RPSI Home - Steam Train Dates - Online Shop - Website Contents - About Us
Sunday
"Barrow Bridge" railtour
Waterford - Rosslare - Dublin

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.

RPSI Photonews Image 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. 

RPSI Photonews Image 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.

RPSI Photonews Image 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. 

RPSI Photonews Image 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. 
RPSI Photonews Image 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 
RPSI Photonews Image A view of No.4 at Wellington Bridge with some admiring fans.

RPSI Photonews Image 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.
RPSI Photonews Image 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.

RPSI Photonews Image 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. 

RPSI Photonews Image Another view of No.4 at the new station which, at this stage of its development, is still bereft of buildings or facilities. 

RPSI Photonews Image  Fortunately, the link to Rosslaire Harbour's turntable was retained as part of the new station. Here No.4 is swung to face north.

RPSI Photonews Image Bringing up the rear on the turntable is our own Mark Walsh.
RPSI Photonews Image After turning and watering, No.4 makes its way along the run-round loop
RPSI Photonews Image The ensemble prepares to work back north to collect everyone at the Strand. 

RPSI Photonews Image 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. 

RPSI Photonews Image 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. 

RPSI Photonews Image 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. 
RPSI Photonews Image 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.
RPSI Photonews Image During the stop, Loco Inspector Tony Cooke got into No.4's bunker to shovel coal forward.

RPSI Photonews Image A final view at Gorey, looking north during the water stop.
RPSI Photonews Image 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. 

RPSI Photonews Image 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. 

RPSI Photonews Image 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! 

RPSI Photonews Image 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? 

RPSI Photonews Image 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.
RPSI Photonews Image 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.

View our Helping Us Page to see how you can volunteer in Dublin or Whitehead and get involved.

Or, join us as a passenger.


RPSI Home button
Click on the RPSI logo (above) to go to the RPSI Homepage