Carrowbeg Railtour (2009)

Thursday 7th May: (4) Whitehead - Belfast - Dublin Connolly. Friday 8th May: (GM) Dublin Connolly - Lavistown Curve - Waterford - Clonmel - Limerick Junction - Dublin Heuston. Saturday 9th May: (4) Dublin Heuston - Athlone - Claremorris - Westport. Sunday 10th May: (4) Westport - Claremorris - Ballina - Ballyhaunis - Westport. Monday 11th May: (4) Westport - Dublin Connolly - Belfast Central - Whitehead. All photographs by C.P. Friel unless otherwise credited.

7/5/2009: Thursday on the way to Dublin, No.4 made the obligatory water stop at Lisburn where the tanks were filled and the boxes felt for possible heat.

7/5/2009: Noel Playfair keeps an eye on proceedings from the fireman's seat.

7/5/2009: We were stopped at Newry for a while to let a ballast train clear the section to Dundalk. There is just a glimpse of the work being done to this busy station and on the race-track main road beyond.

7/5/2009: A traditional view at Dundalk where the tank was drained by ...

7/5/2009: ... Bill, who got more water than the loco!

7/5/2009: The Connolly pilot, 175 (which eventually became an RPSI locomotive), lifts the stock to put it in the yard.

7/5/2009: No.4 and No.186 were together overnight.

7/5/2009: No.4 gets a new load of bagged coal courtesy of a forklift with very useful telescopic arms.

7/5/2009: The first pallet of coal almost unloaded.

8/5/2009: The Comeragh diesel railtour on the Friday started from Dublin Connolly Platform 3. 078 couples up to the RPSI's Mk2 stock with the Dutch Van leading.

8/5/2009: Another view of 078 ready for the off.

8/5/2009: A view from the back of the train as it leaves Connolly and weaves its way across the yard. The loco is passing the site of the West Cabin and we are heading for North Strand Junction on the former GS&WR North Wall branch.

8/5/2009: Arriving under Waterford's elevated Central Cabin with the overhanging Mount Misery covered in gorse blossom.

8/5/2009: Two B141 class locos worked the train from Waterford to Limerick Junction and on to Dublin. Here the class leader 141, which dates from December 1962 and eventually became an RPSI locomotive, and sister loco 171 pass under the Central cabin.

8/5/2009: 171 and 141 (now an RPSI locomotive) at the head of the train in platform 3.

8/5/2009: A trailing view of the locos coupled to the brake, 460, and ready to pull forward into Platform 4 before departure.

8/5/2009: The sun was still out at Carrick on Suir for this trailing shot of the engines but, five minutes later, the ground was wet!

8/5/2009: B103 at the ITG premises in Carrick-on-Suir. (B. Gibbs)

8/5/2009: The steam men had a day off - James, Mark at the far side of the table and Michael and Kevin nearer us.

8/5/2009: The approach to Clonmel and its splendid array of semaphore signals.

8/5/2009: A busy bar in Mk2 Diner 547, with a number of well-known faces.

8/5/2009: At Limerick Junction, we were held on the branch until a Cork to Dublin train had cleared the platform.

8/5/2009: After running forward to Keane's Points and reversing to the main line, all is set for a lively run to Dublin Heuston. It is thought that it had been about five years since a B141 class engine worked a passenger train on the Cork main line.

8/5/2009: Lar Griffin was the diesel driver for the Limerick Junction to Dublin leg.

9/5/2009: Saturday started at Connolly shed where No.4 was prepared for her long day ahead. Here, about 06:50, it is being shunted by the pilot 175, which is now an RPSI locomotive. (S. Cooke)

9/5/2009: Stephen Cooke (rear) and Kevin Murphy have been hard at work for some hours and fully deserved a footplate fry-up on the shovel. The bacon is almost ready but the sausages have a bit to go yet. (G. Mooney)

9/5/2009: No.4 couples on to the train of RPSI Cravens coaches in Platform 8 at Dublin Heuston on a wet May morning.

9/5/2009: In the driver's seat for the first bit was Cork-based Ken Fox, one of the newly-qualified steam men on Irish Rail. Note the Flying Snail emblem on his cap.

9/5/2009: The first stop for water was at Portarlington. Here, next into the driver's seat was Lar Griffin. In the cab doorway is Inspector Tony Cooke.

9/5/2009: Looking south at Portarlington towards the junction for Athlone, to the right beyond the bridge.

9/5/2009: Water stop at Athlone. (R. Joanes)

9/5/2009: A photo stop at Roscommon where, like many stations, the platforms have been extended to cope with the new railcars.

9/5/2009: Castlerea still has its cabin and water tower but both are out of use - the water tank particularly so!

9/5/2009: No.4 at Castlerea. (R. Joanes)

9/5/2009: No.4 at the Ballyhaunis water stop.

9/5/2009: Approaching Claremorris on trackwork greatly simplified from a number of years ago.

9/5/2009: A fine view of No.4 at Claremorris. (B. Gibbs)

9/5/2009: A view from the signal cabin steps with No 4 alongside 214. The track on the far right is the former branch to Ballinrobe.

9/5/2009: A photo stop at the 'rationalised' Manulla Junction. (R. Joanes)

9/5/2009: During the stop at Castlebar, passengers were allowed to take photographs from the now-disused Down platform at this award-winning station.

9/5/2009: No.4 and the station at Castlebar. (R. Joanes)

9/5/2009: With Croagh Patrick dominating the western horizon, we swing past what was Islandeaddy station en route to Westport.

9/5/2009: No.4, in the late afternoon sun, has arrived in Westport. (R. Joanes)

9/5/2009: At Westport, the usual railcar is parked in the former arrival platform and a failed 077 awaits attention in the engine siding beyond. The remains of the line to Westport Quay lie ahead of No.4 and the former engine shed is to the left.

9/5/2009: No.4 gets a fresh charge of bagged coal courtesy of a versatile three-wheeled fork lift. This area, once part of the line to Westport Quay, was being used to load timber trains for Waterford.

9/5/2009: Some of the Whitehead lads who helped with the coaling - James, Ben, Michael and Dave.

9/5/2009: No.4 and train in the evening sun alongside Westport shed - with lots of sticks to the left.

9/5/2009: This is about as far as the Westport Quay branch now runs.

9/5/2009: Dave, Stephen, Ben and James recycle a former coal pallet and other broken timber for No.4 tomorrow morning - supervised by Michael with a big stick!

10/5/2009: It was an early start on Sunday morning but a group huddle was needed before the day's activities begin at Westport. (B. Gibbs)

10/5/2009: No.4 edges forward at Westport. (B. Gibbs)

10/5/2009: No.4 eases away from the engine siding with her drain cocks open.

10/5/2009: No.4 moves forward towards the Quay before running round her train - next stop Achill or the Quay?

10/5/2019: No.4 has run round the train and is hauling it from the sidings to the departure platform at Westport. (R. Joanes)

10/5/2009: This fine view of No.4 and her train heading for Claremorris was taken near Doon Castle, with the backdrop of Croagh Patrick.

10/5/2009: The train approaches Manulla Junction where the line to Ballina swings to the right.

10/5/2009: A timeless scene at Claremorris. The train reversed direction here.

10/5/2009: A lineside bus allowed this view of No.4 and train approaching the level crossing at Keelogues, about three miles north of Manulla, en route to Ballina.

10/5/2009: Ballina where 224 was in the yard with a (now empty) DFDS Norfolk Liner train from Waterford.

10/5/2009: No.4 starts to back its train out of the platform road. (R. Joanes)

10/5/2009: No.4 and her train shunted into the yard to run round - and clear the way for the branch railcar to operate.

10/5/2009: No.4 runs forward to the north end of the station to run round.

10/5/2009: No.4 and train approaching Ballyvarry, en route from Ballina to Ballyhaunis.

10/5/2009: No.4 running round its train at Ballyhaunis. (R. Joanes)

10/5/2009: The return from Ballyhaunis is seen passing the former station at Bekan.

10/5/2009: Back in Claremorris, No.4 and train had to reverse out of the Down platform and run though the station on the Up road before gaining the yard. This provided the first runpast in many years.

10/5/2009: The train has been shunted to the Ballinrobe platform to take water. (R. Joanes)

10/5/2009: No.4 was unsuccessful in trying to turn on the turntable at Claremorris. Here the next move is contemplated while 214 arrives from Westport with a train for Dublin.

10/5/2009: Contrary to the original plan, No.4 made the final approach to Westport running chimney first. At the last lineside bus location, the train thunders through Derrycoosh level crossing, about three miles west of Castlebar.

10/5/2009: Back in Westport, No.4 ran round her train using the remains of the Quay branch and here gets another few pallets of bagged coal. The engine is standing on the site of the junction for Achill.

11/5/2009: On Monday, No.4 propels her train towards the Quay siding into the yard.

11/5/2009: No.4 comes past the goods store and enters the track circuitry and colour-light signals of CTC land. 077, on the left, awaits the fitter's attention - and later haulage to Inchicore.

11/5/2009: Peter and Luke tend to the hydrant in the station forecourt at Ballyhaunis.

11/5/2009: At the Athlone water stop, Kevin is driving a fiendishly clever device that takes some of the hard work out of rewinding the hoses after use. Luke rides shotgun, ready to carry away the rolled hose.

11/5/2009: This is approaching Cherryville Junction where the line from Carlow trails in from the right. The former signal cabin is now home to the local permanent way gang.

11/5/2009: This remarkable tree-house has been mentioned in many tour brochures - so here it is, glimpsed just after a Down Cork train almost obscured it!

11/5/2009: The iconic tower at Inchicore Works is now the home of the CIÉ Heritage Officer.

11/5/2009: Safely back at Dublin Connolly and Irish Rail (soon to be RPSI) 175 takes the empty Cravens rake off to Inchicore, retracing our steps over the former GS&WR route via Drumcondra and Glasnevin.

175 returned with our Mk2 stock. It is a sign of the times, and a comment on how busy the Connolly pilot is these days, that the loco was left at the buffers until we departed.

11/5/2009: No.4 waits in the evening sun for the path north from Platform 1.

11/5/2009: Michael sees to the watering at Drogheda.

11/5/2009: The low sun catches the sides of No.4 and the Dutch Van during the water stop at Drogheda.

11/5/2009: No.4 fills her tanks and blows off impatiently while everyone anticipates another storming climb of Kellystown.

11/5/2009: A non-stop race through Dundalk always quickens the blood and we can only give Mills' distinctive architecture the briefest of appreciative glances - but there is always another day.

12/5/2009: How many railtour participants can you fit in a snug? The tours invariably finish off in the Crown Bar in Belfast after the Tuesday bus tour. Tony, Graham, Jon, Roger Michael, Susan (that the camera can see).