Today, it seems like a long time ago that I made this view of a meet between Irish Rail 078 leading the ‘Cobh Rambler’ and an outward Cork-Kent Station to Cobh railcar at Fota.
Exposed in October 2019 using my Lumix LX7 digital camera.
Tracking the Light Posts Daily!
During October’s Cobh Rambler tour, I made these views at Cork’s Kent Station on Kodak Tri-X black & white film.
The tour was operated by Railway Preservation Society of Ireland in conjunction with Irish Rail.
Kent’s curved Victorian train shed makes for a fascinating venue to photograph a modern railway in action, while the inclement weather on the day translated well with the traditional media.
I processed the film using a customized split development process consisting of Kodak HC110 presoak mixed 1-200 followed by primary development using Ilford ID11 1-1. The negatives were scanned using an Epsom V500 flatbed scanner with some minor final adjustment using Lightroom.
Tracking the Light Posts Daily!
Last month while traveling on Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s Cobh Rambler, I exposed two rolls of Kodak Tri-X using a Nikon F3.
This week I processed and scanned the film. Black & white film suited the gloomy dark and very wet weather.
Among my favorite images from the day were photos I made of my friends and railway staff on the trip.
Thanks to everyone at RPSI and Irish Rail who made this trip a rewarding experience and a photographic success!
Tracking the light Posts Daily!
Arriving on Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s Cobh Rambler, I photographed four trains at Limerick Junction during the train’s brief pause.
The weather was dire, but that’s all part of the challenge.
More photos from the Cobh Rambler soon!
Tracking the Light Posts Daily!
Often I assembled Tracking the Light posts several days in advance of publication (or ‘posting’).
As I write this, rain lashes at my window in Dublin.
If all goes to plan, as you read this my friends and I will be traveling on the RPSI diesel tour to Cork and Kerry, titled the ‘Cobh Rambler.’
Traveling behind diesels, especially the 1970s-vintage 071 class General Motors locomotives, has become a novelty in Ireland since the widespread purchase of Intercity Railcars in the mid-2000s, replaced most diesel hauled trains.
This has made diesel trips, such as that one planned for today, a special treat.
What promises to make this trip especially unusual is the very rare combination of 071 class and 201 class working together. There has been considerable comment and speculation as to which locomotives may work this trip. Sometimes the locomotive planned for the day is re-assigned, develops a fault, or is replaced for other reasons.
Over the years I’ve photographed most of the GM diesels in Ireland, and in this post I’ve put up a sampling of the locomotives suggested might work today’s train.
Learn more about the RPSI: https://www.steamtrainsireland.com
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