Jeep No.4, 2-6-4T built in
Derby in 1947, took the steel bodied Mk.2 train for the remainder of the
tour.
All photos by C P Friel.
While the passengers were finding their seats, Peter Marsden (left) was
getting the pan going for his famous bacon butties. Just after giving out
the tour's massive 80-page Railtour Brochure (available in our online
shop), our photographer caught this moment when Peter and Fergus McDonnell
were gearing up for the demand. Breakfast was only half an hour ago but
steam trains give you an appetite! For next year's May tour, Peter and
Fergus will have the newly
refurbished former NIR dining car No.547 to cook in. |
After the Kildare water stop, we stopped at Cherryville Junction to explain
why a hot box detector had tripped. The former junction signal cabin is
visible beyond the road bridge - the Carlow line swings to the left just
beyond it. |
After a brisk run down to Carlow, we ran through the picturesque station
and forged on to the water stop at Bagenalstown. |
At Bagenalstown, the loco left the train in the up loop and ran forward
to the road overbridge where the road-borne watering crew had set up a
standpipe. Coming the other way was a push-pull set from Kilkenny to Dublin,
propelled by an inter-city liveried 201 class diesel electric loco No.219. |
Carriage and Wagon Officer Francis Richards has every right to feel proud
of "his" Mk.2s. Here he spares a moment for the photographer - and a suitably
cryptic comment to go with it.
Let's start a caption competition. |
During the water stop, passengers were allowed (under supervision) to move
off the platform and stand along the embankment which now marks where the
line to Borris diverged to the right. Here No.4 is easing back on
to the train before continuing towards Waterford. |
South of Bagenalstown, Fergus McDonnell (in the white shirt) led the group
delivering the pre-ordered packed lunches to those participants who had
ordered it. |
This is Thomastown Viaduct, just south of the station of the same name.
It spans the river Nore and is the largest single-span on Irish Rail. |
On the last lap into Waterford, No.4 and her train had to wait for a Dublin-bound
push-pull set (hauled by another 201, this time No.224) to clear the platform.
Waterford, as you can see, still retains many of its semaphore signals. |
After Waterford,No.4 worked a short trip to Clonmel and back. Here, running
bunker-first, she pauses at Carrick on Suir. In the background are the
premises of the Irish Traction
Group. Two of their locos, G601 and B103, are visible beside the former
goods store. |
Another view during the Carrick stop. As you can see, the track here has
been much simplified in recent times. |
This is No.4 running round her train after arrival at Clonmel, as seen
from the footbridge. Note the fine station building to the left, now sadly
much under-used. |
Looking the other way from the footbridge, towards Waterford, as No.4 approaches
her train. The former goods store is beyond No.4. |
On the way back to Waterford, the loco inspector gave up the Clonmel to
Carrick staff and collected the Carrick to Waterford West staff from the
signalman as we sped through. |
Approaching Waterford West, we passed this fine bracket signal. The semaphore
on the left controls the line from Kilkenny. The post on the right used
to carry a signal controlling the line from Dungarvan. Beyond the signal
is the lifting span from the Suir Viaduct which used to carry the Scenic
Line over the river Suir. The span has been lifted out to facilitate shipping
heading for Fiddown and Carrick on Suir. |
A final view of the train on this day as No.4 sits at Waterford's Platform
Three before retreating to the goods yard for servicing and overnight storage. |
Most tour participants gathered later in the Bridge Hotel (now Day's Hotel)
for a grand dinner in convivial company. Towards the end of the evening,
John Beaumont took the microphone to thank everyone for their support.
A quick count revealed that 6 of the company had been on the first two-day
tour back in 1968 - forty years ago. Most of them are still actively working
for the Society! |
View our Helping Us Page to see how you can volunteer in Dublin or Whitehead and get involved.
