Phoenix Park Tunnel

OurLadyofKnock

I built a trolley for a video camera to move on rails that can fold up and be used to make moving images on closed or little known lines of various gauge with a sliding central bar for gauge changes as part of a film project. I have already done some footage on closed lines around the country and even the tramyard at Dalkey and bits of remaining 18" gauge track along the quays in Dublin and Saint James' Gate. Eventually I will have a one hour film of timelapses moving along various ghost or enigmatic rail lines.

I am going to walk it through the PPT tunnel to get a timelapse. Can't wait now. That image has really inspired me.

highnc

OurLadyofKnock wrote: »

I am going to walk it through the PPT tunnel to get a timelapse. Can't wait now. That image has really inspired me.

how well will your video trolley contraption stand up against a freight train or loco transfer...very bad and wreckless idea.

westtip

Nostradamus?

OurLadyofKnock

highnc wrote: »

how well will your video trolley contraption stand up against a freight train or loco transfer...very bad and wreckless idea.

Nah. I will get off the track if a train is on it. Then get back on it again as it'll be 3 days before the next one.

Forgive me for not getting my life insurance policy updated. It's hardly TGV surfing.

OurLadyofKnock

westtip wrote: »

Nostradamus?

Even he could not predict when the next train through the PPT is due.

flyingsnail

OurLadyofKnock wrote: »

Forgive me for not getting my life insurance policy updated. It's hardly TGV surfing.

But it is illegal.

Transportuser09

OurLadyofKnock wrote: »

I am going to walk it through the PPT tunnel to get a timelapse. Can't wait now. That image has really inspired me.

Given that the PPT is used by transfer and pernament way trains which run at random and unadvertised times that would be a pretty stupid thing to do...unless you're contending for a Darwin award of course.

Transportuser09

OurLadyofKnock wrote: »

Even he could not predict when the next train through the PPT is due.

Making it all the more dangerous to go into...it's far from disused.

Transportuser09

corktina wrote: »

the trouble with trespassing is YOU might know what you are doing but someone else seeing you and assuming they can do the same, may not know what they are doing. A lot of discussion on this issue in the UK railway press.Its a no-no nowadays.

Exactly. Someone seeing that post might think the place was safe to go into. The fact that people keep saying it's not used makes the situation worse, it's not used by passenger trains but IS by other trains and at the end of the day if you get hit by a train it doesn't matter if it is passenger or not. There are no doubt also risks associated with walking on the pw itself, slip trip and fall and all that... What if someone fell (oily sleepers, uneven ballast, etc...) banged their head and unconsciously lay there for hours, unknown to anyone. The consequences don't bear thinking about.

OurLadyofKnock

I have ears. I will hear the train coming.

OurLadyofKnock

flyingsnail wrote: »

But it is illegal.

On a scale of a bank director taking 80 million Euro out of the till and putting it in his own pocket how much of a sleazy criminal would I bit to do a bit of filming in there?

Personally, I won't be ravaged by guilt.

Judgement Day

OurLadyofKnock wrote: »

I have ears. I will hear the train coming.

I feel a song coming on....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5Ts4M3irWM

Godge

Fully understand the reasons why the IC does so much more than the PPT.

However, I have a few questions regarding possible use of the line.

(1) Is it possible to electrify (DARTify) the tracks under the tunnel?
(2) Would it be possible to excavate and build a station at/near Dublin Zoo?
(3) Are there any other locations on the line suitable for stations?
(4) Would it pass the Canal End of Croke Park which included as far as I recall provision for a station?
(5) Would it interfere with provision of a LUAS extension via Broadstone to Broombridge?

Godge

Godge wrote: »

Fully understand the reasons why the IC does so much more than the PPT.

However, I have a few questions regarding possible use of the line.

(1) Is it possible to electrify (DARTify) the tracks under the tunnel?
(2) Would it be possible to excavate and build a station at/near Dublin Zoo?
(3) Are there any other locations on the line suitable for stations?
(4) Would it pass the Canal End of Croke Park which included as far as I recall provision for a station?
(5) Would it interfere with provision of a LUAS extension via Broadstone to Broombridge?

They could use the former cement site at Cabra to build a station there, but if it ends up any way like Broombridge then it's probably not worth it!

With the current layout it would not pass the canal end of Croke Park. Glasnevin Junction only currently allows PPT trains to enter the Drumcondra - North Strand Junction - Connolly section. With a realignment here it would be possible though.

It wouldn't at all interfere with the Luas, that line merged further down the Sligo line at Liffey Junction.

DWCommuter

Transportuser09 wrote: »

Exactly. Someone seeing that post might think the place was safe to go into. The fact that people keep saying it's not used makes the situation worse, it's not used by passenger trains but IS by other trains and at the end of the day if you get hit by a train it doesn't matter if it is passenger or not. There are no doubt also risks associated with walking on the pw itself, slip trip and fall and all that... What if someone fell (oily sleepers, uneven ballast, etc...) banged their head and unconsciously lay there for hours, unknown to anyone. The consequences don't bear thinking about.

Get off your soap box please.

If somebody hangs out a train slamdoor window on a railtour with a pint glass, all of your probabilities come into play. But you didn't slate that bit of safety ignorance.

Trespassing is wrong. Full stop. That applies to photographers, enthusiasts and anyone else who fancies their chances. Safety on the railway is paramount and I find it distasteful how some posters are being selective about what they criticise in terms of trespass/safety.

Transportuser09

DWCommuter wrote: »

Get off your soap box please.

If somebody hangs out a train slamdoor window on a railtour with a pint glass, all of your probabilities come into play. But you didn't slate that bit of safety ignorance.

Trespassing is wrong. Full stop. That applies to photographers, enthusiasts and anyone else who fancies their chances. Safety on the railway is paramount and I find it distasteful how some posters are being selective about what they criticise in terms of trespass/safety.

I'm not being selective about anything...there's no question about it - going into a dark tunnel to take photographs is not a good idea. Given your previous concerns about far less risky situations I'm surprised you don't agree.

Godge

Karsini wrote: »

They could use the former cement site at Cabra to build a station there, but if it ends up any way like Broombridge then it's probably not worth it!

With the current layout it would not pass the canal end of Croke Park. Glasnevin Junction only currently allows PPT trains to enter the Drumcondra - North Strand Junction - Connolly section. With a realignment here it would be possible though.

It wouldn't at all interfere with the Luas, that line merged further down the Sligo line at Liffey Junction.

Thanks for that. Helps put a practical feel on it.

Must say that the more stations and the more access, the more users will find commuter rail practical.

lemansky

Transportuser09 wrote: »

I'm not being selective about anything...there's no question about it - going into a dark tunnel to take photographs is not a good idea. Given your previous concerns about far less risky situations I'm surprised you don't agree.

DWCommuter does agree

DWCommuter wrote: »

Trespassing is wrong. Full stop.

and does express concern over less risky situations:

DWCommuter wrote: »

If somebody hangs out a train slamdoor window on a railtour with a pint glass, all of your probabilities come into play. But you didn't slate that bit of safety ignorance.

DWCommuter is just making the point that if we really want to talk about rail safety, then we should equally have threads discussing things like that too.


Hello everyone by the way, I'm a long time lurker in this forum!

DWCommuter

Transportuser09 wrote: »

I'm not being selective about anything...there's no question about it - going into a dark tunnel to take photographs is not a good idea. Given your previous concerns about far less risky situations I'm surprised you don't agree.

Read my post again.

OurLadyofKnock

DWCommuter wrote: »

Read my post again.

He might read it. But he won't understand it.

I would just start ignoring all these Irish Rail Management or Nothing/IRRS "useful idiots" and not even engage them in posts anymore.

Unless it comes from the dribbling mouth of some ex-CIE management welfare case with a leaky colostomy bag every second Thursady then these types will never agree with it.

Just ignore them. They only want to see the network closed so they have all the "Farewell Special" possible. It's not about rail transport, it's about archiving infrastructural sabotage which excites them.

IRN will welcome them with an pint glass out a carraige window, sorry I mean open arms.

It's only commuters opinions we should be idulging here. Not trainspotters working as undercover propagandists for the Amiens Street shower.

Right, thats me banned and the thread locked. But it was worth it and I got the Navan DART idea out there.

BluntGuy

Godge wrote: »

(1) Is it possible to electrify (DARTify) the tracks under the tunnel?

Perfectly possible. More than enough clearance for overhead electrification. That applies to the whole route.

IE's own commissioned study varifies this:

Click here and go to section 8

zagmund

Guys, this whole thing is getting tiresome. Yes, yes, I know this is a public forum and people are entitled to, etc . . . but this endless dragging of threads off topic to have a dig at other people and groups is so repetitive that it means that *useful* stuff is getting lost.

I think at this stage we all know where certain individuals stand in relation to other groups and individuals. We don't need another thread dragged off with this stuff. We get the message, thanks, now can you quit with the barbs please.

z

Judgement Day

Blunt Guy - that report on the state of the Phoenix Park tunnel makes it quite clear that the tunnel and majority of the trackwork, ballast etc is in excellent condition (in 2003) - probably still is - and the only reason for it not being opened up is that CIE/IE fear it would damage their case for the Interconnector. Am I correct? I think that with finance now being very tight it would make more sense to proceed with the PPT link and put the dubious Interconnector on hold.

OurLadyofKnock

I hope I get killed by a train in Phoenix Park Tunnel and my ghost trapped inside it. I will be finally able to use it on a regular basis then.

OurLadyofKnock

Judgement Day wrote: »

and the only reason for it not being opened up is that CIE/IE fear it would damage their case for the Interconnector.

HAMMER - NAIL - HEAD.

and does it not also speak volumes about how insecure Irish Rail are when it comes to the Interconnector. Like the grand plan is not as watertight and "grand" as they want us to believe?

I think I may well have found a smoking gun in the whole plan with the potential bottleneck that will be created at Drogheda. It will become Connolly North. They can get over this by going to Navan but they are too stupid, short-sight and anti-rail to think of something as pragmatic and useful as this.

The PPT saga also exposes just how anti-rail development CIE is and always has been.

DWCommuter

Judgement Day wrote: »

Blunt Guy - that report on the state of the Phoenix Park tunnel makes it quite clear that the tunnel and majority of the trackwork, ballast etc is in excellent condition (in 2003) - probably still is - and the only reason for it not being opened up is that CIE/IE fear it would damage their case for the Interconnector. Am I correct? I think that with finance now being very tight it would make more sense to proceed with the PPT link and put the dubious Interconnector on hold.

I read that report years ago. It quite correctly explains the differences between the interconnector and the PPT. No argument there as in 2003 the poor comminication to the general public about what the interconnector actually did was very evident. However that reports examination of alternative uses for the PPT is dubious and always will be. Its references to spencer dock station (presumedly Docklands or maybe the under ground version) are devoid of clear explanation and contradictory to what IE told the Oireachtas transport committee in 2004.

Calina

On balance I should not have to intervene in threads that often, if at all.

But I find that I have to intervene on rail related threads far, far too often.

This thread is locked. When I get home this evening, I will also check out the behaviour of individual posters for the purposes of removing their ability to be as obnoxious and as disruptive as some of you are.

It is decidedly unfair on me, Victor and the wider boards community that I have to do this as often as I do on rail related threads. Some of you should get off your high horses and look at your own hearts and maybe recognise that the fact that you are likely to get banned is a reflection on the merit and worth of your contributions here.