Committee of Public Accounts

There were some complaints that the 2011 – 2016 Publc Accounts Committee’s ( PAC ) Web page is not coming up high enough in Google. For the record the Committee of Public Accounts Web site is here: There were some complaints that the 2011 – 2016 Publc Accounts Committee’s ( PAC ) Web page is not coming up high enough in Google. For the record the Committee of Public Accounts Web site is here: http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/Committees31stDail/PublicAccounts/document1.htm

“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.

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).

VHF Short Range Radio Course

I attended the VHF course run by Sea-Craft in the Motor Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire on Thursday 27 November 7.30 pm – 10.00 pm and Sunday 30 November 2008 9.00 am – 4.30 pm. This was followed by exam on SOLAS (Safety of Live at Sea) amd an exam on Regulations and Procedure, followed by practical test / interview.

Finished at 8.30 pm.

The cost was €204

• €204
  • Course fee and notes €125
  • Examiners fee €35
  • Department of Transport charge €44

Coffee and tea were supplied on Sunday, and there was a bar.

Certificate

On successful completion of the course, the Department issues a “Radio Operators Short Range Certificate of Competance”.

This means that the holder may use VHF DSC equipment on a ship entitled to fly the flag of the country which issues the certificate, in my case Ireland.

Licence

Once you have the certificate you may apply for a Ship Station Licence from Comreg, and if you have bought a second hand boat, the licence can be transferred for €30.

The licence will include:

• Name of boat
• Date of Issue
• The boat’s call sign e.g. EI 9999
• If you have DSC, a MMSI number is included, e.g. 250 123 456
• Name of Licensee
• The Accounting Authority Indicator Code

If a vessel is sold, the call sign and MMSI are cancelled.

The licence lasts for the lifetime of the . If a boat is sold, you can transfer a licence for €30 using this form, and previous owner also have to send a form to the Department of Transport.

How to transfer a ships radio licence

You can transfer a boat’s radio licence by filling in the form on this page:

http://www.transport.ie/viewitem.asp?id=10775&lang=ENG&loc=2058 

It costs €30. Your boat must have a licence. You must have a certificate of competency.

I am doing a course for a short range certificate of competency from the Department of Transport run by Seacraft in the Dún Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club right now.

Next class is all day Sunday, and there are no DARTs north of Connolly because of engineering works at Howth Junction. A few railcars will stop, though.

Visit to Knowth

Knowth

Drove from Heuston Station to Brú no Bóinne, via the Dublin Port Tunnel, under the 14,000 marathon runners… and onto the M1. Still managed to get lost.

Facinating site, Who were those people, and what does it all mean?

Excellent guides.

Nice lunch in the visitors center.

Knowth Stone

GNR Bus

GNR Bus

 This Great Northern Railways bus had the unique distinction of being the only international double decker bus when it ran between Dundalk and Newry in the 1950s.

The bus was on display at Dundalk railway station for the steam excursions from Belfast and Dublin, and is maintained by hte Transport Museum in Howth, Dublin.

No. 186 moves to Dublin

Steam train arrives in Dundalk Station

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Locomotive No. 186 was transferred from Belfast to Dublin on 28 September 2008, while No. 4 went from Dublin to Belfast.

No. 186 was built in 1879 by Sharp, Stewart & Co., Atlas Works, Manchester for the Great Southern and Western Railway. She was withdrawn in 1964.

Locomotive No. 186 in Dundalk

 

Locomotive No. 186 in Dundalk

Dry Bag

Sealine Dry Bags

I bought a See Bag 10 (dry bag) from Viking Marine, Dún Laoghaire for €22.00.

Its capacity 10l and it weight is 280g. I hope that it will keep my stuff dry!

The address on the package is Middleton, County Cork, Ireland. By the way, the railway from Glounthaune to Midleton will be restored soon.