RPSI and Steam Dreams Tour

[snapper]

As with everything take this as a rough guide as things can and do get changed. If there is anything I have not covered or any questions please feel free to ask.

 

 

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Thursday 18th June

 

RPSI Mk2s + NIR GM

Dublin Connolly: 11:20

Dundalk:12:35

Portadown: 13:10

Belfast Central: 13:47

 

RPSI Mk2 + 85

Belfast Central: 19:05

Dublin Connolly: (I am not sure of arrival time yet)

 

************

 

Friday 19th June

 

RPSI 461 Light Engine

Dublin Connolly: 07:45

Kildare: 08:58

Portarlington:09:14

 

RPSI 85 +Cravens

Dublin Connolly: 08:40

Kildare: 09:37

Portarlington 09:51

 

At Portarlington there will be a loco change with 461 taking the Cravens on to Galway and 85 proceeding light engine to Limerick.

RPSI 461 + Cravens

Portarlington: 10:27

Tullamore: 10:52 - 11:02

Clara: 11:15 - 11:22

Athlone: 11:57 - 14:20

Ballinasloe: 14:46 - 15:09

Woodlawn: 15:33 - 15:38

Athenry: 16:01

Galway 16:26

 

RPSI 85 Light engine

Portarlington: 10:10

Thurles: 11:04 - 11:42

Limerick Junction : 12:08 (I believe it will enter the station so it can turn)

Limerick : 12:49

 

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Saturday 20th June

There is no Steam operations on this day

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Sunday 21st June

 

RPSI 461 + Cravens

Galway: 09:40

Athenry: 10:00 - 10:33

Gort: 10:59 - 11:11

Ennis: 11:36

Limerick 12:33

 

In Limerick a loco change will take place with 85 taking over for the journey to Killarney and 461 remains in Limerick

 

RPSI 85 + Cravens

Limerick: 14:30

Limerick Junction: 15:05

Mallow: 15:51 - 16:43

Banteer: 16:57

Millstreet: 17:08

Rathmore: 17:17

Killarney: 17:40

 

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Monday 22nd June

 

RPSI 85 + Cravens

Killarney: 15:45

Farranfore: 16:12

Tralee: 16:30 - 18:20

Farranfore: 18:37 - 18:42

Killarney: 19:12

 

 

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Tuesday 23rd June

 

RPSI 461 Light Engine

Limerick: 10:00

Limerick Junction:10:39

 

 

RPSI 85 + Cravens

Killarney: 08:45

Banteer: 09:32 - 09:50

Mallow: 10:10

Charleville: 10:32 - 11:09

Limerick Junction: 11:43

 

At Limerick Junction a loco change will happen with 461 taking the Cravens on to Waterford via Tipperary and 85 will continue on to Kilkenny via Kildare light engine

 

RPSI 461 + Cravens

Limerick Junction: 10:04

Tipperary: 12:19 - 12:49

Clonmel: 13:26 - 13:56

Carrick on Suir: 14:27

Waterford: 15:00

 

RPSI 85 Light Engine

Limerick Junction: 11:59

Thurles: 12:28 - 12:58

Portarlington: 13:53 - 14:20

Kildare: 14:36 - 14:47

Athy: 15:11 - 15:38

Carlow: 15:56 - 16:20

Muine Bheag: 16:37

Kilkenny: 17:01

 

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Wednesday 24th June

 

RPSI 461 + Cravens

Waterford: 11:25

Ballyhale: 11:49 - 12:04

Thomastown: 12:13

Kilkenny: 12:34

 

At Kilkenny a loco change will take place with 461 proceeding light engine back to Dublin Connolly followed by 85 with the Cravens

 

RPSI 461 Light engine

Kilkenny: 13:47

Muine Bheag: 14:22 - 14:27

Carlow: 14:42

Athy: 14:58 - 15:18

Kildare: 15:41

Dublin Connolly: 16:36

 

RPSI 85 + Cravens

Kilkenny: 15:50

Muine Bheag: 16:13 - 16:21

Carlow: 16:35

Athy: 16:48 - 17:36

Kildare: 18:00

Dublin Connolly: 19:07

[hurricanemk1c]

2200 arrival into Connolly on Thursday with 85.

 

Will head out to the Northern Line for shots of the 111

[snapper]

An update to the times above for Thursday 18th of June.

 

RPSI Mk2s + NIR GM

Whitehead: 06:00

Belfast Central: 06:35

Portadown: 07:34

Dundalk: 08:15 - 09:35

Dublin Connolly: 10:58

 

RPSI Mk2s + NIR GM

Dublin Connolly: 11:20

Dundalk:12:35

Portadown: 13:10

Belfast Central: 13:47

York Road: 14:07

 

NIR GM Light Engine

York Road: 17:50

Belfast Central: 18:15

Portadown:18:55

Dundalk: 19:30

Dublin Connolly: 20:30

 

RPSI Mk2 + 85

York Road: 18:05

Belfast Central: 18:17 - 19:05

Portadown: 19:40

Dundalk: 20:23 - 20:50

Dublin Connolly: 22:00

 

RPSI Mk2s + NIR GM

Dublin Connolly: 22:20

Dundalk: 23:19

Portadown: 23:53

Belfast Central: 00:30

Whitehead: 00:55

[snapper]

Update for Thursday 25th June

 

RPSI 85 Light Engine

 

Dublin Connolly: 12:15

Dundalk: 13:30

Portadown: 14:13 -14:20

Lisburn: 14:49 - 15:05

Belfast Central: 15:27

Whitehead: 16:12

[steventrain]

NIR 111 failed with RPSI coaches and send back to York Road.

 

8208 with enterprise also failed.

 

See Chris playfair photos.

 

Edited June 18, 2015 by steventrain

[Noel]

NIR 111 failed with RPSI coaches and send back to York Road.

 

8208 with enterprise also failed.

 

See Chris playfair photos.

 

 

Sounds like 'Welcome to Monty Python's Railway'

[jhb171achill]

What an absolute shambles!!!!!!! Just been reading the account of what happened today.... unbelievable.

 

Railway enthusiasts or no, the "Steam Dreams" crowd can hardly have ben impressed!

[snapper]

What an absolute shambles!!!!!!! Just been reading the account of what happened today.... unbelievable.

 

Railway enthusiasts or no, the "Steam Dreams" crowd can hardly have ben impressed!

 

True, but at least it wasn't anything from the RPSI that failed

[jhb171achill]

Absolutely, Snapper!

 

Maybe they should bin these oul railcars and 071s and 201s, and get proper blue 4.4.0s back on the GNR main line!

[islandbridgejct]

Just passed this set at Portarlington, 10.41. 461 ready to head for Galway. Seems to be running reasonably to time today.

 

The tables were nicely set.

 

(*Hungry on Cork train.*)

[Warbonnet]

A couple of pics heading through d'local station this morning. Not my best pics by any means but sure hope you enjoy anyway

 

461 by franburke, on Flickr

 

85 by franburke, on Flickr

[craven1508]

nice pics, im headn to galway ceannt to watch her arrive with them lovely cravens.

[thewanderer]

Some pictures of the RPSI / Steam Dreams "Emerald Isle Explorer" from Connolly to Galway at Portarlington earlier this morning, where a loco swap took place (85 off / 461 on).

Click http://smu.gs/1LjIUqa to view.

 

[thewanderer]

Evening folks,

 

 

 

RPSI / Steam Dreams "Emerald Isle Explorer"

Day 6, Monday, 22nd June, was a day of leisure in Killarney which also includes a short 45 minute each way steam hauled excursion down the branch line to Tralee on the coast, returning to Killarney in time for dinner. Due to the turntable at Tralee not being available, 85 went to Limerick Jct. to turn the locomotive on the triangle.

Click http://smu.gs/1TINP6C to view.

 

[thewanderer]

Evening folks,

 

RPSI / Steam Dreams "Emerald Isle Explorer".

On Day 7, Tuesday, 23rd June, the passengers said goodbye to Killarney and headed east steam hauled by 85 to Limerick Jct. and 461 to Waterford arriving early afternoon.

 

Click http://smu.gs/1GFM8Qt

 

[Riversuir226]

461 at Waterford plus 073 shunting the cravens rake.

[thewanderer]

Evening all,

 

The final Irish leg of the Steam Dreams "Emerald Isle Explorer" operated on Wednesday 24th June. In the morning the tour visited the world-famous Waterford Crystal, before heading off to the station for an 1125 departure to Kilkenny, hauled by 461 where a two hour break was taken. Also at Kilkenny 85, replaced 461 for the final dash northwards across Ireland for an early evening arrival in Dublin for the final night in Ireland.

 

For todays photos I popped over to Athy for the watering stop and also got the tour at Cush, a few miles north of the town.

 

Click http://smu.gs/1IzjDlK to view todays photos. For a recap of the parts of the tour I covered since last Friday click http://smu.gs/1LjIUqa

 

The RPSI operates with a small band of active volunteers and it is a credit to this group of people that they have achieved so much in preparation for this tour, such as refurbishment of the cravens and the daily tasks in ensuring that the tour operated smoothly. Want to get involved? Check out http://www.steamtrainsireland.com/helpingus/ for more information.

 

A short summery of images from the past several days.