A relaxed day of steam -
and sun - across the South Wexford line and then up the coast to Dublin.
All photos by C P Friel.
Early on Sunday morning revealed this view across the Suir of No.4 and
her train stabled in the goods yard to the west of the passenger station.
An orange-liveried 201 class loco is propelling the stock of a push-pull
set towards the passenger station, to the right. |
Soon after the push-pull set had left for Dublin (via Kilkenny), No.4 passed
under Waterford's distinctive Central Cabin while bringing her train along
the loop alongside Platform 4. The train was brought to Platform 3, using
the crossover half-way along the 1210-foot long platform. |
Just east of the Snow Hill tunnel, No.4 leads her train across the Barrow
Bridge, after which our tour was named. The loco is just about on the bridge's
opening span which is controlled by a signal cabin atop the structure -
one of the loneliest cabins ever in Ireland. At 2132 feet, this was Ireland's
longest railway bridge until Belfast's Dargan Bridge opened in 1994. |
The sun broke through the mist in time for the stop at Ballycullane where,
under supervision, participants were allowed off the wide single platform
to photograph the train and the blossoming gorse. |
Driver Tony Renehan, working his last big tour before retirement, brings
No.4 and train into the platform at Wellington Bridge, now the only passing
loop on the South Wexford line and the only one to retain its corrugated
iron station buildings |
A view of No.4 at Wellington Bridge with some admiring fans. |
Another view at Wellington Bridge. To the right are some of the bogie beet
container wagons that were only used for one season before the beet traffic
disappeared from Irish railways. Wellington Bridge had been a major beet
loading station and the area to the right had been dominated by the loading
plant - now all gone. |
On arrival at Rosslare Strand, all participants had to leave the train.
This was because neither No.4 or the carriages had been checked for clearance
at the almost brand new Rosslare Harbour station. Fortunately, it was a
glorious afternoon and the participants were able to enjoy the bracing
seaside nearby. |
Thanks to a fortuitous encounter with Brian Stinson, who shoots the DVDs
available from our on-line shop,
your photographer was able to see No.4 and train at the new station. In
the loop is an IE railcar set, waiting to work to Waterford on Monday morning. |
Another view of No.4 at the new station which, at this stage of its development,
is still bereft of buildings or facilities. |
Fortunately, the link to Rosslaire Harbour's turntable was retained as
part of the new station. Here No.4 is swung to face north. |
Bringing up the rear on the turntable is our own Mark Walsh. |
After turning and watering, No.4 makes its way along the run-round loop |
The ensemble prepares to work back north to collect everyone at the Strand. |
But before leaving, the railcar set returns to its place in the loop. During
the run-round, the railcar had run into the section to the north of the
station. |
With everyone back on board, No.4 sets off from Rosslare Strand for Wexford.
The line to the left is the one we had used earlier from Waterford. |
Just south of Wexford station, we negotiated the quays which have been
extended to the right. Some of Wexford's fishing boats are at home on this
early Sunday afternoon. |
Thirty miles north of Wexford, we stopped at Gorey's water tank and had
another chance to photograph the train in splendid weather. Gorey's signal
cabin, to the left of the footbridge, was decommissioned only a week or
so before this, when all of the line from Greystones to Rosslare was added
to the CTC network. |
During the stop, Loco Inspector Tony Cooke got into No.4's bunker to shovel
coal forward. |
A final view at Gorey, looking north during the water stop. |
There was another stop at Arklow, to cross a Rosslare-bound railcar. Again,
a now-redundant signal cabin is to the left of the footbridge. |
Water was again taken at Avoca where the station itself is long gone. Taking
water here would be much easier than at Rathdrum. Here the crew set to
to replenish No 4's tanks. |
After a noisy and enthusiastic climb of two miles at 1 in 90 on Rathdrum
bank, No.4 stopped in Rathdrum with safety valves lifting! |
Another stop was made at Wicklow, where the station name is picked out
in stones on the bank to the right. Any guesses where the now-redundant
signal cabin is? |
Looking north from the footbridge, it was like old times as we took our
time to get our photographs and wander about the platforms - all helped
by the outstanding weather. |
The last stop of the day was at Kilcoole. To the right, the bar in the
Brake is still doing business with a wide variety of liquids - and some
solids. |
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