Photographic Website Updates

[Mayner]

13 hours ago, Broithe said:

Wandering back from the pub in Rathdowney, I would often glance northwards and wonder why there was one red light in the middle of a few sodium lamps at Donaghmore. 

This bemused me for many years.

Last winter, I suddenly realised that I was actually seeing the lamp two miles further on, on the top of the mast at Ballybrophy. Things just happened to line up from my viewpoint.

One very small problem solved.

About 30 years ago used to drive to regularly take the  remote A412 road from Bala to Trawsfynydd  ( Trawys)on Friday nights en-route from work in the Home Counties to Portmadoc to volunteer on the Welsh Highland. The drill was to phone ahead from Bala and order a few drinks if I was running late and would not reach Port by closing time. 

One night there appeared to be someone on 'high beam' following behind me for several miles as I climbed until I realised that it was a full Moon and that there was no one behind me as I drove around the loop above Lyn Celyn. I literally had the road to myself for most of the 18 miles across the hills between Bala and Trawys and reached Port before closing time. Not sure if I would be up to the drive, and staying up with my mates till the early hours of the morning before spending a weekend volunteering these days, but great fun when I was up to it.

[thewanderer]

Evening all,

Latest update from yesterday with an afternoon spent between Thurles and Templemore photographing Dublin - Cork and Limerick trains.

Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/April-2024/i-326VK8Z

 

[thewanderer]

Good morning all,

Pictures from last Sunday and Monday have just been uploaded to the April gallery.

Sunday 14th April 2024:
A Sunday evening "chase" on the Nenagh Branch between Birdhill and Cloughjordan photographing the 1735 Limerick - Ballybrophy.

Monday 15th April 2024:
Iarnrod Eireann have started to move the Tara Wagons from Dublin's North Wall yard, where they had been stored since Tara Mines halted production in Summer 2023, down to Limerick for further storage. The first movement of 11 wagons occurred on Monday 15th April when 075 brought them towards Limerick as a 0937 North Wall - Limerick transfer. Unfortunately the service ran into difficulty after Portarlington and was eventually terminated in Ballybrophy to await a visit from Limerick Maintenance Depot due to a wagon defect. The train remained in Ballybrophy overnight.

Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/April-2024/i-Jb4wKMd to view.

 

 

[thewanderer]

An bit of an update to last Monday's posting with new photos in the April gallery containing.

Tuesday 16th April 2024:
Photos today come from Thurles, Dublin Heuston & Blackhorse on the LUAS.

Wednesday 17th April 2024:
The Tara Mines transfer which was terminated at Ballybrophy on Monday was eventually moved to Limerick on Wednesday afternoon after repairs had been carried out at Ballybrophy to a wagon defect. The train was pictured at Killonan Jct.

Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/April-2024/i-cn4z6P3 to view.

 

 

[thewanderer]

Saturday 20th April 2024:

The first train since the 18th March rolls though Ballycar with the 1725 Ennis - Limerick at 1737 earlier this evening with 22001 in charge.

Great to see this important regional route reopened to our customers once again after the enforced closure.

The train later returned as the 1815 Limerick - Galway which I caught near Cratloe.

Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/April-2024/i-2Bb4zb2 to view all the images.

 

[thewanderer]

In a further update from the weekend just gone, earlier on the Saturday I paid a visit to the Limerick - Foynes Railway which is currently being rebuilt for freight traffic. 

In my latest update (no. 7) we see a selection of photos from various locations between Foynes and Adare showing recent progress on the rebuilding of the railway. Work is well advanced at the Foynes end of the railway (excluding the railway station itself) with the trackbed for several miles now ready to have track laid on it, the further you go towards Limerick the work is less advanced.

All the photos can be viewed at 

https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/Officialevents/2024/Foynes-Line-Reconstruction-/i-fh7FVB4

 

To see all the photos in the collection (starting in November 2022) click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/Officialevents/2024/Foynes-Line-Reconstruction-/i-J27B2SK

 

 

 

 

 

[thewanderer]

It's back to the 1990's for Iarnrod Eireann as they have repainted 2600 Class, No. 2601+2602 back into a modified version of the ARROW livery they originally carried from 1994 to the early 2000's to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the class. The work was completed to an outstanding quality in house at the paint spray facility in Inchicore Works and the team poses in front of the completed set on Wednesday 25th April for official photos to be taken before the set returns to service in Cork working the commuter services to Cobh, Midleton and Mallow. 

An IR£19.5 million order was placed in 1992 with Mitsui, who subcontracted the order to Tokyu Car Corporation of Yokohama, Japan. This was quite groundbreaking on a number of fronts; not only was it the first Irish order placed with an Asian firm, but they were also the first railway vehicles built in Asia for the European market and the vehicles are still held in high regard by their manufacture 30 years later.

The Irish Railway Record Society are arranging a 30th anniversary railtour over the weekend of the 18th & 19th May and it is expected that 2601 + 2602 will work the tour throughout. See https://irrstimesarrow.eventbrite.ie for more information and booking.

For photos of the launch click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/Officialevents/2024/ARROW-30-years-1994-2024/

 

 

 

[thewanderer]

Friday 26th April 2024:
2602 + 2601 returned to their home depot of Limerick on Friday 26th April for further attention before a return to service in the Cork area. The retro-liveried pair were photographed at Kishyquirk outside Killonan Jct. Later in the day we see the new footbridge at Banteer and the 1705 Tralee - Cork passing Rathcoole.

Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/April-2024/i-v4MjrVr

 

Edited April 26 by thewanderer

[thewanderer]

Afternoon all,

Two updates to the website on this Bank Holiday Monday.

First up is the latest progress on the Limerick to Foynes line rebuild with the first track now laid at Glenbane between Askeaton and Foynes. Also we have a photographic update from between Adare and Limerick where rebuilding work is less advanced. Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/Officialevents/2024/Foynes-Line-Reconstruction-/i-fXgv7qr to view all.

The 2nd update is photos from the Limerick Jct. area including aerial views of the Limerick Jct. direct curve.
Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/May-2024 to view.

All the photos can also be viewed from the home page at https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/

 

 

[hurricanemk1c]

Photos from between January and early March 2024, featuring a UK trip to Nottingham, Birmingham, York and London, the introduction of the B2 ICR cars into traffic, Enterprise services diverted to Belfast Great Victoria Street, and a visit to Cultra. Click on the photo below to view them all

Regards,

Kieran

[thewanderer]

Tuesday 14th May 2024:
An early start to head into Limerick this morning to photograph the retro-ARROW 2601 + 2602 which was working a single trip to Limerick Jct. as part of an in-service trial following its return to service after repainting, and the completion of modifications including CCTV fitment and seating reupholster.

The set is planned to be used on the Irish Railway Record Society Railtour on 18th / 19th May from Cork to Dundalk.

Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/May-2024/i-mFLJSPD to view all the images from Limerick and Limerick Jct.

 

[thewanderer]

Wednesday 15th May 2024:
While the in-service trial of the retro-ARROW livered 2601 + 2602 was a success yesterday, Limerick Depot decided to give the pair another spin today, before it is sent to Cork for its big weekend railtour adventure to Dundalk. It worked the 0645 Limerick - Ballybrophy & 0900 return with sister unit 2615 + 2606 paired up with it as far as Nenagh, where it split to work the 0747 back to Limerick. I got photos of it at various locations between Nenagh and Ballybrophy and also met a handful of other enthusiasts who either were out to photo it or travel on it.

The class will celebrate their 30th anniversary tomorrow (16th May) and expect to see some content on the Irish Rail socials about the launch of the Dublin - Kildare ARROW service which the class were built for.

Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/May-2024/i-Zw4j24R to view all the images.

 

[thewanderer]

Pictures from the Irish Railway Record Society's "Time's Arrow" railtour on the 18th/19th May when we brought a 2600 Class, celebrating their 30th anniversary in service and repainted into its original livery, from their current base in Cork back to their old haunts in Dublin when we visited Hazelhatch, Grand Canal Dock, Dundalk, Howth, Maynooth and the first visit of the class to the M3 Parkway Branch. After an overnight in Dublin, the tour returned to Cork on Sunday with a non-stop run from Heuston to Cobh, completing the 176 1/2 miles in 2 hours, 55 minutes and 49 seconds. We were delighted to welcome onboard, representatives from the IE senior management team and the vehicle builders Mitsui & JTREC who travelled on the railtour from Heuston to Dundalk and back to Dublin.

All the pictures from the weekend are available to view at https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/RailtoursPreservedRailways/2024/IRRS-Times-Arrow-Railtour-Saturday-18th-Sunday-19th-May-2024/i-cd6X2fJ

 

 

 

Edited May 27 by thewanderer

[thewanderer]

Emergency Exercise at Nenagh

On Tuesday 28th May 2024 an emergency exercise was held at Nenagh Station with fire brigade personnel from across the country visiting the station for a briefing with IE staff.

Once the briefing was completed, the fire brigade carried an exercise with the scenario being the train hit a landslide with multiple casualties onboard.

It was certainly an interesting exercise to observe and highlights the close co-operation between the railway company and the emergency services for when real life incidents emergency incidents unfortunately occur on IE infrastructure.

To view all the images take a look at https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/Officialevents/2024/Emergency-Exercise-at-Nenagh/i-QL4Vjhk

 

 

Edited May 29 by thewanderer

[thewanderer]

The May gallery has been updated with a bunch of images from the latter half of the month.

Friday 17th May 2024:
Pictures from around Cork while preparing 2601 + 2602 for the Time's Arrow railtour.

Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th May 2024:
Pictures from Cork, Mallow, Dundalk & Connolly during the IRRS Time's Arrow railtour, pictures of this railtour can be viewed in the railtour and preserved railway section.

Monday 20th May 2024:
After the excitement of the retro-ARROW liveried 2601 + 2602, on Monday attention turned to another somewhat forgotten DMU vehicle, bubble car 2751 which was moved out of storage in Cork and returned to Limerick for exams to take place for its return to service as a internal services vehicle at Laois Depot (i.e. a depot shunter). The set was hauled from Cork by 2605 + 2616 with 2751 in rear and the movement was captured at Kishyquirk outside Killonan. Pictures later in the day come from Limerick showing the vehicle stabled and also the evening Nenagh Branch train at Castleconnell and at the M7 bridge at Ballinteenoe.

Wednesday 22nd May 2024:
The retro-ARROW 2601 + 2602 unexpectedly escaped to the Tralee line after 22026 was failed at Cork after arriving with the 0545 from Tralee. The celebrity 2600's worked the 0900 Cork - Tralee, 1105 & 1505 Tralee - Mallow, 1325 Mallow - Tralee and is seen at Killarney with the 1105 Tralee - Mallow working.

Sunday 26th May 2024:
Just two pictures from Thurles of the 1525 Cork - Heuston.

Wednesday 29th May 2024:
Pictures from Portlaoise and Thurles, the highlight being a 1700 Mallow - Portlaoise loco transfer. Right place right time.

Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/May-2024/i-CFHP7Tx
to view all the pictures.

 

 

[thewanderer]

The June Gallery has been updated with 90 photos from the past week.

Monday 3rd June 2024:
Pictures from Thurles, Dublin, Carlow, Muine Bheag, Waterford and Mallow while on the Railtours Ireland charter. Highlights being views of the new station under construciton at Waterford.

Tuesday 4th June 2024:
Pictures from Thurles and Portlaoise.

Wednesday 5th June 2024:
Pictures from Ballybrophy, Portlaoise and Laois Depot. Highlights being 079 transferring 3 new B2 cars from Inchicore to Laois Depot.

Thursday 6th June 2024:
Pictures from Kilmustulla of the evening branch train on the Nenagh branch plus views of the former shale loading terminal.

Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/June-2024 to view all the images.

Plus a new page on the website featuring the numbering sequence of the multiple unit fleet. Iarnrod Eireann multiple units do not carry a painted set number unlike UK or Northern Ireland practice, but they are actually allocated a set number which is used internally. For more information take a look at https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/IE-MU-Set-Numbers

 

 

 

 

Edited June 8 by thewanderer

[thewanderer]

Evening all,

Pictures from the past week have now been uploaded to the June gallery at Sunday 9th June 2024 https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/June-2024/i-h44857S

Sunday 9th June 2024:
A few pictures from Thurles while at the station during the Munster Hurling Final.

Monday 10th June 2024:
Pictures from Nenagh, Ballybrophy, Portlaoise, Limerick Jct. and Mallow.

Tuesday 11th June 2024:
Pictures from the East Cork Commuter network showing the trusty 30 year old 2600 Class DMU's hard at work. Pictures to be uploaded shortly.

Wednesday 12th June 2024:
MPV 790 was out on the Kerry Line on weedspraying duties and I managed to get several pictures of it around the Killarney area.

 

 

 

 

[thewanderer]

Latest pictures from this week are now up in the June gallery at https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/June-2024/i-Pcmkbs7

Friday 14th June 2024:
Pictures from Killarney, Mallow, Dublin Connolly and Dun-Laoghaire.

 

[thewanderer]

The backlog of images from the weekend of 15th and 16th of June have now been cleared of the in tray and can be viewed at

201 at 30 railtour: A railtour to celebrate 30 years of the 201 diesel locomotives in Ireland bringing a member of the class to a location rarely visited by them - Rosslare.
Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/RailtoursPreservedRailways/2024/RPSI-201-30-tour to view.

June gallery has been updated with images from Saturday 15th from Heuston, Bray, Enniscorthy and LUAS trams.
On Sunday I had to head back from Dublin to Killarney and elected to go an hour earlier than required and travel via Cork as I knew 26001 (2601 + 2602) were due to be part of the 1450 Cork - Tralee service. It also meant the mad scramble for seats at Mallow would be avoided. Later in the evening I got the 2600's returning from Tralee to Cork outside Killarney.
Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/June-2024/i-4kHd82Z to view all the images.

 

 

[thewanderer]

Saturday 29th June 2024:
After an impromptu meet up with a friend for a late lunch in Limerick, the journey home was at the same time as the evening branch train from Limerick to Balllybrophy so I managed to get photos of it at several locations between Killonan Jct and Nenagh:
* Lisnagry
* Birdhill
* Cappadine
* Capparoe

Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/June-2024/i-nt2w2gm to view all the images.

 

[thewanderer]

The July gallery kicks off with photos from an overnight in Dublin featuring scenes from Heuston and of the city tram system - LUAS.
Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/July-2024/i-xTdNJLH to view

 

 

 

[hurricanemk1c]

Trying to catch up on a long list of photos waiting to upload!

In March 2024 I went on a bit of a tour of Europe, taking in a concert, annual leave and a work trip all in one. 

I started off in Switzerland, for the launch show for the new Illumishade album in Zurich. While there, I spent some time in the Gotthard valley along with nearly getting into Italy via the FART railway. Photos below:

 

After Switzerland I headed to Germany, staying in Munich and visiting Nuremberg, Braunau-am-Inn (just cross the border into Austria), Dachau and a few other places, before making my way to the last overnight stop in Ramstein, before heading to Luxembourg (photos to follow). German photos below:

Regards,

Kieran

[thewanderer]

The July gallery has been updated with images from Thurles, Dublin Heuston and Inchicore. 
Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/July-2024/i-mskdsMZ to view.

 

 

[hurricanemk1c]

More photos from March 2024, carrying on my European trip. This time starting out of Ramstein, I crossed into Luxembourg and was able to cover pretty much the entire country over the course of two days (could have done it in one, but had things to do). One line was closed due to engineering work so a repeat visit needed to clear that small part! Then it was onto the Netherlands via Belgium, visiting Liege, Amsterdam and Amersfoort. Click on the photo below to view them all

 

[thewanderer]

The July gallery has ben updated with:

Monday 15th & Tuesday 16th July 2024:
Another visit to Dublin with some more images from Heuston and Inchicore.

Sunday 21st July 2024:
Images from Thurles and Heuston while at Heuston Station for the All Ireland Hurling Final.

Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/July-2024/i-vRjdK3L

 

 

 

 

Edited July 22 by thewanderer

[DJ Dangerous]

I like the yellow buffer beams on that converted flat wagon!

[hurricanemk1c]

Sunday 17 March 2024 saw me heading around the Netherlands, starting out of Amsterdam and heading for Amersfoort Centraal, followed by Utrecht, 's-Hertogenbosch, Breda, Den Haag and back to Amsterdam, before heading for Brussel-Zuid. Click on the photo below to view them all

 

Edited July 24 by hurricanemk1c

[hurricanemk1c]

Final photos from my European trip, finishing off with a trip from Brussel to Luxembourg to catch my flight home. Click on the photo below to view them all

 

Regards,

Kieran

[thewanderer]

The July gallery ahs been updated with a bumper selection of images from July with images from:

- Limerick
- Limerick Wagon Works
- Ennis
- Athenry
- Galway including views of the major station redevelopment ongoing.
- Portarington
- Portlaoise
- Nenagh
- Ballybrophy
- Laois Traincare Depot showing unit 22051 being reformed from a 3ICR to 6ICRHC set.
- Heuston.
- Connolly.
- Dun-Laoghaire
- Seapoint
- Lansdowne Road.
- Grand Canal Dock - including the DART40 liveried unit.
- Clondalkin / Fonthill
- Mallow
- Killarney.

Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/July-2024/i-PWRSWJf to view all the images.

The Foynes rebuilding gallery has also gotten a small update with images from Limerick Check and between Ballingraine and Adare.
Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/Officialevents/2024/Foynes-Line-Reconstruction-/i-5RP6QxS

 

 

 

 

 

[thewanderer]

The August gallery is now available at https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/August-2024

Wednesday 7th August 2024:
The start of a 3 day tour around the country with images from Nenagh, Ballybrophy, Heuston and Cork.

 

Edited August 7 by thewanderer

[thewanderer]

On 7/8/2024 at 11:39 PM, thewanderer said:

The August gallery is now available at https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/August-2024

Wednesday 7th August 2024:
The start of a 3 day tour around the country with images from Nenagh, Ballybrophy, Heuston and Cork.

 

The 2nd batch of images from the recent 3 day trip around Ireland visiting Mallow, Limerick Jct., Limerick and the Dublin area.

Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/August-2024/i-8gr8vPH to view.

 

[thewanderer]

Friday 16th August 2024:
A day trip to Limerick and Cork today with photos from Nenagh, Limerick, Limerick Jct. Cork, Glounthaune, Midleton, Cobh and Ballybrophy.

Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/August-2024/i-7JBfdCk to view.

 

Edited August 16 by thewanderer

[thewanderer]

The August gallery is updated with images from Borris-in-Ossory of the Nenagh Branch train and Laois Depot had a visitor in the form of 073 delivering ICR B2 vehicles 22525 & 22520 to the depot from Inchicore. The loco then had to rush back to Kildare to take over the 1125 Waterford - Ballina XPO Liner.

Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/August-2024/i-W8wbn4h to view all the images.

 

Edited August 21 by thewanderer

[thewanderer]

The August and September Galleries have been updated with the latest batch of pictures.

August 2024 Gallery:
Tuesday 27th August 2024:
Views of one of the electric buses in Athlone and the White Bridge which carries the Galway and Westport railway over the River Shannon.

We also catch up with 22023 on the 445 Heuston - Westport. viewed from the River Shannon.

Saturday 31st August 2024:
Locallink bus 867 at Carrick-on-Shannon.

Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/August-2024/i-sDQgNJx to view.

September 2024 Gallery:
Sunday 1st September 2024:
Pictures from Drumsna Railway Bridge of the 0905 Connolly - Sligo passing.

Monday 2nd September 2024:
A view of the White Bridge in Athlone viewed from the River. Unfortunately I was about 10 minutes too late for the Up IWT Liner.

Thursday 12th September 2024:
A day trip from Nenagh to Cork via Limerick.

Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/September-2024 to view.

 

 

 

[thewanderer]

The September gallery has been updated with images from this week.

Tuesday 17th September 2024:
Pictures from around Dublin (Heuston & Red Line LUAS) plus Thurles.

Wednesday 18th September 2024:
The National Ploughing Championships took place between Tuesday and Thursday this week near Portlaoise. The event generates significant extra traffic and this can be seen by the scenes at Nenagh as passengers disembark the 1905 Ballybrophy - Limerick. 124 passengers departed Ballybrophy on the service with 90 leaving the train at Nenagh.

Click https://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2024-Photos/September-2024/i-vdZVKxn to view.