Broithe

Part of it can be seen on Street View - https://www.google.com/maps/@53.2687789,-7.8168261,3a,15y,278.28h,88.7t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1shnc6cmnWNGFRQM98BBTnfg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3Dhnc6cmnWNGFRQM98BBTnfg%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D353.99185%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656 - and it looks fairly complete. And it looks very sound in other pictures. Some details on page 88 here, at the bottom of the page - https://www.offaly.ie/eng/Services/Heritage/Documents/Offaly_Bridges_Part_1.pdf

Priming us for the next announcement..?

I would be fairly confident of Portarlington - I just don't remember seeing that track still there in '76.

A few weeks ago, in a pub in Errill, I was convinced* to put some blinds up in a house in Lisduff. The house turned out to be next to the quarry, backing onto the line, about 200m away. The first two windows were facing the road and they were done about a week ago. I finished the job last night, as the remaining three blinds had been procured. These windows allowed a view of the track and I was treated to a few trains during my struggles with the blinds. The current warmth, plus my heated exchanges with the blinds, meant that I also had to have the windows open, to avoid expiring. It was very noticeable just how smooth and solid everything sounded as it drifted past. * It is possible that the location had weakened my defences.

That is beyond my remit, but it must be around 1950, I would think - that track may not have been there for long after the construction phase.* I was there in 1976 and I don't recall there still being a connection. More competent people may be along shortly. *Having said that, the tower looks well weathered...

Portarlington?

I think there are some obvious security issues that require a degree of secrecy about specific details.

Islas Canarias.. Get back behind us!

When your world is falling apart around you, in an accelerating manner, it can be easy to lose track of all that is going on. I'm really glad that this part of it has been resolved in the end.

For me, the Golden Age of Irish Railways was from 1995 to when the Mk 4s arrived. 95% of my experience was four journeys annually from Heuston to Ballybrophy and return. Clearly, this is not a huge sample of what was available, but the relief of getting on a train which, for me, was 100% reliable, clean, pleasant and comfortable, was a massive step up from the Stafford-Holyhead journey on the Big Island. that was never the same twice - utter chaos and unreliability. I don't think the Mk 4s were a great step down, but they didn't seem to be a great improvement either. In the orange days everything was just so pleasant and civilised, it was a shock every time after the struggles on the Big Island.

It's nearly ten minutes since you made this announcement about the future announcements - has there been any progress since?

There is not universal support for a fixed link - https://solentfreedomtunnel.co.uk/results-independent-fixed-link-study-survey/ - some islanders like the separation. There have even been calls to become an independent tax-haven, along the lines of the Channel Islands and Isle of Man. You could have trains with bullion vans and wagons full of washing powder...

For a good 150 years there has almost always been a campaign running for a fixed link to the Big Island, be it a tunnel or a bridge. The remains of a few abortive attempts can still be seen on the ground. You could pretend one had succeeded and expand your possibilities?

It's a long way from China in a Transit. Are you driving in shifts?

Facebook has just suggested that I might be interested in this picture, so I thought it might be worth mentioning here. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1390742637606844?multi_permalinks=4895466017134471&hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen © Ian Krause.

Well, it's not always railway bridges.

The skip appears to have "Berring" on it - I had hoped this might close down on a location, but I've come up with nothing. The logo on the Wickham doors means nothing to me, either. eBay has suggested this item to me today, with an indication that it is British. The 'style' of the site looks South Wales or North East England to me - possibly.

Ideal for those modelling German railways.

I do hope you manage to make it squeak as well as before.

Was this badge the right way up?

A Class packaging has been tested for the contents to survive an air drop?

The other day, I ventured along the Nenagh branch, to record the accessible crossings. Bridge No 1. Looking north, to Bridge No 2 and the M7 motorway. And the structure itself - this would be Grange Beg Bridge, locally. Then onto Bridge No 2, which I expected to be a 'modern' replacement for a crossing, but the abutments appear to be original in style, although the span seems to have been replaced, but some time ago. This is over a farm access road, just south of the motorway. Looking back to Bridge No 1. And north to the M7. And some general views. This block was attached to the northern parapet and, from the lichen around it, seemed to have been there for some time. And onto Bridge No 3 - the motorway presumably being No 2A. Again a beam structure, rather than an arch, and with quite a recent replacement, by the look of things. This could be the previous structure's remains? Looking south. And north, to the crossing just north of the bridge. At this point, I became overwhelmed by the excitement of swooping down off the bridge and failed to investigate the crossing more closely. Then onto Bridge No 4 or (probably?) 5 (I thought I had included the sign in one of the pictures), at the western end of Borris in Ossory. And looking west, towards the bridge on the new motorway link road. And the link road bridge itself - a really substantial structure, similar to the actual motorway bridges. Bridge 5A, I think. And looking west. And east. From there, to the Quakers' Bridge Level Crossing - a name I've never really though as odd until typing it now... Also, on another trip out later, I spotted this gate-post, just south of the main line, a few miles away.

People may have noticed that 'the system' has taken to issuing badges recently, to mark certain stages of people's activities on here. It has just decided to issue me with one for "Reacting Well". Mmm, I imagine that this is some sort of joke in very poor taste, based on the state I was in after my second vaccination. After no reaction the first time, and no history of any similar issues in the past, I was shot through the head ten hours later and 'lost' two days, where my main activity was shivering and sweating. I await my Shivering and Sweating badge.

Is there an application form for that job?