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The Carrowbeg Railtour
Dublin (Heuston) – Athlone – Claremorris – Westport (overnight)
Saturday 9th May 2009
All photographs by CP Friel unless otherwise credited.
 The
day started at Connolly shed where No 4 was prepared for her long day ahead.
Here, about 6.50 am, No 4 was shunted by the pilot 175. Photo by Stephen
Cooke. |
 No
4 is almost ready for the off. Behind her is our J15 No 186 which was to
play no part in proceedings. Photo by Stephen Cooke. |
 Stephen
Cooke (behind) and Kevin Murphy (in front) have been hard at work for some
hours and fully deserved a footplate fry-up on the shovel. The bacon is
almost ready but the sausages have a bit to go yet. Photo by Gerry Mooney. |
 Loco
Reps Gerry Mooney (left) and David Carse were on hand to supervise and
look to be well pleased with the morning’s work. Photo by Stephen Cooke. |
 No
4 couples on to the train of RPSI Cravens coaches in platform 8 at Dublin
Heuston on a wet Saturday 9 May 2009. |
 In
the driver’s seat for the first bit was Cork-based Ken Fox, one of the
newly-qualified steam men on Irish Rail. Note the Flying Snail emblem on
his cap. |
 Inside
one of the Cravens carriages that has been converted from an open standard
to a Buffet Car with kitchen and servery modelled on Great Northern 88.
Fergus Mc Donnell extends an invitation to see more. |
 The
interior of another of the Cravens. |
 Bill
took time to show some of the Ivan team his 4mm model of a Great Northern
20-ton brake van. |
 The
first stop for water was at Portarlington where the platforms have been
extended towards Dublin. Gerry keeps an eye on the tank. |
 Next
into the driver’s seat was Lar Griffin. In the cab doorway is Inspector
Tony Cooke. |
 Looking
south at Portarlington towards the junction for Athlone, to the right beyond
the bridge. Note the old and new footbridges and the platforms which now
stop short of the road overbridge. |
 Kevin
takes time out after steam raising. |
 There
were more hoses in use at Athlone where we crossed a 6-piece railcar from
Galway to Heuston. |
 Crossing
the Shannon at Athlone between the present station and the former MGWR
station. |
 The
photostop at Ballyhaunis where, like many stations, the platforms have
been extended to cope with the new railcars. |
 Getting
ready to leave Roscommon and pass the gates are now automatic barriers
and the distinctive signal cabin is now out of use. |
 Castlerea
still has its cabin and water tower but both are out of use – the water
tank particularly so! |
 More
water was taken at Ballyhaunis. |
 Approaching
Claremorris on greatly simplified trackwork. |
 Looking
past the engine to the junctions to Sligo, straight ahead, and to Manulla
to the left. |
 A
view from the signal cabin steps with No 4 alongside 214 which will we
will see again working a Westport to Dublin train on Sunday afternoon.
The track on the right is the former branch to Ballinrobe. |
 A
peep inside the now-disused cabin with 66-lever frame. The convention was
red levers for signals, black for points and blue for electric locks. Levers
no longer in use were painted white - and there were quite a few at the
time of closure. |
 During
the stop at Castlebar, passengers were allowed to take photographs from
the now-disused down platform at this award-winning station. |
 With
Croagh Patrick dominating the western horizon, we swing past Islandeaddy
station en route to Westport. |
 The
view from the footbridge just after our arrival. The usual railcar is parked
in the former arrival platform and a failed 077 awaits attention in the
engine siding beyond. The remains of the line to Westport Quay lie ahead
of No 4 and the former engine shed is to the left, partly hidden by trees.
The branch to Achill once swung sharp right immediately beyond the goods
store. |
 Drivers
Dan Renehan and Robbie Jolley are in the cab as No 4 prepares to shunt
forward for coal. |
 No
4 gets a fresh charge of bagged coal courtesy of a versatile three-wheeled
fork lift. This area, once part of the line to Westport Quay, is now used
to load timber trains for Waterford. The engine shed, to the right, and
its turntable are no longer rail connected. |
 Some
of the Whitehead lads who helped with the coaling – James, Ben, Michael
and Dave. |
 No
4 and train in the evening sun alongside Westport shed – with lots of sticks
to the left. |
 This
is about as far as the Quay branch now runs. |
 The
railcar has now transferred to the main platform before leaving for Dublin
and No 4 has parked the RPSI Cravens set in the former arrival platform
before retiring to the engine siding for the night. |
 No
4 in soft west of Ireland evening light. |
 Dave,
Stephen, Ben and James recycle a former coal pallet and other broken timber
for No 4 tomorrow morning, supervised by Michael with a big stick. |
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