USE of the locomotive-hauled Sperry train to monitor the integrity of the Iarnród Éireann (IE) rails is ending, as the commissioning of a new Geismar Track Recording Vehicle (TRV) No. 701 proceeds.
Currently the Sperry train operates twice a year on a system-wide tour of the IE network, however, once the new TRV is commissioned it will replace the locomotive-hauled Sperry train which, in turn, will be disbanded.
For the latest systemwide tour, the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI) ex-British Railways Mk.1 van No. 3173 was again hired in, having been used for each tour since September 2021, when the previous van to be used, IE No. 3187, was withdrawn due to being life expired. No. 3187 had also been the dedicated spraying van in the IE locomotive-hauled weed control train.
After successful calibration of the equipment and road testing based at Portlaoise, the three-vehicle Sperry consist, with No. 072 in charge, was noted working in the Claremorris/ Westport area on February 22
