Train Dates for 1986.
(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 | Mullingar - Athlone & return | |||
| Empty carriages | Whitehead - Belfast YR - Antrim - Lisburn - Dublin Connolly - Mullingar | |||
| Clew Bay | 4 ECS: Mullingar - Dublin Connolly 4: Dublin Connolly - Mullingar - Claremorris 184: Athlone - Claremorris 4+184: Claremorris - Westport |
No.184 and the Mullingar-based set 'leapfrogged' No.4 and the Whitehead set Athlone to Claremorris, with No.4 overtaking No.184 at Knockcroghery and both trains stopping at Roscommon. | ||
| Clew Bay | 184 LE: Westport - Claremorris 4: Westport - Claremorris 184: Claremorris - Tuam & return 4: Claremorris - Mullingar - Dublin Connolly - Belfast Central 4 ECS: Belfast Central - Belfast CSD 184: Claremorris - Roscommon & return (x2, local trips) 184: Claremorris - Mullingar |
No.184 picked up the Mullingar set at Claremorris for the run to Tuam. | ||
| Clew Bay | LE: Belfast CSD - Belfast Central Belfast Central - Lisburn - Antrim - Belfast YR - Larne Harbour - Whitehead |
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| Official Launch | Whitehead | Lord Dunleath drove 85 through a ceremonial ribbon. | ||
| Charity Portrush Flyer | Whitehead - Belfast YR - Portrush - Belfast YR - Whitehead | No.4 ran LE to Coleraine to use the new turntable there for the first time. | ||
| Portrush Flyer | 4+85: Whitehead - Belfast YR - Portrush 4: Portrush - Coleraine - Castlerock - Coleraine -Portrush 85 (4 banking): Portrush - Coleraine 4: Coleraine - Belfast YR - Whitehead 85 LE: Coleraine - Belfast YR - Whitehead |
This day was the first official use of the new turntable, appropriately commemorated. Probably the last time ever a train had a steam banker. |
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| Claddagh | Mullingar - Galway - Athenry - Galway - Mullingar | |||
| Portrush Flyer | Whitehead - Belfast YR - Portrush - Coleraine - Castlerock - Coleraine - Portrush - Belfast YR - Whitehead | |||
| Test Run | Whitehead - Belfast YR - Portrush - Belfast YR - Whitehead | |||
| Portrush Flyer | Whitehead - Belfast YR - Portrush - Coleraine - Castlerock - Coleraine - Portrush - Belfast YR - Whitehead | |||
| Maynooth Shuttle | ECS: Mullingar - Dublin Connolly Dublin Connolly - Maynooth & return (x3) ECS: Dublin Connolly - Mullingar |
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| Bangor Belle | Whitehead - Belfast YR - Antrim - Belfast Central Belfast Central - Bangor & return (x2) ECS: Belfast Central - Belfast CSD |
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| Steam Enterprise | ECS: Belfast CSD - Belfast Central Belfast Central - Dublin Connolly & return ECS: Belfast Central - Belfast CSD |
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| Engine Transfer | Whitehead - Belfast YR - Antrim - Belfast CSD | |||
| Test Run | ECS: Belfast CSD - Belfast Central Belfast Central - Drogheda & return ECS: Belfast Central - Belfast CSD |
The train ran to Drogheda as there was then a working turntable there. | ||
| Steam Enterprise | ECS: Belfast CSD - Belfast Central Belfast Central - Dublin Connolly & return ECS: Belfast Central - Belfast CSD |
The third RPSI engine to work a "Steam Enterprise" and the return of a Great Northern Compound to Dublin for the first time in twenty-four years! | ||
| Engine Transfer | Belfast CSD - Lisburn - Antrim - Belfast YR - Whitehead | |||
| Larne Lough | ECS: Belfast CSD - Belfast Central Belfast Central - Lisburn - Antrim - Belfast YR - Larne Harbour - Belfast YR -Whitehead |
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| Film Contract | ECS: Whitehead - Belfast YR - Antrim - Lisburn - Dublin Connolly | TV detective series Remington Steele, Connolly doubling as London Paddington! | ||
| Empty Carriages | Dublin Connolly - Lisburn - Antrim - Belfast YR - Whitehead |