In good weather there must be few places in the world as beautiful as Ireland.
Yesterday in West Kerry the top of Mount Brandon was clear - not a cloud in sight. The mountains in West Kerry were looking incredibly beautiful.
Later in the day I travelled with the 17.15 train from Tralee to Dublin. Ireland was looking at its very best. Seldom have I seen it look so wonderful. I must have spent most of the journey with my nose pressed against the window looking out at the greatest show on earth.
The rail journey from Tralee to Dublin is just exquisite. It begins with the mountains and roughness of Kerry, especially South Kerry and then the train sneaks away from South Kerry and into North Cork where the land slowly changes to rich farmland.
It's single track from Tralee to Mallow and only for the strategic placing of Killarney, Tralee would have lost its rail service many years ago. Maybe too Dick Spring had something to do with keeping the Kerry line open.
Once in Mallow it is on to the main Dublin Cork double line where trains travel at 165 km/h.
Sad to see the Mallow sugar factory closed and the rail sidings now filled with weeds. Ireland no longer makes a grain of sugar.
From Mallow all the way to Dublin Heuston it is prime agricultural land. It must be the best land in the country and yesterday it was looking as perfect as it could be.
Most of the stations are away from the towns but at Thurles you can see Semple Stadium of Munster final glory and at nearby Templemore the stone church is visible. And the Devil's Bit must stay in the window frame for the best part of 20 minutes and that's travelling at 140km/h. It puts things in perspective.
Yesterday in West Kerry the top of Mount Brandon was clear - not a cloud in sight. The mountains in West Kerry were looking incredibly beautiful.
Later in the day I travelled with the 17.15 train from Tralee to Dublin. Ireland was looking at its very best. Seldom have I seen it look so wonderful. I must have spent most of the journey with my nose pressed against the window looking out at the greatest show on earth.
The rail journey from Tralee to Dublin is just exquisite. It begins with the mountains and roughness of Kerry, especially South Kerry and then the train sneaks away from South Kerry and into North Cork where the land slowly changes to rich farmland.
It's single track from Tralee to Mallow and only for the strategic placing of Killarney, Tralee would have lost its rail service many years ago. Maybe too Dick Spring had something to do with keeping the Kerry line open.
Once in Mallow it is on to the main Dublin Cork double line where trains travel at 165 km/h.
Sad to see the Mallow sugar factory closed and the rail sidings now filled with weeds. Ireland no longer makes a grain of sugar.
From Mallow all the way to Dublin Heuston it is prime agricultural land. It must be the best land in the country and yesterday it was looking as perfect as it could be.
Most of the stations are away from the towns but at Thurles you can see Semple Stadium of Munster final glory and at nearby Templemore the stone church is visible. And the Devil's Bit must stay in the window frame for the best part of 20 minutes and that's travelling at 140km/h. It puts things in perspective.
Kildare with its middle track allows our fast train to pass out any commuter train that might be stopped at the station. With the opening of the new double track between Hazelhatch and Heuston this summer trains of the old Great Southern and Western can show off their superior speed to all local commuter traffic.
Kildare and Newbridge stations have managed to retain their old stone look.
It was bright all the way to Dublin and then just somewhere near Sallins the blazing whitened sun was beginning to set in the west.
Down to zero speed at platform five at Heuston Station. That train is done for the day. It was the 07.00 to Cork this morning. Back through incredible countryside on another glorious spring day in Ireland.
It was bright all the way to Dublin and then just somewhere near Sallins the blazing whitened sun was beginning to set in the west.
Down to zero speed at platform five at Heuston Station. That train is done for the day. It was the 07.00 to Cork this morning. Back through incredible countryside on another glorious spring day in Ireland.
No comments:
Post a Comment