Golden Vale Railtour (2013)

Thursday 9th May: (461) Whitehead - Belfast Central - Dublin Connolly. Friday 10th May: (GM) Dublin Connolly - Sligo & return. Saturday 11th May: (GM) Dublin Heuston - Waterford; (461) Waterford - Limerick. Diesel haulage to Waterford to maximise time on the branch. Sunday 12th May: (461) Limerick - Nenagh - Dublin Connolly; (186) Dublin Connolly - Belfast Central - Whitehead. Monday 13th May: (186) Whitehead - Belfast Central - Lisburn - Bangor - Lisburn - Whitehead.

9/5/2013: No.461 takes water from a hydrant at the north end of Dundalk's Up platform. The main water column was out of order. (C.P. Friel)

10/5/2013: 072 and train at Enfield. (D. Geraghty)

10/5/2013: 072 poses with the train at Dromod. (C.P. Friel)

10/5/2013: At Dromod a GNR bus was on show,

10/5/2013: The train approaches a misty looking Ben Bulben. (C.P. Friel)

10/5/2013: 072 attracts a crowd at Sligo.

10/5/2013: Waiting for departure at Sligo. (C.P. Friel)

10/5/2013: A photo stop in the sunshine at Boyle. (C.P. Friel)

11/5/2013: Saturday morning and 072, hauling the tour train from Dublin to Waterford, has a photo stop at Carlow. (R. Joanes)

11/5/2013: No.461 is waiting in the yard at Waterford. (M. Birchenough)

11/5/2013: 072, job done, is resting at Waterford's long platform. (J. O'Brien)

11/5/2013: No.461 starts the move from the yard at Waterford. (M. Birchenough)

11/5/2013: No.461 backs in from the yard at Waterford. (J. O'Brien)

11/5/2013: A view from the road bridge as No.461 backs on to its train. (R. Joanes)

11/5/2013: No.461, at Waterford, is ready to make the onward trip to Limerick. (C.P. Friel)

11/5/2013: Last minute preparations. (M. Birchenough)

11/5/2013: No.461 departs Waterford with the tour train. (J. O'Brien)

11/5/2013: A photo stop in Carrick-on-Suir. (R. Joanes)

11/5/2013: No.461 is met by a large crowd at Clonmel. (R. Joanes)

11/5/2013: The crew don't get a break at Clonmel.

11/5/2013: Taking water from a hydrant at Cahir. (M. Birchenough)

11/5/2013: No.461 waits outside Limerick Junction for a railcar to come in from Limerick. (C.P. Friel)

11/5/2013: No.461 and railcar under Limerick's roof. (M. Birchenough)

11/5/2013: A wider view of Limerick's train shed. (C.P. Friel)

12/5/2013: The Sunday morning weather was a contrast to that of the previous day as No.461 comes on to its train at Limerick. (M. Birchenough)

12/5/2013: No.461 operated tender-first on the Ballybrophy branch, seen here at Nenagh. (C.P. Friel)

12/5/2013: A water stop at Cloughjordan. (C.P. Friel)

12/5/2013: The locals turned out in force at Cloughjordan.

12/5/2013: Water fountain at Cloughjordan. (M. Birchenough)

12/5/2013: The train is in the bay platform at Ballybrophy, and No.461 is changing ends to take the tour forward to Dublin. (B. Gibbs)

12/5/2013: A water stop at Portarlington. (M. Birchenough)

12/5/2013: Approaching Connolly Platform 5 while No.186 may be seen shunting from the Wash Road to Platform 3. (C.P. Friel)

12/5/2013: Dave Orr eyes the photographer at Connolly as No.186 is prepared for the trip north. (M. Birchenough)

12/5/2013: Charles Friel chats to the footplate crew at Drogheda. (M. Birchenough)

12/5/2013: It's all go to keep ahead of the Enterprise - No.186 at Drogheda. (C.P. Friel)

12/5/2013: No.186 at Portadown. (C.P. Friel)

12/5/2013: The light is fading at Lisburn as No.186 gets a final top-up. (M. Birchenough)

13/5/2013: On the Monday morning, the train has run from Whitehead to Lisburn. No.186 has run round and will run to Bangor. (M. Birchenough)

13/5/2013: No.186 has reached Bangor. (M. Birchenough)

13/5/2013: At Bangor, No.186 propels out to run round. (C.P. Friel)

13/5/2013: Back at Lisburn again and No.186 has a fierce fire going for the run back to Whitehead. (M. Birchenough)

13/5/2013: No.186 has arrived back at Whitehead. The new station is still cordoned off, and the earthworks for the 'Larne' siding can be seen.

13/5/2013: No.186 at Whitehead. (M. Birchenough)

13/5/2013: No.85 is also in steam at Whitehead. (C.P. Friel)

13/5/2013: No.85 has lifted the train from No.186 and is shunting it away. (R. Joanes)

13/5/2013: No.85 poses at Whitehead beside No.186 at Whitehead. (B. McCausland)

13/5/2013: After most of the railtour passengers have gone, No.85 undertakes some shunting. (C.P. Friel)