Bart Busschots
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bartb.ie
Bart Busschots
@bartb.ie
130 followers 46 following 820 posts
Cybersecurity Specialist, podcaster, photographer, nature lover, keen cyclist, and open source developer.
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Former #GNRi 4-4-0 #steamLoco No. 171 Slieve Gullion steaming through the Irish December rain approaching #Maynooth with an RPSI Santa Special along the banks of the #RoyalCanal
A landscape view of a blue steam train with a big head of clean white steam pulling a burgundy brake van and a rake of blue and cream vintage carriages along the far bank of a rural canal. A few bare trees with plenty of ivy on their trunks separate the railway and the canal. Both are gently curving into view from left to right. The sky overhead is a dull grey and there are rain drops visible on the water.
December 12, 2025 at 8:59 AM
bartb.ie
Former #GNRi 4-4-0 #steamLoco No. 171 Slieve Gullion approaching #Maynooth with an #RPSI Santa Special as the Irish December rain buckets down!
A portrait-oriented telephoto front-on view of a steam train with a big head of steam and a red name board framed between bare trees covered in green ivy leaves with a sliver of water in the foreground speckled with big raindrops. The line runs straight at the camera and then turns right in front of the train.
December 11, 2025 at 12:10 PM
bartb.ie
A pair of #IrishRail InterCity #trains on their way between Dublin and Sligo meet along the banks of the #RoyalCanal just east of #Maynooth
A landscape view looking up a gravel towpath in the near bank of a rural canal with a pair of railcar-type trains meeting on the far bank. The trains are both silver and dark green in colour. The scene is lined by bare trees and the sky overhead is overcast.
December 10, 2025 at 8:08 PM
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Former GNRi 4-4-0 #steamLoco No. 171 Slieve Gullion at full steam as it accelerates out of #Maynooth along the banks of the #RoyalCanal tender-first on the return leg of an #RPSI Santa Special.
A wide landscape view of a blue steam engine running ‘backwards’ pulling a rake of cream and blue vintage carriages along the far bank of a rural canal. The big cloud of steam is clean and white and blends into a monotone grey sky above. There is a gravel path on the near-bank of the canal, and the path, canal, and railway all curve to the left as they vanish into the distance. Bare trees line the canal and the path.
December 10, 2025 at 1:30 PM
bartb.ie
This particularly jolly looking Santa with his extra fancy waist coat was perched on the counter of the new coffee van bringing a little much needed winter warmth to walker, joggers, and cyclists on the Royal Canal at Maynooth harbour.
A close portrait-oriented view of a 1 foot Santa Claus figure perched on a countertop with the edge of a stack of cup lids visible next to him. He’s dressed in a dark but very vibrant red suit with wide white trim and a waist coat decorated with golden and green glittering braiding and big gold buttons. The green sack of toys on his back is overflowing with toys, including a very ornate small red drum. He has a very full beard and big friendly eyes peering through round spectacles.
December 10, 2025 at 8:44 AM
bartb.ie
I always thought rain washed away mist, but on Sunday morning it was perfectly calm as the rain beat down on the #RoyalCanal and yet you could see mist rising beyond Mullen Bridge in #Maynooth.
A low telephoto view looking along a canal towards and through a round stone arched bridge. In the foreground there are large water drops falling on the water, and a cloud of mist can be seen rising above the a water beyond the bridge. A black way marker with a yellow hiker symbol frames the right edge.
December 9, 2025 at 7:57 PM
bartb.ie
A misty rainy December morning on the #RoyalCanal just east of #Maynooth. Despite it being 11am the wind was so still there was a subtle mist rising off the water even as the rain fell.
A landscape shot looking down a gravel path next to a rural canal. Th path is on the left bank of the canal and both curve to the right as they shrink into the distance. The scene is lined with bare trees. The sky overhead is a monotone light grey, and the mirror-smooth canal is reflecting that colour as a subtle mist hovers over the water, becoming more obvious at greater distances.
December 9, 2025 at 1:20 PM
bartb.ie
After years of waiting #StarTrek has arrived in the #Lego universe 🎉

Those of us lucky/prepared enough to get a launch day order for the Lego Enterprise D in before they sold out got a free Lego shuttle craft. The Enterprise is not built yet, but the wee shuttle Onizuka with ensign Ro Laren is 🙂
A shallow DOF close view of a Lego version of a Star Trek the Next Generation type 15 shuttle craft with the gull-wing door open revealing a small female figure at the controls wearing a red and black Star Trek TNG uniform
December 8, 2025 at 8:01 PM
bartb.ie
Back in its magnificent blue original GNRi livery 4-4-0 #SteamLoco No. 171 Slieve Gullion pulls an #RPSI Santa Special through the rain towards #Maynooth along a mirror-smooth #RoyalCanal
A wide-screen landscape shot of a bright blue steam locomotive with a tender pulling a rake of cream and blue vintage carriages along the far bank of a rural canal. The train has a powerful head of clean white steam which trails behind over the top of the carriages. The canal is mirror smooth apart from some raindrops, and the sky above is a flat even grey. A gravel path runs along the near side of the canal, and trees line the scene.
December 8, 2025 at 2:10 PM
bartb.ie
The big Enterprise is not being built till Christmas, but we built the free shuttle on our anniversary which also happens to be St. Nicholas' day 🙂
A close view of a Lego Star Trek shuttle craft.
December 6, 2025 at 1:38 AM
bartb.ie
SQUIRREL!!! Just one of many bouncing around the @maynoothuniversity.ie campus, but one that was nice enough to strike a pose for me 🙂
A grey squirrel perched on top of a short wooden post surrounded by greenery.
December 3, 2025 at 11:16 AM
bartb.ie
A tranquil late autumn afternoon on the #RoyalCanal as an #IrishRail Commuter service accelerates away from #Maynooth on it's way back to Dublin.
A landscape shot looking diagonally down a mirror-smooth canal with a railway line on the far left bank and a paved path in the near bank. The banks still have green grass, but the reeds have turned brown and the trees are bare. A long square-fronted railcar-type train with a yellow front and a pair of shining headlights approaches on the far bank and is reflected in the canal. The sky above is mostly covered in very thin clouds.
December 2, 2025 at 1:47 PM
bartb.ie
I'm used to meeting plenty of fellow walkers, some cyclists, and of course the periodic trains running along the far bank, but I don't often meet canoers paddling their way up the #RoyalCanal like this chap powering his way east from #Maynooth yesterday.
A telephoto view of a man paddling a canoe along a still canal surrounded by brown reeds on each bank. The padel is in the air with spray flying off it. The canoe is breaking the canal’s mirror-smooth reflective surface with its wake.
December 1, 2025 at 2:27 PM
bartb.ie
This surprisingly timid musk shrew seemed to be stocking up on salt, nibbling on the grit the ever diligent @maynoothuniversity.ie ground staff spread on the footpaths to protect us all from the effects of last night’s frost!
A close square macro of a small grey rodent about 2 inches long on a footpath sprinkled with white chunks of rock salt.
November 30, 2025 at 1:07 PM
bartb.ie
The leading driving wheel on #RPSI steam loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion showing her name plate, Dundalk shed plate, and Great Northern Railway of Ireland crest, all on her rich blue livery! #SteamTrain
A close view of a steel wheel on a steam train. Only the bottom half of the wheel is exposed, and its rim and spokes are pained bright blue. The top of the wheel is covered by a semi-circular fender outlines in black and yellow with a curved brass name-plate along the top edge naming the engine “Slieve Gullion”. The bottom of the locomotive’s body aligns with the bottom of the fender and is painted red. There is a smaller etched brass plate on the red edge where the axel is marking the locomotive’s home shed as Dundalk.
November 29, 2025 at 2:02 PM
bartb.ie
The #RPSI 2025 santa specials are off to a flying start with 171 Slieve Gullion in fine steam as she reconnects to her train in #Maynooth on the first of 12 steam runs over the next three weekends.
A royal blue steam engine with tender gently steaming towards the back of a vintage blue and cream carriage in a modern railway station as families in festive outfits watch from the platforms.
November 29, 2025 at 11:33 AM
bartb.ie
Privet hedges seem to divide option quite starkly, maybe because some people think their pretty white flowers stink, but their striking black berries definitely add some extra interest in the #autumn. #fall
A square macro of a tight cluster of glossy black marble-sized berries.
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
bartb.ie
Dipping through the clouds — the 'big dipper' asterism that forms the majority of Ursa Major appearing through the thinning clouds over rural Co. Kildare last night. #astrophotography
A wide night shot showing a pan-like shaped group of brighter stars over the silhouette of a bare tree line through thin wispy clouds.
November 25, 2025 at 1:35 PM
bartb.ie
I knew apples were a very varied genus, but I had no idea they included ornamental berry-like fruits like these Toringo crabapples in a neighbour's front garden!
A close view of a cluster of more than ten bright orange marble-sized fruits hanging down from a bare branch with a red bricked house and a blue sky in soft focus behind.
November 20, 2025 at 1:26 PM
bartb.ie
Optics in action courtesy of a low winter sun and a glass staircase in Eolas Building in @maynoothuniversity.ie ☀️🌈
A semi-abstract very contrasty top-down view of light grey tiled floor with diagonal shadows and a cross of rainbow spectra with a thin vertical line and a thick horizontal one.
November 19, 2025 at 11:22 AM
bartb.ie
This far into an Irish November there's not mush left in flower in our street, but these Fragrant Viburnums are a pleasant exception 🙂 #Bloomscrolling
A close macro view of a cluster of small pastel-pink trumpet-shaped flowers on a bare branch. The background is a sun-lit red bricked wall in soft focus.
November 17, 2025 at 3:01 PM
bartb.ie
These beautiful bushes are bursting into bloom all over our housing development. According to iNatualist they're Viburnum Tinus. #Bloomscrolling
A close view of a cluster of small white flowers growing on a bush with tight-packed dark green leaves.
November 13, 2025 at 6:17 PM
bartb.ie
A Rustgill #mushroom hiding between the #autumn leaves in a neighbour's garden. #Fall
A low close macro view of a single mushroom with a light-orange cap growing through wood bark chips surrounded by fallen brown, orange, and yellow leaves.
November 13, 2025 at 1:42 PM
bartb.ie
Spotted these Common Bonnet mushrooms growing in one of the gardens on our street. #Autumn #Fall
A low macra view of slimly grey mushrooms growing through tree bark chips with a few autumn leaves scattered around
November 12, 2025 at 6:48 PM
bartb.ie
The Moon over the big beech trees at the old Larabryan cemetery in #Maynooth in their #autumn colour. #Fall
A telephoto view of a 3/4 full Moon in a mostly rich blue sky with just a few fluffy white clouds around it over the top of a tree with orange leaves
November 12, 2025 at 1:54 PM