On the afternoon of 23 January 2005, I aimed my Nikon F3 with 180mm telephoto at an Irish Rail passenger train approaching Cherryville Junction in Co. Kildare.

A ten-year old Class 201 General Motors diesel led the afternoon Up Waterford that consisted of a set of Cravens. These rolling antiques were steam heated and nearing the end of their regular revenue service.

I captured this once-common scene on Fujichrome. The lush green grass and distant mountains making for a distinctly Irish landscape.

In those days, I regularly paid visits to Cherryville Junction. This offered a great place to picture Irish Rail on the move. I can’t recall the last time I paused at this bridge over the tracks. Much has changed in the last two decades and Cherryville isn’t as interesting to me as it was in those days. Yet, someday, I hope to return and make some comparison photos.

Tracking the Light explores railroad photography.