Train Dates for 1981.
(Note: Belfast YR = Belfast York Road; Belfast CSD = Belfast Central Services Depot; Belfast GVS = Belfast Great Victoria Street; ECS = Empty Coaching Stock; LE = Light Engine; GM = Railway company diesel locomotive; Whitehead generally means the RPSI's own Whitehead Excursion Station.)
| Date | Train/Operation | Loco | Itinerary/Route | Special Notes |
| Running-in | Whitehead - Belfast YR - Whitehead | |||
| Empty Carriages | Whitehead - Belfast YR - Antrim - Lisburn - Bangor LE: Bangor - Belfast CSD |
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| Bangor Belle | LE: Belfast CSD - Bangor ECS: Bangor - Belfast Central Belfast Central - Bangor & return (x3) ECS: Belfast Central - Bangor LE: Bangor - Belfast CSD |
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| Empty Carriages | LE: Belfast CSD - Bangor ECS: Bangor - Belfast Central - Lisburn - Antrim - Belfast YR - Whitehead |
Train to have worked to Dublin, but 171 was diverted to Whitehead following failure. | ||
| Claddagh | Mullingar - Galway - Athenry - Galway - Mullingar | |||
| Steam Gala | ECS: Whitehead - Belfast YR Belfast YR - Whitehead & return ECS: Belfast YR - Whitehead |
Private charter by NIR, conveying | ||
| Portrush Flyer | Whitehead - Belfast YR - Portrush Portrush - Coleraine - Castlerock LE: Castlerock - Londonderry & return Castlerock - Coleraine - Portrush Portrush - Belfast YR - Whitehead |
The last year the Derry turntable was in use. | ||
| Running-in | Whitehead - Belfast YR - Whitehead - Greenisland - Whitehead | |||
| Portrush Flyer | Whitehead - Belfast YR - Portrush Portrush - Coleraine - Castlerock LE: Castlerock - Londonderry & return Castlerock - Coleraine - Portrush Portrush - Belfast YR - Whitehead |
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| Portrush Flyer | Whitehead - Belfast YR - Portrush Portrush - Coleraine - Castlerock LE: Castlerock - Londonderry & return Castlerock - Coleraine - Portrush Portrush - Belfast YR - Whitehead |
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| Empty carriages | ECS: Whitehead - Belfast YR - Antrim - Lisburn - Bangor LE: Bangor - Belfast CSD |
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| Steam Enterprise | LE: Belfast CSD - Bangor Bangor - Belfast Central - Dublin Connolly & return LE: Bangor - Belfast CSD |
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| Steam Enterprise | LE: Belfast CSD - Bangor Bangor - Belfast Central - Dublin Connolly & return LE: Bangor - Belfast CSD |
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| Empty carriages | LE: Belfast CSD - Bangor Bangor - Belfast Central - Dublin Pearse LE: Dublin Pearse - Mullingar |
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| Bel Bulben | 171 LE: Mullingar - Dublin Pearse 171: Dublin Pearse - Mullingar 171+184: Mullingar - Longford 184: Longford - Ballymote 171 LE: Longford - Ballymote 171+184: Ballymote - Sligo |
At Collooney a short ceremony was held commemorating the completion of the RPSI's coverage of the entire Irish railway network. | ||
| Bel Bulben | 171+184 ECS: Sligo - Sligo Quay - Sligo 171+184: Sligo - Carrick-on-Shannon 184 LE: Carrick-on-Shannon - Longford 171: Carrick-on-Shannon - Longford 171+184: Longford - Mullingar 171: Mullingar - Dublin Connolly (via Newcomen Junction) - Belfast Central - Belfast CSD |
No.171 slipped to a stand at Newcomen Junction within sight of Connolly and was eventually diesel-hauled into Connolly. Ex-MGWR six wheel coach No.62 was attached at Drogheda. |
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| Empty Carriages | Belfast CSD - Lisburn - Antrim - Whitehead | |||
| Test Run | Mullingar - Athlone & return | |||
| Santa Special | Mullingar - Multyfarnham & return Mullingar - Killucan & return Mullingar - Castletown & return Mullingar - Castletown & return |