Yesterday (22 October 2016) the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland in cooperation with Irish Rail operated a diesel-hauled excursion making a circle trip from Dublin’s Connolly Station.
Among the goals for the tour was a fundraising effort to help restore RPSI’s 1960-era class 121/141 General Motors diesels to traffic.
To emphasize the roll of heritage diesels, Irish Rail locomotive 071 (class leader) wearing the retro 1970s ‘Super Train’ livery worked from Dublin to Limerick, with engine 084 (in modern gray and yellow) bringing the train back up to Dublin.
My interest was in capturing the spirit of the day. In addition to photographs of the equipment, I focused on people; Irish Rail employees, RPSI volunteers and organizers, and passengers.
My cameras were busy all day. I made more than 500 digital images; so I’ll be editing my files for some hours yet.
This first round of photographs is a selection of camera-JPGs from my FujiFilm X-T1 digital camera. Since the JPGs don’t require much work (except for scaling) these are easier to put up quickly. Later I’ll present a selection of images made from Camera RAW files, and finally a few views with my Lumix LX7.
As is often the case, I also exposed some 35mm slides, but those remain latent for the moment.
![071 at Gort.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/071_at_Gort_DSCF8135.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
![Irish Rail 071 detailed view FujiFilm X-T1 digital photo using the Velvia colour profile.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/071_detail_DSCF8154.jpg?resize=474%2C711)
![Fields of enthusiasts at Athenry.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Fans_at_Athenry_DSCF8106.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
![Attymon, County Galway. Telephoto view from the road bridge.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/The_Western_Explorer_at_Attymon_DSCF8092.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
![Athenry, County Galway.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/The_Western_Explorer_at_Athenry_DSCF8116.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
![Tullamore. Gosh, where's the old cement train?](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/The_Western_Explorer_at_Tullamore_DSCF8042.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
![In the spirit of the day.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Tina_w_071_shirt_DSCF8023.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
![Ennis, County Clare.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/The-Western_Explorer_Ennis_DSCF8169.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
![Detailed view of Irish Rail class 071, a 1976 built General Motors six-motor diesel.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/071_detail_DSCF8160.jpg?resize=474%2C711)
![Discussing logistics.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Lar_and_Denis_at_Athlone_DSCF8060.jpg?resize=474%2C711)
![Noel Enright poses with 071 at Athlone.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Noel_w_071_at_Athlone_DSCF8072.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
![Checking the football scores.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Lads_in_the_sun_on_the_train_DSCF8229.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
![Getting the shot.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/photographers_at_Gort_DSCF8149.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
![Running for the train at Thurles.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Running_for_the_train_Thurles_DSCF8253.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
![Happy Birthday Tina!](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Tina_w_cake_DSCF8259.jpg?resize=474%2C316)
![Old 084 at Limerick.](https://i0.wp.com/briansolomon.com/trackingthelight/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/084_Limerick_DSCF8214.jpg?resize=474%2C316)