074 shunting at Portlaoise PWD Depot.

080 brings the LWR train from North Wall to Limerick.

22018 at Connolly.

Night time at Portarlington.

Several photos between Hazelhatch and Clondalkin showing trains operating over the new up line.

On Saturday the 31st October I took to the River Shannon to view the bridge replacement at Drumsna on the Dublin - Sligo line, plus a visit to Dromod to view the Cavan and Leitrim Railway.

A couple of photos from Kilbride Bridge this morning including 22001+22017+22027 on the 0945 Laois Traincare - Heuston.

After New York and London it's time for some Irish Rail Images after a three week break.

Wednesday saw the new IE MPV No. 790 peeking out from behind a building in Portlaoise Per-Way Yard.

Thursday and Friday was spent photographing the IWT and DFDS Liners plus the usual diet of MKIV's and 22000 DMU's.

Locations visited include:
Stacummy Bridge,
Cabra
North Wall
Cloney
Kildare
Monastervin
Portarlington
Cloncoher
Geashill
Portlaoise

A few photos from Saturday and Sunday shows 4004, 4006 and 208.

This Gallery will be used to show progress on the LUAS extensions, construction work started on line B1 in February 2007 and line C1 in June 2007.

A round up of pictures of the LUAS tram system in Dublin. There are presently 2 unconnected lines open the Red Line using 3000 series trams and the Green line using 4000 series trams. This Gallery will be updated soon with other shots from the system.

The Southern Electric Group's Sandilands Spider Tram tour.

Route of the tour was East Croydon - Beckenham Jct (reverse) - Woodside Crossover (reverse) - Elmers End (Reverse) - Sandilands Crossover (reverse) - New Addington (reverse) - East Croydon - Therapia Lane Depot (Depot Tour) - Wimbledon (reverse) - West Croydon - Lloyd Park Crossover (reverse) - East Croydon.

Thanks to the Southern Electric Group and Tramlink driver and supervisor for running an excellent and unusual tour.

A weekend visit to London for the Southern Electric Group's Sandilands Spider Tram tour.

- London Underground on the Central and Northern Lines.
- Gatex Class 460's at Gatwick Airport.
- VSOE at Victoria.
- North London Line Trip from Stratford to Richmond.
- Croydon Tramlink.

Photos from a trip to the U.S.A. cities of New York & Philadelphia.

For more information on the High Line Project in Manhattan please visit the official website at www.thehighline.org

For information on the New York Subway system I suggest logging onto www.nycsubway.org

The Fitzpatrick's Grand Central Hotel is located at 141 East 44th Street at Lexington Avenue.

076 on a per way train at Portlaoise plus a trip down to the south west of the country.

The week kicks off with a picture of the last MKIII stock passenger working, the 1345 Heuston - Cork special passing Portlaoise.

On Tuesday a visit to Connolly was made to see the refurbished concourse, plus a couple of pictures from Newbridge.

Photos of the G.A.A. Specials from Cork and Kerry this morning at Rathpheln & Rosskelton (both between Portlaoise & Ballybrophy) are now online.

A total of 12 specials, plus one service extended to Dublin operated for the All Ireland Final between Cork and Kerry.

The breakdown was as follows:

Four Specials from Cork.
One Special from Mallow.
Two Specials from Killarney.
One Special from Tralee.
0715 Tralee - Mallow extended to Dublin.
One Special from Limerick
One Special fromWestport

In the evening time an 1935 Heuston - Galway special also operated.

This weekend also marks the end of MKIII operation on the I.E. network with the 3 last remaining sets to be withdrawn from service on Monday. It was good to see the fleet go out in fine style by working specials to and from Cork for the All Ireland Final in Dublin.

Monday:

081 on the DFDS Liner at Cush between Cherryville & Athy.

Tuesday:

29008 on the 1205 Heuston - Kildare at Kildare
081 on the 1155 North Wall - Ballina International Warehousing & Transport (IWT) Liner at Kildare followed by 076 on a Inchicore - Portlaoise L.E. move.

22043 on the 1240 Heuston - Westport and finally 219 at Kilbride Bridge with the 1130 Cork - Heuston which was formed of MKIII's.

22044 on its first passenger trip at Portarlington on Monday.

Friday:
207 1615 Heuston - Ballina.
22031 1650 Heuston - Galway
22034 1725 Heuston - Limerick
4002 1630 Cork - Heuston
22042 1745 Heuston - Westport
22044 1750 Heuston - Galway

On Sunday I went to Mullingar to see the RPSI Special from Connolly to Mullingar. Also 207 at Clonygowan on the 1530 Westport - Heuston.

Enterprise Liveried No. 230 was provided to work the 1615 Heuston - Ballina Friday Only service.

141 hauled failed 075 from Portarlington to Inchicore on the Wednesday.

Displaced from the Enterprise service after the viaduct collapse at Malahide 208 worked to Cork on Tuesday evening with the 2000 Heuston - Cork. Is this the 1st time 208 has worked a MKIV in the revised Enterprise livery?

Other photos from the week include 22038 in fading light at Killenard on Thursday, along with several photos from Carn Bridge on Saturday night including:

224 1730 Cork - Heuston.
232 1835 Heuston - Tralee
222 1900 Heuston - Cork
073 Portlaoise - Sallins Per-Way train.

Plus several aircraft from the Lime Tree Airfield near Portarlington, which held their Annual Fly In on the Saturday & Sunday.

Sunday saw Kerry playing Meath in the All Ireland Football Semi-Final at Croke Park. IE provided a special train from Killarney at 0725 to Dublin. This was formed of 216 + 8 MKIII. The 0715 Tralee - Mallow was extended to Heuston also on this day and was formed of 232 + 8 MKIII.

Other bits and bobs seen during the day were:
208 1000 Heuston - Cork
075 stabled at Portarlington on a ballast train.
22003 + 22007 1125 Heuston - Limerick.
226 1800 Heuston - Cork

In the evening 225 worked the 1810 Heuston - Killarney Special and 223 was provided to work the 1910 Heuston - Tralee service which was MKIII's to provide additional capacity.

On Wednesday 19th August 2009 a new rail freight service for International Warehousing & Transport between Dublin Port & Ballina was launched with the loading of the inaugural train in Dublin Port. Staff from IE, IWT and Dublin Port were on hand to witness the loading of the train.

The train leaves Dublin's North Wall at 10.55 on Thursday and is scheduled to arrive in Ballina at 16.58.

Pictures from Portarlington, Hybla, Monastervin and Portlaoise start the week off.

Tuesday saw some late night photos at Kildare with Tamper 741 heading into a TIII possession and 152 hauling new points & crossings tamper 751 from Portlaoise Per-Way yard to Kildare Per-Way Depot.

The week starts off with some per way trains from Thursday in the Portlaoise area.

Sunday saw 22022 + 22007 heading from Laois Traincare to Heuston to form an evening GAA special to Limerick Junction while 232 was captured in charge of the 1345 Tralee - Heuston.

A few photos from Killenard to start the week off with 232 and a MKIII set on the 1630 Cork - Heuston.

Other pictures during the week saw 083 working a Drogheda - Portlaoise Per Way train along with 077 on a rake of former timber wagons on the former Kilkenny Branch at Portlaoise on Thursday.

Sunday saw several specials operating in connection with G.A.A. Matches at Croke Park.
The 0700 Westport - Heuston Special was MKIII's, while Waterford and Kilkenny Specials all produced 2 X 3 Car 22000 DMU's.

A collection showing trains in Waterford Port, Belview. Ireland's only connected rail port.

At the time of writing there are 3 container trains a week from Ballina to the Port operated by DFDS.

Thanks to the Waterford Port Company for permission to use the pictures.

A visit to the Downpatrick and County Down Rail and Inch Abbey on Sunday 2nd August 2009.

The new Cork-Midleton line was officially opened by the Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey TD this Thursday 30th July.

The Minister travelled with invited guests and the media on the 1215 Cork - Midleton launch train on the new line, opening the new stations at Carrigtwohill and Midleton itself.

A day of celebration involving the local community and businesses occured at Midleton Station with a giant barbecue. Stilt walkers and face painters there to entertain the children, local Cork band, Bog The Donkey provided the music and local business and food producers showcased the best of local fare.

On Thursday 30th July travel was free between Cork and Midleton.

Two MKIII sets were seen in action west of Portarlington on Wednesday evening in the "post MKIII era".

224 worked the 1940 Heuston - Athlone empty and 232 was in charge of the 1930 Galway - Heuston Galway Races Special.

Monday:

22030 1735 Limerick - Heuston at Deerpark Bridge, Portarlington.

22009 1730 Cork - Heuston at Deerpark Bridge, Portarlington.

Tuesday:

4005 1330 Cork - Heuston at Carn Bridge.

3 + 6 ICR No's. 22046+22040 1445 Heuston - Limerick Trial at Carn Bridge.

Wednesday:

The plan - meet a friend after work and catch up over a few pints and dinner.

That part happened and finished just in time to capture MKIII International coaches No's. 6203 & 6205 leaving North Wall bound for Naas. Managed to photograph them at North Wall, Clontarf Road and on the M50.

Thanks to H Gricer for providing the transport for the chase!

Iarnród Éireann is to undertake major works on the Cork-Cobh commuter line during October and November, to modernise station platforms and other facilities along the route.

The works on the Cork-Cobh line include:

- the upgrading of 11 platforms at 6 stations along the route.

- laying of cable ducting for signalling, electrical and telecoms

- facilitating construction of a new overbridge at Woodhill, including a retaining wall at the approach to the bridge

- coastal defence and landslip protection works at key sites

- installation of a watermain for Cork County Council

- signalling adjustments to facilitate the reopening of the Cork-Midleton line

The works represent an investment of €5 million in the route, and are part of a wider package of investment in Cork’s commuter rail network.

Therefore to see the lines stations in their present format before the upgrade, I spent a couple of hours at different locations between Cork and Cobh.

Meanwhile work is well advanced on the reopening of the 6 1/4 mile Glounthaune-Midleton railway. The first sections of track & signals have recently been laid at Glounthaune and work on the new stations at Carrigtwohill and Midleton is progressing nicely. The Glounthaune - Midleton railway is due to reopen in 2009.

**UPDATE DECEMBER 2008**

A update to this collection from December 29th 2008 sees the upgraded stations at Little Island, Glouthaune, Carriageloe, Rushbrooke and Cobh, plus the latest work on the Glouthaune - Midleton reopening project.

**UPDATE JULY 2009**

A long overdue update to this collection, showing the completed work on the branch. I had planned to spend most of the day in the area but due to some unforeseen circumstances I didn't arrive until late afternoon. Pictures of 175 on the driver training at Waterrock Level Crossing and Midleton, plus 2600 & 2700's class DMU's at Glounthaune.

A couple of pictures from the Portlaoise area to start the week off and one picture from Galway on Sunday.

Monday:

226 on the 0915 Galway - Heuston and 087 on the 0755 Waterford - Ballina timber.

Saturday:

232 on the 0915 Galway - Heuston at Ballinasloe and Heuston. This service will become 22000 operated from next week.

Sunday:

With Kildare playing Dublin in the Lenister Football Final the Kildare Commuter service was increased in capacity to 8 cars. A couple of photos of 29025 + 29027 at Newbridge Ballast Pit and Kildare.

Also some photos from Cloncoher between Geashill and Tullamore showing 22041 on the 1805 Westport - Heuston and 224 on the last loco hauled 2005 Heuston - Athlone empty stock.

A short break in London with a day trip to Paris via Eurostar.

On Saturday 27th June 2009, Majella Foley (from Banteer, Co. Cork) and Kieran Gallagher (from Dungloe, Co. Donegal) were married in St Furseys Church, Banteer, Co. Cork on Saturday 27th June 2009.

To transport the 190 Wedding Guests from Killarney to Banteer for the Wedding and afterwards back to Killarney for the reception at the Malton Hotel, Killarney they hired a 3 car Intercity Railcar from Iarnrod Eireann. The train had been specially prepared at Laois Traincare for the happy occasion.

Here are a couple of pictures from the event.

Pictures from this week include:

Monday:

224 on the Ballina - Waterford timber.

Tuesday:

079 on the last Tullamore cement plus 22032 and 22037 on Galway line passenger services.

Wednesday:

Photos from Sallins to see early morning services plus the last Tullamore cement which was hauled by 079.

Thursday:

085 hauled the bogie cement wagons from North Wall to Limerick for use on the Limerick - Waterford cement flow and 073 on an engineers train from Birdhill to Portlaoise.

Friday:

22013 went from Laois Traincare to Cork to work the Wedding Train on Saturday. Plus 083 worked the relay train back to Portlaoise from Birdhill.

Saturday:

Photos from Connolly, Limerick, Thurles and Portarlington.

Sunday:

Specials at Kildare.

A day tour using Mark III equipment as these carriages approach the end of their working life with Iarnód Éireann.

Planned Route: Connolly - Ballybrophy - Nenagh - Limerick - Tipperary - Limerick Jct - Thurles - Connolly.

Locos were 152+171 throughout. Sadly 171 suffered a hot engine at Thurles and shut down. The train was declared a failure and cancelled. Passengers were transferred to alternative Dublin bound services. A sad end to what was a good day out.

A selection of Photos from the Bord na Mona systems in Co. Offaly.

Monday:

Pictures from Carn, Ballykillane and Geashill showing 201 + MKIII's on Athlone and Cork services, plus MKIV's and 22000's at Carn.

Tuesday has 22037 at Cloncoher between Geashill and Tullamore.

Wednesday has pictures from Cloncoher, Tullamore, Rosskelton. Lisduff, Templemore, Rathphelan.
Highlights from Wednesday include:

080 on the 0720 North Wall - Tullamore cement with 9 bogie bulks.

229 1530 Cork - Heuston, 8 MK III.

234 worked a 1230 Inchicore - Mallow and 1545 Mallow - Inchicore MKIII / MK IV trial train to compare ride comfort levels between the two fleets as part of the ongoing effort to improve the ride comfort of the MKIV fleet.

Photos of the test train at Rosskelton, Rathphelan and Mallow Station. Thanks to Loco 089 for the Mallow photos.

A bumper collection kicks off the week with an early morning trip to the Curragh to see the Tullamore - North Wall cement. Alas no cement ran due to operational issues but plenty of 22000 DMU's forming early morning passenger and empty stock workings.

A surprise return to the scene this week is the Weedspray train making its 2nd appearance for 2009. On Monday it went Portlaoise - Inchicore and returned to Portlaoise on Tuesday. I managed to photograph it at Ratheven, outside Portlaoise.

Late afternoon and early evening included a trip to Tullamore to see 224 stabled with the cement train, plus 234 on the 1710 Heuston - Afternoon at Portarlington. Finally an hour at Carn was spent in glorious evening sunlight to see 215 on the 1900 Heuston - Cork with a MKIII rake and the usual diet of MKIV's and 22000 DMU's .

Wednesday's photo is of 224 with the Tullamore Cement and Thursday has photos from Kildare showing 082 and 6101 which is on a wheel skate.

Saturday was a Dublin Suburban ramble from Sallins into Heuston, then Connolly - Howth Jct - Greystones - Connolly and then back out to Sallins.

A busy end to the week on Sunday with 082 and 6101 going from Kildare to Inchicore in the morning. Managed to photograph it at Kildare, The Curragh, Sallins and the Iron Bridge, Sallins. In the afternoon I took a spin to Thurles for the G.A.A. Waterford - Limerick Munster Hurling semi-final.

Two pictures of the last Push / Pull operated 1710 Heuston - Athlone at Shanderry start the week off on Tuesday.

On Wednesday the Push / Pull returned to Heuston with the 0915 Galway - Heuston. This was the last MKIII Push / Pull passenger service, the set being withdrawn upon arrival at Heuston.

Also a couple of pictures of 22041 at Portarlington are included.

Thursday evening was a bumper couple of hours with all remaining MKIII sets in operation.

The following services were MKIII operated today:
0800 Heuston - Cork
1130 Cork - heuston
1710 Heuston - Athlone

0705 Athlone - Galway
0915 Galway - Heuston
1500 Heuston - Cork
1830 Cork - Heuston

0715 Cork - Mallow empty
0800 Mallow - Cork
0930 Cork - Heuston
1300 Heuston - Cork
1630 Cork - Heuston
2000 Heuston - Cork

1350 Heuston - Galway Gaeltacht special.
1740 Galway - Athlone Volvo Boat Race special.
1852 Athlone - Heuston empty.


Two photos from Friday morning sees 177 hauling the 0600 Limerick - Inchicore Wheel Carrier and one photo from Sunday showing 22041 at Killenard with the 1130 Galway - Heuston.

One picture of the new Clongriffin rail station from the air on final approach to Dublin airport and a few photos from Portlaoise, Cork and Rathmore on the Friday.

Day 5, the last day of the UK trip got off to a bad start. Due to an incident at New Milton, outside Bornemouth, all Weymouth / Poole - London services were suspended until further notice. Decided to hop onto the 0933 Southampton - Brighton Southern 377 to Fareham to get moving and then got a 444 on a Portsmouth - Waterloo via Eastleigh to Winchester. A short taxi ride later found me in Alresford station on the Mid Hants Railway for a spin to Alton and back again behind GWR 5205 Class No. 5224

Got the bus back to Winchester and then off to Southampton Airport for the flight home. The final photos of the weekend are from the air showing Southampton Docks and Eastleigh Works.

Day 4 sees a trip along the south coast from Southampton to Brighton to visit the Volks Electric Railway, the world's oldest operating electric railway.

After visiting the VER, it was time for a quick dash to London on a pair of FCC 319's through the Thameslink tunnel to West Hampstead Thameslink. A short walk down West End Lane to West Hampstead North London Line station for a trip to Richmond on a LORO Class 313. After Richmond, it was a trip through home turf via Twickenham to Staines on a SWT 450 for a SWT 455 to Woking and the final trip of the night on a SWT 444 to bring me back to Southampton.

Knights Rail Services, in association with The Railway Magazine, held an open weekend at the former BR Eastleigh Works, to mark the centenary of the plant in the Hampshire town.

Day 3 of the UK trip stays local around Southampton with a trip to Eastleigh for the open day and in the afternoon to Brockenhurst to see the DRS 37's pass through the station with the wessex man railtour.

Day 2: An early start from Holyhead on the 0532 Holyhead - Cardiff WAG express, followed by a trip on the Cardiff Bay shuttle and one of the Valley branches. Then it was onto Taunton with the FGW loco hauled service. Voyager to Exeter, 159 to Salisbury and after a long day a 3 car 158 to Southampton.

Day 1: A jaunt on the North Wales Coast from Holyhead to Chester and back again.

A couple of pictures from Portarlington and Connolly on Thursday.

The RPSI's Irish Railway Hertiage weekend entered its final day on Monday with No.4 going from Westport to Whitehead with a layover in Connolly. Pictures of the railtour in Portarlington and passing Cherryville Junction.

Also, a couple of images from Dun-Laoghaire and Tara Street of EMU's and 29000's.

The latter half of the week sees images from Cork and Kerry.

The Listowel Ballybunion Railway opened on 1st March 1888; it ran the ten miles between the two towns and was remarkable because it was the first monorailway in the world.

The monorail employed on the Listowel-Ballybunion line was invented and developed by a French Engineer by the name of Charles Lartigue, hence the name Lartigue Monorailway by which the line was best known. Lartigue had built a prototype monorail in Algeria, it was about 90Km in length and was used to carry esparto grass across the desert.

After an exhibition in London it was decided to adopt the Lartigue system for the railway between Listowel and Ballybunion. The Railway was opened in 1888 and it ran for 36 years until it was closed in 1924.

1988 saw the centenary of the opening of the Lartigue and several initiatives were taken to celebrate the event, From this time a feeling emerged that a restoration of the Lartigue should be attempted in some form. As a result, in the mid 1990's a Lartigue Restoration Committee was set up to raise funding to restore an working example of the monorail. After much work and fundraising by the committee, work started on the building of the new Lartigue on the site on John B Keane Road in November 2000.

The railway has about 1000 metres of monorail track, three switches, two turntables and three platforms representing Listowel, Lisselton and Ballybunion. There is one engine, which is an exact reproduction of the original engines, save that the present engine is diesel driven. There are two third class carriages, which are as closely modeled on the originals as is possible using photographs and the memory of those who traveled in them.

For more information on the Lartigue Monorailway please visit http://www.lartiguemonorail.com/

A round up of other pictures from the tour on Friday plus several pictures of the Carrowbeg Railtour from Dublin to Westport on Saturday.

As part of the RPSI's 40th Irish Railway Heritage Weekend on Friday 8th May 2009 the RPSI ran a diesel railtour from Dublin Connolly to Waterford, outward via Carlow and returning to Dublin Heuston via Limerick Junction.

Loco 078 worked the train to Waterford, where locos 141+171 took over for the trip back. The pair of locos had been specially positioned in Waterford from Limerick earlier in the week and a big thanks must go to all I.E. staff concerned in getting 141's to work the tour.

Rolling Stock for the tour was the RPSI MKII set, normally based at Whitehead.

Wednesday saw a quick spin to Connolly and Drumcondra.

Thursday was a flying visit to Rosskelton.

Sunday sees several pictures of the Waterford & Lismore Diocesan Pilgrimege to Knock special train between Waterford and Limerick Junction, plus some MKIV's and 22000's at Limerick Junction.

An excellent start to the week with a grice of the Weedspray train which operated from Limerick Jct to Portlaoise via the Nenagh line. The train only sprayed as far as Ballybrophy, the section between Ballybrophy and Portlaoise will be sprayed at a later date.

Managed to catch the train at several locations over the course of the day at Woodfarm, Birdhill, Cappadine, Cloghjordan, Borris-in-Ossory, Ballybrophy and Rosskelton.

Other stuff seen during the day included 088 on the 1015 Limerick - Waterford Cement near Killonan and 079 and 077 on the DFDS (Norfolk) liners at Portarlington.

Good to also catch up with several familiar faces over the course of the day.

A few other bits added to the collection on Wednesday showing 224 on the Waterford - Westport timber and 4008 on the 1830 Cork - Heuston.

Thursday's photos show 142+144 on the 0830 Tralee - Portlaoise Weedspray, plus a few other misc shots.

Sunday was an interesting day.

218 worked the 0925 Waterford - Heuston with 8 MK3 and was photographed at Cherryville.

212 returned the Cork based MKIII set to Cork after working an 0815 Cork - Heuston relief due to heavy demand from Cork and Kerry this morning.

234 worked the 1210 Heuston - Galway again with the 4 car Push / Pull set and 228 provided power for the 1130 Galway - Heuston with the 5 car Push / Pull set.

222 failed at the Curragh with the 1400 Heuston - Cork and was rescued by 218, which hauled the failed train back to Newbridge for passengers to detrain and join the 1500 Heuston - Cork. After detraining 218 worked the train empty to Heuston.

Monday:

214 1750 Heuston - Galway at Portarlington.

4002 1730 Cork - Heuston at Kilbride.

Friday:

234 & 6105 1735 Limerick - Heuston at Deerpark.

Saturday:

234 & 6105 1325 Heuston - Limerick at Carn.

4003 1230 Cork - Heuston at Carn.

Sunday:

The biggest update of the week sees:

222 0925 Waterford - Heuston at The Curragh.

22008+22019 1125 Heuston - Limerick at Monastervin.

22037 1035 Limerick - Heuston at Monastervin.

4002 1030 Cork - Heuston at Killenard.

083 at Portarlington on a empty ballast train.

229 1200 Heyuston - Cork passing Portarlington.

234 & 6105 1210 Heuston - Galway at Portarlington.

232 & 6101 1130 Galway - Heuston at Portarlington.

232 & 6101 1615 Heuston - Galway at Clonygowan.

216 1425 Westport - Heuston at Clonygowan.

234 & 6105 1615 Galway - Heuston at Portarlington.

214 1530 Westport - Heuston.

234 is still allocated to the 1710 Heuston - Athlone job after already completing several days working it.

22013+22046 worked the 1925 Portlaoise - Heuston, this being unit 22046's 2nd passenger working. It worked the following services on Monday:

1640 Laois Traincare - Heuston empty
1805 Heuston - Portlaoise
1925 Portlaoise - Heuston

Friday was a rather Good Friday with 232 appearing on the 1325 Heuston - Limerick with 4 Push / Pull (6101) and 218 worked the Waterford - Ballina empty timber.

Monday saw two MKIII sets on Cork line duties covering for unavailable MKIV sets. The following services were MKIII operated.

0900 Heuston - Cork
1230 Cork - Heuston

1200 Heuston - Cork
1530 Cork Heuston
1900 Heuston - Cork

Tuesday's highlight was capturing 2720+2721 on a transfer from Drogheda to Limerick. Thanks to Rail Scene Ireland for the tip.

Wednesday's photos have two from Portlaoise showing 22005 with two styles of numbers and then several photos from Heuston in the evening time.

Thursday sees 075 stabled in the down siding at Portarlington.

Friday has two photos from Heuston including 22009+22013 on a passenger special from Laois Traincare to Heuston.

Sunday saw a second MKIII Push / Pull in traffic compared to the usual one set plus a couple of spare vehicles. This was due to a rough shunt in Waterford last weekend with a rake of MKIII coaches which seems to have led to a MKIII shortage.

A 6 car Premier Class set (22034) was based in Heuston over the weekend and worked the 1700 Heuston - Cork, 2030 Cork - Portlaoise, always a solid MKIII turn during KRP engineering works. The 6 car set was released from its more normal duties by 2x3ICR's including the 3ICR set normally allocated to the 1210 Heuston - Galway service, hence the scratch rake Push/Pull set being pressed into service.

Photos from Monday include:

087 and 205 on the DFDS Liners.

220 1500 Heuston - Cork.

Plus various 22000 DMU's.

Photos from Tuesday include:

219 1430 Cork - Heuston.

22026+22016 1640 Laois Traincare - Heuston & 1805 Heuston - Portlaoise.

217 1500 Waterford - Heuston.

22013+22018 1505 Galway - Heuston.

216 1710 Heuston - Athlone.

Ballast Cleaner No. 780 at Portarlington.

22014 1735 Limerick - Heuston.

221 1700 Heuston - Cork.

Photos from Wednesday include:

Odds and sods from Portarlington.

075 on Ballast Train at Portarlington.

234 1710 Heuston - Athlone.

Photos from Thursday include:

220 and 231 on Cork services.

234 1710 Heuston - Athlone.

075 with its Ballast train.

217 1750 Heuston - Galway.

22035 1705 Heuston - Ennis.


Photos from Saturday include:

083 on the steel train.

215 and 220 on Cork services.

204 1710 Heuston - Athlone.

Several photos from St. Patrick's Day showing:

234 0735 Waterford - Heuston

22037 0730 Heuston - Waterford

2726+2723+2711+2712 0925 Waterford - Connolly GAA Special.

22015+22021 1010 Waterford - Connolly GAA Special.

212 1130 Heuston - Waterford.

Photos from Thursday include:

224 1700 Heuston - Cork

234 1710 Heuston - Athlone

22034 1725 Heuston - Limerick

22035 1705 Heuston - Limerick

Photos from Friday include:

22018+22008 1125 Heuston - Limerick.

29007 1140 Heuston - Newbridge.

A few odds and sods including 22028 on a trial run and 077 on the 1640 Ballina - Waterford Timber.

Photos on Thursday include:

- new automatic ticket barriers being installed at Heuston.

- 22031 on the 1435 Heuston - Galway.

- 077 on the 1220 Waterford - Ballina empty timber.

Photos on Saturday include:

224 1400 Heuston - Cork.

22015+22021 1310 Galway - Heuston.

2613+2610 0740 Manulla Junction - Connolly empty.

22038 1435 Heuston - Galway.

Photos on Sunday include:

232 + 6 MK III Push/Pull 6105 1130 Galway - Heuston.

22017 1210 Heuston - Galway.

The first upload of photos from this week is from Thursday with several locations visited during the day.

Highlights from the day include:

209 and 085 at Connolly.

Dublin Buses new Airlink liveried VG48.

"HST Paddington style line up" of 22000 DMU's at Heuston.

078, plus MKIV's and DMU's passing the new Clondalkin / Fonthill station.

Kildare Route Project work at Clondalkin / Fonthill & Hazelhatch.

A suprise end to the day was the news that the 1835 Heuston - Thurles and 2100 Thurles - Heuston would be worked by a loco hauled MKIII set vice a 22000 DMU following an failure in the morning peak. Loco 218 was used to work the service and the MKIII's used were 7607 7167 7410 7112 7105 7119 7148.

A few photos from Heuston on Tuesday night starts the week off.

On Wednesday evening, The Wanderer' Irish Rail Photos and Rail Scene Ireland teamed up for a few hours in Kildare. Just the usual diet of 22000 DMU's and 201's on passenger work.

Thursday saw 219 and a MKIII set work the 1300 Heuston - Cork in place of the booked MKIV's and 2719+2722 were transferred from Inchicore to Cork.

Saturday produced 22003+22008 on the 1025 Limerick - Heuston Rugby Special, 144 passing the Curragh L.E. to Inchicore and 081 on the Waterford - Portlaoise Steel Train, plus the other usual bits and bobs.

Tuesday evening sees 22015 and 22019 in Heuston and on Thursday the 22000 class spread their wings to the former Dublin and South Eastern route with 22026 working the 0600 Gorey - Connolly.

Another milestone in the Class 22000 history happened on Saturday when the first passenger working took place on the Limerick - Ballybrophy via Nenagh route. 22002 performed the honours by working a 1415 Limerick - Ballybrophy special. It returned to Limerick at 1650 hrs. Also of note the 1725 Heuston - Limerick formed of 3 car unit 22018 was diverted via the Nenagh branch involving a complicated shunt move at Ballybrophy to access the branch line.

All these special movements were as a result of Engineering Works taking place between Heuston and Mallow. Train services out of Heuston to Cork,
Limerick and Tralee were disrupted on Saturday 21st February
through to Sunday 22nd February 2009.

These works were to facilitate the installation of a new crossover at Kyle L.C. near Limerick Junction, an underbridge installation near Charleville and a bridge demolition near Dublin.

Pictures from this week are from several locations around the Country.

A short break in Kerry at the start of the week enabled me to visit several locations in Munster, while on Thursday afternoon I had an appointment in Dublin. With a bit of spare time of my hands I finally managed to visit the new Phoenix Park Station and take a spin out to Drogheda.

A few snow shots in Portarlington on Monday 02nd February 2009

For many years, over several decades, the RPSI has been very fortunate to have had the services of a true ‘steam man’ - Tony Renehan. Tony has been a stalwart supporter of the RPSI and over the years has ensured that many of our operations went without a hitch. Unfortunately, the time has come for Tony to retire from Iarnród Éireann and from the regulator of RPSI locomotives.

To acknowledge the invaluable assistance from Tony over the years, a special out of season operation will take place over the weekend of 31st January / 1st February 2009. The “Top Link” with No.4 and the Society’s MK2 set will run from Dublin to Cork on the Saturday (with a connection off the early Belfast - Dublin Enterprise), and then Cork - Dublin - Belfast on the Sunday. This operation will be a chance for all supporters of the RPSI to acknowledge the Tony’s contribution to the success of the RPSI. It will also give the opportunity of travelling from Cork to Belfast in one day with steam.

Monday photos are from Castlebellingham between Drogheda and Dundalk showing 208 on the 1520 Dublin - Belfast Enterprise.

Tuesday sees a trip to Kilkenny to photograph the "Waterford Push / Pull" set on what is expected to be its last week in service on the Waterford route before the diagram is taken over by a 22000 DMU.

On Wednesday a 3 car 22000 set No. 22027 had to be hauled from Heuston to Laois Train Care after suffering some sort of damage while in traffic. No. 175 did the honours in hauling her down.

Saturday sees photos from various locations while on the grice for the Top Link Railtour.

The week starts with a couple of pictures in Heuston on Tuesday night.

204 on the 0915 Galway - Heuston and 167 hauling failed 084 on Saturday.

We round up the week on Sunday with a loco hauled theme showing 216 on the 0810 Heuston - Tralee, 205 on the 0930 Heuston - Waterford, 210 on the 0925 Waterford - Heuston and finally 204 on the 1130 Galway - Heuston.

An unusual sight on Monday 12th January was 210 hauling 7615, 7167 and 7413 from Heuston to Thurles for a staff training exercise.

On Thursday the 15th January the 1830 Heuston - Tralee service was turned over to 22000 class operation.

The first update of the week sees 205 on the Tullamore cement service with the Bogie Bulk Cement wagons, plus several shots from a Tuesday evening in Heuston.

Thursday saw some empty stock movements between Cork and Dublin. The Push / Pull set in Cork, made redunant since it was replaced by a 22000 Class DMU returned to Heuston, leaving Cork at 0900. It operated via Limerick Junction Direct Curve to turn the set the correct way for Dublin based Push / Pull sets.

Also 2605+2616 returned to Cork from Inchicore Works. following attention.

On Saturday I took a trip to Killarney, Mallow, Cork and Limerick.

The final update for the week sees the Bogie Cement wagons in Tullamore on Sunday.

The last Wanderings of 2008 sees 22030 enter service in the Cork / Tralee area with the 1000 Cork - Mallow and 1125 Mallow - Tralee.

On New Year's Eve a visit to Waterford sees the two rakes of MKIII and MKIII Push / Pull stock in storage at the station, plus 204 in Portarlington with the Friday Only service from Dublin to Ballina.