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The Carrowbeg Railtour
Westport – Dublin (Connolly) – Belfast – Whitehead
Monday 11th May 2009
All photographs by CP Friel unless otherwise credited.

RPSI Photonews ImageThe passengers assemble while the stock waits in the former arrival platform.

RPSI Photonews ImageSteam Raisers Stephen and Kevin look rightly pleased with their early morning work on No 4.

RPSI Photonews ImageNo 4 propels her train towards the Quay siding.

RPSI Photonews ImagePeter douses the old fire dumped from No 4’s ashpan.

RPSI Photonews ImageNo 4 comes past the goods store and enters the track circuitry and colour-light signals of CTC land. Loco 077, on the left, awaits the fitter’s attention – and later haulage to Inchicore.

RPSI Photonews ImageNo 4 did not take water during the stop at Claremorris but preferred to wait until Ballyhaunis. This snap decision caught out two of our passengers who had hot-footed to a vantage to the point south of the station only to see the train steam past – and keep going. Nothing fazed, they hired a taxi, or “a car” as it is still known hereabouts, and chased the train to Ballyhaunis. They had the last laugh, too. The taxi-man enjoyed chasing steam so much that he would not take any money!

RPSI Photonews ImageA view of No 4 and train through Ballyhaunis’ sleeping signal cabin during the water stop.

RPSI Photonews ImageA view of Cravens coach 1532

RPSI Photonews ImageThis is Cravens coach 1522 now re-equipped as a Diner, with an interior modelled on Great Northern Diner 88.

RPSI Photonews ImageA close-up of Cravens coach 1508, now a Bar Car aka The Long Bar.

RPSI Photonews ImagePeter and Luke tend to the hydrant in the station forecourt at Ballyhaunis.

RPSI Photonews ImageNo 4 and train wait in the down loop at Castlerea while the 08.20 railcar from Heuston to Westport sweeps in to the up loop.

RPSI Photonews ImageTrolley birds at work – Liam/William/Billy, Rita and Jimmy (sans guitar) ply their trade to appreciative customers.

RPSI Photonews ImageDuring the Athlone stop, Mark refilled the lubricator. Here we see (left) RPSI Loco Rep Gerry Mooney, Mark and IR Driver Lar Griffin on the footplate of No 4.

RPSI Photonews ImageAlso at Athlone, Train Manager Henry Ritchie was presented with a cake to mark a significant birthday. Here we have Fiona (left) and Maureen with the remains of Henry’s cake – and that’s the birthday boy smiling broadly beyond the hatch.

RPSI Photonews ImageKevin is driving a fiendish device that takes some of the hard work out of rewinding the hoses after use. Luke rides shotgun, ready to carry away the rolled hose.

RPSI Photonews ImageLiam points out some of the Athlone pictures in the railtour brochure to Margaret Larkin, the Athlone station manager.

RPSI Photonews ImageCravens coach 1541 has been turned out in this lined blue livery and was photographed during the Athlone water stop. Photo by Kevin Murphy.

RPSI Photonews ImageIn the bar section of Cravens carriage 1508 with Sean in charge.

RPSI Photonews ImageAt the other end of the same carriage, Chas dispenses the traditionally-brewed real thing to another discerning customer.

RPSI Photonews ImagePeter, Peter and Angela prepare lunch and other goodies for the inner man (and woman).

RPSI Photonews ImageThis is approaching Cherryville Junction where the line from Carlow trails in from the right. The former signal cabin is now home to the local permanent way gang.

RPSI Photonews ImageThis remarkable tree-house has been mentioned in many of our recent tour brochures – so here it is, glimpsed just after a down Cork train almost obscured it!

RPSI Photonews ImageThe iconic tower at Inchicore Works is now the home of the Heritage Officer.

RPSI Photonews ImageGlasnevin Junction where we keep left for the GSWR line via Drumcondra.

RPSI Photonews ImageNo 4 leads her train past Drumcondra en route to Connolly. Photo by Ed Fahey.

RPSI Photonews ImageApproaching North Strand Junction where the goods lines to the North Wall fall away steeply to the left and we swing to the right for Connolly.

RPSI Photonews ImageSafely arrived at Platform 1 at Connolly. Left to right, on the platform, are IR Driver Lar Griffin, IR Driver Dan Renehan, RPSI Rep Gerry Mooney and IR Inspector Tony Cooke. In the cab are IR Driver Ken Fox and IR Driver Robbie Jolley. Lar, Ken and Robbie recently qualified to drive steam.

RPSI Photonews ImageNorman wheels away some of the stock from the bar – until next time.

RPSI Photonews ImageIrish Rail 175 takes the empty Cravens rake off to Inchicore, retracing our steps over the former GS&WR route via Drumcondra and Glasnevin.

RPSI Photonews ImageIrish Rail 175 returned with our Mark II stock. It is a sign of the times, and a comment on how busy the Connolly pilot is these days, that the loco was left at the buffers until we departed.

RPSI Photonews ImageNo 4 waits in the evening sun for the path north from Platform 1.

RPSI Photonews ImageNo 4 and train head out onto the causeway north of Malahide. Photo Ed Fahey.

RPSI Photonews ImageThe low catches the sides of No 4 and the Dutch Van during the water stop at Drogheda.

RPSI Photonews ImageNo 4 fills her tanks and blows off impatiently while everyone anticipates another storming climb of Kellystown.

RPSI Photonews ImageA non-stop race through Dundalk always quickens the blood and we can only give Mills’ distinctive architecture the briefest of appreciative glances – but there is always another day. 

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

Or, join us as a passenger.


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