Summer-Winter 2012

Photos from June to December 2012, featuring NIR ballast operations, various Irish Rail PWD workings including the Sperry train to a variety of locations, also featured are the usual Tara Mines and IWT/DFDS liner trains. Specials include steam and diesel RPSI workings, and ITG's 'Diesel Day' at the Downpatrick & Co.Down Railway.
Northern Ireland Railway's 111 Class locomotive No.8113 powers away from Poyntzpass with six NIR ballast hoppers which will be discharged en route to Dundalk. Poyntzpass station and village are visible in the background. No.8113, named 'Belfast & Co.Down', is caught again, this time south of Newry as it descends the gradient to Dundalk through the rock cutting near the Wellington Inn. A view looking south towards Dundalk from the road bridge spanning the rock cutting near the Wellington Inn, south of Newry.
Having discharged some of its ballast load, 8113 is glimpsed heading south towards Meigh level crossing en route to Dundalk, where the train will run around and return to Poyntzpass. Final view of 8113 with its ballast train is crossing the impressive curved 18-arch stone built viaduct at Craigmore, just north of Newry station. Until 1948, the Bessbrook & Newry Tramway passed between one of the arches at the Newry end of the structure. Enterprise liveried 201 Class locomotive No.233 passes through the wayside NIR station at Poyntzpass with a northbound service to Belfast. Behind the locomotive can be seen the roof of the redundant Great Northern signal cabin.
071 Class locomotive No.084 heads down the Alexandra Road tramway heading for the ore unloading terminal with a laden train from Tara Mines, Navan. 084 has since been repainted into the new slate-grey livery. 071 Class locomotive No.082 has two refurbished Mk3 generator vans in tow as it heads through Howth Junction station bringing the vans up north to the NIR depot at York Road, Belfast. The Howth branch converges from the left. NIR owned 201 Class locomotive No.8208 is seen in charge of an Up IWT liner train from Ballina to Dublin, seen having just passed the station at Clondalkin & Fonthill on the four-track line to Hazelhatch.
Locomotive No.075 is captured heading north through Howth Junction with a PWD working from North Wall to Platin, the train consisting of seven empty spoil wagons and one track panel. 'Enterprise' livery 201 Class locomotive No.230 slows on the approach to Newbridge with the Dublin to Ballina IWT liner, the load of which consists mainly of tanks. 071 Class No.079 approaches the 'Iron Bridge' east of Sallins with the Up Ballina to North Wall (Dublin) IWT liner, which formed of the pocket container wagons.
Ex Dublin & South Eastern 2-6-0 locomotive No.461 glides past the former station at Newcastle on the east coast with an RPSI special from Dublin to Wicklow. In slightly brighter conditions No.461 is seen again at Newcastle, on the north side of the station as it works a shuttle train from Greystones back to Wicklow, formed of RPSI's 1960s built Craven coaches. 201 Class No.230 passes the disused station at Geashill (closed June 1963) with the Up Ballina to Dublin IWT liner, formed of the pocket container wagons. The stone built structure behind the locomotive is the former goods shed.
The popular tram No.224 of the Howth Transport Museum, rebuilt an ex London tram trailer into a replicated Dublin United Tramway car, photographed in evening light at St.Anne's Park Rose Festival. No.461 approaches the road overbridge just east of Porterstown level crossing between Clonsilla and Coolmine with a return RPSI special from Maynooth to Dublin. The train would return to Pace later in the day. The RPSI's No.461, being much admired at the commuter terminus of M3 Parkway at Pace, north of Dunboyne. The train is seen prior to departure back to Dublin.
No.461 heads along the relatively newly laid double-track line from Pace, seen approaching Stirling Bridge south of Dunboyne with the returning RPSI special. Enterprise 201 Class locomotive No.230 passes the former cement sidings at Cabra in north Dublin with the empty rake of Craven stock off the RPSI special from Pace, seen en route from Connolly station to Inchicore. Locomotive No.206 has a light load as it brings a solitary Enterprise liveried Mk3 generator van past the former cement depot at Cabra, heading from Inchicore to Connolly station.
Seen earlier in the day, No.079 runs alongside the Royal Canal just west of Leixlip Louisa Bridge with the sperry train, heading from Dublin to Boyle. Having been overtaken by a Sligo bound Intercity railcar, 071 Class locomotive No.079 awaits the road west to Mullingar at the disused Killucan station with Irish Rail's sperry train, consisting of a 40ft container and watertanks. 071 Class locomotive No.082 emerges from Dublin Port with Intercity railcars Nos.10+11, redeliveried from Korea. The train is running along Alexandra Road heading for North Wall yard and ultimately for stabling in Heuston station sidings.
No.083 with its two ICRs in tow are caught again en route from North Wall to Heuston station, seen passing the now overgrown site of the one time Cabra cement depot. The train is approaching the North Circular Road bridge. No.086 assists sister locomotive No.083 as they climb the gradient through Cabra with a late-running Ballina to Dublin IWT liner. No.083 had failed earlier that day. Locomotive No.073 passes alongside the habour on the approach to Dun Laoghaire with the sperry train, operating from Dublin to Wexford.
Later, No.073 is caught again taking the curve past the site of Wicklow Junction, where the line from the Murrough terminus converged from the right. The building behind the train once belonged to a rail-served fertilizer works. Last view of No.073 and its sperry train is at Enniscorthy, where it is seen crossing the Slaney River south of station and about to plunge into the 405 yard long tunnel under the town. 071 Class locomotive No.076 approaches Clontarf Road station as it tows a failed Enterprise service into Dublin, the locomotive (No.233) having failed at Clongriffin, north of Dublin City.
Enterprise 201 Class locomotives Nos.206+233(dead) stand at the head of platform-4 at Connolly Station with the failed Enteprise set, seen prior to its removal to the valeting depot for stabling. 071 Class No.073 crosses the Royal Canal bridge on the former MGWR Navan line to Dunboyne and M3 Parkway with Irish Rail's sperry train, this time without the addition of the watertanks. Locomotive No.073 is captured running around the sprerry train at M3 Parkway having arrived from North Wall, Dublin. The line terminates beyond the road overbridge in the background.
Locomotive No.073 and its short train stands at the relatively quiet terminal station at M3 Parkway prior to departing back to Dublin with Irish Rail's sperry train. With the 29000 Class railcar having arrived from Dublin City, No.073 draws forward to the staring signal at M3 Parkway, prior to departing back to Dublin with the sperry train. A final view of No.073 with its sperry train from M3 Parkway is at Glasnevin Junction, where the train is seen taking the GSWR line from Glasnevin to Islandbridge for stabling in Heuston yard. The train had previously picked up the watertanks in North Wall.
201 Class locomotive No.226 rounds the curve at the rear of Glasnevin cemetery as it climbs up the junction with the Ballina to Dublin IWT liner. With a darkening sky on the horizon, 071 Class No.076 brings the morning laden ore train from Tara Mines into North Wall prior to running down the Alexandra Road for unloading. 201 Class No.217 gets the Dublin to Ballina IWT liner underway, seen accelerating past Ossory Road outside North Wall with a well loaded train.
Ruston built loco No.4 propels the Stradbally Woodland Express through the Stradbally Estate on the occasion of a 'Diesel Day' at the railway. 'Nippy' dating from 1936, is seen with 'Rusty', dating from 1952, as they doublehead the Stradbally Woodland Express, seen by the passenger platform at the railway. Two 8200 Class DART units of Alstom origin are hauled past the former cement depot at Cabra by a 29000 Class diesel railcar, seen heading from Fairview DART depot to Inchicore for storage.
071 Class No.083 is seen in charge of the Irish Rail sperry train as it skirts the scenic coastline between Killiney and Dalkey, en route to Heuston. Viewed from Liberty Hall, a southbound 29000 Class railcar heads along the Loop Line while a Luas tram prepares to take the curves around Bus Aras with a service to The Point. A wider view sees the 29000 Class railcar, No.29118, passing over Lower Abbey St with a Dundalk to Pearse service. A Bus Eireann coach passes beneath heading for the terminus at Bus Aras.
Another glimpse of No.29118, heading across the Loop Line bridge with the Customs House behind. Tara St station, viewed looking south from Liberty Hall showing the Pearse bound 29000 Class railcar departing. A distant view of Connolly Station, looking in a northerly direction towards Belfast. Visible are 201/071 Class locomotives Nos.217 and 083 outside the locomotive shed. An ICR has just passed through the 'wash road' while a northbound DART has just departed Clontarf Rd station, visible in the distance.
The new bridge (Rosie Hackett Bridge) across the River Liffey which will ultimately connect the Red and Green Luas tram lines, viewed under underconstruction. Eden Quay as viewed from Liberty Hall with AX Dublin Buses making their stops. A view from ground level of the Rosie Hackett Bridge underconstruction.
Preserved ex Great Southern & Western Railway 0-6-0 tank locomotive No.90 is seen on display at the Downpatrick & Co.Down Railway's superb new carriage gallery. Ex CIE G Class locomotive No.G611 (also ITG owned) stands at the Loop Platform on the Downpatrick Railway having arrived from Inch Abbey, while a tamper vehicle stands on the line towards Downpatrick Station with ex NIR railbus RB3. 141 Class locomotive No.146 stands at the head of a PWD train at King Magnus Halt on the Downpatrick & Co.Down Railway during the Irish Traction Group's 'Diesel Day'.
Ex CIE A Class locomotive No.A39 stands at King Magnus Halt having arrived from Downpatrick with a special operating on the Irish Traction Group's 'Diesel Day'. ITG's locomotives A39 and 146 are seen at Downpatrick Station while working specials during the 'Diesel Day'. Locomotives 146+A39 stand at Inch Abbey prior to departing back to Downpatrick with final ITG special on the occasion of the group's 'Diesel Day' at the preserved railway.
IE and NIR locomotives 075+8208+112 are seen under trainshed at Connolly Station's platform No.2. 112 had hauled 201 Class locomotive 8208 'dead' from Belfast, while 075 prepares to haul 8208 away to Inchicore. A diesel hauled RPSI Santa Special is seen been hauled along the Maynooth line at Lexlip by 071 Class locomotive No.083, which was substituting for ex DSER steam locomotive No.461. In low Winter light, an 8-car 29000 Class railcar takes the curves west of Leixlip with an afternoon Dublin to Maynooth service.
An afternoon Dublin to Sligo services heads past Leixlip, formed of 3-car ICR set No.7. In failing light, locomotive No.083 brings the RPSI Santa Special home from Maynooth, seen approaching Lexlip and formed of the 1960s bult Craven coaches. On the last day of Santa Specials, locomotive No.076 this time took charge, seen leading the 13:55 Dublin to Maynooth service at Barberstown, between Leixlip and Maynooth.
The last view of the 2012 RPSI Santa Specials sees locomotive No.076 approaching the bridge at Collinstown west of Leixlip with the return train to Dublin. In miserable conditions(!) a 'backwards' Enterprise service from Belfast with 201 Class locomotive No.209 leading approaches Clontarf Road station. On return to Belfast, the train was eventually turned around on the triangle at Great Victoria St.