Thursday 20th March 2014 was a bad day for the IWT Liners from North Wall. The 0935 departure slipped to a stand on the climb out of Church Road to North Strand Jct. A banking locomotive was attached to the rear, but this also proved futile. The train returned to North Wall and eventually departed at 1325.
The 2nd IWT Liner of the day, the 1330 departure left North Wall at 1430 and had a storming run to Athlone arriving 37 minutes late.
My original plan was to photograph the liner at Geashill but heavy traffic between Portlaoise & Mountmellick scuppered that idea. A game of chase was now afoot. Plan B was Clara, but that looked doubtful as the train and I reached the R443 bridge in Tullamore at the same time. Plan C was decided upon, north of Athlone! This was only supposed to be a quick detour on the way home.
077 is pictured passing Level Crossing XM027 Duignan's at Barry Beg which is north of Athlone. Thurs 20.03.14