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The Carrowbeg Railtour
Westport – Claremorris – Ballina – Ballyhaunis – Westport (overnight)
Sunday 10th May 2009
All photographs by CP Friel unless otherwise credited.
 It
was an early start on Sunday morning and No 4 eases away from the engine
siding with her drain cocks open. |
 No
4 moves forward towards the Quay before running round her train – next
stop Achill or the Quay? |
 The
train was stabled overnight in the old arrival platform which is now off
the Central Train Control centre’s panels |
 On
this day, the Society organised a lineside bus which visited many vantage
points and connected into and out of the train at the main stops. Using
the bus allowed this fine view of No 4 and her train heading for Claremorris.
This was the scene near Doon Castle with the backdrop of Croagh Patrick. |
 The
train approaches Manulla Junction where the line to Ballina swings to the
right. |
 Arrived
at Claremorris where the train reversed direction. |
 The
lineside bus allowed this view of No 4 and train approaching the level
crossing at Keelogues, about three miles north of Manulla, en route to
Ballina. |
 This
is Ballina where 224 was in the yard with a (now empty) DFDS Norfolk Liner
train from Waterford. |
 No
4 and her train shunted into the yard to run round – and clear the way
for the branch railcar to operate. |
 No
4 runs forward to the north end of the station to run round. |
 Leaving
Ballina, John Beaumont briefs the lineside bus contingent on its next move. |
 No
4 and train approaching Ballyvarry, en route from Ballina to Ballyhaunis. |
 The
return from Ballyhaunis is seen passing the former station at Bekan. |
 Back
in Claremorris, No 4 and train had to reverse out of the down platform
and run though the station on the up road before gaining the yard. This
provided the first runpast in many years. |
 A
view from the footbridge as No 4 reverses the train into the former Ballinrobe
branch platform. |
 No
4 was unsuccessful in trying to turn on the turntable at Claremorris. Here
the next move is contemplated while 214 arrives from Westport with a train
for Dublin. |
 Contrary
to the original plan, No 4 made the final approach to Westport running
chimney first. At the last lineside bus location, the train thunders through
Derrycoosh level crossing, about three miles west of Castlebar. |
 Back
in Westport, No 4 ran round her train using the remains of the Quay branch
and here gets another few pallets of bagged coal. The engine is standing
on the site of the junction for Achill. |
 After
another long day of real ale and other refreshments, Chas and Fiona take
a few minutes on a station barrow to rest the weary feet. |
 Chairman
Johnny Glendinning (standing, left) addresses the gathering at the tour’s
dinner in the Castlecourt Hotel.
And so to bed... |
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