Niles

The Luas must be one of the last additions? I remember being impressed when it was added to the display, proving it wasn't static (figuratively).

I had enquired about 1558 in a past role around 2014, we were basically told you can take it but you'll need to take the mk3 as well. I think there'd been a change of management since they were acquired and I got the impression no longer wanted. As the enquiry was just for parts for the running Cravens and wouldn't have been worth the expense of extraction and storage, I reckon IÉ would rightly have had a fit had we suggested bringing the bogieless wonder back to Inchicore.

Through the kind co-operation of our friends in the Irish Traction Group, we are pleased to confirm that their 1956-vintage C Class diesel No.226 will be on display at Carrick-on-Suir for our visit to that station as part of the "Suir Lee Knot" railtour on 15th April. One of the most remarkable restoration stories of Irish preservation, this will be the first public occasion on which the class diesel will be on display since its engine was successfully restarted.. Passengers are welcome to join/depart at Limerick Junction, Mallow or Cork as suits. Tickets have been flying out the gate over the past weekend, and capacity on our 2600 class railcar set is limited so don’t delay, book today. Outline pickup times: Cork Kent Station 10:00 (back for 19:13) Mallow 10:23 (back for 18:46) Limerick Junction 11:06 (back for 17:47)

The Quiet American or The Quiet Man?

As part of the build up to our "Suir Lee Knot" tour, we've updated our blog with an article on the story of the 2600 class so far, complete with pictures of all the livery variants they've carried in service to date. https://www.tailtetours.com/post/the-2600-class-the-railcars-that-keep-on-going

Also, for anyone wishing to join at Mallow (or connect from Tralee) we'll be picking up there at 10:23 (back for 18:46).

Provisionally there will be a few minutes stop on the way back from Waterford for photos etc, subject to timely running. It'll be nonstop through Tipp on the way over (the loop line doesn't have passenger access so no way of getting out).

Quick update on this, we have requested to operate over the very rarely used Tipperary loop on the outbound run. For those planning on connections, outline pickup/set down as follows: Cork Dept 10:00, back for 19:13 Limerick Junction 11:06, back for 17:47. https://www.tailtetours.com/event-details/the-suir-lee-knot-railtour As it stands the tour is booked for a 4-car 2600 class railcar set. It will be the first working of the class into Waterford in well over 10 years, we think since the 2000s. Passengers can join/leave at Cork or Limerick Junction (or mix and match) to suit connections from Dublin and other places. As always timings are a guide and subject to tweaks but as an outline. Big thanks are due to the Iarnród Éireann Sales and Planning teams for their help in putting this together.

I recall the paint had the same purpley hue when the original coat was applied in Mullingar but cured by the time we put in traffic. Carriage stalwart @mphoey of this parish did the original striping. Also, the DSER 15/GSR K2 class and Sulzer B113 class have a 50% survival rate.

To be fair the real 230 looks worse at the moment...

reminder kick off is at 19:45 tonight.

The latest in Irish Railways, Present, Past & Other Interesting Railways series of Zooms, this one manages to straddle both Irish and Interesting!: 28th February 2023 from 19:45 With the imminent release of the All Ireland Strategic Rail Review, what better time and speaker than Cólman Ó Raghallaigh? Join us as we talk about the background to West on Track, the need for transport investment outside of Dublin, the expectations of the Review and a lot more besides. We will also have a round up of railway news, and more information about the upcoming event from Tailte Tours, the Suir Lee Knot tour. As always, ALL are welcome to our Zoom and there is no admission fees or contribution required. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3040263673

Not necessary, Dromod is right beside the Station and accessible off the M4. Similarly Stradbally is just over an hour or so's drive from Dublin (not sure if there's still a bus but someone will know).

Its number escapes me but the Cavan & Leitrim have one of the Spence locos in the workshop at Dromod, some exciting plans for it too I believe...

Thankfully yes, new security fencing was added last year, given the amount of blatant trespassing that went on it's not surprising.

If it's successful we might well look at running more tours from Cork in the future...maybe other places too.

Thanks to the kind co-operation of Iarnród Éireann, our first ever Cork-based railtour offers participants a rare chance to travel in a 2600 railcar set over the Limerick Junction-Waterford route; it is hoped to include stops to view the now-rare semaphore signaling installations at Clonmel along with the ITG base at Carrick-on-Suir. https://www.tailtetours.com/event-details/the-suir-lee-knot-railtour Passengers will have ample time to get lunch and refreshments in Waterford. Nowadays the Waterford-Limerick Junction route is exclusively worked by 22000 class Intercity Railcars, so this is a rare chance to travel the route in the classic 1990s-built 2600 class railcar sets. While the 2700 and 2800 classes have worked the route in times past, the 2600s have always been relative strangers to the line so this is a rare treat. For passengers intending to join us from other locations, connections can be made at Cork or Limerick Junction (our railtour is timed so as that Dublin-based passengers can get the first service to Cork and last one back). Dept Cork approx 10:00am, back by 8:00pm Full timings will be advised in due course, subject to final confirmation with Iarnród Éireann. We have two ticket options available (no additional fees): €65 Standard €88 "Mystery Train" - this includes travel on the railtour plus a Mystery pack containing souvenir items with an RRP of at least €30. Tickets are sold on a strictly non-refundable basis.

Obviously it's the 29000 with the brown patches.

I remember Tayto sending in samples of said bars to the publisher I worked for about 10 years ago... I don't recall them going down particularly well! I recall one whit describing them as 'tasting like a child's birthday party'.

Open to correction, but I think there's an exemption here in the case of regular domestic passenger services. Tourist or heritage passenger operators can apply (e.g. Belmond, RPSI) but it's not the case that Go Ahead, for example, could apply to operate a commuter service from Maynooth. Likewise, Belmond or RPSI couldn't apply to operate such a service either.

As it stands, private freight operators have had access for what must be a decade now. The fact that there's been no take up says a lot as to its perceived lucrativeness though...

That Albert Quay one is just gorgeous.

Well, that WAS fun.

I'm afraid to check it...

Some pics to whet the appetite... if you're enjoying the model 141s and hoppers and plough vans why not come and see the real thing in action? There's also the chance to get a spin behind A Class locomotive No.A39...