Dalriada Railtour (2010)

Thursday 6th May: (GM) Whitehead - Dublin Connolly. Friday 7th May: (GM) Dublin Connolly - Rosslare - Waterford - Kildare - Dublin Connolly. Saturday 8th May: (186) Dublin Connolly - Belfast Central - Whitehead; (4) Whitehead - Ballymena - Belfast Central - Whitehead. Sunday 9th May: (4) Belfast Central - Coleraine - Whitehead; (186) Whitehead - Bangor - Whitehead. Monday 10th May: (4) Whitehead - Belfast Central - Dublin Connolly; (GM) Dublin Connolly - Belfast Central - Whitehead.

7/5/2010: On the Friday, 081 did a circular tour from Dublin via Rosslare, Waterford and Kildare. Here the train is stopped at Greystones.

7/5/2010: Robbie Jolley, a recently-qualified steam driver, was on the footplate and anxious to get away from Arklow.

7/5/2010: 081 stopped at Wexford. (R. Joanes)

7/5/2010: 081 running round at Rosslare Strand. (R. Joanes)

7/5/2010: Kilcavan No.2 crossing - between Duncormick and Wellingtonbridge. (D. Knapman)

7/5/2010: Kilcavan No.1 crossing - between Duncormick and Wellingtonbridge. (D. Knapman)

7/5/2010: Not much left at Wellingtonbridge, with the beet traffic now just a memory. In fact, it is believed that this was the last enthusiast special along the South Wexford line between Rosslare and Waterford before closure a few years later.

7/5/2010: Another view of this once very busy station (at least during the beet season, October to January).

7/5/2010: Rusty looking rails at Wellingtonbridge. (R. Joanes)

7/5/2010: Crossing the River Barrow between Campile and Waterford. (R. Joanes)

7/5/2010: 081 at Waterford. (B. Gibbs)

7/5/2010: Waterford's signal cabin and the three tracks it spanned. (D. Knapman)

7/5/2010: Wateford signal cabin. (D. Knapman)

7/5/2010: The day finished with the return to Dublin's Connolly station.

8/5/2010: This was the first railtour since 2001 to overnight in Belfast and so, on the Saturday, No.186 is on the train at Connolly for the long slog north.

8/5/2010: Preparations for departure from Dublin. (R. Joanes)

8/5/2010: No.186 heading north at Gormanston. (J.A. Cassells)

8/5/2010: The train is parallel to the M1 motorway at Castlebellingham. (J.A. Cassells)

8/5/2010: At Dundalk the coal is trimmed and steam is building for the start of the climb over the hills to Newry.

8/5/2010: No.186's fire gets built up for the northward trip. (R. Joanes)

8/5/2010: A long slog for a small engine. No.186 near the summit of the climb from Dundalk. (J.A. Cassells)

8/5/2010: A closer view of No.186 on the climb from the border. (J.A. Cassells)

8/5/2010: No.186 coasting down the grade near Bessbrook. (J.A. Cassells)

8/5/2010: The train crossing the Craigmore Viaduct. (J.A. Cassells)

8/5/2010: At Portadown the crew have the worst over and prepare for the relatively easy run into Belfast.

8/5/2010: The sun shines on No.186 at Lisburn. (R. Joanes)

8/5/2010: At Belfast Central, a rare group photograph with the crew from Irish Rail handing over to their NIR colleagues.

8/5/2010: No.186 on the approach to Whitehead. (J.A. Cassells)

8/5/2010: At Whitehead, with No.186 uncoupled at the far end of the train, No.4 is coming to take charge. (J.A. Cassells)

8/5/2010: No.4 working bunk-first along the shore of Belfast Lough at Boneybefore. (J.A. Cassells)

8/5/2010: Taken at the same location as the previous photo, the train is now nearing Downshire. (J.A. Cassells)

8/5/2010: No.4, on the ascent to Yorkgate, is passing York Road depot. (J.A. Cassells)

8/5/2010: No.4 approaching Lambeg. (J.A. Cassells)

8/5/2010: Rather than Belfast Central, the run-round was at Lisburn, and here we see No.4 taking water there.

8/5/2010: Now chimney-first, No.4 is pictured between Hilden and Lambeg. (J.A. Cassells)

8/5/2010: A fine view of No.4 and train. (W. Adams)

8/5/2010: A fine shot of the train near Tullygarley, a couple of miles before Ballymena. (J.A. Cassells)

8/5/2010: Water was taken again at Ballymena. The column was out of action so a much slower hydrant was used. No.4 was sporting a headboard from the last spoil train from Magheramorne to Fortwilliam 40 years ago to the week.

8/5/2010: Chas Meredith takes the opportunity at the stopover for forty winks. It's a tiring business selling real ale on a train!

8/5/2010: Stephen Glass drives as Noel Playfair looks on at Ballymena. (J.A. Cassells)

8/5/2010: No.4 running round past the classic NCC cabin in Ballymena. (J.A. Cassells)

8/5/2010: Returning from Ballymena near Slaght level crossing. (J.A. Cassells)

9/5/2010: Sunday morning, No.4 arrives at Belfast Central with the tour train. (R. Joanes)

9/5/2010: The sun has disappeared as No.4 and train arrive in Coleraine. (B. Gibbs)

9/5/2010: No.4 at Coleraine's Up platform. (R. Joanes)

9/5/2010: No.4 has turned on the RPSI's turntable in Coleraine, and is ready for the return to Belfast. (J.A. Cassells)

9/5/2010: The tour train departing Coleraine. (J.A. Cassells)

9/5/2010: Back at Whitehead, and it's another locomotive swap as No.186 takes over for a trip to Bangor.

9/5/2010: No.4 has come off the train and is heading for the sheds and servicing. No.186 waits to go to the head of the train.

9/5/2010: The locomotive swap at Whitehead. (D. Knapman)

9/5/2010: No.186 coming on to its train at Whitehead. (D. Knapman)

9/5/2010: An iconic view, as No.186 storms up the steep Holywood bank on the Bangor line.

10/5/2010: Monday morning and the train must make its way back to Dublin. No.4 is approaching Carrickfergus. (J.A. Cassells)

10/5/2010: No.4 coming to a stop at Carrickfergus. (J.A. Cassells)

10/5/2010: Stopped at Lagan Junction to let a Bangor-bound train out. (J.A. Cassells)

10/5/2010: No.4 is at Lisburn.

10/5/2010: Another view of No.4 at Lisburn. (B. Gibbs)

10/5/2010: No.4 is in the Down platform at Lisburn as it had to take water at the column on that side. (J.A. Cassells)

10/5/2010: The Enterprise has to overtake at Lisburn before the tour train can continue south. (R.Joanes)

10/5/2010: Heading south over the Craigmore Viaduct. (J.A. Cassells)

10/5/2010: No.4 at Dundalk. (D. Knapman)

10/5/2010: The car park at Dundalk was once sidings for the adjacent Great Northern brewery. (J.A. Cassells)

10/5/2010: Safe arrival in Dublin Connolly. (J.A. Cassells)

10/5/2010: No.4 was left in Dublin, and NIR's 113 returned the tour train of Mk2 coaches back to Whitehead. Here it has called at Portadown.

10/5/2010: Another view of 113 at Portadown. (J.A. Cassells)

10/5/2010: 113 looking very smart at Lisburn. (W. Adams)

10/5/2010: The NIR crew for the day - Noel Playfair (driver), Stuart 'Bo' Andrews (inspector), Stephen Glass (driver), Paddy Loughran (guard). (J.A. Cassells)

10/5/2010: Noel Playfair on 113 at Carrickfergus. (J.A. Cassells)

10/5/2010: No.4 at Dublin Connolly later in the evening. (D. Knapman)

10/5/2010: In the evening a number of railtour regulars decamped to the Dirty Duck in Holywood for wind-down drinks - Talbot Burgess, Roger Taylor, Eric Mills and Graham Moore.

11/5/2010: On Tuesday, it's the traditional coach to tour to sites of historic interest. In the afternoon it was off to the Silent Valley reservoir, and here Peter looks up to see if James Bond will be coming over the edge!

11/5/2010: The staff kindly opened the sluices to give a show of the enormous water pressure at the bottom of the dam.

11/5/2010: The spectacular display is best viewed from above.