Irish Railway Record Society 80th Railtour

[thewanderer]

80th Anniversary Steam Train Outing Dublin Connolly to Thurles Return

The IRRS are delighted to announce that a Steam Hauled Railtour outing has been arranged for Saturday 24th October 2026 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Irish Railway Record Society.

With thanks to the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI) and Iarnród Éireann, we will undertake an outing from Dublin to Thurles, hauled by Steam Locomotive No. 171 “Slieve Gullion” and featuring the renowned RPSI Cravens carriages, complete with their legendary Bar Car and Dining Car offering hot and cold drinks, alcoholic beverages, sandwiches, snacks, and light refreshments.

We have requested that the tour is routed to operate via Portarlington Down Loop (outward) & Portarlington Up Loop (return).

Timetable    Arrive    Depart
Dublin Connolly        09:30
Portarlington        10:50
Thurles    12:00    15:50
Portarlington    17:00    
Dublin Connolly    18:30    

All timings are indicative until confirmed by Iarnród Éireann.

Fares    Member    Non-Member
Adult – From Dublin Connolly    €70.00    €80.00
Adult – From Portarlington    €60.00    €70.00
Children (under 16)    –    €40.00
Family Ticket (2 adults & up to 2 children under 16)    –    €180.00

Bookings can be made directly at https://irrs.ie/events/80th-anniversary-steam-train-outing-dublin-connolly-to-thurles-return/

[Mol_PMB]

New traction has been announced for this tour as 171 is out of action for repairs. 

Instead it is planned to use a pair of 071s in multiple, and ideally those in heritage livery.

Multiple-working with 071s is quite a rare event. A pity it couldn't be a pair of baby GMs but I'll take a pair of big ones.

 

[skinner75]

3 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

New traction has been announced for this tour as 171 is out of action for repairs. 

Instead it is planned to use a pair of 071s in multiple, and ideally those in heritage livery.

Multiple-working with 071s is quite a rare event. A pity it couldn't be a pair of baby GMs but I'll take a pair of big ones.

 

'Stupid Steamie!' as Diesel from Thomas the Tank Engine would say! 

[thewanderer]

The Irish Railway Record Society 80th railtour outing will now be diesel hauled due to the unavailability of RPSI's No. 171, which the RPSI informed us about on Monday 5th October. 

This is due to a defect 171 suffered after it's trip to Dundalk on Sunday 4th October. The timeline for repair means that the loco will not be available for the planned trip to Thurles. 

In discussions between ourselves, the RPSI and Iarnród Éireann, we have proposed that the tour operates using Iarnrod Eireann 071 Class diesel locomotives dating from 1976 and which are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year.

We plan to use two of their heritage liveried locomotives No. 071 (in CIE livery from 1976) and No. 073 (in Irish Rail livery from 1987), subject to availability, throughout the day working in multiple together.

This is a rare chance to experience 071's working in multiple! 

Further details can be found on the IRRS website at www.irrs.ie