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The Slieve Kimata International Railtour
If you had travelled on the "Slieve Kimalta" Railtour from Dublin-Limerick-Bangor-Whitehead then you might have witnessed scenes like these on the 7th, 8th and 9th May 2004:

	It's 3am on Saturday 7th May at Dublin Connolly. Bill is lining the firebox with coal. Bringing the boiler water from cold to boiling point takes about 5 hours.
With one match the 35th annual RPSI International Railtour gets underway and only two people are there to see it!
	Very soon the fire has taken hold of the pallet of wood in the firebox and is starting to burn coal. At this stage it's advisable to leave the damper open a crack and put on the kettle (electric!) for a cup of tea...
...whilst outside the locomotive slowly warms up in the moonlight and glow from the lamps of Connolly shed.
	Very soon more workers are arriving. At the abnormal hour of 5am RPSI volunteer Alex arrives to clean the carriage set and make sure the toilets are full of water (yes, they do start off full)!
At 6.30am, No.4 is making steam. The steam raisers have oiled around and the day shift have arrived (RPSI volunteer Locomotive Engineer Peter and Dublin RPSI volunteers Gerry and Peter). Time for the steamraisers to nip out for a wash and breakfast!
	Very soon our participants are awake, breakfasted and we are underway and confidently approaching "the gullet", past the mouth of Heuston station and on the climb to Inchicore works.
At Portarlington we have our first waterstop of the day. Water columns are all but gone from around Ireland and often roadside hydrants have to be used instead.
	Behind every hose is a hard working volunteer! Paddy travels all over Ireland to check that water points are functional before we arrive - imagine if we turned up and they didn't work!
In Thurles shortly after 11am and for a large number of our participants it seems like time to test the Liffey water. This photo shows tour organiser and RPSI Belfast Operations Officer Mervyn reading the phone number of the "Signal Box Public House" in Ballybrophy to Robin. A quick phone call to let them know the RPSI were coming...
	Back on the loco Gerry and Brian were the next RPSI shift. The annual railtour absorbs literally hundreds of hours of volunteer labour. Without it, it simply wouldn't be possible. With sunny weather, it's good to see a happy crew.
Back on the train were the t-shirted Catering Crew. Pulling pints, pouring teas, gathering litter, pushing trolleys, cleaning and watering toilets and sinks - the list seems endless!
	Not only were they phoned in advance, we still took them by surprise! The Signal Box in Ballybrophy - possibly the best find of the weekend. You think I am joking, look at the next picture for the view from the front door...
No.4 shunts to the Nenagh Bay at Ballybrophy, whilst the train supps a cold Guinness in the sun. Heaven.
	A typical view of the green, flat country around Tipperary. Heading for Limerick now, with Slieve Kimalta off screen to the right.
Another pair of volunteers without whom the tour wouldn't be "the tour". Liam and Rita filled the trolley, emptied the trolley, filled the trolley...do you see the pattern! Always a smile.
	Arrival at Limerick saw our happy participants off to their hotels. For the crews, much work to do. Alex (who had snatched some sleep since 5am) was watering and cleaning carriages. 5 or 6 others were in the loco yard cleaning the fire and ashpan of No.4, unpacking over 2 pallets of coal and ensuring the tank was filled for the morning.
Our participants enjoyed a night of banquet and entertainment in Limerick city. Everyone looked very happy at 9.30am on Sunday as we await departure from Limerick for Dublin.
	At Limerick Junction, as well as a superb set of semaphore signals, we were able to see 124 - one of the very last 121 class locos still in traffic. No excuse made for this shot for the derv buffs!
Without these two men, Saturday and Sunday simply would not have happened. Two men for whom steam is a way of life. Tony and Dan ensure that what the RPSI overhaul continues to be put through its paces on Irish Rail.
	Arrival into Dublin Connolly platform 5 was slightly ahead of time. The loco was eventually released and is seen here heading towards the shed for turning, more coal and yet more water. The loco then hauled our train to Dundalk, from where participants went on north to Belfast by diesel. Photo B Pickup
With diesel from Dundalk on Sunday, it seemed only correct to have steam north from Dundalk on Monday. 85 simmers in Dundalk station beneath a fine advertisement, some period architecture, a RPSI loco engineer, a former RPSI treasurer, a RPSI secretary and a RPSI Train Manager. Photo B Pickup
	The weather had definitely picked up as we left Lisburn water stop heading for Bangor. Photo B Pickup
A special mention here for those who clean. Cleaning is one of the least glamorous jobs involving steam engines, yet makes such a difference to the look of the loco. No.4 was spotless leaving Dublin on Saturday and No.85 the same on Monday (here leaving Belfast Central). Well done! Photo B Pickup
	This is Belfast (though it looks more like Brisbane)! No.85 picks her way past the Hilton, the PWC building, the BT tower and the Waterfront Hall. Such a change in the last 10 years.
The final shot of the tour. It's late Monday afternoon and "Merlin" confidently pulls past the famous cranes of Harland and Wolff and the Lagan Weir on her way to Whitehead.