Outing to the Re-Opened Midleton Branch Saturday 26th September 2009

A one day outing has been arranged to visit the re-opened branch from Glounthaune to Midletonby Special Train from Cork on Saturday the 26th September 2009 . We will depart from Dublin (Heuston) on the 09.00 service train to Cork , and will return to Dublin at 20.20.

For more informatin see http://www.irrs.ie/

Broken Battery?

I managed to fix my battery charger by attaching new crocodile clips, wrapping the ends with insulating tape, and I installed new fuses.

Got the DART to Dún Laoghaire, and charged the battery in my boat.

Battery on boat

My voltmeter is not accurate enough to give a precise voltage reading, but I charged the battery for two hours today.

This is the first time that I had the battery out of its holder, so I checked the labels.

The description is:

UNIPART SAMSON Heavy Duty Battery

Heavy Duty Type 678 12 Volts

Keep Upright

Check Polarity Before Fitting

Leisure 75

Recharge after use.”

I know that it is 12 volts and 75 amps, and it is a marine battery. But what else can I find out?

The closest description that I could find on the Web is the “Leisure Unipart Samson Battery 678″:

Battery with integrated carry handle, Magic Eye feature and Kamina lid vent.

208mm (l) x 175mm (h) x 255mm (h)
Weight: 16.2Kg

Reserve capacity:100 minutes
Cold start: 480 amp

But is this the same battery?

Leisure Unipart Samson Battery 678

“Sea Breeze” Steam Train Dublin – Wexford – Rosslare Strand 21 June 2009 and 5 July 2009

The Railway Preservation Society of Irealns has arranged a number of rail tours this year.

Steam trains will run from Dublin Connolly to Wexford and from Wexford to Rosslare on Sundays 21 June 2009 and 5 July 2009.

More information is available here:

http://www.steamtrainsireland.com/events/

No.4, prepared and ready to depart. Dublin Connolly on Saturday 30th January. Photo: Ed Fahey

Railtour to Limerick (via Nenagh Branch and Tipperary) in Mark III Set 27 June 2009

The Irish Railway Record Society has arranged a railtour on Saturday 27 June 2007, departing from Dublin Connolly Station at 10.00 and returning at 19.42.

“A one day tour has been arranged using Mark III equipment as these carriages approach the end of their working life with Iarnód Éireann. A Special Train will depart from Connolly Station and travel to Ballybrophy. It will then travel down the Nenagh Branch stopping at all Stations to Limerick. The return train will travel to Limerick Junction via Tipperary and back to Connolly Station.”

More details are available on the Irish Railway Record Society site and on this page.

The fare is €55 and if you are not a member of the society there is a temporary fee of €2.

Bridgetown by rail

Went down to Bridgetown by train.

The staff in Heuston never heard of Bridgetown, but I convinced the clerk that there was a train to Bridgetown.

As I have an anual commuter ticket to Hazelhatch, by tick from Heuston to Bridgetown cost a reasonable €34.80.

The ticket machine in Heuston swallowedmy ticket – unable to comprehend a ticket from Hazelhatch.

The ticket checker on the Cork train was also bemused… because of the timetable I had to go to Limerick Junction to get my connection to Bridgetown… I could have saved an hour by connecting in Waterford.. if there was a connection … but there is no connection…

Train staff not sure about return journey to Dublin on Monday…

Got to Bridgetown – taxi driver told me that I was the first passenger that he ever had getting off the train…

Hired a boat in Kilmore Quary

Compass

Just bought this bearing compass (the yellow one) from Viking Marine in Dún Laoghaire @ €65.95.

Not cheap, but useful at sea. Could prevent a collision!

Battery Charger

This Absaar 5 Amp 12 Volt charger came with my boat. Used for charging the boat’s battery. The battery clips have rusted away. Hard to find new ones.

Navigation Course

I order to improve my sailing / navigation skills, I enrolled in the Navigation (I.S.A. Costal Certificate) course in Ringsend Technical Institute. 

The course cost €330 (including examination fee) and they take credit cards. Classes take place over 22 weeks, from 22 September 2008,  on Mondays from 19.00 – 21.15.

The classes take place in an engineering lab, with a nice view over the Liffey.

Coffee and a biscuit costs €2. Tea is €1.50.

I already hold:

• the National Powerboat Certificate (Level 2) (2005), 
  • having attended a course in the Irish Youth Sailing Club / School and Oceandivers in Dún Laoghaire, and 
• the ISA Start Sailing (Level 1) and Basic Skills (Level 2) certificates (2006)
  • having attended Glenans Irish Sailing Club Baltimore Bay course in Baltimore, West Cork, and
• Radio Operator’s Short Range Certificate of Competency (2008)
  • having attended the course run by Sea-Craft in the Motor Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire.

More information about training is available on the Irish Sailing Association Web site.

Radio Operator!

I received a nice letter from the Department of Transport advising me that I had passed the written examination / practical /oral test and I am now the holder of a “Radio Operator’s Short Range Certificate of Competency Granted by the Minister for Transport”.

The Department added that I can now apply for a Ships Radio Licence for my boat.

The Ships Radio Licence Application form is available on-line in PDF and Word formats .

The cost is:

• new licence: €100
• transfer of licence: €30

In the case of a transfer of a ships radio licence, the existing licence holder must compete the Ships Radio Licence Transfer form (available on-line as PDF and Word).

Arturo Ui

Got to see The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui at the Abbey Theatre this afternoon.

Times are bad. Prices are rising. House prices are falling. There’s a recession looming. A new leader is needed. It’s 1930s Chicago.

A very impressive production of a play that is relevant today.