A glimpse of former Great Northern Railway of Ireland (GNRi) 4-4-0 #steam loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion working the last leg of the last of the #RPSI “Midlander” special #trains through the trees along the #RoyalCanal between #Maynooth and #Leixlip.

A glimpse of a green #IrishRail Commuter train between all the greenery lining the #RoyalCanal as it passes the cutting between Carton House in #Maynooth, and the 13th lock in #Leixlip.

An #IrishRail InterCity passing Pike Bridge at the Duke’s Harbour on the #RoyalCanal at Carton House having just left #Maynooth on the final leg of it’s cross-country journey form Sligo to Dublin.

Former Great Northern Railway of Ireland (GNRi) 4-4-0 #steam loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion passing “the Duke’s Harbour” on the #RoyalCanal at Carton House near #Maynooth with an #RPSI “Midlander” special #trian.

Former Great Northern Railway of Ireland (GNRi) 4-4-0 #steam loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion accelerating out of #Maynooth along the banks of the #RoyalCanal working an #RPSI “Midlander” special #train tender-first. The loco’s blue livery compliments the yellow rapeseed blooms nicely.

Between the showers — an #IrishRail Commuter service leaving #Maynooth en-route to Dublin along the banks of the #RoyalCanal with rapeseed blooms adding a welcome splash of yellow along the towpath.

Old meets new — I got lucky, and managed to snap a meeting of former Great Northern Railway of Ireland (GNRi) 4-4-0 #steam loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion meeting an #IrishRail Commuter train at Matt Goff Bridge along the #RoyalCanal in #Leixlip. The loco was pulling an # RPSI (Railway Preservation Society of Ireland) “Midlander” special #train towards Maynooth.

Former Great Northern Railway of Ireland (GNRi) 4-4-0 #steam loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion coasting towards a red signal as it pulls an RPSI “Midlander” special #train towards Blakestown level crossing in #Leixlip en route to Maynooth along the banks of the #RoyalCanal.

An #IrishRail Commuter train climbing the bank up to Blakestown level crossing and the #RoyalCanal 13th lock near #Leixlip on a blustery May afternoon.

The yellow flag irises have burst into bloom on the #RoyalCanal around #Maynooth, even if our weather has turned unseasonably cold and wet 😕 #Bloomscrolling