IRRS announcment

[waffles]

Hi there this is a case of whats not on

 

The IRRS library and archive are now closed for the duration of the summer.

 

We shall be reopening on Tuesday the forth of September from 19.45.

 

Please note there will be nobody in attendance at our premises during this time, unlike in other years.

 

Thanks.

[DJ Dangerous]

Received an email from FlickR this evening, which may be of interest to some, as it may affect uploaders and downloaders of IRRS material.

This is translated into English using Google Translate, so may be a tiny bit off:

 

Flickr.

We're contacting you to inform you about an upcoming change to free Flickr accounts.

 

What's changing:

Starting May 15, 2025, Flickr will restrict the download of original and large photos (over 1024 pixels) from free accounts. If you're using a free account, this update applies to both your own content and content shared by other free members. Additionally, videos stored on free accounts will no longer be downloadable once the change takes effect.

 

Why we're making this change:

We're addressing the misuse of free accounts as cloud storage for original files, a practice that violates our Terms of Service and negatively impacts the performance and experience of Pro members. By limiting access to original and large downloads from free accounts, we can help preserve the integrity of the platform and continue to provide a high-quality service to our Pro community.

 

What's not changing:

Your original files will continue to be stored on Flickr.

Medium and small file sizes will still be available for download.

This restriction will not apply to Creative Commons-licensed photos (unless they are private).

Flickr Commons members are exempt from this change and will retain access to all download sizes.

 

Want to continue accessing original-size downloads?

Upgrade to Flickr Pro before May 15th and you'll continue to have uninterrupted access to original and large downloads. As a Pro member, you'll also enjoy unlimited storage, ad-free browsing, and statistics.

You can access and download all your content and associated data, including original files, at any time by submitting a request through the Flickr Data section of your account settings page.

We understand that this update may impact how you use Flickr, but it's a necessary step to keep our platform healthy, fair, and aligned with our community guidelines. If you have any questions, please contact our Help Center.

 

Keep creating, - The Flickr Team

 

 

Info on becoming an IRRS member here:

https://irrs.ie/irrs-membership/

 

IRRS FlickR account here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/

 

[Mol_PMB]

Interesting, thanks for sharing.

I think this just refers to downloading images, rather than viewing them. Users can block downloads of their images and IRRS has done this anyway, so I don't think this will affect IRRS images. Though my interpretation may be wrong.

IRRS is a Pro member.

[leslie10646]

IRRS LONDON  - Next talk

 

LIVE + ZOOM : 18.00 – 20.40 Friday 21 November 2025 “Photos of Closed Lines that might Reopen” by Roger Joanes   The All Island Strategic Rail Review of 2023 advocated reopening of several long closed lines throughout Ireland. Garnering high quality photos from 12 leading Irish railway photographers, lifelong enthusiast Roger Joanes recalls these lines as they used to be with photos of trains, stations and places long since disappeared. If reopened, the lines may look quite different so take this opportunity to relish their heyday.

 

COME TO OUR LIVE MEETING ….. ….. at The Gallery at Alan Baxter, 100m from Farringdon station. Door opens at 17.30. The Gallery is a smart and spacious community space, ideal for our talks, and with stepfree access available. We hope as many as possible will be able to come along, see the speaker live, contribute directly to the discussion, meet the Committee and other members, and enjoy refreshment in a nearby pub afterwards.

 

 

ATTENDING BY ZOOM

To obtain a Zoom link for the meeting, please register by clicking

REGISTER HERE

 

and fill in your email address to be sent a personalised Zoom ink. You can register at any time up to (or during) the meeting, and you can copy this registration link to others. Please note that the link will be sent by Zoom (not IRRS London) and will arrive immediately after registration. Those who have registered should receive a reminder from Zoom nearer the meeting.

 

Alternatively, open Zoom on your device and enter the following :

Webinar ID: 820 9160 4904
passcode: 381075

 

For those participating in the meeting via Zoom, please note that should Zoom fail and there is no transmission, we will try and email everyone on the London Area email list with an update so please watch your Inbox

 

PLEASE ALSO NOTE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE AREA COMMITTEE:

 

 

LIVE MEETINGS - PLEASE COME

We invite more people to come to our live meetings.

 

Live meetings in the capital are the raison d’etre of the London Area. We are happy to share them by Zoom but f the live meetings themselves are not supported, there will be little purpose in continuing to have a London Area as such. The London Area Committee is concerned that attendance at our live meetings is slipping and may be approaching the point where live meetings cannot be justified – and that would mark the end of the London Area.

 

For those who have a choice, we know how easy and attractive it can be to stay at home and watch on Zoom. But we do encourage you to come to our live meetings. It is an opportunity to engage with the Committee and others who share an interest in Irish railways, or to engage directly with the speaker. Perhaps enjoy a drink afterwards. And it will ensure that London Area meetings continue.

 

(From Leslie)

I cannot over-emphasise this "warning". We often have a speaker over from Ireland, at considerable cost and then find him speaking to less than a dozen folk, plus the committee. If you live within 50 miles of London, surely you can support the area in person? At least from time to time?

 

Tonight's speaker, Roger Joanes, has travelled over 200 miles to give his talk. Like most of our speakers,  he is a specialist, who will illustrate his talk with superb photography of the period.

 

So, please, come along and enjoy a great talk!

 

Edited yesterday at 22:09 by leslie10646

[Mol_PMB]

An excellent talk, thanks to Leslie for publicising and Roger for the talk itself. 
 

Sorry I wasn’t there in person, but rest assured I do attend my local Manchester meetings and I may even have had my arm twisted to give a talk next year. 

[jhb171achill]

On 20/11/2025 at 10:08 PM, leslie10646 said:

IRRS LONDON  - Next talk

 

LIVE + ZOOM : 18.00 – 20.40 Friday 21 November 2025 “Photos of Closed Lines that might Reopen” by Roger Joanes   The All Island Strategic Rail Review of 2023 advocated reopening of several long closed lines throughout Ireland. Garnering high quality photos from 12 leading Irish railway photographers, lifelong enthusiast Roger Joanes recalls these lines as they used to be with photos of trains, stations and places long since disappeared. If reopened, the lines may look quite different so take this opportunity to relish their heyday.

 

COME TO OUR LIVE MEETING ….. ….. at The Gallery at Alan Baxter, 100m from Farringdon station. Door opens at 17.30. The Gallery is a smart and spacious community space, ideal for our talks, and with stepfree access available. We hope as many as possible will be able to come along, see the speaker live, contribute directly to the discussion, meet the Committee and other members, and enjoy refreshment in a nearby pub afterwards.

 

 

ATTENDING BY ZOOM

To obtain a Zoom link for the meeting, please register by clicking

REGISTER HERE

 

and fill in your email address to be sent a personalised Zoom ink. You can register at any time up to (or during) the meeting, and you can copy this registration link to others. Please note that the link will be sent by Zoom (not IRRS London) and will arrive immediately after registration. Those who have registered should receive a reminder from Zoom nearer the meeting.

 

Alternatively, open Zoom on your device and enter the following :

Webinar ID: 820 9160 4904
passcode: 381075

 

For those participating in the meeting via Zoom, please note that should Zoom fail and there is no transmission, we will try and email everyone on the London Area email list with an update so please watch your Inbox

 

PLEASE ALSO NOTE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE AREA COMMITTEE:

 

 

LIVE MEETINGS - PLEASE COME

We invite more people to come to our live meetings.

 

Live meetings in the capital are the raison d’etre of the London Area. We are happy to share them by Zoom but f the live meetings themselves are not supported, there will be little purpose in continuing to have a London Area as such. The London Area Committee is concerned that attendance at our live meetings is slipping and may be approaching the point where live meetings cannot be justified – and that would mark the end of the London Area.

 

For those who have a choice, we know how easy and attractive it can be to stay at home and watch on Zoom. But we do encourage you to come to our live meetings. It is an opportunity to engage with the Committee and others who share an interest in Irish railways, or to engage directly with the speaker. Perhaps enjoy a drink afterwards. And it will ensure that London Area meetings continue.

 

(From Leslie)

I cannot over-emphasise this "warning". We often have a speaker over from Ireland, at considerable cost and then find him speaking to less than a dozen folk, plus the committee. If you live within 50 miles of London, surely you can support the area in person? At least from time to time?

 

Tonight's speaker, Roger Joanes, has travelled over 200 miles to give his talk. Like most of our speakers,  he is a specialist, who will illustrate his talk with superb photography of the period.

 

So, please, come along and enjoy a great talk!

 

I couldn't agree more. As one who has been there the odd time to do a talk, I'm always delighted to go. Good to catch up with the Irish contingent living over there too - you know who you are!