new concept at all Samller engines means to start off, all engines start up and power, until cruise speed when one engine may shut down. The Network Rail Class 73/9's, for example, start up one engine (least hours) until notch 4. Notch 5 and above the second engine kicks in (I think - it's that kind of system)

They aren't actually passed yet - paperwork issue. They just fit (mostly). One option would be a withdrawal of the 071's (with alterations at the Tara Mines siding at Alexandra Dock Road). Not all 18 071's are needed daily. 3/4 for Taras, 3/4 for liners/timbers and a couple for PW. Pure speculation at this stage. As for the tender, it's out there somewhere - Modern Railways and Tony Miles are very reliable sources, and I heard a rumour that this was happening in late June

Topic bump There's an interesting little sentence or two in Tony Miles' article in Modern Railways this month that is relevant. "...installing a new multi-engine arrangement using two or even three engines is a viable project [in the Class 201 fleet]. Procurement is underway, with the plan being to carry out the repowering of the 34 locos (2 are owned by NIR) in two phases - 22 starting in 2016 and then the remaining 12 before 2020" Catch those 12-710's before they are gone!

Good afternoon all, Photos from yesterday's Irish Railway Record Society tour to Ballina and Westport, featuring 087, 078 and 084 as well as the normal run of things with Irish Rail. Many thanks to all involved in making the tour happen, even with 078's little problem at Westport! Click on the photos below to view all of the photos, with a link to the whole album at the bottom Regards, Kieran

Lovely - reminds me of this colour

Stentinel281 - drop me a PM as I am an admin on Irish Railways Past and Present if it hasn't been resolved yet

I can see it now Railer - didn't notice it at the time though! Thanks for the comment! More photo time! Photos from Portarlington yesterday for the Steam Dreams tour, as well as the normal flow of ICR's All photos can be seen here - Regards, Kieran

Good evening all, Just getting through a backlog of photos, but first yesterday's fun and games. 103 photos from a trip that included Heuston, Connolly, Balbriggan, Clonsilla, Maynooth, Pearse and Inchicore, with shots of the normal activity, 8208's first southbound run, 073 on the weedspray and more. Click on the photos or the link at the end for more All photos can be seen here - Photos from Portarlington and the above loco change will be available soon. Regards, Kieran

That was from the 2013 Working Timetables, so a touch out of date but still reasonably relevant

201's can definately do Ballina - Dublin (0935 North Wall - Ballina IWT) : Ballina - Waterford (1130 Waterford - Ballina timber): The only problem with Tara is the traverser at North Wall isn't long enough for a 201, being put in to accomodate the longest loco then (the 071/001). 201's are restricted on: Longford - Sligo (emergencies only) Sligo - Sligo Quay (not at all) Arklow - Rosslare Europort (emergencies only) The Asbestos Cement Siding in Athy (not at all) Ballybrophy - Killonan Junction (Nenagh Branch) (emergencies at 25mph maximum) Limerick Jn - Waterford West Cabin (emergencies at 25mph maximum) Limerick - Foynes (not at all at the moment, but not in use at the moment) Limerick - Limerick Cement Factory (emergencies only) Athenry - Tuam (emergencies at 10mph maximum) Mullingar - Athlone (emergencies only) There are some routes with loco-hauled maximum speed restrictions, but these apply to all locos, not just 201 class. All of the above at normal line speed unless otherwise stated / train restrictions To be honest, I'd expect the 201's to be re-engined rather than the 071. There's talk of EU funding for it and I can see it making more sense. For one - the body is bigger, making it easier to fit an EU Stage IIIB engine into the loading gauge. If there's money, an engine will be made. And for thrash - the UK Class 68 makes a pretty impressive noise! And as for spare parts - EMD still make two stroke engines - the 710 is still a popular engine and they are making emission kits for the marine 645 engine.