Belfast & Northern Counties Railtour (2001)

The tour was restricted to Northern Ireland due to a foot & mouth outbreak in Britain preventing cross-border travel. Saturday 12th May: (4) Whitehead - Belfast GVS - Bangor - Lisburn - Antrim - Ballymena - Antrim - Lisburn - Larne Harbour - Whitehead; (85) Whitehead - Yorkgate - Whiteabbey - Ballymena - Antrim - Lisburn - Belfast GVS - Whitehead. The last occasion when RPSI wooden-bodied stock carried passengers on any part of the Belfast to Dublin main line. Sunday 13th May: (171) Whitehead - Belfast GVS - Portrush - Coleraine - Londonderry - Belfast GVS - Whitehead. The first ever non-stop steam run from Great Victoria Street to Portrush.

12/5/2001: On the Saturday morning at Whitehead No.85 and No.4 are being prepared for the day's tour. (B. Robertson)

12/5/2001: No.461 alongside No.85 at Whitehead. (M. Olver)

12/5/2001: No.3 "R.H. Smyth" carrying out a bit of shunting at Whitehead. (M. Olver)

12/5/2001: No.3 with GNR(I) Directors' Saloon, and No.4 at Whitehead. (M. Olver)

12/5/2001: No.4 and train get set to leave Whitehead Excursion. (B. Robertson)

12/5/2001: The train has run to Belfast's Great Victoria Street and is ready to depart for Bangor. (B. Robertson)

12/5/2001: No.4 has arrived in Bangor. (D. Knapman)

12/5/2001: No.4 at Bangor, shunting out to run round in the loop outside the station. (D. Knapman)

12/5/2001: Taking water at Bangor. (M. Olver)

12/5/2001: No.4 and train looking well in Bangor. (M. Olver)

12/5/2001: Evan Pamely looks on as No.4 gets water at the Up column in Lisburn. (M. Olver)

12/5/2001: No.4 and train in Ballymena. (J. Newman)

12/5/2001: No.4 running around in a sunny Ballymena. (B. Robertson)

12/5/2001: No.4 has come off the Antrim branch from Ballymena and is taking water at Lisburn. (J. Newman)

12/5/2001: No.4 at the buffer stop at Larne Harbour. (M. Olver)

12/5/2001: No.4 has begun to shunt its train out of the terminal platform. (J. Newman)

12/5/2001: After the run from Larne Harbour, No.4 has run round its train at Whitehead before returning to headquarters. (D. Knapman)

12/5/2001: No.85 taking water at Ballymena. (D. Knapman)

12/5/2001: No.85 has shunted back from the column at Ballymena to clear the section. (B. Robertson)

12/5/2001: Another view of No.85 at Ballymena. (B. Robertson)

12/5/2001: No.85 shunting back to the siding at Ballymena southside. (D. Knapman)

13/5/2001: On the Sunday, No.171 took the train to Portrush and Derry. Ready to depart from Great Victoria Street. (B. Robertson)

13/5/2001: On the platform at Great Victoria Street. (J. Newman)

13/5/2001: Platform's end at GVS. (J. Newman)

13/5/2001: The tall outer home signal on the approach to Portrush. (D. Knapman)

13/5/2001: No.171 has arrived in Portrush. (D. Knapman)

13/5/2001: No.171 running around at Portrush. (B. Robertson)

13/5/2001: Portrush's island platform somersault starting signals. (D. Knapman)

13/5/2001: Ready to depart from Portrush. (B. Robertson)

13/5/2001: Back at Coleraine, No.171 has run round and is ready for the trip to Derry. (D. Knapman)

13/5/2001: No.171 approaching Londonderry. (D. Knapman)

13/5/2001: No.171 shunting its train from the platform at Londonderry's Waterside station. (M. Olver)

13/5/2001: No.171 running round in Derry's Waterside station. (D. Knapman)

13/5/2001: A busy scene at Castlerock. (D. Knapman)

13/5/2001: No.171 has shunted its train to the yard in Coleraine and will now make its way to the turntable. (B. Robertson)

13/5/2001: The return train passing Antrim's NCC gates. (M. Olver)

13/5/2001: As the train traverses the cross-harbour link in Belfast, there is a reflection in the Royal Mail's main sorting office. (M. Olver)

13/5/2001: No.171 rounding the curve from the Dargan Bridge on the approach to Belfast Central. (M. Olver)

13/5/2001: Back at Great Victoria Street No.171 is propelling its train out to the loop. (D. Knapman)

13/5/2001: Into the loop at Great Victoria Street. (D. Knapman)

13/5/2001: No.171 running round at Great Victoria Street. (D. Knapman)