Seán Rí Railtour (1993)

Saturday 8th May: (461 ECS) Dublin Heuston - Ballybrophy; (171) Dublin Heuston - Ballybrophy; (461) Ballybrophy - Limerick Check - Foynes - Limerick Check (train diesel-hauled from Limerick Check into station); (171 ECS) Ballybrophy - Dublin Heuston. Sunday 9th May: (171 LE) Dublin Connolly - Rosslare Harbour; (461) Limerick - Limerick Junction (turn) - Waterford Rosslare Harbour; (171) Rosslare Harbour - Dublin Connolly. Monday 10th May: (171) Dublin Connolly - Dundalk - Lisburn - Antrim - Yorkgate - Whitehead. Cravens to Dundalk, where the Whitehead set was picked up.

1/5/1993: No.461 and two carriages were transferred to Dublin a week in advance. No.461 has run to Yorkgate and will head out again for Antrim, (C.P. Friel)

1/5/1993: No.461 has reached Lisburn with the (nominally) empty stock. (C.P. Friel)

1/5/1993: Farewell Lisburn! No.461 with GNR(I) coaches 114 and 9 behind. (C.P. Friel)

8/5/1993: No.461 departing Heuston with the empty carriages to Ballybrophy. (C.P. Friel)

8/5/1993: No.461 on the empty stock train rushes across the Curragh through the early morning mist. (C.P. Friel)

8/5/1993: Tony Renehan hands the tail lamp to the guard after having coupled up No.171 at Dublin Heuston.

8/5/1993: No.171 at Heuston with the tour train. (C.P. Friel)

8/5/1993: The 9am to Cork leaves as No.171 waits. (C.P. Friel)

8/5/1993: No.171 at Sallins. (C.P. Friel)

8/5/1993: No.171 and train of Irish Rail Cravens coaches storm through Newbridge on the way south from Dublin. The loop area on the right is now a bay platform. (P. van Campenhout)

8/5/1993: The train is pulling out of the loop at Portlaoise after having taken water. (P. van Campenhout)

8/5/1993: No.171 and train leaving Portlaoise. (R. Roe)

8/5/1993: No.171 approaching Ballybrophy as No.461 shunts on branch. (C.P. Friel)

8/5/1993: Michael McMahon and Sullivan Boomer debating a carriage issue at Ballybrophy. (C.P. Friel)

8/5/1993: With No.171 in the Down loop at Ballybrophy, the passengers transfer to No.461 and the heritage set in the bay. (P. van Campenhout)

8/5/1993: No.461 leaves Ballybrophy for the the Nenagh branch. (P. van Campenhout)

8/5/1993: No.171 runs round at Ballybrophy as 073 comes in on a Down service. (C.P. Friel)

8/5/1993: First stop on the branch is Roscrea. (P. van Campenhout)

8/5/1993: No.461 departing Roscrea. (C.P. Friel)

8/5/1993: Another view of the train departing Roscrea. (B. Roe)

8/5/1993: The train calls at Nenagh. (P. van Campenhout)

8/5/1993: A valley shot like this is most likely on the Nenagh Road and may be between Silvermines Junction and Birdhill on the other side of the valley from the shot on the inside back cover of Five Foot Three 17. (P. van Campenhout)

8/5/1993: A view from the opposite side of the valley. The lineside bus and photographers are visible to the right of centre in the previous view.

8/5/1993: Further down the branch at Lisnagry.

8/5/1993: Near Lisnagry. (C.P. Friel)

8/5/1993: The train continued from the Nenagh line directly to Foynes. Here No.461 takes the branch at Limerick Check cabin. (C.P. Friel)

8/5/1993: No.461 on the way to Foynes crosses the river Maigue at Adare. (C.P. Friel)

8/5/1993: A view of No.461 from the other side of the bridge at Adare.

8/5/1993: A photo stop at Adare. (D. Humphries)

8/5/1993: A stop at Ballingrane, former junction for the North Kerry line. (D. Taggart)

8/5/1993: The tour train arrives at Foynes. (C.P. Friel)

8/5/1993: Foynes station and derelict cabin. (G. McSweeney)

8/5/1993: No.461 has uncoupled under the station roof at Foynes. (C.P. Friel)

8/5/1993: Returning from Foynes tender-first and crossing the river Maigue at Adare. (P. van Campenhout)

8/5/1993: No.461 and train approach Limerick along the 'Foynes Loop'. (J. Coleman)

8/5/1993: No.461 is greeted at Limerick Check cabin as the train comes off the Foynes branch. (J. Coleman)

8/5/1993: No.461 has returned the train to Limerick and 163 has coupled to the rear to haul it back into the station. (C.P. Friel)

8/5/1993: No.461 on the way to the shed at Limerick for servicing. (J. Coleman)

8/5/1993: The forklift at Limerick being used to coal No.461. (J. Coleman)

8/5/1993: No.461 getting coaled at Limerick shed. (C.P. Friel)

8/5/1993: No.461 outside Limerick shed. (C.P. Friel)

8/5/1993: On the Saturday night the empty train was worked to Limerick Junction to turn - by our very own B142. Here it is departing Limerick. (J. Coleman)

8/5/1993: The empty train is seen here from the steps of Limerick Check cabin. (C.P. Friel)

8/5/1993: GM 163 hauls the empty stock past Limerick Check after turning at the Junction. (C.P. Friel)

9/5/1993: Sunday morning and the passengers gather for departure. (J. Coleman)

9/5/1993: Awaiting departure from Limerick. (J. Coleman)

9/5/1993: Departing Limerick. The photographer is standing on the short platform used to unload oil/petroleum products for a local wholesaler. There was a one-time skew-level crossing just behind the photographer. (P. van Campenhout)

9/5/1993: Approaching Ennis Junction. (J. Coleman)

9/5/1993: Leaving Limerick for the Junction. (J. Coleman)

9/5/1993: No.461 and train arrive at Limerick Junction. (C.P. Friel)

9/5/1993: At Limerick Junction No.461 is seen running from the Cork end of the train to turn on the triangle.

9/5/1993: No.461 has turned and is now chimney-first on the train at Limerick Junction. (C.P. Friel)

9/5/1993: The tour train has reversed out in the Limerick direction and can be seen waiting for 072 on the 08:10 Dublin-Cork train to pass the Junction. (C.P. Friel)

9/5/1993: The staff for the Tipperary section has been collected and the train proceeds over the crossing. (C.P. Friel)

9/5/1993: No.461 and train entering Tipperary on the way to Rosslare. (P. van Campenhout)

9/5/1993: Crossing the River Suir viaduct at Cahir. (C.P. Friel)

9/5/1993: The train has departed Cahir and is heading east. (C.P. Friel)

9/5/1993: The train approaching Clonmel. (C.P. Friel)

No.461 charges through Fiddown. (D. Taggart)

9/5/1993: Arrival shot at Waterford. (C.P. Friel)

9/5/1993: The train is now in Waterford and time for an interior shot of the magnificent cabin there. (C.P. Friel)

9/5/1993: Another view of Waterford's frame. (C.P. Friel)

9/5/1993: Looking east at Waterford. (C.P. Friel)

9/5/1993: Near Campile. (D. Taggart)

9/5/1993: Crossing the impressive Taylorstown viaduct. (C.P. Friel)

9/5/1993: Rounding the curve into Rosslare Strand. (C.P. Friel)

9/5/1993: Looking south at Rosslare Strand. (C.P. Friel)

9/5/1993: No.171 took over the train at Rosslare Harbour and is here climbing away towards Ballygeary cabin. (C.P. Friel)

9/5/1993: Staff exchange at Rosslare Strand. (C.P. Friel)

9/5/1993: The tour train has just passed Wexford South cabin. (E. Pamely)

9/5/1993: Crossing the Crescent on Wexford Quay. (E. Pamely)

9/5/1993: A view from the train along Wexford Quay. (C.P. Friel)

9/5/1993: No.171 negotiating Wexford Quay. (E. Pamely)

9/5/1993: No.171 at Wexford on the way north.

9/5/1993: A stop at the closed Avoca station to take water. (C.P. Friel)

9/5/1993: While trimming coal forward at Wicklow, 164 leads on a Down Rosslare train. (C.P. Friel)

9/5/1993: Approaching Tunnel No.4 between Greystones and Bray. (C.P. Friel)

9/5/1993: No.171 very close to the edge rounding Bray Head. (C.P. Friel)

9/5/1993: Tony Renehan's cap on the approach to Tunnel No.1 on Bray Head. (C.P. Friel)

9/5/1993: No.171 meets 048 on the Down Ammonia near the Boston Yard. (C.P. Friel)

9/5/1993: Tara Street and Tony Renehan can relax. (C.P. Friel)

10/5/1993: No.171 at Dublin Connolly to work the northern leg of the tour. It will be a Cravens set of carriages as far as Dundalk. (S. Rafferty)

10/5/1993: A proliferation of important people in orange vests swarm around No.171 in Dublin Connolly. (S. Rafferty)

10/5/1993: On the way north from Dublin there was a very quick photo stop at Balbriggan. The Enterpise, seen at Connolly, was close behind.

10/5/1993: No.171 re-starting the train from Balbriggan. (C.P. Friel)

10/5/1993: At Mosney, No.171 waits in the loop to allow the regular Down ‘Enterprise’ to overtake. (S. Rafferty)

10/5/1993: Approaching Laytown. (C.P. Friel)

10/5/1993: A rare photo stop at Laytown. (C.P. Friel)

10/5/1993: Crossing the Boyne at Drogheda. (C.P. Friel)

10/5/1993: At Dundalk the Cravens coaches were dropped and No.171 moves to attach the northern heritage set. (S. Rafferty)

10/5/1993: No.171 climbing the Wellington Bank. (C.P. Friel)

10/5/1993: No.171 at Portadown's loop platform. (S. Rafferty)

10/5/1993: A fine view of No.171 after Lurgan at Kilmore Gates. (C.P. Friel)

10/5/1993: Busy time at Lisburn as the tour train occupied the Down platform, a Dublin-Belfast service worked ‘wrong line’ through the Up platform. A 3-car ’80 class’ set was occupying the loop platform. (S. Rafferty)

10/5/1993: Railtour Officer Michael 'The Management' McMahon at Lisburn. (S. Rafferty)

10/5/1993: No.171 moves away from its train as an Up CIÉ freight passes. (S. Rafferty)

10/5/1993: No.171 takes water from Lisburn's Up platform water column. (S. Rafferty)

10/5/1993: Having taken a path in substitution of a service train, No.171 runs around at Antrim. (S. Rafferty)

10/5/1993: Now on the NCC main line, No.171 is at the long-closed station of Doagh. (C.P. Friel)

10/5/1993: As the train was on a nominally closed line, the gates had to be operated by the train crew. Here Inspector Stephen Moore takes control at Kingsbog. (C.P. Friel)

10/5/1993: At Yorkgate platform. The train would have to reverse out and run round in a loop outside this temporary terminus. (C.P. Friel)

10/5/1993: No.171 sets back from Yorkgate with the tour train, en route to Whitehead. (S. Rafferty)

10/5/1993: Yorkgate was shortly to be directly connected with the other Belfast lines. (S. Rafferty)

Tour notes - Page 1. (J.A. Cassells)

Tour notes - Page 2. (J.A. Cassells)