Old Timer
Established Member
Hello chaps.
Spurred on by The Wanderer's photos, and missing the delights of 071s, OT decided to make a quick trip to Ireland to chase up some 071 freight working action.
Sadly this seems to have corresponded with some very poor weather indeed, but here are a couple of offerings for those interested.
All the pictures are taken on the Westport Line, which as you will see is somehwat of a "switchback" railway as the track follows the general natural topography of the land, without many cuttings or embankments. This line in particular was very challenging for Drivers working loose fitted and unbraked trains in years gone by.
Photo 1 is 234, a Class 201 series locomotive, working the 09:25 SX Ballina to Dublin North Wall container train approaching Castlerea station.
Photo 2 is 071 Class 079, working the same service a couple of days later. The train is travelling from Castlerea towards Roscommon.
Photo 3 is 080 working the 1105 MO Ballina to Waterford container service as it approaches Ballyhaunis station.
Later on in photo 4 we find 086 coupled to 083 at Westport awaiting departure to Dublin Inchicore TMD. 083 suffered a big end bearing failure the day before and was being worked dead to Inchicore by 086. I was told that 083 was due to go for repairs not scrap. Hopefully this will turn out to be true.
My sincere thanks go to The Wanderer and his colleague Noel for making the photo opportunities happen.
Spurred on by The Wanderer's photos, and missing the delights of 071s, OT decided to make a quick trip to Ireland to chase up some 071 freight working action.
Sadly this seems to have corresponded with some very poor weather indeed, but here are a couple of offerings for those interested.
All the pictures are taken on the Westport Line, which as you will see is somehwat of a "switchback" railway as the track follows the general natural topography of the land, without many cuttings or embankments. This line in particular was very challenging for Drivers working loose fitted and unbraked trains in years gone by.
Photo 1 is 234, a Class 201 series locomotive, working the 09:25 SX Ballina to Dublin North Wall container train approaching Castlerea station.
Photo 2 is 071 Class 079, working the same service a couple of days later. The train is travelling from Castlerea towards Roscommon.
Photo 3 is 080 working the 1105 MO Ballina to Waterford container service as it approaches Ballyhaunis station.
Later on in photo 4 we find 086 coupled to 083 at Westport awaiting departure to Dublin Inchicore TMD. 083 suffered a big end bearing failure the day before and was being worked dead to Inchicore by 086. I was told that 083 was due to go for repairs not scrap. Hopefully this will turn out to be true.
My sincere thanks go to The Wanderer and his colleague Noel for making the photo opportunities happen.
