Irish Railway Record Society
Journal 176 - Operations
OPERATIONS
Tall Ships The Tall Ships event in Waterford produced heavy traffic and extra trains from Thursday 30 June until Saturday 2 July. On the Friday 1 July, the 08:10 Waterford-Ballina DFDS liner, 074 + 18 fully loaded bogies, was in Athy from 09:42 to 10:02, where it crossed the 09:10 Dublin-Waterford, well filled 6-car ICR set 22041. The same passenger train was in Ballyhale Loop from 11:18 to 11:23 where it crossed the 11:00 Waterford-Dublin, well filled 3-car sets 22025+29 (pass 11:23). The 11:50 empty timber train from Waterford did not operate as its timber wagons were still loaded in Waterford yard because the quays were closed to all traffic except Park+Ride buses.
The 10:10 Dublin-Waterford special was well filled 3-car sets 22021+14 and was in Ballyhale from 12:24 until 12:35 to cross the 12:15 Waterford-Kilkenny special, 3-car sets 22015+05 (pass 12:34).
The 11:10 Dublin-Waterford was 6-car set 22039, which was in Ballyhale from 13:13 to 13:20 to cross the 13:00 Waterford-Dublin, 6-car set 22041 (pass 13:18).
The 13:37 Waterford-Dublin special, 3-car sets 22014+21 passed Ballyhale at 14:03. The 14:10 Kilkenny-Waterford special, 3-car sets 22005+15, passed Ballyhale at 14:36. The 13:10 Dublin-Waterford was not seen. The 08:15 Ballina-Waterford DFDS liner, 234 + 18 fully laden bogies, was in Lavistown Loop (direct curve) from 15:20 to 15:31, where it crossed the 14:50 Waterford-Dublin, 6-car set 22039 (pass 15:31).
The 15:30 Waterford-Kilkenny special, 3-car set 22005 arrived in Kilkenny at 16:22 and worked a lightly loaded 16:20 Kilkenny-Waterford special back at 16:27, arriving in Waterford at 17:01.
The 16:50 Waterford-Dublin was two 3-car 22000 sets. The 17:40 Waterford-Kilkenny special departed at 17:42. The empty DFDS liner, 234 + 18 bogies, arrived back in Waterford from Belview Port at 17:50.
The 18:00 Waterford-Clonmel special was 3-car 2753 + 2715/24, which was described as “packed” and departed on time. The 18:25 Waterford-Dublin, 2 x 3-car 22000 sets, departed on time. It was standing room only from 18:00.
Wednesday 6 July 2705/06 passed Adamstown at 14:50, en route from Inchicore to Limerick.
Tuesday 19 July A driver refresher vacuum-braked train operated Inchicore-Portlaoise. It consisted of 218 + GSV + 7 RPSI Cravens and passed Adamstown at 14:37.
Saturday 23 July The RPSI operated a “Mystery Train” from Dublin Connolly to Kilkenny. 080 hauled a GSV + 5 RPSI Cravens. 076 ran light engine from Waterford to bring the train back to Dublin. 080 then ran light engine to Waterford. 083 was on Heuston-Inchicore “taxi” duty, departing Heuston at 17:51 for Inchicore. 085 was the Inchicore pilot locomotive.
Tuesday 26 July 4-car set 29102 worked the 16:50 Dublin-Belfast and 20:10 return due to the non-availability of the De Dietrich set.
Friday
12 August Just how busy the Portarlington-Athlone section can be was
shown by this day’s movements:
Clara The 07:30 Dublin-Westport, lightly-loaded 22025 + 22003, departed at 08:43 (-21/2 mins). It was followed by empty set 22018 working to Athlone to strengthen the 09:05 Galway-Dublin, which arrived at 08:55. The 07:35 Galway-Dublin, lightly-loaded 22039, called from 08:58 to 09:00 (on time) and 22018 departed at 08:581/2. The 07:25 empty Limerick-Ballina transfer, 2718/17, arrived at 09:181/2 (+21/2 mins) and crossed the 07:15 Westport-Dublin, well-filled 22046 + 22001, calling from 09:19 to 09:20 (+21/2 mins). The strengthening of the 09:05 Galway-Dublin to two 3-car sets from Athlone was a regular feature during the summer.
Tullamore The 09:05 Galway-Dublin, well-filled 22018 + 22026, arrived at 10:36 (+01/2 mins) and crossed the 09:30 Dublin-Galway, well-filled 22035, which called from 10:401/2 to 10:42 (-4 mins).
Geashill The Dublin-Ballina IWT liner, 079 + 18 wagons, arrived at 11:35 (+10 mins). It crossed the 10:05 Galway-Dublin Heuston Gaeltacht special, a 3-car 22000-class, which passed at 11:38 and the liner departed at 11:39 (+16). The Waterford-Ballina DFDS liner, 080 + 18 wagons, passed at 12:05.
The 11:30 Dublin-Galway, 22001 + 22046, arrived at 12:21 (+11/2 mins) and was held for the 08:15 Ballina-Waterford DFDS liner, 071 + 18 wagons, pass 12:29. It then departed at 12:30. The 11:05 Galway-Dublin, 22012, passed at 12:57 (-15 mins). The 12:30 Dublin-Westport, 2 x 3-car 22000-class, passed at 13:25 (+11/2 mins). The 09:25 Ballina-Dublin IWT liner, 215 + 18 bogies, passed at 14:08.
Portarlington The 13:05 Galway-Dublin departed at 15:00 (-2 mins) and 074 + 6 Autoballasters arrived at 15:05, having being held in Geashill since 14:32. The 11:50 Waterford-Westport empty timber train, 083 + 12 wagons, departed at 15:08 (-411/2 mins). It was followed by the 14:30 Dublin-Galway, which was stopped from 15:10 to 15:20 (+51/2 mins / -3 mins). The Autoballasters then departed towards Portlaoise at 15:23.
Summary 19 trains were observed on the single track line in 61/2 hours, showing how little spare capacity exists on it.
Sunday 7 August The RPSI operated a charter from Malahide to Wicklow and a further train from Wicklow to Arklow and return. It was formed by former GS&WR 0-6-0 No. 186 + 5 RPSI Cravens + GSV.
Tuesday 23 August 2-car LHB DART set 8111 was sighted in the sidings at Fairview Depot (behind Clontarf Road station) at 10:52. The last time it was seen was on 27 January. LHB set 8103 still remains out of service. It was last seen working services on 18 August 2010.
Sunday 28 August The RPSI operated a charter Dublin Pearse-Mullingar and return using No. 186 + 5 RPSI Cravens + GSV. 207 worked the Pearse-Inchicore empty transfer.
Sunday 4 September Kilkenny played Tipperary in the All Ireland Hurling Final in Croke Park, Dublin. Following local pressure IÉ agreed to provide a special on the Nenagh branch for fans. The 09:00 Birdhill-Dublin Heuston special was formed by 3-car set 22029 and served Nenagh, Roscrea and Ballybrophy. There are no scheduled Sunday morning trains on the branch and the empty train worked Limerick-Birdhill the previous evening to avoid having to staff the numerous level crossings between Birdhill and Limerick on the Sunday. No specials operated from Tipperary towns on the Waterford-Limerick Junction line, which were a traditional All Ireland Hurling Final event when Tipperary were playing.
RAIL
FREIGHT DEVELOPMENTS
Dublin Port The Minister for Transport, Dr Leo Varadkar, TD, officially opened the new sidings at the Common User Terminal in Dublin Port on 13 July (See JOURNAL 175). He said: ‘I welcome this important investment by Dublin Port Company in its rail network. It will further enhance the attractiveness of the port as a destination for rail-based freight. The project represents a commitment on the part of Dublin Port Company and Iarnród Éireann to customers who want to move goods by rail’. The siding represented an investment of €1.5m by the Dublin Port Company. Mr. Éamonn O’Reilly, Chief Executive, Dublin Port Company said: ‘This investment by Dublin Port Company underpins the rail freight operation started by IWT in August 2009. At this stage IWT is operating five round trips per week to Ballina and I am hopeful they will expand their service offerings to other locations around the country...’ Chief Executive of IÉ Mr Dick Fearn said “… We in Iarnród Éireann will build on a resurgence in rail freight to seek to attract more freight customers to our services, highlighting the benefits this new spur will bring to the costs and competitiveness of transporting by rail, in addition to the environmental advantages.” Mr John Whelan, CEO of the Irish Exporters Association (IEA) said: “The completion of the rail link connecting the Common User Terminal in Dublin Port with the national rail network is a major milestone in the development of an internationally competitive range of freight options for Irish manufacturing exporters”. “Dublin and Waterford Ports can now offer exporters and the shipping lines that serve them European standard transport links and the Association looks forward to working with them, Iarnród Éireann and others to develop a twenty-first century distribution system that is fully compliant with developing EU Transport Policy.”
Limerick-Foynes In July, the Minister for Transport told the Dáil “On rail access to the port, I should point out that decisions relating to the reopening of rail lines, including the Limerick to Foynes line, are a matter for IÉ in the first instance. The company has advised me that it continues to engage with the Shannon-Foynes Port Company and potential customers to establish whether a viable commercial case exists to reopen the line. IÉ is keen to ensure the zinc from the Pallas Green mine can be moved by rail to whichever port from which it is ultimately exported. Initial projections suggest it would cost approximately €9m to reopen the rail link to Foynes. Any decision in that regard would have to be taken in the context of competing demands for funding in the region and in other regions.”
The Minister was also asked “if existing legislation allows a third party to purchase or lease existing mothballed or redundant railway lines from IÉ/CIÉ and if not if he will consider introducing legislation to allow new operators to take over such lines”. He replied “I have not yet considered proposals to introduce legislation regarding alternative operators taking over existing or redundant railway lines. The purchase or lease of existing or redundant railway lines is a matter for CIÉ. I have referred the Deputy’s question to CIÉ for direct reply...”
9’ 6” Container Trial On Thursday 7 July a trial took place 14:00 North Wall-Kildare to clear the route for 9’6” containers on standard wagons. The trial train consisted of 083 + 3 LXs (47’6” container flats), with the middle LX loaded with a 9'6'' Cobelfret container with foam strips strapped to its top and with a camera mounted to monitor bridge clearance.
FREIGHT
AND DEPARTMENTAL OPERATIONS
IWT Dublin-Ballina IWT liners continue to operate Monday-Fridays 10:55 North Wall-Ballina 16:50 (10:10 on Thursdays) and 09:30 Ballina-North Wall 15:55. Regular locomotives 215, 217 and 234 have also been joined by 074, 076, 079, 081, 083, 084, NIR 209, 220, 222 and 231. Two sets of wagons are in use; one of 12 CPWs and the other of 18 LX container flats (47’ 6”).
DFDS Container trains operate between Waterford Port at Belview and Ballina. They can carry 9’6” high containers on standard bogie flat wagons and trains are fixed formations of 18 bogie wagons.
Tuesday 12 July 071 worked the Ballina-Waterford liner passing Portarlington at 15:04. 076 worked the Waterford-Ballina liner passing Monasterevin at 14:39
Tuesday 19 July 076 worked the Ballina-Waterford liner, passing Monasterevin at 16:23.
Tara Mines Trains operate Monday-Friday between the mines in Navan and the ship loading facility at Alexandra Rd, Dublin Port.
Wednesday 29 June 076 worked the 12:20 laden and 072 worked the 14:00 empty.
Thursday 30 June 072 worked the 12:20 laden. It was followed from Drogheda at 14:35 by an empty ballast worked by 080.
Friday 8 July 076 + 12 wagons worked the 09:20 laden, departing Drogheda at 10:23.
Monday 18 July 080 + 12 wagons worked the 12:20 laden, passing Raheny at 14:29. 084 + 11 wagons worked the 14:00 empty, passing Raheny at 14:02.
Wednesday 20 July 072 + 11 wagons worked the 09:20 laden, passing Raheny at 11:06. The empty train passed Balbriggan at 14:01. 080 + 12 wagons worked the 12:20 laden, passing Balbriggan at 13:42.
Wednesday 27 July 072 + 12 wagons worked the 14:00 from Dublin, passing Balbriggan at 14:51. 081 + 12 wagons worked the 12:20 laden, passing Balbriggan at 14:02.
Thursday 28 July 072 + 12 worked the 12:20 laden, passing Raheny at 14:28 and returning empty as the 19:15 from Alexandra Rd, passing Raheny at 17:49. 081 + 11 wagons worked the 14:00 empty passing Raheny at 14:31.
Wednesday 17 August 072 + 12 wagons worked the 12:20 laden from Navan, passing Raheny at 14:37.
Tuesday 30 August 072 + 12 wagons worked the 19:15 Alexandra Road-Tara Mines empty, held at East Wall Junction at 17:38.
Infrastructure
Trains With most passenger
services operated by railcars on IÉ and NIR, Permanent Way trains provide a
level of variety for our contributors and hence more detailed reporting than in
previous years.
Monday 13 June 083 + 15 empty 4-wheel ballast hoppers + 2 plough vans arrived in North Wall to start a 2 month campaign of ballast discharging on the Dublin-Belfast mainline.
Wednesday 15 June 084 + 8 bogies of concrete sleepers worked 10:00 Portlaoise-North Wall for unloading at Clonsilla.
Friday 17 June 073 + 9 empty track panel bogies worked 09:30 North Wall-Portlaoise.
Wednesday 22 June 082 worked a 12:30 North Wall-Portlaoise empty LWR train.
Thursday 23 June 079 worked a laden ballast to discharge south of Skerries. The empty train passed Donabate at 14:00 for North Wall stone bank to re-load.
Wednesday 29 June 080 worked a ballast train for discharging on the Dublin-Belfast line. It was seen passing Clongriffin with the empty train at 16:30.
Monday 18 July 072 + 15 empty ballast hoppers + 2 plough vans passed Raheny at 15:48 bound for North Wall.
Wednesday 20 July 084 + 15 ballast hoppers + 2 plough vans worked North Wall-Drogheda, passing Raheny at 10:26.
Wednesday 27 July 084 + 15 ballast hoppers + 2 plough vans worked North Wall-Drogheda, passing Raheny at 11:26. They returned empty, passing Balbriggan at 15:18.
Thursday 28 July 084 + 15 empty ballast hoppers + 2 plough vans worked Drogheda-North Wall, passing Raheny at 14:50.
Tuesday 2 August 075 + 7 empty Autoballasters worked Gorey-Portlaoise. They departed Islandbridge behind the 12:30 Dublin-Westport.
Friday 5 August 084 + 3 rail wagons worked 10:00 Portlaoise-North Wall. 084 worked back a 12:30 North Wall-Portlaoise with 13 Barytes wagons loaded with ballast.
Tuesday 9 August 075 + 7 Autoballasters were in Portarlington at 07:37. 079 + 15 empty ballast hoppers + 2 plough vans were in the Permanent Way Depot in Portlaoise at 07:50. 088 + 8 Autoballasters were in Limerick Junction at 08:50.
Thursday 11 August 075 + 7 Autoballasters were in Portarlington at 07:40. 084 was in the Permanent Way Depot in Portlaoise at 07:50 with an empty steel train. 088 + 8 Autoballasters were in Lisduff at 09:14.
Friday 12 August 082 + 3 empty rail wagons worked 09:30 North Wall-Portlaoise.
Tuesday 16 August 082 was seen entering the Phoenix Park Tunnel with 3 wagons of track panels at 11:15.
Monday 22 August 088 + 6 Autoballasters worked an 11:00 Portlaoise-Enfield to discharge ballast on the Sligo line for that week. This was the first time Autoballasters worked on the Sligo line.
Thursday 25 August 081 hauled new Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) 791 from Kildare Permanent Way Depot to Inchicore Works. The MPV was built by Geismar and is a bogie vehicle 24m long with a hydraulic crane at one end. 791 has not yet entered service.
Saturday 27 August 088 + 6 Autoballasters worked Enfield to North Wall.
Monday 29 August 088 + 6 Autoballasters worked 09:30 North Wall-Mallow. They were looped in Sallins for 10:00 Dublin-Cork.
Wednesday 31 August 086 worked a 10:00 Portlaoise-North Wall laden LWR train for dropping rails overnight between Connolly and Pearse stations.
Friday 2 September 076 + 13 barytes worked North Wall-Portarlington, following the 12:30 Dublin Heuston-Westport.
Wednesday 14 September 083 + 8 Autoballasters ran to Dromod to commence a week of discharging ballast on the Sligo line. The following Saturday, 083 + 7 Autoballasters were stabled in Dromod, with 1 Autoballaster wagon seen in a siding at Boyle
Monday 19 September 082 and a rail train commenced a week of collecting scrap rail from the lineside between Bray and Pearse. The train worked to Portlaoise on Saturday morning 24 September.
Friday 23 September 083 + 8 empty Autoballasters worked Mullingar-North Wall, passing Leixlip at 12:10.
Wednesday 28 September 220 + 8 empty panel wagons worked Portlaoise-North Wall for collection of scrap rail.
Friday 30 September 083 + 8 empty Autoballasters worked North Wall-Charleville. They passed Adamstown at 10:30 and were looped in Portlaoise for the 11:00 Dublin-Cork.
Other Departmental Movements
Friday 10 June 072 hauling shut down 073 worked an 08:10 Limerick-Inchicore wagon transfer of 2 timber wagons for wheel turning. Next day 073 was back in action when it worked a 09:30 North Wall-Portlaoise PWD train consisting of 2 laden panel wagons + 6 barytes wagons laden with ballast.
Friday 24 June NIR 8208 worked an Inchicore-North Wall wagon transfer consisting of 1 Tara + 1 LX flat wagon. 8208 then proceeded to Connolly to work an Enterprise service. Since the closure of Connolly shed, Enterprise locomotives now run regularly between Connolly and Inchicore and sometimes occasionally to North Wall with wagons en route as required.
Tuesday 28 June 088 + 3 timber wagons worked 08:10 Limerick-Inchicore for wheel turning of the wagons.
Thursday 26 July 228 + 1 flat wagon + 2 Tara wagons worked an Inchicore-North Wall transfer. 071 + 2 LWR wagons worked 08:10 Limerick-Inchicore. 071 returned to Limerick with 1 60’ flat wagon.
Wednesday 31 August 071 worked 2 timber wagons 08:10 Limerick-Inchicore, returning with 2 Tara wagons behind the 11:35 Dublin-Newbridge.
Thursday 1 September 220 + 1 CPW + 2 flat wagons worked 12:50 North Wall-Inchicore.
Wednesday 21 September 230 worked a wagon transfer North Wall-Inchicore consisting of 1 flat + 1 Tara wagon, passing Islandbridge at 10:40.
Tuesday 27 September 080 + 1 wheel-carrier worked 08:10 Limerick-Inchicore wagon transfer. 080 returned on an 11:20 Inchicore-Limerick wagon transfer.
Wednesday 28 September 29116 hauled 2-car DART set 8118 from Inchicore to Fairview via North Wall.
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The remainder of this article appears in IRRS Journal number 176, published October 2011 |
