A History - Steam Enterprise

The Steam Enterprise first ran in 1980. It has operated on and off since, as locomotive allocations allowed.

September 1981: No.171 on an Enterprise at Dundalk. (A. Gray)

September 1983: No.171, with its namesake mountain in the background, heads an Enterprise to Dublin. (M. Patterson)

20/9/1986: No.85 "Merlin" returned to the Dublin line for the first time in preservation. Her she is seen steaming uphill past Altnaveigh, near Newry. (S. Patterson)

20/9/1986: No.85 stopped at Dunleer with an Up train. The stop had something to do with a signalling issue. (C.P. Friel)

22/8/1987: Superpowers at work. No.85 "Merlin" is passed at Drogheda by a Down train worked by GM 112. (B. Pickup)

26/9/1987: No.85 passes Dunleer with a return Enterprise. (C.P. Friel)

17/9/1988: No.4 ready to leave Belfast for Dublin. (B. Robertson)

17/9/1988: No.4 powering up the bank through Newry. (B. Robertson)

17/9/1988: No.4 is seen storming uphill in the vicinity of Cloghogue chapel, September 1988. (S. Patterson)

17/9/1988: Dundalk, with Inspector Roy Stanfield on the locomotive and Driver Bobby Quail telling another of his tall stories to the Irish Rail stationmaster. (B. Robertson)

17/9/1988: Leaving Dublin with Driver Bobby Quall on the footplate and Liam Mooney in the van of 91. (B. Robertson)

17/9/1988: No.4 getting water at Drogheda. (B. Robertson)

19/8/1989: An Up train stops at Malahide, probably for those visiting the Fry Model Railway exhibition. (D. Humphries)

3/9/1989: No.85 "Merlin" departs Dundalk. This was the last "Steam Enterprise" to use RPSI wooden bodied stock. (B. Pickup)

15/4/2000: No.85 "Merlin" at the foot of Kellystown bank. (C.P. Friel)

19/10/2002: No.85 at Malahide, running light engine home after taking a train from Belfast to Dublin. The return trip was hauled by GM 208. (B. Pickup)

12/10/2014: No.85 raising steam at Connolly for the return leg. (C.P. Friel)

27/9/2015: No.85 at Belfast Central about to head south. (R. Joanes)

27/9/2015: No.85 on a southbound train crosses Craigmore Viaduct. (Pak Aerial Media)

27/9/2015: Because of a last-minute possession of Connolly yard, steam could only go as far as Dundalk on this date, where 075 took over. (R. Joanes)

27/9/2015: No.85 leaving Carrickfergus on a return train. (R. Joanes)

23/9/2018: No.4 about to depart Belfast. (R. Joanes)

23/9/2018: No.4 at Drogheda for Dublin. (R. Joanes)

23/9/2018: No.85 swapped with No.4 in Dublin, and is at Carrickfegus with the return train. (R. Joanes)