Following on from our very successful trip to Kilkenny and Carlow on 18/5/14 for the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s St. Canice Railtour, we decided to head in that direction again for the RPSI’s ‘Marble City’ run featuring the same steam locomotive No. 461. On arrival at McDonagh station in Kilkenny, the bad news was that there had been a problem up the line and the RPSI train would arrive late and would be hauled by a diesel locomotive. The fate of locomotive 461 was unknown but the word was that it would arrive in Kilkenny some time later.
12.40pm Waterford – Dublin at Bagenalstown – Denis Barry
That being the case, we decided to head for Muine Bheag (Bagenalstown), Co. Carlow in the hope of catching a glimpse there. On arrival, the news was that the RPSI train had already arrived in Kilkenny and the scheduled, 12.40pm Waterford to Dublin train had left. We reckoned that the Waterford to Dublin should be with us very soon and sure enough, within minutes it rounded the bend just south of the Bagenalstown viaduct and sped past us just feet from our position on the public road.
As is the case with train photography, you wait, it passes, it’s all over before you know it and you hope you have something in the can. And here we were, two Cork men in Carlow photographing a run-of-the-mill, diesel, inter-city train that we could just as easily have done at home! Having digested the anticlimax and irony of it all we decided to move on. Then, while packing the gear, a faint rumble was heard and, low and behold, there was locomotive 461 steaming hurriedly towards us on a solo run to Kilkenny to rejoin the RPSI train. In the mad scramble that ensued, only a few frames were got off but the scene was captured successfully by Matt Dornan. Shoot successful, day saved! Phew!
Locomotive 461 Kilkenny bound at Bagenalstown – Matt Dornan
Happy to have captured the photo we came for, we left Bagenalstown somewhat re-vitalised and visited The Reptile Zoo in Gowran, Co. Kilkenny where, though basking lazily in the high humidity, some of the animals were happy to pose for our cameras. Slow moving and predictable, there would be no more surprises today!
Mouse over the image below to see and operate the slideshow controls and photographer details. Enjoy.
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Joe had his own stand, and was busily demonstrating his inventions to an eager throng. Obviously Joe is a talented Engineer… “Not just a pretty face” as they say. I don’t know if he had many buyers, but he made at least one new friend, in the shape of a gorgeous terrier pup, which would easily fit in your pocket… I think Joe was tempted! {;o)
The place was packed, and there was lots to see and do. I had a fast trot around the cattle, sheep, dogs, hens, and a menagerie that would have warmed the cockles of Noah’s heart. Noah’s carpentry skills were not required however, as the weather stayed dry for the afternoon, and Arks were not in demand. Mind you, one hapless volunteer who was getting “dunked” on a regular basis in aid of charity, would probably have appreciated a nice dry boat.
As I was a “man with a mission”, I headed for the jumping arena to try and learn the photographer’s art of “freezing motion”. I spent the rest of the afternoon playing with “Tv”, “Av”, and “M”, and after many horrible blurry shots, I eventually managed to suspend horse and rider in reasonably sharp “suspended animation”. I repeated this success many times during the afternoon, and having convinced myself that I could now do it more or less at will, I headed for home and a nice “cuppa”.