Province of Leinster Railtour (2011)

Due to delays in obtaining certification from the Railway Safety Commission, this year's tour was postponed from May to September. Thursday 8th September: (GM) Whitehead - Dublin Connolly. Friday 9th September: (GM) Dublin Connolly - Nenagh - Limerick - Dublin Connolly. Saturday 10th September: (186) Dublin Connolly - Kilkenny - Dublin Connolly. Sunday 11th September: (186) Dublin Connolly - M3 Parkway; (GM) M3 Parkway - Dublin Docklands; (186) Dublin Docklands - Mullingar - Dublin Connolly. Monday 12th September: (186) Dublin Connolly - Belfast Central - Whitehead.

8/9/2011: In advance of the railtour, NIR's 112 delivered the Whitehead Mk2 set from Whitehead to Dublin, seen at Connolly Platform 5. (R. Joanes)

9/9/2011: On Friday the, by this time, traditional diesel tour was the "Silvermines" to Limerick. Here 072 heads the train out of Connolly.

9/9/2011: Down the Nenagh branch and a photo stop at Roscrea.

9/9/2011: Something you don't see too often nowadays, but on the single line at Nenagh, and with the locomotive in front of you, pretty safe.

9/9/2011: The Mayor of Nenagh whispers sweet nothings into the ear of an embarrassed Chairman.

9/9/2011: The next stop was at Birdhill, where a portacabin serves as a station building, although there is still a crossing loop.

9/9/2011: Castleconnell is a tricky place to get a decent photo.

9/9/2011: The train has arrived at Limerick and 080 has come on for the run back to Dublin. (R. Joanes)

10/9/2011: On Saturday, it was the real railtour, and No.186 is seen at Athy on the route to Kilkenny. The spur of the branch to the Wolfhill Colliery and, latterly, the Tegral factory, can be seen in the background.

10/9/2011: Destination for the Day! No.186 has arrived in the modern Kilkenny station. The historic trainshed behind the photographer has been abandoned.

10/9/2011: The problem with modern station layouts - no loops! 073 has come from Waterford to release No.186 from the train. While 073 shunts the train, No.186 will run to the Lavistown triangle to turn.

10/9/2011: Ready for the return journey. The old trainshed can just about be seen behind the footbridge.

10/9/2011: Robin asks Mervyn, "Is it tea time yet?"

10/9/2011: Retired steam driver Tony Renehan is along for the ride and to ensure that the youngsters are doing it right.

11/9/2011: The weather on Sunday was a bit dull. The first destination was M3 Parkway on the recently re-opened branch from Clonsilla.

11/9/2011: End of the line at M3 Parkway, with the motorway of the same name in the background.

11/9/2011: No.186 patiently awaits the diesel which was to take the train back to Dublin.

11/9/2011: 081 hauled the return leg, seen at Dunboyne. (R. Joanes)

11/9/2011: A Society first - 081 has collected the train from M3 Parkway and hauled it to the new Dublin Docklands station.

11/9/2011: No.186 has followed tender-first from M3 Parkway and backs down onto the train at Docklands.

11/9/2011: No.186 at Docklands, preparing for the climb ahead. (R. Joanes)

11/9/2011: After a stirring climb up from Docklands, the next destination was Mullingar and No.186 has just arrived on the Up Sligo platform.

11/9/2011: The Mullingar turntable is now well hidden in the bushes behind the one-time Galway main line.

11/9/2011: The turntable is in there - somewhere! (G. Bridle)

11/9/2011: The locomotive has turned and is criss-crossing back to the main station. In the background is one of the Society's ex GNR(I) tenders.

12/9/2011: As always, the railtour makes its way back to base at Whitehead, and on Monday morning is waiting for the road at Dublin Connolly (unusually, from the Enterprise platform).

12/9/2011: Ben and Mark appear happy to be on the footplate.

12/9/2011: Ben and Noel (on tender) supervise the water stop at Drogheda.

12/9/2011: No.186 taking water at Drogheda. (R. Joanes)

12/9/2011: The tour train has arrived in Whitehead. On display was Hunslet 102, newly overhauled cosmetically and destined for the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum at Cultra.

13/9/2011: The Tuesday coach tour took in the preserved steam engine at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital. The engine was used to turn the fans which ventilated the whole Victorian building.

13/9/2011: Likewise, in the Belfast Technical College, a preserved steam engine provided ventilation for that listed building.