Photo Thread.

An interesting photo set indeed.

3187 is in a dreadful state. Either marshal something in better condition or paint it at least.

What is the function of the Sperry - track fault detection? Is it possible that this run might allow some of the speed restriction north of Silvermines Jct to be lifted?

What kind of testing can we expect to see in the PWD yard test track?

We can hardly expect the M7 to have maintained the way given what the M3 did to Navan, which was supposedly being planned for reinstatement!

tabbey wrote: »

Next stop Abbeyleix, destination Kilkenny!

Wishful thinking, but more seriously, the notion that the M7 was built without providing a bridge over the railway alignment, is just disgraceful.

Do we know who is responsible for this. Did IE given them permission as plenty of other road projects built bridges over disused railways most recently N25 New Ross bypass (Wateeford/New Ross line).

IE 222 wrote: »

I think the line to Abbeyleix would need to go over the motorway rather than under it either way.

I see, thats not as bad if the need arises in future. Still IE must have given the go-ahead as they were consulted.

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

I see, thats not as bad if the need arises in future. Still IE must have given the go-ahead as they were consulted.

The line onwards to Kilkenny was abandoned 30 years, long before the Motorway was built. CIE would have disposed of the trackbed donkey years back and wouldn't have had any input or any case to have a new bridge constructed over the motorway. The new roads in the Wexford/Waterford region are crossing lines that are still "open" or not abandoned; the construction plan would include any such bridges to cross a railway.

IE 222 wrote: »

Is this recent, It was possible not so long ago. Would a shunting signal not allow this to happen. Surely with the crossover trains can still be held at the approach signals.

There are shunt signals but some of the moves are "doable" but unsignalled. UHF radios were used but this is no longer deemed acceptable.

thewexman93 wrote: »

I'm not sure any of the new roads in Wexford crossed old railway paths.

A link from Portlaoise to Kilkenny would add a lot of versatility to Irish Rail, considering how good the service is from Portlaoise to Dublin, Limerick and cork. It would link them to Kilkenny and Waterford.

These links shouldn't have to be economically viable, public service should be reason enough.

Same goes for Waterford to rosslare, athenry to Sligo via claremorris, Mullingar to athlone, Tralee to limerick and Limerick to cork.

Well not Wexford but Co. Klkenny.

https://www.bamppp.com/en/our-projects/n25-new-ross-bypass

The Project’s distinguishing technical feature is the Barrow Bridge, a seven-pier extrados bridge with an overall length of 887 m and two main spans of 230 m which are 10 m longer than the next longest concrete-only extradosed box-girder section spans in existence.

The scheme’s other principal features included:

* three at-grade roundabout junctions at Glenmore (N25), Ballymacar Bridge (N25), Corcoran’s Cross (N30), and a compact grade separated junction at Landscape (R733);
* one overbridge of the disused New Ross/Waterford railway line near Glenmore;
* 11 road bridges; and
* 13 minor structures, such as accommodation underpasses.

Losty Dublin wrote: »

With due respect but it's 100% right that such a manoeuvre on a main running line be entirely controlled and monitored by the controlling signalman, especially on busy sections. Indeed experience has borne this out to be the case on CIE turf.

One of the prime causes of the Buttevant crash was a set of points on the running main line that was out of control of the signalman and entrusted to staff on the ground. A few years later, a flaw in Rule 55 which allowed a driver to legally proceed past a stop signal was a leading factor at Cherryville.

The two worst disasters on CIE tracks; both easily preventable if traffic is controlled by a signalman.

My sentiments entirely.

Losty Dublin wrote: »

With due respect but it's 100% right that such a manoeuvre on a main running line be entirely controlled and monitored by the controlling signalman, especially on busy sections. Indeed experience has borne this out to be the case on CIE turf.

One of the prime causes of the Buttevant crash was a set of points on the running main line that was out of control of the signalman and entrusted to staff on the ground. A few years later, a flaw in Rule 55 which allowed a driver to legally proceed past a stop signal was a leading factor at Cherryville.

The two worst disasters on CIE tracks; both easily preventable if traffic is controlled by a signalman.

Very well said David. I have done the reversal from the loop to the bay aboard locohauled railtours over the years, we might have liked it from an enthusiast point of view but it was always inherently unsafe.

It still begs the question-with a multiple unit railway, a facing crossover from the down into the bay would not be a huge issue. No runarounds needed.

Makes you wonder but it seems the same prejudicial attitude exists towards the branch today as did when the 1985 remodeling was done creating the silly layout.,....

Afternoon all,

Two updates to the website today.

First up is the March gallery with a visit to Ballycar on the Limerick to Ennis railway. After a prolonged spell of heavy rain the, railway has been closed due to flooding at Ballycar Lough near Newmarket on Fergus. It is reported that the water levels are still rising and the railway is expected to remain closed for several weeks as the Lough fills up a lot quicker than it drains out. Pictures appeared on facebook earlier in the week and it didn't look too bad, a few days later and it's a lot worse.

Click https://bit.ly/2Tz4noX to view the images.

The second update is from a visit to Spain in the first week of March. The pictures in this gallery are a mixture of travel and transport featuring the local commuter network around Malaga and a day trip on Wednesday to Madrid using the high speed AVE service to explore the capital city on a whistlestop tour, which included visiting the Madrid railway museum.

Click https://bit.ly/2TMd5z0 to view all the images.

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

Losty Dublin wrote: »

If shunting signals are used a signalman doesn't have full control over the line.

I assume you mean "aren't" instead of are?

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Could count on one hand the number of 201s in Waterford over last few years.

Do they not come into Waterford with timber from Mayo?

Having drivers trained on either class of locomotives is often an issue in Waterford....

Very off topic but hopefully good for a giggle or two in these dark days






( Mods please feel free to zap it )

Enniscorthy Station: 7am Friday morning 3rd April 2020.

The currently disused Up platform lit up like a Christmas tree - presumably on all night? Not that they should be on at all given that the platform is no longer in use. Taking this a micro-aspect of all that's wrong with CIE/IE it's not surprising that the company is in a permanent state of bankruptcy. Multiply this sort of waste across the 147 stations on IE and the electricity consumption must be off the charts. Thoughts?

Del.Monte wrote: »

Not sure why the platform lights would need to be on for that.

Perhaps for security?

Wednesday 15th April 2020:
Nenagh saw a train today for the first time in two weeks when 079 hauled a ballast train through the station while on a circular trip from Lisduff to drop ballast at the 2MP on the Nenagh Branch. The train returned to Lisduff via Limerick and Thurles.

Click https://bit.ly/2K9DZw4 to view.

Be a good time to have refitted 2700s running around doing two car diagrams while the 29000s got a chance to get some of their maint backlog seem to but NTA nixed that... I assume IE hedge their fuel so aren’t even seeing the benefit of lower pricing as a result of diesel demand generally yet.

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

All routes are like this, would have taught the downgrade to 29s would have concerned your more!

Actually, the last day that I travelled I was relieved to see a 29000 as with opening windows and doors that suck the air out at every stop there's theoretically less chance of getting the bug.

As a point of interest, when the site for new sundries depot was being planned CIE surveyed their customers to see whether they would prefer it to remain at Heuston or move to the North Wall; by their own admission CIE revealed that customers expressed a preference for Heuston and the rest is history. :rolleyes:

The_Wanderer wrote: »

In preparation for relaying between the 26 & 28 mileposts on the Nenagh Branch, a CWR train visited the branch on Tuesday morning.

Wait, so they are relaying the line, but keeping the old wooden sleepers? How does that make sense?