Corrib Railtour (2002)

This year's annual tour was to Galway. It was the last steam visit to the Galway line before the replacement of semaphore signalling and, more significantly, the removal of the connection to Galway turntable in 2003. Saturday 11th May: (85) Belfast GVS - Dublin Connolly; (171) Dublin Connolly - Galway. Sunday 12th May: (171) Galway - Athlone - Knockcroghery - Dublin Connolly; (85) Dublin Connolly - Belfast GVS; (85 LE) Belfast GVS - Whitehead. Monday 13th May: (4) Whitehead - Belfast GVS - Bleach Green - Ballymena - Bleach Green - Yorkgate - Whitehead.

11/5/2002: Unusually, the tour started from Belfast rather than Dublin. No.85 is at Great Victoria Street on the Saturday morning. (A. Williamson)

11/5/2002: The traditional water stop at Dundalk. (B. Robertson)

11/5/2002: Safe arrival in Connolly. (B. Robertson)

11/5/2002: At Dublin Connolly locomotive rep Brian Hill has a word with a passenger. (A. Williamson)

11/5/2002: No.171 has coupled to the rear of the train for the westward section of the tour. (B. Robertson)

11/5/2002: A photographer's dream at Portarlington. (B. Robertson)

11/5/2002: Norman Foster keeps an eye on his stopwatch as the train speeds west. (A. Williamson)

11/5/2002: No.171 and train in Athlone. (A. Williamson)

11/5/2002: Among the passengers at Athlone is Tony Dean, RPSI barman and architect for the Whitehead Excursion station building. (A. Williamson)

11/5/2002: Athlone. (B. Robertson)

11/5/2002: Athlone. (B. Robertson)

11/5/2002: Safe arrival in Galway. (A. Williamson)

11/5/2002: No.171 uses the turntable in Galway - the last ever time it was used for steam. (D. Dawson)

11/5/2002: No.171 comes on shed at Galway after having used the turntable. This was the last steam locomotive to use these facilities. (D. Dawson)

11/5/2002: Saturday evening sun on the turntable area. (B. Robertson)

11/5/2002: A fine evening view of Galway's Claddagh harbour. (A. Williamson)

12/5/2002: On the Sunday morning, No.171 is outside Galway shed ready for the day ahead. (F. McDonnell)

12/5/2002: No.171 has coupled up but the train has yet to be shunted to the platform. (B. Robertson)

12/5/2002: A closer look at the turntable in Galway. It is still there today, but not connected to the main line any more. (F. McDonnell)

12/5/2002: The train is propelled in to Galway's departure platform. (A. Williamson)

12/5/2002: Ready to depart Galway. (A. Williamson)

12/5/2002: At Attymon the opportunity is taken to trim the coal. (A. Williamson)

12/5/2002: Attymon's water tower and turntable area are on the Down side in the distance. (B. Robertson)

12/5/2002: Attymon's derelict station building. (B. Robertson)

12/5/2002: Gates halt progress at Ballinasloe. (A. Williamson)

12/5/2002: Ballinasloe. (B. Robertson)

12/5/2002: Ballinasloe. (B. Robertson)

12/5/2002: Arrival at Athlone. (B. Robertson)

12/5/2002: At Athlone, former RPSI Chairman, Sullivan Boomer, grabs a quick shot. (A. Williamson)

12/5/2002: No.171 changes ends at Athlone for a short run to Knockcroghery. (B. Robetson)

12/5/2002: Back at Athlone and the tender gets trimmed. (B. Robertson)

12/5/2002: The distinctive cement silo marks this as Tullamore. (B. Robertson)

12/5/2002: No.85, having come on in Dublin for the run north, is taking water at Drogheda. (B. Robertson)

13/5/2002: On the Monday, as the rain comes on, No.4 has made up its train at Whitehead. (B. Robertson)

13/5/2002: Ready for departure from Whitehead. (B. Robertson)

13/5/2002: Still in heavy rain, the tour train has arrived and shunted at Great Victoria Street. (B. Robertson)

13/5/2002: No.4 Running around at Ballymena. (B. Robertson)

13/5/2002: No.4 is back at Whitehead. (A. Williamson)