The Wanderer's 2021 photos

[Thewanderer]

Evening folks,

The latest update to the June gallery features.

Sunday 20th June 2021:
The pictures from the day start off at Garrykennedy Marina before heading out to Ballygibbon to photo the test train over the Nenagh Branch in advance of passenger services resuming.

Monday 21th June 2021:
After a break of 162 days due to COVID19 travel restrictions and enginnering works on the route, rail services between Limerick - Nenagh - Ballybrophy resumed on Monday 21st June 2021. Photos come from Nenagh Station and Ballinteenoe.

Click https://bit.ly/2UqV5hy to view all the images.

 

[Thewanderer]

Evening folks,

The June gallery has been updated with:

Tuesday 22nd June 2021:
A few images of the 1008 Ballybrophy - Limerick at Ballinteenoe.

Wednesday 23rd June 2021:
I had to head to Dublin today so I have a variety of images from:
* Nenagh
* Ballybrophy
* Heuston
* North Wall / IFSC (featuring IWT Liner and LUAS).
* Docklands.
* Broombridge
* Connolly
* Pearse
* Park West

Click https://bit.ly/3qmjAZ8 to view the 40+ images.

 

[Thewanderer]

Saturday 26th June 2021:
A ramble into Limerick this morning on the 1008 Ballybrophy - Limerick and returning to Nenagh via the recently introduced Bus Eireann 323 service which operates between Limerick and Nenagh via Ballina (Tipperary) and Portroe.

All the images from the trip have now been posted in the June gallery at https://bit.ly/3dhvkXn

 

[Thewanderer]

Afternoon folks,

July is now upon us and the gallery for this month starts off with:

Saturday 3rd July 2021:
A few images from Ardrahan and Clare Abbey outside Ennis of Western Rail Corridor services while on a trip to the Clare coastline.

Click https://bit.ly/3ylQMCJ or the image below to view.

 

[Thewanderer]

Evening folks,

Two updates to the website this evening.

The first is some pictures of the Bord na Mona narrow gauge railway at Coolnamona outside Portlaoise. After a gap of several years, rail ops have once again started on the northern part of the system to Coolnamona Bog itself. Click https://bit.ly/3wpCmjG to view.

The second update is in the July gallery showing Thursday evenings 1905 Ballybrophy - Limerick passing Nenagh. Click https://bit.ly/3k1iWz2 to view,

Both galleries can be accessed from the home page at www.thewandererphotos.com

 

[Thewanderer]

Evening folks,

The latest update to the July gallery has been posted with photos from a trip from Nenagh to Thurles via Limerick and Cork.

Click https://bit.ly/36AhawT to view.

 

[Thewanderer]

Thursday 15th July 2021:

The Nenagh Branch had unusual traction this morning when 2606 + 2615 covered for a shortage of the regular 2800 Class on the 0630 Limerick - Ballybrophy & 1008 Ballybrophy - Limerick.

Click https://bit.ly/3xJ0UWv to view all the images.

 

[Thewanderer]

Afternoon folks,

Last weekend I was in Maam Cross at the Connemara Railway project to volunteer for the day. A lot of work was completed in advance of some of the site being used for overspill car parking for the adjacent mart on the Sunday. While I didn't get a chance to take any photos on the Saturday (a first?!), I managed to grab some photos and a video on the Sunday morning.

Click https://bit.ly/3rf8zsW to view.

 

[Thewanderer]

The July gallery has been updated with images from Monday 19th & Tuesday 20th July 2021:

The Iarnrod Eireann MPV No. 790 operated over the Nenagh Branch on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th July to weedspray the branch.
Click https://bit.ly/3BpFDDf to view.

 

[Thewanderer]

Evening folks,

Two updates to the website tonight.

The first is a small update to the July gallery with pictures from Friday 23rd & Sunday 25th July 2021:
* Castleconnell photographing the 1655 Limerick - Ballybrophy.
* Knockdromin Level Crossing on the disused Foynes Branch
* Farranfore photographing the 1905 Tralee - Cork.
* Maddams Hill outside Killarney photographing the 1350 Tralee - Heuston.
* The 1720 Limerick - Ballybrophy crossing UBN59 at Ballycahill.

Click https://bit.ly/3x94O9H to view.

The 2nd update is to the Silvermines Branch & Kilmastulla Siding gallery which are two disused freight lines off the Limerick to Ballybrophy railway line between Birdhill and Nenagh. The new update features more images of the Silvermines Branch.
The latest pictures start at https://bit.ly/2V6yHua

Both galleries can also be accessed from the home page at http://www.thewandererphotos.com

 

[Thewanderer]

The July gallery has been updated tonight with:

Friday 30th July 2021:

While having a few free hours to myself at the start of the Bank Holiday weekend, I decided to take a ramble up to Ballybrophy on the evening branch passenger train from Nenagh.

Click https://bit.ly/2TLiESj to view all the images from the trip.

 

[Thewanderer]

A rather interesting movement occurred this evening.

After the 1500 Connolly - Sligo was failed at Enfield, it was rescued by 29010 which was sent from Maynooth off the 1800 Connolly - Maynooth service. This is the first time a 29000 has rescued a failed 22000 since 2008, when a 29000 hauled a failed set back to Connolly from Mullingar.

Click https://bit.ly/3jqsUbd to view all the pictures.

 

[Thewanderer]

The August gallery has been updated with:

Saturday 7th August 2021:

With the Limerick Hurling team playing in Croke Park today, IE provided an 8ICR for a 1130 Limerick - Heuston Spl. and 2115 return. The special carried the Limerick team and fans travelling to the match. I went to Loughmore Castle near Templemore to photograph the Spl. and the 1100 Heuston - Cork.

Click https://bit.ly/3fCL7RS to view the images.

 

[Thewanderer]

Some weekend wanderings between Limerick, Cork and Kerry.

Friday 13th August 2021:
A visit to Cork City allowed a quick visit to the Station to view the 1215 to Midleton and 1225 to Heuston depart.

Sunday 15th August 2021:
While heading back to Tipperary from Kerry today, I stopped off at several locations between Killarney and Charleville.

Click https://bit.ly/3iQeIJq to view.

Also on the Friday evening, I stopped off at Barnagh to walk the new bit of the Limerick Greenway from the viewing point to the old railway station through the tunnel.

If you go back earlier in the collection you can see how the route looked in 2016 prior to being fully refurbished and the western end of the tunnel brought fully back into use.
Click https://bit.ly/3AICNbf to view.

 

[Thewanderer]

Evening folks,

A big bunch of images from the past week has just been uploaded to the website into two galleries.

August gallery:

Thursday 19th August 2021:
While travelling northwards on the N55, I got unexpectedly stopped at Ballymahon Level Crossing outside Edgeworthstown for the delayed 1710 Connoly - Sligo.

Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd August 2021:
While visiting Northern Ireland for the weekend, I got pictures from Castlerock, Downhill Beach, Bellarena, Portrush, Whitehead RPSI and Dundalk.

Monday 23rd August 2021:
The CCE division of Iarnrod Eireann have hired the RPSI Generating Steam Van 3173 to work with the Sperry Train on the next tour of the IE Network, as their own Departmental Van 3187 is not available for traffic. The unusual pairing is seen at Carn being hauled by 082 on the 1230 Inchicore - Portlaoise PWD Yard movement on the Monday afternoon.

Click https://bit.ly/3Dbm6Y9 to view them all.



Belturbet Heritage Railway Station:

In addition to my weekend trip to Northern Ireland, while on the way up I called into the Railway Museum at the former railway station in Belturbet. Click https://bit.ly/3De2Hpz to view these images.

Both galleries can also be accessed from the home page at www.thewandererphotos.com

 

[Thewanderer]

Wednesday 22nd September 2021:
A very late start to the September collection! A few images from a trip from Thurles to Cork.

Click https://bit.ly/3o3Bhxu to view.

 

[Thewanderer]

Afternoon folks,

Two updates to the website this afternoon.

* Pelletstown - opened Sunday 26th September 2021. Pelletstown Station is situated between Ashtown and Broombridge stations on the Dublin to Maynooth/M3 Parkway line. It will serve the existing community of Ashington as well as the new community at Royal Canal Park, with a journey time of as little as 12 minutes from the city centre, served by 94 trains daily in total (weekdays) and is the 145th station on the Iarnród Éireann network. Click https://bit.ly/2XSelpJ to view the first day of services at the new station.

* September 2021 gallery:
A few pictures from Broombridge start the day off. After visiting the new Pelletstown Station, it was a trip to Hazelhatch and Monasterevin to catch 081 working the Sperry Train from North Wall to Portlaoise. The Sperry Train currently contains the RPSI Generating Steam Van 3173 as the IE former GSV 3187 is unavailable. Click https://bit.ly/3CLJiLA to view.

Both galleries can be accessed on the home page at www.thewandererphotos.com

 

[Thewanderer]

Evening folks,

The September gallery has gotten an update with:

Tuesday 28th September 2021:
A handful of photos from Thurles and Heuston while on a trip to Dublin for meetings.

Wednesday 29th September 2021:
A lunchtime jaunt to Cherryville Jct. to see the inaugural XPO Liner from Waterford to Ballina passing. Good to see the train fully loaded as DFDS have struggled on this route before.

Click https://bit.ly/3a3Mg1T to view.

 

[Thewanderer]

Evening all,

The October gallery starts off with images from Portlaoise, Laois Traincare, Thurles and Nenagh.

Click https://bit.ly/3mz9x1p to view.

 

[Thewanderer]

Evening folks,

The latest update to the October gallery has just been published at https://bit.ly/3pf2KNa

Wednesday 13th & Thursday 14th October 2021:
Images from Nenagh Station.

Sunday 17th October 2021:
While on the way home from Hodson Bay outside Athlone, I stopped off at the nearby Barry Beg to photo the 1550 Westport - Heuston passing.

Monday 18th October 2021:
I had to go to Dublin today so decided to support the local train service and get the train to/from Nenagh, instead of Thurles which offers far more choice, but is a 35 minute drive away. Pictures from the day come from:
* Nenagh
* Ballybrophy
* Heuston
* The Gullet (between Heuston and Inchicore) for 074 on the Balina to North Wall IWT Liner.
* Abbey Street.
* Loop Line Bridge over the River Liffey.
* Tara Street
* Pearse
* Grand Canal Dock.

 

[Thewanderer]

Thursday 21st October 2021:
A lunchtime visit to Shanderry in Offaly to photo CIE liveried 071 working the XPO Liner from Waterford to Ballina. An added bonus was also getting there just in time to capture 076 heading in the opposite direction with the laden timber.

Click https://bit.ly/3DUIlkK to view all the photos.

 

[Thewanderer]

The October gallery has been updated with:

Wednesday 20th October 2021:
While on an evening walk, I was walking across the road bridge at Nenagh Station just in time to grab a photo of the 1655 Limerick - Ballybrophy arriving.

Sunday 24th October 2021:
While out and about in Dundrum, Co. Tipperary, I managed to photograph the 1400 Heuston - Mallow and 1548 Mallow - Heuston services, both of which were 201 + MKIV formations.

Click https://bit.ly/3vUFO7v to view.

 

[Thewanderer]

Evening all,

The November gallery has been updated with:

Saturday 6th November 2021:
A few camera phone images from Wexford Quay of the 1755 Rosslare Europort - Connolly passing through the town along the Quay section.

Friday 12th Novemebr 2021:
Having some business to attend to in Limerick, I decided to take the rail replacement bus from Nenagh on Friday morning, instead of driving. Finishing earlier than expected and with some time to kill before getting the Bus Eireann route 72 bus back to Nenagh at 1425, I decided to pop out to Ennis on the 1230 from Limerick to see the ongoing work at the station to reconstruct the platforms, which will take six months to complete. After getting home in the afternoon, a parcel was waiting for me, containing one of the superb Irish Railway Models A Class locomotives.

Click https://bit.ly/3Cau4iy to view.

 

[Thewanderer]

The November gallery has been updated with:

Saturday 13th November 2021:
Photos of the current track relaying works at Cloughjordan station on the Nenagh Branch which is closed for 5 weeks to allow 3.5 miles of track to be relaid.

Sunday 21st November 2021:
A few images from around the Limerick area.

Click https://bit.ly/30QtdXu

 

[Thewanderer]

The December gallery starts off with a visit to Galway. Click the picture below to view all the images.

 

[Thewanderer]

Latest updates to the December gallery:

Tuesday 7th December 2021:
A midnight visit to Connolly just before the station closed saw me grabbing some photos of the stabled trains in the station.

Friday 17th December 2021:
084 operated a CWR train over the Nenagh Branch today, dropping rails at Cloughjordan. I caught the train returning to Portlaoise, via Limerick passing through Nenagh.

Click https://bit.ly/3F6lvaU to view.

 

[Thewanderer]

The 2021 Year in Review has just been published to the website. It's a bit smaller than previous years thanks to COVID19, but the gallery still manages to contain over 150 images of some of the happenings on the Irish railways over 2021.

Click https://bit.ly/3EMosw6 to view.

May I take this opportunity to wish you a Happy New Year and thank you for viewing The Wanderer's Photos.