Thanks to “TC” for the write up, memories and phots
30 years ago two of Bedford’s finest set foot in the emerald Isle for the first time.
After an overnight boat crossing we did the ITG’s Yankee Explorer which took 130+135 to Londonderry. Being “new” we were unaware of the significance of the 121’s working the 17.00 Belfast – Dublin, their way of getting back south, so we were on the tour with NIR’s new toys 208+209. A decent tour, but I was glad to get to my bed that night after the overnight boat the previous night.
With a couple of days “on the bash” planned we headed south the next day with 227 on the 10.15 Heuston – Cork. Bailing at Limerick Junction we ambled up the front to get a picture of it before wandering over to the bay platform just in time to see 123 disappearing with the shuttle to Limerick. A look at the timetable (being a Sunday), and we had landed ourselves with a three hour wait for the next one. It was a walk up to the main road and a couple of pints in “The Junction” pub before returning for the 15.28 to Limerick Junction, and an evening trip round the Nenagh branch.
A night in “Boylans”, another trip through Nenagh and back to Dublin. 077 was the 11.40 Waterford, so a trip back to Kildare, I still remember hearing the thrash from 083 approaching with the 10.55 Waterford – Dublin after ti crossed onto the mainline south of Kildare.
Friday 22nd March 1996
319171 17.25 Bedford – Sutton (Via Hackbridge) Bedford – Kings Cross Thameslink 50
90009 19.10 Euston – Liverpool Euston – Crewe 158
37407 21.24 Crewe – Holyhead Crewe – Holyhead 105.5
Saturday 23rd March 1996 – Irish Traction Group “The Yankee Explorer”
NIR 112 Dun Laoghaire – Bray 7.75
NIR 112 Bray – Portadown, via Dublin Connolly, Drogheda, Dundalk 102
111 and 112 at Lisburn with the tour
NIR 111+ NIR 112 Portadown – Lisburn 17.75
The “Yankees” at Londonderry, running round by the mighty River Foyle
130+135 Lisburn – Londonderry, via Antrim, Coleraine 93.5
130+135 Londonderry – Belfast Great Victoria St., via Coleraine, Antrim, Lisburn 101
Hunslet 102 after working the tour to Belfast Central
NIR 102 Belfast Great Victoria St. – Belfast Central 1.75
NIR 208 + NIR 209 Belfast Central – York Road Depot 1.25
NIR 208 + NIR 209 York Road Depot – Portadown, via Belfast Central 27.75
NIR 208 Portadown – Dublin Connolly, via Dundalk, Drogheda 87.25
081 Dublin Connolly – Dun Loaghaire 7
Notes:
Our first trip to Ireland. The “121’s” returned south with the 17.00 Belfast – Dublin Connolly, with a fair few off the railtour. Being “new” to Ireland we stayed with the railtour.
Sunday 24th March 1996
228 09.05 Dun Laoghaire – Dublin Connolly Dun Laoghaire – Dublin Connolly 7
227 10.15 Dublin Heuston – Cork Dublin Heuston – Limerick Junction 107
123 15.28 Limerick Junction – Limerick Limerick Junction – Limerick 22
123 16.10 Limerick – Ennis Limerick – Ennis 24.75
123 at Ennis with the 1720 to Limerick
123 17.20 Ennis – Limerick Ennis – Limerick 24.75
216 18.15 Limerick – Dublin Heuston Limerick – Ballybrophy 61.5
162 19.45 Ballybrophy – Limerick Ballybrophy – Limerick (Via Nenagh) 56.75
Notes:
After taking pictures of 227 at Limerick Junction, we realised that the shuttle to Limerick was already on its way out of the station. With three hours to kill before the next one we went to “The Junction” pub at the end of the station approach.
Monday 25th March 1996
192 steaming nicely at Limerick with the 0755 to Ballybrophy.
192 07.55 Limerick – Ballybrophy Limerick – Ballybrophy (Via Nenagh) 56.75
221 08.25 Limerick – Dublin Heuston Ballybrophy – Dublin Heuston 66.75
077 11.40 Dublin Heuston – Waterford Dublin Heuston – Kildare 30
083 10.55 Waterford – Dublin Heuston Kildare – Dublin Heuston 30
076 15.04 Dublin Pearse – Mosney Dublin Connolly – Howth Junction 4.75
8128+8328+8132+8332 DART Howth Junction (15.35) – Dublin Connolly (15.45) 4.75
182 16.32 Dublin Connolly – Drogheda Dublin Connolly – Howth Junction 4.75
076 16.12 Mosney – Dublin Connolly Howth Junction – Dublin Connolly 4.75
142+157 17.15 Dublin Connolly – Longford Dublin Connolly – Broombridge 3
“Bus” Broombridge – O’Connell Street.
088 18.30 Dublin Connolly – Rosslaire Hbr Dublin Connolly – Bray 14.75
8126+8326 DART Bray (19.10) – Dun Laoghaire (19.30) 7.75
Tuesday 26th March 1996
37421 03.14 Holyhead – Birmingham Intl Holyhead – Birmingham NS 158.25
87020 06.49 Wolverhampton – Euston Birmingham NS – Milton Keynes 63
321404 07.44 Rugby – Euston Milton Keynes – Bletchley 3
55023+55031 08.50 Bletchley – Bedford Bletchley – Bedford 16.75
Thanks again to “TC” for the write up and phots.
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