Waterford & Limerick Railtour (2019)

Thursday 9th May: (85) Whitehead - Belfast - Dublin Connolly. Friday 10th May: (GM): Dublin Connolly - Sligo & return. Saturday 11th May: (GM) Dublin Connolly - M3 Parkway - Dublin Connolly; (85) Dublin - Kilkenny - Waterford. No.85 had a defective brake block so a diesel worked the morning turn to allow a replacement to be fitted. Sunday 12th May; (GM) Waterford - Limerick & return. Monday 13th May: (85) Waterford - Lavistown Loop - Dublin Connolly - Belfast - Whitehead

9/5/2019: First water stop of the tour for No.85 - Lisburn. (J.A. Cassells)

9/5/2019: The traditional pre-tour 'positioning' run had No.85 bringing 6 Mk2s from Whitehead/Belfast to Dublin, seen here between the border and Mountpleasant. (A. Gray)

9/5/2019: No.85 taking water at Dundalk. (M. Birchenough)

9/5/2019: South of Dunleer as No.85 accelerates towards Kellystown Bank. (J. Stanley)

9/5/2019: Arrival in Dublin Connolly. (M. Birchenough)

9/5/2019: Atmospheric shot in Connolly. (M. Birchenough)

10/5/2019: 074 and train sweep into Sligo, with Bel Bulben in the background. (C.P. Friel)

10/5/2019: The destination of Knocknarea diesel railtour was Sligo, and 074 was the motive power.

11/5/2019: Saturday morning, and No.85 needed a brake block replaced, so 074 took the train to M3 Parkway. (C.P. Friel)

11/5/2019: 074 and train will wait for the railcar to depart M3 Parkway before following. (R. Joanes)

11/5/2019: No.85 at Connolly Shed awaiting the arrival of new brake blocks from Whitehead.

11/5/2019: No.85 makes a start up "The Gullet". (C.P. Friel)

11/5/2019: No.85 getting a check round at Athy. (M. Birchenough)

11/5/2019: Some of the Irish Rail and RPSI team at Bagenalstown. L-R: Ken Fox, Robert Jolley, Nicky Cox, Barry Kelly, Nicky Doyle, Matthew Crockett, Mick Collins, Joe McKeown and Tony Cooke, with Denis McCabe hiding behind the lamp post. (K. Marshall)

11/5/2019: Arrival at Kilkenny.

11/5/2019: No.85 at Kilkenny. (B. Gibbs)

11/5/2019: A photograph was taken at Kilkenny to mark the 50th weekend railtour. Those in the photo are passengers who were on the inaugural weekend tour to Athlone in September 1968. (R. White)

11/5/2019: No.85 ready to depart Kilkenny on a tender-first run to Waterford. (M. Birchenough)

11/5/2019: Arrival in Waterford. (R. Joanes)

11/5/2019: And so to bed, No.85 shunts its train out of Waterford station.

12/5/2019: 071- the motive power for the morning run from Waterford to Limerick, seen in Waterford yard. No.85 had been barred from crossing the bridge at Dunkitt, just outside Waterford.

12/5/2019: A beautiful morning for the cross-country spin from Waterford to Limerick, seen here at Carrick-on-Suir. (N. Enright)

12/5/2019: Another view at Carrick-on-Suir. (B. Gibbs)

12/5/2019: A photo stop at Cahir on the way to Limerick. (B. Gibbs)

12/5/2019: 071 has arrived in Limerick, (M. Birchenough)

12/5/2019: 086 has taken over and is waiting to leave Limerick. (M. Birchenough)

12/5/2019: The square crossing seen on the return trip from Limerick, and the new Down platform under construction at the Junction. (C.P. Friel)

12/5/2019: Photo stop at Tipperary. (M. Birchenough)

12/5/2019: 086 is stopped at Clonmel on the return leg of the trip. (R. Joanes)

12/5/2019: The dreaded Dunkitt bridge which caused No.85 to stay in Waterford. (C.P. Friel)

12/5/2019: No.85 appears to be raised on a plinth here - not so! She is stabled in Waterford between turns. (J.A. Cassells)

12/5/2019: 086 and train back in Waterford. (J. Beaumont)

13/5/2019: The early morning Waterford sun cuts across No.85.

13/5/2019: Making a stirring start past Waterford West cabin. (C.P. Friel)

13/5/2019: Early in the morning so the bar staff aren't busy yet. (J. Beaumont)

13/5/2019: Near Kilmacow, Co. Kilkenny. (P. Roche‎)

13/5/2019: The train has arrived in Bagenalstown. (M. Birchenough)

13/5/2019: Modern day locomotive watering at Bagenalstown.

13/5/2019: Belfast Operations Officer Mervyn Darragh and Secretary Paul McCann seem oblivious to the bustle taking place around them in Bagenalstown. (J.A. Cassells)

13/5/2019: Water, photos and No.85 at Athy. (R. Joanes)

13/5/2019: Stopping at Kildare to set down the Waterford line pilotman. (C. Daly)

13/5/2019: Nearing Dublin, the approach to Drumcondra. (M.J. Walsh)

13/5/2019: No.85 and train back in Dublin Connolly.

13/5/2019: A still-clean Noel Playfair, Gary Moore and Matthew Crockett at Connolly. (C.P. Friel)

13/5/2019: A GNR moment of the 1950s re-created! No.85 accelerating out of Connolly. (M.J. Walsh)

13/5/2019: Crossing the Boyne. (C.P. Friel)

13/5/2019: No.85 climbs towards Drumintee on the Dublin-Belfast mainline. (J. Stanley)

13/5/2019: Last water fill of the weekend at Lisburn.

13/5/2019: Crossing the River Lagan. (C.P. Friel)

13/5/2019: Home! No.85 pulling into our Whitehead base. (A. Campbell)