 Dublin
Connolly, platform 3, and 078 couples up to the RPSI’s Mark II stock with
the Dutch Van leading. It is hard to credit that the loco is just a few
days short of its 32nd birthday. |
 Another
view of 078 ready for the off. |
 A
view from the back of the train as it leaves Connolly and weaves its way
across the yard. The loco is passing the site of the West Cabin and we
are heading for North Strand Junction on the former GS&WR North Wall
branch. |
 During
the stop at Bagenalstown, we crossed a Waterford to Heuston railcar. |
 Arriving
under the elevated Central Cabin at Waterford with the overhanging Mount
Missery covered in gorse blossom. |
 We
ran past another Dublin-bound railcar in platform 4 and used the scissors
to gain platform 3 at the east end of the station. |
 Two
B141 class locos worked the train from Waterford to Limerick Junction and
on the Dublin. Here the class leader 141, which dates from December 1962,
and sister loco 171 pass under the Central cabin as they make their way
from the goods yard. |
 171
and 141 at the head of the train in platform 3. 171 was delivered just
two weeks after 141 – was it really 38 years ago? |
 We
see Driver Lar Griffin in the cab with colleagues Ken Fox and Inspector
Tony Cooke. Photo by Stephen Cooke. |
 A
trailing view of the locos coupled to the brake, 460, and ready to pull
forward into platform 4 before departure. |
 At
Waterford West cabin we collected the miniature train staff for Carrick
on Suir. In the left distance is the railway bridge over the river Suir. |
 The
lines to the Junction and to Kilkenny diverge at Dunkitt where one of a
number of new road bridges crosses the line. |
 Approaching
Carrick on Suir is this attractive bracket semaphore signal. |
 The
sun was still out at Carrick on Suir for this trailing shot of the engines
but, five minutes later, the ground was wet when... |
 ...Inspector
Tony Cooke was taking his photo of the pair, watched by a gaggle of passengers
- and no, we cannot remember what was said! |
 Passing
the goods store at Carrick, now the headquarters of the Irish Traction
Group where G601, nearer the camera, and B Sulzer B103 are in residence. |
 The
steam men had a day off – James, Mark at the far side of the table and
Michael and Kevin nearer us. |
 The
approach to Clonmel and its fine array of semaphore signals. |
 Clonmel
with its fine station buildings, all little changed from steam days. |
 A
brief stop was made at Cahir which still has its footbridge but only one
platform these days. |
 Arriving
into Tipperary where the platform on this side was too short to allow people
off the train. |
 We
crossed the Limerick Junction to Waterford railcar, No 2726, here. |
 At
Limerick Junction, we were held on the branch until a Cork to Dublin train
had cleared the platform. |
 We
also waited until railcar 2751 had left for Limerick. |
 After
running forward to Keane’s Points and reversing to the main line platform,
all is set for a lively run to Dublin Heuston. It is thought that it is
about five years since a B141 class engine worked a passenger train on
the Cork main line.
So ended the Comeragh railtour. But it was certainly not the last involvement locomotive 141 was to have with the RPSI! In August 2009 we bought 141 from IE. With the withdrawal and scrapping of the 141 and 181 classes well advanced, she will be one of only a handful to make it into the next decade. At the time of writing in November 2009, 141 remains in use by IE as before, although carrying plaques to indicate her change of ownership. 171 is also still in service but may meet the cutter's torch soon. (Perhaps having another 171 would have been too confusing anyway). |
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